8 | Mateo Kovačić - 2024/25

[skillman]

He’s mint. But he’s an 8, not a 6. Too often caught defensively lacking - or just not there at all. The amount of vertical balls that were played through to their strikers today was criminal.

His best attributes - dribbling, aggression and forward passing - are best kept for an 8 and not a defensive midfielder who is there to keep control.

Surely there’s another option!

 

[ninjamonkey]

i actually can't see him play anymore. may as well play with 10 man

Won't win fuck all with him starting, plays well in moments but defensively doesn't have a clue where to be.

What the fuck have you been watching? He was by far and away our best player, trying to hold the entire midfield together on his own. Without him we'd be well and truly fucked. What an outrageously bizarre opinion.

 

[MCFC1993]

What the fuck have you been watching? He was by far and away our best player, trying to hold the entire midfield together on his own. Without him we'd be well and truly fucked. What an outrageously bizarre opinion.

The best parts of his game aren't what he should be doing, he's the sitting midfielder yet does very little to protect the back 4. As well as he looks in moments he isn't good enough in that role.

We could just about get away with him as a box to box if we had a more defensive midfielder. If it's him at 6 for the rest of the season we're fucked.

 

[WallyA]

He was better than any other midfielder playing as the 6.

Defending as the 6 in our 316 formation is basically impossible, Rodri could barely do it.

Lewis played next to him often, but frequently pushed up leaving him alone.

 

[ninjamonkey]

The best parts of his game aren't what he should be doing, he's the sitting midfielder yet does very little to protect the back 4. As well as he looks in moments he isn't good enough in that role.

We could just about get away with him as a box to box if we had a more defensive midfielder. If it's him at 6 for the rest of the season we're fucked.

And none of that is the fault of Kovacic. He isn't a 6, he's never been a 6 and I doubt he'd ever claim to be one but he's being asked to play out of position, he's doing a valiant job. Your issues seem to be with the decision to go into the season with the backup plan to play him out of position in the absence of Rodri, that isn't his doing.

 

[decmancity]

He is what he is. He's not world class, steady Eddie capable of good to the odd great performances.

 

[city warrior]

Criticizing Kovacic is really unfair. The only midfielder who has a passing grade this season. Can he play alone as a 6? No, but he is the best we got now and is playing at a good level.

 

[MCFC1993]

And none of that is the fault of Kovacic. He isn't a 6, he's never been a 6 and I doubt he'd ever claim to be one but he's being asked to play out of position, he's doing a valiant job. Your issues seem to be with the decision to go into the season with the backup plan to play him out of position in the absence of Rodri, that isn't his doing.

I don't doubt that it's not his fault but it's not working and I don't know what we can do.

 

[Trojan1962]

I thought he was our best player today

 

[01cravend]

He was good, created most chances on the pitch for a start(from cdm).. everyone around him that was shit.