8 | Mateo Kovačić - 2024/25

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I love Nico O'Reilly but he has just turned 20.

Pep was a 6 (at Barcelona in 1990) at that age. Different era. He wasn't happy with Rodri or Nico Gonzalez at 23. Same errors. They had to learn, he has to explain.

Nico O'Reilly got the seal of approval in pre-season at 19 but didn't feel confident enough to do it (hence LB).

Sometimes it is hard to go from a superstar 10 to a 6 ?
 
But maybe longtime it makes you the best coach and manager on the planet.
 
This is a special season for Kovacic. The team is lack of any nature number 6 player most of the time. And the other defensive players lost ability to resist press, or maybe not exposed individually before. Kovacic was the only player that can show up in resisting press and keep ball movement from the back. This is a challenging job and I think Kova did well.

Taking the leading role at the defence line was especially crucial in December when Kova just came back from injury. I think Pep was mentally unstable in December and the lineups were quite randomised, which doesnt help. The whole team were shattered into pieces at that moment and every team found out how to press city for the panicking moment to happen. Kova used two matches to stabilise the backyard and it was stabilized till the end of the season.

While KDB has been struggling with making accurate passes, Kovacic quietly took over the task of threading the attacks. It was not very efficient when Pep stuck with Doku and Savinho as both rely on individual skirmishes instead of team rhythm and ball movements. After Pep stopped the experiment with Doku and Savinho, and starting to use Marmoush and O'Rliey the attack was much more fluent. Kova is good at the incisive passes and maintaining a good balance between attacks and risks.

Although Kova presses the ball carrying opponents well, he is not good at defensive positioning or arriving at the defensive position quick. He needs a double pivot player or a tracking back midfielder to help protect the front line of the box. He has this weakness since the Inter years. But considering his other abilities that are mostly at elite level, arranging a protector for Kova is worthwhile.
 
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DJ Dreamer said:
I love Nico O'Reilly but he has just turned 20.

Pep was a 6 (at Barcelona in 1990) at that age. Different era. He wasn't happy with Rodri or Nico Gonzalez at 23. Same errors. They had to learn, he has to explain.

Nico O'Reilly got the seal of approval in pre-season at 19 but didn't feel confident enough to do it (hence LB).

Sometimes it is hard to go from a superstar 10 to a 6 ?
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don't think he'll be a 6 ever tbh. Maybe as his legs go.
 
Offered half a mil a week in Saudi, zccording to Tolm. Fuck me, now thats a payday.
 
5 Hit Gibbon said:
If true, you couldn't really blame him for taking it. He's been really good this season but at his age and with that kind of offer I wouldn't begrudge him getting a move if he wants one.
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Insane payoff to turn down at 31.
 
He'll be 33 when his contract expires with us, and having seen our sea change and the move towards younger players, I'd be surprised if a switch to Saudi Arabia this summer doesn't tempt him.
 
Gabriel said:
He'll be 33 when his contract expires with us, and having seen our sea change and the move towards younger players, I'd be surprised if a switch to Saudi Arabia this summer doesn't tempt him.
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Plenty of options around to buy or cover him in the squad as well.
 
Gaz (FMwkdsoul) said:
Plenty of options around to buy or cover him in the squad as well.
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He had a good season and managed considerable minutes, but some of that came because so many other players were either injured or out of form. Were I him and listening to Guardiola (we're not going to experience a season like that) and seeing the players coming in and returning from injury, I'd know my playing time will be limited. Perhaps, then, the optimal time to leave and earn one last (bumper) pay day.
 
I would take it. 100M in 5 years ? Who says no to that ? Do understand if he stays and moves there in 2 years too. He can still play and showed it this season. He is 31 not 35 with million of injuries
 
King Jay said:
I would take it. 100M in 5 years ? Who says no to that ? Do understand if he stays and moves there in 2 years too. He can still play and showed it this season. He is 31 not 35 with million of injuries
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No guarantee that offer is there in 2 years .
 
Very harsh of me but I would be showing him the door. He has been the best of a very bad bunch this season but we should be binning this campaign as a metric for what is a good player. Would he have got into any of our title winning sides consistently, no. So will he get into ones in the future, no.

Cash in if we can.

You aren't going to build a team around him. Some very good performances from him, and a great addition overall but when you saw how far off it he was against PSG - that's the level we need to be hitting and he isn't going to get us there.
 
supercity88 said:
Very harsh of me but I would be showing him the door. He has been the best of a very bad bunch this season but we should be binning this campaign as a metric for what is a good player. Would he have got into any of our title winning sides consistently, no. So will he get into ones in the future, no.

Cash in if we can.

You aren't going to build a team around him. Some very good performances from him, and a great addition overall but when you saw how far off it he was against PSG - that's the level we need to be hitting and he isn't going to get us there.
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We can agree that Kova is the best player for City in a bad season. I think Kova can still be a huge asset for City next season but can understand that you want to set the standard high so that Kova will not be a starting 11. As to where Kova should be sold to, I reckon Saudi is your best option. Great resell income, and the player could not do any damage to City by representing other PL teams. His top-level soccer career would be basically finished so nobody would say the club made a mistake. I think it would be a smart move.
 
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Watching the CL final and right now I want to laugh at everyone who said we must keep Kovacic when we saw what happened to our midfield vs PSG/ Real and Juve.

We need better recruitment and we need a new midfield that is younger, faster, High IQ!
 
Blue_Lightsaber said:
Watching the CL final and right now I want to laugh at everyone who said we must keep Kovacic when we saw what happened to our midfield vs PSG/ Real and Juve.

We need better recruitment and we need a new midfield that is younger, faster, High IQ!
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To say "we must keep Kovacic" doesn't suggest we shouldn't improve or that he should start. It simply means amongst all those who tried to play midfield this season, he was the best

Thus, unless the plan is to get eid of everyone who tried to play midfield this year, id say he should be the last one you are getting rid of
.That said, if the rumors are true then this is all moot. He'll be frolicking in S. A in no time.
 
Dax777 said:
To say "we must keep Kovacic" doesn't suggest we shouldn't improve or that he should start. It simply means amongst all those who tried to play midfield this season, he was the best

Thus, unless the plan is to get eid of everyone who tried to play midfield this year, id say he should be the last one you are getting rid of
.That said, if the rumors are true then this is all moot. He'll be frolicking in S. A in no time.
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If you read around the forum people want to keep Gundo AND Bernardo and KOVACIC and Pep given his blind spot too may love to keep all three around
That is not how we will move forward
 
dhruvblue said:
If you read around the forum people want to keep Gundo AND Bernardo and KOVACIC and Pep given his blind spot too may love to keep all three around
That is not how we will move forward
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I certainly don't want that. For me its Rodri then Gonzalez then Kova, everyone else ought to go.
 
Blue_Lightsaber said:
Watching the CL final and right now I want to laugh at everyone who said we must keep Kovacic when we saw what happened to our midfield vs PSG/ Real and Juve.

We need better recruitment and we need a new midfield that is younger, faster, High IQ!
Click to expand...


Even if you replace Kovacic with prime Makelele , I don't think the outcome will change.
 
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