8 | Mateo Kovačić - 2024/25

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Never seen him have the ball fully under control. It’s always running away from him and he’s slower than me, which is saying something.
 
I thought he was poor, again. But shouldn’t have been taken off when he was.
 
I thought he was bloody hopeless defensively but he’s better than Gündoğan.
 
Poor, and to be fair to him looked like he could barely walk when he came off.

Kovacic or Gundo, doesn't matter. Exact same problems in transition. Kovacic is less likely to get robbed of the ball, but that wasn't the issue tonight.
 
Kovacic is not the problem. I think people are mistaking structural problems with individual problems and blaming him.

We have 4 forwards who go and stand on the edge of the opposition box every goal kick. One simple ball to a fullback and those 4 are out of the game completely and none of them are getting back in unless the opposition go backwards. Because of this, bernardo or kovacic depending on the side it goes to, will have to vacate the middle and go over to engage, by this point their entire midfield, strikers and fullbacks have got themselves involved with play and we are left with 6 outfield players, at least 1 of which will probably be forced out of position to defend against at least 8 of theirs.

it's then as easy as playing against school kids to pass around us by that point and get straight at our backline. This happens every single time, just because kovacic or bernardo ends up wildly out of position and they're walking through the centre it doesn't automatically make it their fault. They have no option but to follow the lead of the pathetic front press.
 
He's just nowhere near good enough. Obviously the goals came when Gundogan came on, but Kovacic was a liability throughout the game. Constantly out of position too high up the pitch. Lost count of the amount of times he gave the ball away and left a thirty yard space behind him.

He's one that should be sold this summer.
 
he is not a 6 and we shouldnt be asking this from him. especially not when others front of him put in lot less effort off the ball than they should be. he would may be able to to set the rhythm somewhat if we had high pressers and players running back to track back.

best way to use him imo is with Rodri when we lean 2-0 bring him on from bench to provide bit of legs, calm presence, but not instead of Rodri or without Rodri. maybe at home vs lot lessers opponents like Ipswich, Soton etc.

I am worried if we want to start him vs PSG like today.
 
OrigamiNinja said:
This and it’s not as if we didn’t know this when we signed him. He is a solid enough squad player, which is all he was meant to be here. He is getting grief because he isn’t Rodri level. We have bigger problems than Kova.
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Indeed. Yet the proposed signings all look like they are in areas where the need is not quite as great. Not having a DM lined up and now a right back is criminal.
 
Like watching an oil tanker in a power boat race.
Was passable when absorbed into the still performing 2022/23 side, but clearly not on that level.
But .... as mentioned, our problems are that many, that he's not even one of the main issues.
That's how far and quickly we've allowed this drop off. Atrocious forward planning. Or acceptable, allocated decline?? Strange times.
 
City_Sean said:
He's just nowhere near good enough. Obviously the goals came when Gundogan came on, but Kovacic was a liability throughout the game. Constantly out of position too high up the pitch. Lost count of the amount of times he gave the ball away and left a thirty yard space behind him.

He's one that should be sold this summer.
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Except he wasn't constantly out of position, that's what happens in the high press. Go watch clips of Rodri and you'll see him constantly out of position and too high too. Goes without saying Rodri is vastly superior at it than kovacic and anybody on the planet but thats not the problem with it. the problem is the press is piss poor from the start with gaping holes everywhere. it's doomed to fail from the instant we trigger it with a barely jogging front press and everybody following the lead from the front 4 into the press are being led off a cliff, whether that's the midfield or the fullbacks, the result is the same.
 
ninjamonkey said:
Except he wasn't constantly out of position, that's what happens in the high press. Go watch clips of Rodri and you'll see him constantly out of position and too high too. Goes without saying Rodri is vastly superior at it than kovacic and anybody on the planet but thats not the problem with it. the problem is the press is piss poor from the start with gaping holes everywhere. it's doomed to fail from the instant we trigger it with a barely jogging front press and everybody following the lead from the front 4 into the press are being led off a cliff, whether that's the midfield or the fullbacks, the result is the same.
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I agree about the press but my bigger issue with Kovacic is as the #6 he's not the guy we need to go dribbling forty yards out of position only to lose it and walk back.

I think he's totally out his depth but in the position and for the level we want to be.
 
Yue Wollongong said:
Let me make it clear haters: when Kova is on pitchC City wins, when not city loses.
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He came on when we were winning against Utd and we lost the game. He also started the game against Villa that we lost and the game against Everton that we drew.
 
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