8 | Mateo Kovacic - 2023/24

[Gundoggin]

Excellent first half tonight was absolutely everywhere .

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Excellent , showing some of his early season form , carrying the ball forward at every opportunity ,another player who needs to work on his finishing, a decent player just lacks a goal threat.

 

[WallyA]

Never an attacking midfielder for me, simply no instinct for it, he never has.

Let him play deeper and help control the midfield, we have others more suited to play behind Haaland.

 

[old-boys-YYF]

I like this guy, who is diligent, humble, and has a serious attitude. He is not one of the top superstars, but you cannot expect all 11 people on the pitch to be top superstars. You always need some players like kova.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Early days but I’m not convinced he’s any more than a poor man’s Gundo at the moment.

99% of midfielders are a poor man’s Gundogan.

 

[applejuice]

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.

Why strange? Kova was never being that calming midfielder at Chelsea. It was Jorginho. Kova always has an eye on a through ball but the success rate was alarming low.

 

[supercity88]

Started off really well. Showing for the ball regularly, playing between the lines and finding space to keep us ticking. But then had a really poor spell where he gave the ball away or had it stolen off him. He's an intelligent player and very tidy on the ball but against better opposition we could have been punished. There was one where he decided to flick a header backwards assuming it was safe to do so but didn't realise there were opposition players behind him. In the final 3rd he's really shite. I'd wrongly thought he could get in areas to score a fair few goals, but blimey he can't shoot for shit can he! A surprise when he's got such a good technique. The one he missed from Lewis' pull back took me back to the days of Samaras and Corradi! He didn't even hit the target!

I'll give him leeway because it was a makeshift midfield, but he needs to iron out those errors. He needs to be Mr Consistent for the whole game. It doesn't matter if he doesn't score or threaten going forwards but he has to just keep things ticking.

 

[iTyler]

He's a tidy player but I've never particularly rated him. Don't get me wrong, he's clearly a very good player. But defensively he isn't great and he also rarely gets assists or goals. Not too important in our team, but I always feel like he should be offering a little more than we he does.

 

[Franknorgrovesnephew]

Played well last night

 

[Le Havre Oswald]

He’s brilliant

 

[EdersonsSmiley]

Much closer to his early form last night. There were a few sloppy giveaways alongside Jack which could have cost us against better opposition.

 

[Gabriel]

Too slow, doesn’t get into the box enough, doesn’t score enough goals for my liking. Ah, how I miss the early Gundogan threads.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Played better last night.

 

[Belgian Flash]

My man can't shoot to save his life. Otherwise brilliant

 

[NikT]

Played well yesterday. Everyone knows he can't finish but either than that he's a perfect Pep player.

 

[1Basti]

Kinda surprised he`s carrying/running with the ball so much. In my memory he was more of a "passing machine" . The way the season is developing & with KDB return he (& Nunes) will struggle for game time. Atm Bernardo, Alvarez, Foden, KDB are ahead of him.

 

[Gundoggin]

Kinda surprised he`s carrying/running with the ball so much. In my memory he was more of a "passing machine" . The way the season is developing & with KDB return he (& Nunes) will struggle for game time. Atm Bernardo, Alvarez, Foden, KDB are ahead of him.

Your post makes no sense pal . Kovacic is a totally different player to all the ones you have mentioned. When KDB is fit again him and Rodri will flourish because of Kovacic,s style and job within the system.

 

[striver]

Your post makes no sense pal . Kovacic is a totally different player to all the ones you have mentioned. When KDB is fit again him and Rodri will flourish because of Kovacic,s style and job within the system.

ur onto something for sure, i initially thought club bought kovacic basically just to supply kdb, carry out the ball to him, create a space for him, whatever makes kev to create a magic on the pitch. i feel like when these 3 gonna play with each other, kovacic might get one of the highest number of pre-assists in the pl

 

[B\connellblue]

ur onto something for sure, i initially thought club bought kovacic basically just to supply kdb, carry out the ball to him, create a space for him, whatever makes kev to create a magic on the pitch. i feel like when these 3 gonna play with each other, kovacic might get one of the highest number of pre-assists in the pl

There's no such thing as a pre-assist. More nonsense. Where does it end? The player who kicks the game off is responsible for everything that follows?

 

[AshtonBlueMooner]

Maybe don’t compare with Gundo etc. Mateo is an excellent squad player. Started season well, got injured, getting fitter, understanding Pep more, looking better. He’ll play his part this season, make no mistake about that. Good, solid addition. Good luck lad.