Glenn Hoddle left stunned by one Tottenham player this season – and stats back him up
Glenn Hoddle believes Dejan Kulusevski has been Tottenham’s best player ‘by a mile’ this season. The statistics also back up the Spurs legend’s pick for the club’s standout performer. Kulusevski has a modest two goals and two assists in 11 Premier League matches but his play has been electric this seasonGetty Hoddle appeared on talkSPORT Breakfast on Wednesday to discuss his former club’s fortunes this term, suggesting the form of Kulusevski has played a key role in the drop in minutes for teammate James Maddison. Maddison has played just 14 minutes off the bench across Spurs’ last two league matches. Meanwhile, Kulusevski has featured in every match so far across all competitions having been given a new midfield role by Ange Postecoglou. Hoddle explained: “Kulusevski had a chance when Maddison was injured to play in that number 10 role. And he’s done such a positive amount of work in there with the ball and without the ball. He really has. “He’s come alive. If you said to me, who’s the best player at Tottenham this year so far? Kulusevski by a mile. He really has been good in that position. “He loves playing in that position. I think he had a couple of games or a little bit of a spell at Juventus there. But, you know, he does great on the wing. “But since he’s been in there, and I think there’s certain games he’s played the pair of them in there, but since he’s put (Pape Matar) Sarr in there, a bit of energy, particularly in the second half. “That’s the midfield that he wants the balance for. I think James is a wonderful player. And before his injury, I think he was doing excellent for Spurs. “The other thing, the other scenario that comes to mind for me is a creative number 10. You don’t want both full-backs going in there. Where’s your space? “You know, if Maddison’s playing or whoever’s playing number 10, it’s very difficult. The space, actually, funny enough, is out in the right and the left-back position, where the full-backs would be. GettyKulusevski has excelled in a new midfield role for Spurs this term[/caption] Maddison has been limited to just 14 minutes across the last two league matchesGetty “Having both in there, sometimes I would say, if I was playing, wow, this is tough in here. There’s so many bodies in here. “And, you know, I think that’s something. Maybe one full-back going in is what City do and other clubs maybe do. “Maybe that might suit us a little bit more and give the likes of Maddison and certainly Kulusevski. But I think it’s Kulusevski that’s the real reason why he hasn’t been able to put him in.” The Sweden international has swapped the right wing for midfield this term, featuring both in the no.10 role as well as even deeper. More recently, he has partnered Pape Matar Sarr as a holding midfielder for Postecoglou’s side. Despite moving away from his responsibilities as a winger, Kulusevski has still scored two goals and provided five assists in 17 appearances. GettyKulusevski has more assists than any other Spurs player this season with five in all competitions[/caption] He is currently Spurs’ most creative player as well, leading the way with five assists, ahead of Maddison on four. The 24-year-old also showed his class during Sweden’s Nations League campaign across the last two months. Kulusevski created the most big chances, the most chances from open play and won possession the most times in the entire competition. His performances also helped Sweden win promotion to League B with two goals and two assists in their six matches.
Glenn Hoddle believes Dejan Kulusevski has been Tottenham’s best player ‘by a mile’ this season.
The statistics also back up the Spurs legend’s pick for the club’s standout performer.
Hoddle appeared on talkSPORT Breakfast on Wednesday to discuss his former club’s fortunes this term, suggesting the form of Kulusevski has played a key role in the drop in minutes for teammate James Maddison.
Maddison has played just 14 minutes off the bench across Spurs’ last two league matches.
Meanwhile, Kulusevski has featured in every match so far across all competitions having been given a new midfield role by Ange Postecoglou.
Hoddle explained: “Kulusevski had a chance when Maddison was injured to play in that number 10 role. And he’s done such a positive amount of work in there with the ball and without the ball. He really has.
“He’s come alive. If you said to me, who’s the best player at Tottenham this year so far? Kulusevski by a mile. He really has been good in that position.
“He loves playing in that position. I think he had a couple of games or a little bit of a spell at Juventus there. But, you know, he does great on the wing.
“But since he’s been in there, and I think there’s certain games he’s played the pair of them in there, but since he’s put (Pape Matar) Sarr in there, a bit of energy, particularly in the second half.
“That’s the midfield that he wants the balance for. I think James is a wonderful player. And before his injury, I think he was doing excellent for Spurs.
“The other thing, the other scenario that comes to mind for me is a creative number 10. You don’t want both full-backs going in there. Where’s your space?
“You know, if Maddison’s playing or whoever’s playing number 10, it’s very difficult. The space, actually, funny enough, is out in the right and the left-back position, where the full-backs would be.
“Having both in there, sometimes I would say, if I was playing, wow, this is tough in here. There’s so many bodies in here.
“And, you know, I think that’s something. Maybe one full-back going in is what City do and other clubs maybe do.
“Maybe that might suit us a little bit more and give the likes of Maddison and certainly Kulusevski. But I think it’s Kulusevski that’s the real reason why he hasn’t been able to put him in.”
The Sweden international has swapped the right wing for midfield this term, featuring both in the no.10 role as well as even deeper.
More recently, he has partnered Pape Matar Sarr as a holding midfielder for Postecoglou’s side.
Despite moving away from his responsibilities as a winger, Kulusevski has still scored two goals and provided five assists in 17 appearances.
He is currently Spurs’ most creative player as well, leading the way with five assists, ahead of Maddison on four.
The 24-year-old also showed his class during Sweden’s Nations League campaign across the last two months.
Kulusevski created the most big chances, the most chances from open play and won possession the most times in the entire competition.
His performances also helped Sweden win promotion to League B with two goals and two assists in their six matches.
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