8 | Mateo Kovacic - 2023/24

[denTTony]

He completed 57/60 passes. 95% accuracy. You're looking for things to moan about. He did his job perfectly well as City controlled the game comfortably.

we'll see. watch again and see 'how accurate' some of those passes were, i.e. two yards behind a player etc.

its early days for him, I agree he needs time but i dont see anything that says he is anything but a squad player and an average one at that

 

[Akira]

Did his job quietly, solid performance. Could've, and maybe, should've nab a goal.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

Top player Chelsea must be Thick as fuck

 

[johnnytapia]

Kept things ticking over beautifully yesterday.

 

[mancityscot]

Looked a better player before that injury he picked up. Not bad yesterday, but didn’t really jump out

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

we'll see. watch again and see 'how accurate' some of those passes were, i.e. two yards behind a player etc.

its early days for him, I agree he needs time but i dont see anything that says he is anything but a squad player and an average one at that

Think he’s a bit better than average! Bloody hell, he ran that Croatia team in the WC. Taking time to settle in but if he’s a reliable squad player that’s fine by me

 

[richards30]

£25m and people are wingeing about him? He`s top draw and fits the team well for a bargain price.

 

[Gundoggin]

He completed 57/60 passes. 95% accuracy. You're looking for things to moan about. He did his job perfectly well as City controlled the game comfortably.

He is a different type of player in midfield we are used to having, his style makes it much easier for Rodri to do his thing . The same will apply when KDB is fit again , a lot of fans are just going to have to get used to the fact Kovacic isn’t a flair box to box midfielder just a very effective grafter who links up our play and breaks up opponents play .

 

[B\connellblue]

Did his job quietly, solid performance. Could've, and maybe, should've nab a goal.

No could have about it. Awful miss.

 

[skillman]

Not sure the midfield signings have hit the spot from our normally high transfer performances. We now have Nunes, Kovacic and Lewis who seem to play best as a CM and are not particularly creative. When we are at our best we generally play Rodri + two creative midfielders. We have 3 players who play a position which at best we need 1 for a bit of variety in midfield options. Nothing to show that either Kova or Nunes can provide the cover to Rodri which Kalvin has been unable to

The flip-side of non-creative CMs is that we now have 4 up top instead. The Rodri plus 2 attacking CMs meant 3 up top with the wingers being there to recycle the ball.

Now it's Rodri with another CM plus 4 up top whose main jobs are create, score and cause havoc.

 

[supercity88]

Still more to come from him. It would be good to see him bury that chance late on, but it was a great run and he was also in an advanced position for Foden's goal - so he's looking to get into attacking areas. He should have scored, but if he can add goals to his game he'll be excellent for us. Ultimately, he's providing an extra level of control in the middle and enabling Rodri to be a more attacking threat, where he's excelling. Still getting up to speed after his injury but a bargain squad player who is looking the part.

 

[johnnytapia]

He is a different type of player in midfield we are used to having, his style makes it much easier for Rodri to do his thing . The same will apply when KDB is fit again , a lot of fans are just going to have to get used to the fact Kovacic isn’t a flair box to box midfielder just a very effective grafter who links up our play and breaks up opponents play .

Gareth Barry was one of our most important players. He was the glue that held it all together. Kovacic will do likewise

 

[Gundoggin]

Gareth Barry was one of our most important players. He was the glue that held it all together. Kovacic will do likewise

Yeah deffo , good assessment !

 

[vanchi]

No could have about it. Awful miss.

but that’s kova, he doesn’t do goals. city knew that, everyone knows that.

many of you can either accept that and be surprised if it happens or just save “kova doesn’t score goals, he’s utter crap” and copy and paste every time he plays.

 

[shroom]

Against Bournemouth I thought he kinda looked sluggish and a beat off at times ... but did note he played the entire match. Comes back a few days later and plays perfectly? tip of the cap

 

[Kamaro011]

but that’s kova, he doesn’t do goals. city knew that, everyone knows that.

many of you can either accept that and be surprised if it happens or just save “kova doesn’t score goals, he’s utter crap” and copy and paste every time he plays.

Same as Grealish, too much emphasis on G/A around here.

 

[TrentGrisham]

Good performance. Made some really nice progressive passes as well.

 

[skillman]

It‘s strange because he doesn’t seem to have the composure and control that Gundo did but on the flip side has a real (delightful) knack of finding eye of the needle passes out of nowhere.

Must be a dream to play with as an attacker, somebody always looking for a forward pass.

 

[Withnail]

Played well tonight, brilliant pass to Grealish in the 1st half. Looked more like the Kovacic from early part of the season.

 

[Crooked_rain]

He's a very good player

I thought he was very good at the beginning of the season and then he had the international duty and picked up a back injury and his performances dropped up after that, even though I assume he was fit because he's been playing, but tonight he looked a little bit back to how he was at the start of the season

I still think he has plenty quality with better to come.