8 | Mateo Kovacic - 2023/24

[Tevez City]

Fits like a glove

 

[bluethai]

never doubted him

 

[Ashleymcduff]

What’s Phillips excuse ?

 

[applejuice]

I suspected the deeper role is better for him that way he can be more involved in the build up and do those passes to the forwards.

I suspect we might see Bernardo rotate here as well as they have very similar profile for control.

A bit different.

Bernardo moves like a bee to roam into the pocket of spaces constantly and he is a master to use his movement to drag players out without touching the ball. He is between 10 and 8. Kovacic is a more on the ball player between 8 and 6. His off the ball movement - TBH - is no where near Bernado KDB or Gundo level. It can improve of course but currently I think that Kovacic can be a fantastic choice to rotate with Rodri/Stones for the 2 CM positions when everyone is back. And play Foden/Bernado/KDB in front of them as attacking midfields. So we have 3 for 2 spots in AM and CM. Plus Alvarez can join them too.

 

[hammocity]

I have to hold my hands up, didn’t really want Kovacic as I didn’t think at his age he fitted our profile but I was definitely wrong, so impressed with him, our recruiting is generally very good.

 

[ojeme]

There is no reason why he cannot play further forward as an “8” even though he has strengths that could be useful as a “6”

In our 3-2-4-1 set up we can have something like this going forward till we see KDB:

Grealish-Foden-Kovacic-Bernardo as the four attacking midfielders before he striker.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

What’s Phillips excuse ?

Yorkshire puddings taste too good.

 

[waspish]

Could he play the Rodri role to give him rest?

 

[Matt the Giant]

Could he play the Rodri role to give him rest?

I think even when they play together, as last night, that eases the burden on Rodri's shoulders quite a bit.

 

[kippaxwarrior]

Excellent last night. No bedding in, fits straight into the system.

£30M looks like an absolute steal