8 | Mateo Kovačić - 2024/25

[bert38]

Thought he had a shocker. He's coming back from injury to be fair but I'm not putting much faith in him staying fit and getting a run of games to be honest, but we live in hope. We need him

Hardly completed a pass-looked well off the pace. Perhaps will strip fitter v Everton.

 

[01cravend]

Just came back so there is grace but I think it was Kova who Rogers ran off of for the first goal.

2nd half, Gundo played further ahead leaving him exposed and he got absolutely ran through from the start of 2nd half to after their 2nd goal. Couldn't even blame him for that.

Rogers turned him on half way and Kovacic's reaction was to walk back towards our goal as they were attacking it. Was pathetic really.

 

[bondsman]

We won’t reclaim our too side status with this guy a starter. He gets a lot less grief than Nunes and doku but he’s just as average when it matters. Looks okay against shite

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Rubbish

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Rogers turned him on half way and Kovacic's reaction was to walk back towards our goal as they were attacking it. Was pathetic really.

He didn't even get up to walking pace.
Looks even worse on MOTD tonight.
Obviously not up to match fitness after being out injured but if he's that badly out of shape he should not be starting.
A match fit Kovacic is a plus, a very intelligent player, but if he is not up to it, he is only a liability.

 

[Cambo]

Zero pace. Can’t get to the contest. Chelsea wanted rid and we thought we were getting a bargain in the window. We may be asking him to do a different role than what we bought him for. For me he’s been underwhelming.

 

[pee dubya]

He's such a good player.

But, he was our biggest problem today I think.

Time after time it was screaming for him to move into space, but he insisted on taking the ball to feet almost every time.

One move I think Foden just gave up and passed it Infront of him anyway, forcing him to move onto it. Got there just in time and broke the Everton lines.

 

[Chak19]

Has been poor since his return.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

He is just playing at the level that he is - Average.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

He's such a good player.

But, he was our biggest problem today I think.

Time after time it was screaming for him to move into space, but he insisted on taking the ball to feet almost every time.

One move I think Foden just gave up and passed it Infront of him anyway, forcing him to move onto it. Got there just in time and broke the Everton lines.

I don’t think there is much space for him to move into. I mean, whichever way he turns, he has either Rico or Bernie stood on his toes.

For me, the biggest problem with our current midfield, is that nobody seems to trust their teammate to do the job they’re paid for. The middle of the park ends up looking like the centre of a pub match.

Most sides let us have the ball out wide. They fill the middle with bodies and challenge us to go around them (not the worse tactic, given our profligate wide men). The worst thing this side can do, is assist them by filling the middle even more, which is exactly what we do. Giving the likes of Kova and Foden no room to work in.

 

[Blu1]

Work horse & was shocked he came off today

 

[super_city_si]

Tidy player but being asked to run the middle and it’s not his game. Better as a squad player. Did ok.

 

[Bluemoon1979]

Poor signing just a very average player

 

[sh249]

Poor signing just a very average player

Would be fine as a squad player, come on to close a few games out and be used to rest better players now and then. But he’s nowhere near the calibre of midfielder we’re used to - very limited.

 

[applejuice]

Too one footed

 

[Damanino]

he had Kante doing the hard work for him/next to him at Chelsea. if we want him to be our Kante we will suffer a lot.

 

[WallyA]

When we overhaul in the summer, id probably just sell him.

He has the highest chance of staying imo due to being a bit younger and being a newer signing.

But if we keep him after bolstering the squad, he would be like 3rd choice if we buy 2 more midfielders?

Id just give that spot to a Wright or O Reilly or Lewis.

 

[.db.]

Three times in the second half he ran behind the Everton player so he couldn’t be passed to. Pep hooked him after the third time.

 

[Yue Wollongong]

Kovacic is the only player in this current team that is able to stabilise the team with basically 100% shitty teammates. I’m surprised that some fans keep saying Kova is a squad player or below City’s standard. Which city player is more important than Kovacic in this team? I don’t think a healthy Rodri can do better for the current team than Kova.
Kova is the only player in this team that can make it ticking, make it like a functioning team. It was very visually obvious that He stabilises the system single-handily if one watched all the matches this season with and without him. Without him the backline looked like in shell shock and cannot keep the ball with pressure at all. That is not the performance of a squad player. Squad players cannot stabilise the team or bring on a structure that works with shitty teammates.

 

[Keeper!]

Poor signing just a very average player

Simply not true.

Solid player and has been a very good signing, without him we would be in even deeper in the sh1t.