“He’s the kind of player…..”: Despite win vs Luton, Ange Postecoglou admit he spotted a huge problem with £25m rated Spurs man that needs to be solved [Full story link in comment]
Tottenham Hotspur just keep managing to come up with victories after falling behind and Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Luton Town only added to the list.
Ange Postecoglou’s men are chasing Champions League football but seem to have a real vulnerability in the first half of games.
In each of Tottenham’s previous four home games, they have fallen behind in the first half, coming back to win three of them.
Saturday’s clash with Luton Town added to that record as Tahith Chong fired the Hatters in front in the first half.
Tottenham had to rally back again and Issa Kabore’s own goal brought Spurs level before Son Heung-min won it late on.
This kind of record will divide opinion; is it entirely unsustainable or a sign of Tottenham’s improving winning mentality?
The truth may lie somewhere in between but Postecoglou will be looking for better from his players – especially from Dejan Kulusevski.
Ange Postecoglou on Dejan Kulusevski
Kulusevski has been a vital player for Tottenham this season, racking up six goals and three assists.
The Swede has justified the £25million Tottenham paid to sign him permanently from Juventus last summer.
However, Kulusevski didn’t exactly enjoy his best afternoon in a Tottenham shirt on Saturday.
Kulusevski recorded three key passes in the first half but was then substituted at half-time in favour of Brennan Johnson.
The changed worked wonders for Tottenham; Johnson’s quick give-and-go opened up the Luton back line to set up the Kabore own goal.
Johnson also laid on Son’s winner, meaning that he technically recorded two assists to help Tottenham win the game.
The Welshman also had one effort cleared off the line by the barest of all margins, so Postecoglou can be happy with Johnson’s impact.
As for Kulusevski, Postecoglou has told Football London that he felt the Swede was simply trying to get involved too much.
Kulusevski wasn’t holding his width enough and kept coming centrally to get on the ball in Postecoglou’s eyes, believing that Johnson would be the better option to stretch Luton wide and in behind.
“We felt that in the first half Deki was probably coming inside a little bit too much and we felt that Timo was certainly getting some opportunities down the left-hand side and if we got Brennan on the right-hand side that he could equally be a threat,” said Postecoglou. “I thought both wingers in the second half were outstanding.”
“Our wingers should play the same way. 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 – 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, and we weren’t getting the same kind of joy on the other side because Deki was coming inside looking for the ball. With Brennan’s pace and he has really good quality delivery, and gets in the box, and I thought the game was going to be good for him,” he added.
Kulusevski’s spot on the right flank may now be under huge pressure with Johnson continuing to make a big impact.
Johnson has been contributing with goals and assists of late and if Kulusevski isn’t doing what Postecoglou wants, he could be out of the side very soon.
This was just one game but Postecoglou showed that he isn’t afraid to substitute Kulusevski if needed, sending a warning to the winger that he may need to step it up and follow the plan a little more moving forward.
