8 | Mateo Kovacic - 2023/24

[Alan Harper's Tash]

What does kovacic do??! Has no end product in the final 3rd, and defensively doesn’t seem to offer anything… can pass sideways yes and dribble occasionally well but we already have one passenger in the squad being grealish, can’t have 2. Enlighten me what am I missing I have never seen the hype in this guy.

I’m about 99.9% certain that this was said about Gundogan when he first arrived.

Central midfield is bloody hard in Pep’s systems. It takes time for players to get it. I’m more convinced that Kovacic will come good than Nunes, as he’s got more experience and a bigger brain.

Nunes is physically better though and has more time to learn.

 

[Dax777]

Poor

Ok then.

 

[Dax777]

He isn't creating any chances or posing any offensive threat.

Bernie didn't do that either playing next to Rodri. Neither did Gundo when he played that position. It's not a terribly high ( chance creating position).

 

[dadnlad]

let you know when match fit and up to speed took to long at times but im sure will improve with game time

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

His experience will kick in when we need it; he’s having to be overused, despite the niggles

Certain that when the balance comes roaring back, he'll be integral the back end. Currently he’s a jammed revolver, a little greasing and we’ll have the dead shot at 10 paces before we know it..

Still mega excited by what he’ll become, rather than the enforced actions we are seeing!

 

[Pain in Dias]

I’m about 99.9% certain that this was said about Gundogan when he first arrived.

Central midfield is bloody hard in Pep’s systems. It takes time for players to get it. I’m more convinced that Kovacic will come good than Nunes, as he’s got more experience and a bigger brain.

Nunes is physically better though and has more time to learn.

Thanks for your comment, better than some other bloke who simply told me to shut up and watch an other sport! Yeah I have to say I think nunes has potential to be our new attacking mid, obviously not perfect yet as you say but I like the potential there. Yeah perhaps we should give kovacic time, but then again why would you sign a 29 year old if you weren’t expecting instant results? Gundogan was younger, but you are right peps impact on his development is clear I am just concerned that kovacic is in/ past his prime and time is seriously of the essence. Feel like he flatters to deceive at times, he reminds me of jorginho or Thiago- not massively influential in the game, perhaps good in possession but not someone who is going to win you games with their quality in the final third or win you games by influencing the defence significantly. Be interesting to hear your thoughts, cheers.

 

[Pain in Dias]

Absolutely unbelievable at passing sideways 5 yards

Yep, reminds me of Thiago and jorginho, who all flatter to deceive in my opinion. All the players mentioned are perhaps good in possession, but kovacic, jorginho and Thiago are not players who have any real reasonable stack of g/a and are not someone you would want on the pitch to create chances. Nor would you want any of them protecting the defence, as none are particularly strong defensively. Be interesting to hear your thoughts, cheers.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Thanks for your comment, better than some other bloke who simply told me to shut up and watch an other sport! Yeah I have to say I think nunes has potential to be our new attacking mid, obviously not perfect yet as you say but I like the potential there. Yeah perhaps we should give kovacic time, but then again why would you sign a 29 year old if you weren’t expecting instant results? Gundogan was younger, but you are right peps impact on his development is clear I am just concerned that kovacic is in/ past his prime and time is seriously of the essence. Feel like he flatters to deceive at times, he reminds me of jorginho or Thiago- not massively influential in the game, perhaps good in possession but not someone who is going to win you games with their quality in the final third or win you games by influencing the defence significantly. Be interesting to hear your thoughts, cheers.

I think there’s more to Kovscic’s game than Jorginho and more defensive than Thiago.

His age is a slight concern, but for his price, it’s an excellent signing. Time will tell how good as he adapts to Pep’s methods and also gets over his frequent injury niggles.

Gundogan improved hugely under Pep, but he has a huge footballing IQ and had 6 months injured to learn his way without a prolonged adaptation period.

Kovacic won’t be a Gundogan. He will be about 75% of him though, once he gets up to speed.

The floating spot next to Rodri doesn’t create much for our team, but it allows defensive stability and also frees Rodri to go forwards and be creative too.

As always, with midfield signings, Pep demands loads and only the best survive. We shall see how it goes with Kovacic, but the worst that can happen is that we get most of our money back.

 

[Gigant]

record itself speaks more about Rodri

 

[Blu3m00n91]

Starting to see why we picked him up for only 20 million