8 | Mateo Kovačić - 2024/25

[OB1]

Absolute master class

Easily MotM today.

He’s a very good player and he will keep improving under Pep’s guidance.

 

[ninjamonkey]

He is a 6. I dont get how you keep parotting this.

He may not be Rodri good, but nobody is.

Even Rodri needs help with a partner, as he couldnt lock a midfield down like Dinho.

He very clearly isn't, as shown by the fact he's played his entire career, at some top, top clubs as an 8. Or are you suggesting he's played out of position his entire career?

 

[Sir peace frog]

outstanding performance from someone who doesn't get the credit he deserves

 

[WallyA]

He very clearly isn't, as shown by the fact he's played his entire career, at some top, top clubs as an 8. Or are you suggesting he's played out of position his entire career?

I truly dont think you watched him clearly in his career then.

Ive seen him at Madrid (my brother likes Madrid) and Chelsea.

Almost always played in a midfield 2 and operating deep, very rarely playing higher up between the lines like we want from our 8s.

Anyways, the game today made it evident as well.

 

[Phil1]

Just an all round top player who rarely lets you down. Fucking bargain as well.
Too many (as always on here) too quick to do him down.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Arguably his best performance in a City shirt.

Reckon he should play the same role against Ipswich and give Rodri a longer rest.

 

[blueparrot]

He very clearly isn't, as shown by the fact he's played his entire career, at some top, top clubs as an 8. Or are you suggesting he's played out of position his entire career?

He wasn’t doesn’t mean he can’t be a 6, especially a Pep 6 coached by Pep. Only need to watch today to see he can be that.

 

[come-on-barney]

Superb performance and player.

 

[ninjamonkey]

I truly dont think you watched him clearly in his career then.

Ive seen him at Madrid (my brother likes Madrid) and Chelsea.

Almost always played in a midfield 2 and operating deep, very rarely playing higher up between the lines like we want from our 8s.

Anyways, the game today made it evident as well.

I've seen him at madrid and at chelsea as well as for his national side. Ive been a fan of his for a long time, im on record on here saying he was the closest thing to bernardo on the market a couple of years back when it seemed he was destined to leave and was delighted when we brought him in later so ive seen him plenty.

Playing deep doesnt make him a 6. You seem to have 1 very specific definition of an 8 that doesn't match kovacic and so you call him a 6. the 8 isnt one role, there are different versions of an 8 other than a goalscoring midfielder.

Gundogan spent most of his city career here playing in a similar way to kovacic as a deeper 8 getting us up the pitch and through lines, he only changed his game and became a goalscoring midfielder when we went with the false 9 approach and needed that, the years before that he was a much deeper 8.

Bernardo often plays as a deeper 8 when he goes central in big games, these are similar roles to kovacic, they arent 6's and neither is kovacic.

 

[Trickyblues]

Shame on everyone who wanted him sold after 1 season

 

[ninjamonkey]

He wasn’t doesn’t mean he can’t be a 6, especially a Pep 6 coached by Pep. Only need to watch today to see he can be that.

It's just not his game, the 6 requires more discpline and structure, that goes against what he is best at. Even today he was best when he was carrying the ball and moving into pockets as he does in the 8 role.

He was superb today, my motm but there was a lot of space in midfield where a 6 should be just waiting to be exploited like united did last week, Chelsea just didn't exploit it today, fuck knows why.

 

[decmancity]

Superb player.

Technically gifted, works hard, experienced, winning mentality and never moans. The modern day Gareth Barry.

 

[ElMago_DSilva]

The disrespect I've seen about Kovacic on this forum.

Crazyyy.

He is a quality footballer. Technically so so smooth. Won't get you the goals and assists, but he keeps the ball moving, rarely loses the ball either. Cracking little footballer.

 

[Gundoggin]

Absolutely magnificent today .

 

[AshtonBlueMooner]

Pep relied on him at the end of last season. Mateo has stated that understanding Pep’s requirements took time to get used to. We saw the same in Rodri’s first season.
What we’re seeing in preseason is a continuation of the last five or six games last season. A very good player, that understands his role and position better.
I expect he will play a significant number of games and will contribute both defensively and offensively. He’s not an out and out goal scoring midfielder but I suspect he’ll improve his goal tally this season.

Nobody loves a smart arse, but………….11/8/2024

 

[blue wang]

Quality performance, did the business.

Got my respect today.

 

[1Basti]

motm...with performances like this it`s pretty hard to leave him out of the starting team...his pace with the ball might be his most underrated skill

 

[Keeper!]

Class footballer and looks fitter than at any time with us.

 

[wolfie1988]

Told ya. @wolfie1988

Haha! Great call. Neither him nor Nunes looked like they knew how to shoot properly at times last season

 

[skillman]

As ive said before, he is a great Rodri backup.

But maybe Pep will want to start both?

Kova still isnt the 8 like Bernie is, so I dont see that.

An alternative is asking Rodri to start as a CB and push into midfield next to Kova. Quite curious if Pep tries this.

We had Ake and Stones on the bench today already, doubt it'd do much good for squad harmony if we added Dias/Akanji to it for Rodri to play there.

Rodri would be an immense 8 IMO, his finishing is brilliant and arrives in good areas a lot of the time.