Mentality is definitely part of the issue but I’m starting to wonder if the talent/ potential is even there. He’s got some sound technical attributes but nothing to overly boast about and nothing that feels like will get substantially better. I’m coming round to the opinion he was just an average player in a poor Fulham side and so stood out and gave false impressions he’d be a possible superstar. A shame as I like the lad but he’s been terrible in about 90% of his Spurs appearances. I’m not even sure Conte does like him that much either. I think he’s only been selected over Reguilon at times because Reguilon’s been carrying knocks/ returned from injury and he’s also been subbed off in almost all of the league games he’s started too. When both have been fully fit, the Spaniard’s generally been the one selected in the XI.
I guess we’ll see. I think he’s still got a lot of improving to do, and he’s still so young. Staying fit will be a big thing because I don’t think he’s been fully fit for a long time. I worry that he’s a bit like Bergwijn, always seems to have a little knock somewhere or other and also rarely seems to like pushing his body, and therefore his game.
We need to find a way to leave Royal out, Doherty was linking up well with Kulusevski before his injury, but since Royal has come into the team, Kulusevski has been virtually anonymous. Royal is so poor as a wingback he is having a negative impact on other players` game.
I think young players still generally show signs of promise even if they’re not quite delivering, realistically what have we seen from Sess to make us think he just needs that one thing to click? Watching him feels a bit like how it was for me watching Winks when he was younger. It was more hope than expectation he’d actually come good and look how that’s turned out for us. I’d love to be wrong about Sess, as a bloke I genuinely like him, solid attitude and committed to the cause but as a player in a Spurs shirt? One of the worst at the club at the moment, by a distance too. Edit: And as for Bergwijn, I have a degree of sympathy for him. Conte often talks him up but his actions show otherwise. I don’t think Bergwijn’s amazing but I think he’s the best squad option we have and the most likely to grab us a goal if we’re in need of one yet he gets an average of 5 mins a game. I think one of he or Lucas needs to be given a go at RWB but I don’t think Conte’s gonna for it unfortunately.
Mulling things over, I wouldn't mind seeing Kulu shifted to a much more central position - somewhere he played a number of times at Juve if I've remembered reports correctly. He is physically strong enough to play there, has good feet and also an eye for a pass when gliding past the opponent isn't on. Currently our biggest issue is that the ball just isn't getting to the front men. Hojbjerg and to a lesser extent Bentancur aren't incisive or quick enough with the forward passing, and with Royal and Sess on the wings we'll struggle to pass water from those positions. Bridging the gap between the midfielders and front 2 while also providing a closer out-ball for the wingers might help enormously, especially as Dohertinho and Skipp are out for the rest of the season and Reguilon's fitness cannot be trusted. Against weaker teams and/or teams that play an expansive game, push Royal and Sess right up alongside the CMs, drop Kulu behind Son and Kane and basically play a 3412 formation. Then against teams like Liverpool, drop back into a base of 5212 with Kane swapping with Kulu as he is the best passer of the ball currently at the club and we'll need him to spring the counter attack by finding Son and Kulu before Konate and VVD find them. As you say, currently starting Kulu out wide is a waste of a position.
If we're raiding Brighton and Lamptey is too expensive, I think we should get Jan and Toby on the phone to Leandro Trossard. Just scored another fine goal today and some of his passing and crossing is exquisite. Also decent from a set-piece although we'd coach that ability to **** within weeks. Cucurella is a good shout but his contracted until 2026 and is only 23 so would cost a fortune. Trossard is hitting his peak and goes into the final year of his contract in July. Since selling Burn to Newcastle, Potter has shifted Cucurella into more of a LCB position similar to where Davies plays for us. This has led to Trossard tending to play in a far less advanced position than he used to, and he is now basically an attacking LWB and imo playing the best football of his career. If we could pinch him and Lamptey in one window, that's us sorted on both flanks. Never happening but that would be my shout.
Definitely not Cucurella, he is everything I hate in a player, mouthy, snidey, goes down and play acting , I would hate to see him at our club, he's got Arse or Chav written all over him
Lucas?? Interesting. I wonder if the feeling is he will work better with Emerson down that flank? Having Kulu to bring on if needed is a strong option.Otherwise that bench is absolute pants.
Kulu dropped for Lucas… really?! Look forward to him running into blind alleys. Sess and Emerson at WB too… Gotta pray Kane fancies going Eriksen-esque today.
Conte obviously expecting counter Conte-ball 2002. Big ask of Moura to drive fast and direct thru CM and play the percentage passes to Kane and Son that Kulu has been for much of the past few games.
I'd be slightly happier if I thought we were going 433 with Emerson playing as an actual RB and Sess tucked closer infield as he can't beat a man and can't cross so might be more useful in a midfield 3, but we all know that isn't happening. Conte made clear that he plan despite the injuries is to stick with what we've been working on for 6-7 months and if I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times - this is exactly what Poch did in his first season so I respect it, despite the risks it entails.
The formation isn’t what concerns me, it’s the personnel. Regardless of any formation we’ll still have these issues from this current selection: Lucas isn’t a good enough starter. He’s a squad player that’s perfect for EL/ ECL/ domestic cups. The obsession with him over Bergwijn is something that’s a black mark by Conte from me. Sess and Emerson whether it be FB or WB won’t provide what we need them too. Emerson is perfect for an Atleti-type defence, Sessegnon is perfect for a Championship/ relegation battling Prem team. Bentancur and especially Hojbjerg aren’t good enough at making forward passes quickly enough. Admittedly there aren’t many options for that right now (other than giving White a shot which Conte won’t do) but it’s frustrating nonetheless.
