Mateo Kovacic

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goalmole said:
That's 3 years of help and relief Rodri will get, the alternative being that we run him into the ground by overplaying him.
Put a value on that.
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That would presuppose the demise of Philips. Too many on here are inclined to write him off. He has been unfortunate with injuries since he came and you cannot ignore some very good games for England. Kovacic is better than Philips certainly but Philips is younger. While Kovacic has a top record, I just wonder whether he is the best use of our money, considering the potential size of midfield rebuilding required. Note also that Pep sees Lewis as a midfield player rather than a full back. So Rodri has two potential stand ins.
Anyhow it’s probably moot now as the deal looks done.
 
KS55 said:
That would presuppose the demise of Philips. Too many on here are inclined to write him off. He has been unfortunate with injuries since he came and you cannot ignore some very good games for England. Kovacic is better than Philips certainly but Philips is younger. While Kovacic has a top record, I just wonder whether he is the best use of our money, considering the potential size of midfield rebuilding required. Note also that Pep sees Lewis as a midfield player rather than a full back. So Rodri has two potential stand ins.
Anyhow it’s probably moot now as the deal looks done.
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I'm not sure what Phillips' status as regards his future is but it would seem that Pep doesn't, at this moment, have full confidence in his capacity to stand in for Rodri. That may change in the future and I and many others would love to see Phillips come through and make a full contribution to the side ala Grealish.
Having said that, the problem we have is in the here and now.
If Phillips takes another season to come up to speed or not at all and Rodri continues to be overused as he has been this season, it is only a matter of time before he starts to fatigue and start to pick up injuries. That would have the potential to derail our season.
I think it is a very good contingency signing and shows the thinking, hunger and ambition the club still has despite winning the treble and three prems in a row.
 
...............Ederson...............
..Stones.... Dias ........Ake..
...... ..Kovacic Phillips........
Foden ......KDB.....Grealish
...Alvarez......Haaland.........

Maybe when Rodri needs a rest we'll need both Kovacic and Phillips in the middle.

(Also its shit picking a team with no Gundogan, Bernardo or Mahrez - we need more players)
 
birchwoodgingerste said:
Don't know what game you were watching he looked class to me.
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I was watching that bore draw last night - specifically to watch him.
But ‘Great’? Sorry, just didn’t see it in any way shape or form.is he better than what weve got? I actually don’t think he’s as good as what we’ve already got In Lewis. what we don’t need is another Phillips……
 
He’s a good player no doubt. I’m just not sure where he obviously fits. I assumed next season would be the one we bring Phillips through. Unless we’re just looking to hold onto really strong depth of squad for the earlier cup games that could lead to key players getting fatigued
 
not a bad player, but clearly he will play in rotation, and that could mean anything between 5 league starts next season up to around 15 but no more imo unless heavy injuries to top top players like Rodri, KDB etc.

I just dont know if we are still in the market for a Bellingham plan B because if we are that player will play lot more than Kovacic or Phillips.
 
DeBlueLou said:
Fabrizio saying it's 2-3m in valuation difference for it to be a done deal.
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I'd say considering their Fats Waller-sized squad, the fact he wants to leave and the fact they need to shed some wages-weight, we have the upper hand in that negotiation.
 
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