Does Dejan Kulusevski give Tottenham balance after James Maddison’s return?
When thinking about Spurs at their fluent best this season, the first image that comes to mind is of the team playing with two rapid wingers fizzing in low crosses for the other or the centre-forward to get on the end of.
It was playing this way, in December and January, when it looked like things had clicked up front. And, as we know from his previous jobs, this is very much how Ange Postecoglou likes his teams to attack.
In the last couple of months, though, James Maddison’s return has meant Dejan Kulusevskitaking up one of the wide spots and Spurs playing in a slightly different way. This means two creative players, both of whom like to play between the lines with the game in front of them, in the same team. It’s made for some stodgy performances and slow starts, with the current run of six straight first halves without scoring coinciding with Maddison’s return and both he and Kulusevski starting.
It’s raised the question: does the Spurs attack work as well with both Maddison and Kulusevski in the team?
The evidence against Fulhamin Tottenham’s previous match suggested not, with Kulusevski well shackled by Antonee Robinson. And against Luton Townon Saturday. it was a similar story, as Kulusevski gave the ball away for Luton’s opener and struggled down the Spurs right before being replaced at half-time.
Kulusevski’s touch map
This lack of incision was highlighted when his replacement — the much quicker and more direct Brennan Johnson— made a goal within six minutes of coming on at half-time.
Johnson similarly turbocharged the team when coming on as a sub in recent comeback wins against Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace— registering at least one goal contribution in all those games.
Johnson’s touch map
To be fair to Kulusevski, he has created 56 chances in the Premier Leaguethis season — more than any other Spurs player — and could have had an assist on Saturday had Son Heung-minnot been extremely unfortunate with a first-half effort that hit both posts. Game state is a factor too. There is also the difference between starting games and running at tiring defenders. At the moment, though, Tottenham do look more dangerous with two rapid, direct wingers, rather than the more crafty Kulusevski.
The two goals they scored against Luton exemplified this.
The first came from Johnson fizzing in a low cross towards the winger on the opposite side Timo Werner, which forced a panicked Issa Kaboreinto scoring an own goal. For the second, it was Werner crossing to Johnson to tee up Son to score a late winner. And in between the two goals Johnson put in a couple of excellent crosses that very nearly led to Spurs scoring again. He also came within millimetres of scoring himself when Werner played in Giovani Lo Celsofor a low cross that Johnson met with a shot that, somehow, didn’t cross the line.
After the game, Postecoglou would have been forgiven for not being too forthright about his wingers’ respective qualities. But he was very open about why Kulusevski was less effective in the first half.
“We felt that, in the first half, Deki was probably coming inside a little bit too much and we felt that Timo was getting some opportunities and if we got Brennan on that he could equally be a threat,” Postecoglou said. “I thought both wingers in the second half were outstanding.”
He also explained that while Johnson and Kulusevski may be different stylistically, that doesn’t change what he asks of his wide players.
“Our wingers should play the same way,” Postecoglou said. “I think Deki was trying to get maybe too involved in the game a little bit. He went looking for the ball, he’s that kind of player — he wants to be on the ball all the time.
“I just thought we had a different structure in the second half. It’s not about the individual players, it’s about the overall structure that they have to follow. I thought it was really important and I could see that Timo was getting two or three really good opportunities.
“With Brennan’s pace — and he has really good quality delivery, and gets in the box — I thought the game was going to be good for him.”
Postecoglou saying he wants Kulusevski to play as Werner and Johnson do — or Son when he plays out wide — is interesting, because that’s not really how he likes to play.
One wonders then whether Kulusevski may end up being used more centrally, as he was when Maddison was out. Or on the bench for certain games — certainly, at the moment, it’s hard to overlook Johnson, while Werner played well against Luton and is a good fit stylistically for this team. There’ll also soon be the option of Son moving back to the left once Richarlisonhas returned to full fitness.
This could be significant in the head coach’s thinking, as Son is not as accomplished in holding the ball up as Richarlison and so it would make sense to want a wide player such as Kulusevski who is better at retaining possession than some of Spurs’ other wide options.
But Postecoglou acknowledged the importance of playing with two wingers staying high and wide.
“That’s part of the attacking template — it’s not everything,” he said. “But, yeah, if you’re looking for trends or consistencies, that’s one area we haven’t really nailed yet. But I can see green shoots of growth where we’ve also scored quite a few goals like that. We got a lot of crosses in from that area today: scored one, forced a couple of good saves, don’t know how one didn’t go in. So I think there’s something there.”
Kulusevski has started all but one league game he’s been available for so far this season and has the joint-most starts of any Spurs outfielder and second-most minutes. Right now, though, it feels like some of his colleagues are speeding past him on the outside in the ongoing competition for places.
https://theathletic.com/5379508/2024/03/31/tottenham-dejan-kulusevski-james-maddison/
Does Dejan Kulusevski give Tottenham balance after James Maddison’s return?
When thinking about Spurs at their fluent best this season, the first image that comes to mind is of the team playing with two rapid wingers fizzing in low crosses for the other or the centre-forward to get on the end of.
It was playing this way, in December and January, when it looked like things had clicked up front. And, as we know from his previous jobs, this is very much how Ange Postecoglou likes his teams to attack.
In the last couple of months, though, James Maddison’s return has meant Dejan Kulusevskitaking up one of the wide spots and Spurs playing in a slightly different way. This means two creative players, both of whom like to play between the lines with the game in front of them, in the same team. It’s made for some stodgy performances and slow starts, with the current run of six straight first halves without scoring coinciding with Maddison’s return and both he and Kulusevski starting.
It’s raised the question: does the Spurs attack work as well with both Maddison and Kulusevski in the team?
The evidence against Fulhamin Tottenham’s previous match suggested not, with Kulusevski well shackled by Antonee Robinson. And against Luton Townon Saturday. it was a similar story, as Kulusevski gave the ball away for Luton’s opener and struggled down the Spurs right before being replaced at half-time.
Kulusevski’s touch map
This lack of incision was highlighted when his replacement — the much quicker and more direct Brennan Johnson— made a goal within six minutes of coming on at half-time.
Johnson similarly turbocharged the team when coming on as a sub in recent comeback wins against Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace— registering at least one goal contribution in all those games.
Johnson’s touch map
To be fair to Kulusevski, he has created 56 chances in the Premier Leaguethis season — more than any other Spurs player — and could have had an assist on Saturday had Son Heung-minnot been extremely unfortunate with a first-half effort that hit both posts. Game state is a factor too. There is also the difference between starting games and running at tiring defenders. At the moment, though, Tottenham do look more dangerous with two rapid, direct wingers, rather than the more crafty Kulusevski.
The two goals they scored against Luton exemplified this.
The first came from Johnson fizzing in a low cross towards the winger on the opposite side Timo Werner, which forced a panicked Issa Kaboreinto scoring an own goal. For the second, it was Werner crossing to Johnson to tee up Son to score a late winner. And in between the two goals Johnson put in a couple of excellent crosses that very nearly led to Spurs scoring again. He also came within millimetres of scoring himself when Werner played in Giovani Lo Celsofor a low cross that Johnson met with a shot that, somehow, didn’t cross the line.
After the game, Postecoglou would have been forgiven for not being too forthright about his wingers’ respective qualities. But he was very open about why Kulusevski was less effective in the first half.
“We felt that, in the first half, Deki was probably coming inside a little bit too much and we felt that Timo was getting some opportunities and if we got Brennan on that he could equally be a threat,” Postecoglou said. “I thought both wingers in the second half were outstanding.”
He also explained that while Johnson and Kulusevski may be different stylistically, that doesn’t change what he asks of his wide players.
“Our wingers should play the same way,” Postecoglou said. “I think Deki was trying to get maybe too involved in the game a little bit. He went looking for the ball, he’s that kind of player — he wants to be on the ball all the time.
“I just thought we had a different structure in the second half. It’s not about the individual players, it’s about the overall structure that they have to follow. I thought it was really important and I could see that Timo was getting two or three really good opportunities.
“With Brennan’s pace — and he has really good quality delivery, and gets in the box — I thought the game was going to be good for him.”
Postecoglou saying he wants Kulusevski to play as Werner and Johnson do — or Son when he plays out wide — is interesting, because that’s not really how he likes to play.
One wonders then whether Kulusevski may end up being used more centrally, as he was when Maddison was out. Or on the bench for certain games — certainly, at the moment, it’s hard to overlook Johnson, while Werner played well against Luton and is a good fit stylistically for this team. There’ll also soon be the option of Son moving back to the left once Richarlisonhas returned to full fitness.
This could be significant in the head coach’s thinking, as Son is not as accomplished in holding the ball up as Richarlison and so it would make sense to want a wide player such as Kulusevski who is better at retaining possession than some of Spurs’ other wide options.
But Postecoglou acknowledged the importance of playing with two wingers staying high and wide.
“That’s part of the attacking template — it’s not everything,” he said. “But, yeah, if you’re looking for trends or consistencies, that’s one area we haven’t really nailed yet. But I can see green shoots of growth where we’ve also scored quite a few goals like that. We got a lot of crosses in from that area today: scored one, forced a couple of good saves, don’t know how one didn’t go in. So I think there’s something there.”
Kulusevski has started all but one league game he’s been available for so far this season and has the joint-most starts of any Spurs outfielder and second-most minutes. Right now, though, it feels like some of his colleagues are speeding past him on the outside in the ongoing competition for places.
https://theathletic.com/5379508/2024/03/31/tottenham-dejan-kulusevski-james-maddison/
