8 | Mateo Kovačić - 2024/25

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Kovacic was in the top 3 (or maybe the top one) in the burst speed list in La liga in one year. He just doesn’t do long burst much due to position.

I’m used with posts criticising Kova with all kinds of excuses but saying him ran forward too much and hurting defensive structure is the new shocking one. It is only after when Kova is back that the team started to have a defensive structure and really can hold off high press from opponents. Kova’s break throughs in the middle yesterday was the long missing element in city’s game recently. Maybe someone noticed that City’s possession yesterday was lower than Leicester. That actually allows city to fast break through the midfield and allows space for penetrating passes in counter attacks. Both goals were from fast break through. We could do this only because we are having a functioning midfield backboned by Kova. Non of the Leicester’s treat was through the mild field but rather the crosses to the far post with just Rico marking two players…Kova should have been there? mate, you might have forgot that the team have 11 players.

Some people here keep restating that Kova is a squad player. I reckon the term “squad player” must be a very high praise here. When Kova was injured, the team was obviously not a squad but just a bunch of struggling individuals. From Everton to Leicester game it was very obvious hiw a gradually match-fit Kova stabilised the defence and and supported the attack. One can argue that the two teams are bad sides or the whole team is getting better form but to me, the form won’t improve quickly on individual level and he team were losing to literally any team without Kova. If Kova is a squad player, the rest of the team must not be squad players. The only other players that were equally crucial in recent games were Ake and Dias.
 
Just watching the game back. I think it’s safe to say he doesn’t enjoy playing as the defensive midfielder.

If you get chance to watch the game back, have a look at the contrasting efforts in intensity between any time he drives forward with the ball at his feet (created some brilliant attacking situations) in contrast to his efforts defensively in moments in the game like before Leicester hit the post in the first half (utterly pathetic jogging back and walking around in our box not picking anyone up).
 
Psychedelic Casual said:
Just watching the game back. I think it’s safe to say he doesn’t enjoy playing as the defensive midfielder.

If you get chance to watch the game back, have a look at the contrasting efforts in intensity between any time he drives forward with the ball at his feet (created some brilliant attacking situations) in contrast to his efforts defensively in moments in the game like before Leicester hit the post in the first half (utterly pathetic jogging back and walking around in our box not picking anyone up).
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It’s funny because that’s exactly the position he played for Inter. They turned him from a #10 to a #6 and that’s how he got to Madrid.
 
King Jay said:
It’s funny because that’s exactly the position he played for Inter. They turned him from a #10 to a #6 and that’s how he got to Madrid.
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Did Inter play with a single pivot DM? He seems to struggle with the role for us so it might be worth looking at how he played the role for Inter and which players supported him. I'm grateful for the job he is doing but agree with Casual about contrasting intensities.
 
jamesha said:
Did Inter play with a single pivot DM? He seems to struggle with the role for us so it might be worth looking at how he played the role for Inter and which players supported him. I'm grateful for the job he is doing but agree with Casual about contrasting intensities.
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They played a 3-5-2. I am not sure but he had at least 1 CM next to him who was good on the defense side too. I sadly don’t know if it was Brozovic during that time too.
 
He played AM for Inter but he was moved deeper because it became evident he doesn't have shooting ability to be a big threat in the final third and by playing him in an advanced position you lose his best quality which is his slalom runs from deep which unzip the opposition's lines.

The problem is now that he lost speed his usefulness is mostly his passing but he has never been great at organizing the play and dictating tempo. And while his shooting slightly improved in the last years, hes still a very small goalscoring threat.
 
Belgian Flash said:
He played AM for Inter but he was moved deeper because it became evident he doesn't have shooting ability to be a big threat in the final third and by playing him in an advanced position you lose his best quality which is his slalom runs from deep which unzip the opposition's lines.

The problem is now that he lost speed his usefulness is mostly his passing but he has never been great at organizing the play and dictating tempo. And while his shooting slightly improved in the last years, hes still a very small goalscoring threat.
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Inter? That was long long ago.
 
Kova was a B2B player since day 1. He usually play in left midfield but also played comfortably in right midfield to replace either one of the triple midfielders who was injured during Madrid time. He was defensively weak during Inter and Madrid period as he was used to take the ball from deep by dribbling trough or fast transition. His defensive work improved a lot at Chelsea as his role transitioned to stabilising the structure for his press-resistance and fast transition ability. Kova’s style is like the Eastern European teams, playing with strict discipline, thanks to his home club Zagłęb academic time. He doesn’t run everywhere but rather go to the places he should go. He wouldn’t dash back when he just did a burst forward run, instead, he rely on team mates to cover. He will do exact the same if other midfielders are in the front. He would release the ball when breaking through for others to shoot or do the final pass as he always play within a certain system, instead of being everywhere. If there is another midfielder that can dibble and release timely at City, we can play the prime Spain’s tikitaka.
 
FromPollockToSilva said:
With that in mind, he needs to stop picking up pointless yellow cards diving into tackles that he can’t win
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Actually if he can make tactical fouls that's good too because no one else can come even close, if we want teams to stop running at our defence that's what's needed sometimes.
 
He is the only midfielder that can move.

He is arguably one of our most important players at the moment, because without him, a midfield trio of Gundo, Bernie and KDB won’t get us top 8, never mind CL football.
 
The conundrum, for me, is that Kovacic must stay fit and be used as much as possible.

I've never much rated him and saw him as a useful asset to have in the squad but he now has his place centre stage, it is painfully obvious that without him in the XI the midfield doesn't exist, and with him in the XI, it sort of exists a bit.

He needs his legs saving as much as possible, he should be rested for Salford or max 45 mins, O'Reilly getting a go. Gundo/DeBruyne/Silva just dont seem to be working in the middle in any way shape or form.
 
cant be the only one that thought he was poor? poor passing, non-existent in defending transitions, shit tackling, doesnt move the ball quick enough to get it to KDB to make something happen.

he is a great ball carrier, but thats about it.

we are still a better team with him instead of gundogan, but a DM is needed this window.

hmm...
 
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Great again. Right decision to bring him off, on a yellow and his legs need preserving at every chance.
 
What a strange footballer.

Unlike the legends in the club his legs aren't gone and is in his prime .

What's his actual position ?

What's he good at ?
 
Really good on transition and press-resistant. Lacks the legs. Shouldn’t be a starter long-term but we’ve been better since he’s been back from injury.
 
He’s not Rodri (no one is) but he’s going to need to have the season of his life if we don’t sign anyone this window.

Have to keep him fit.
 
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