8 | Mateo Kovacic - 2023/24

[WallyA]

Much better than Bernie in the middle, we had control.

Bernie just seems off it, id rather Kova there until the end of the season, Bernie can play RW if needed.

 

[youngbob]

Can see him becoming a full Rodri back-up next season after having had a year under Pep, especially if we get Bruno and Paqueta in.

Full squad will be:

Ederson
Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake
Rodri
De Bruyne, Foden
Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish

Ortega
[Frimpong], Akanji, Gvardiol, Lewis
Kovacic
[Bruno], [Paqueta] (Nunes)
Bobb, Alvarez, Doku

Looks good to me.

This is assuming Cancelo (£50m), Gomez (£10m), Wilson-Esbrand (£5m), McAtee (£25m), Perrone (£5m), and Phillips (£15m) - and maybe Nunes (£30m)- are all sold.

 

[madloaf]

I didn’t think we got proper control until Haaland came on to be honest.

Exactly this. When a player takes the attention of 2 players - everything becomes easier.

 

[RodneyRodney]

Can see him becoming a full Rodri back-up next season after having had a year under Pep, especially if we get Bruno and Paqueta in.

Full squad will be:



Looks good to me.

This is assuming Cancelo (£50m), Gomez (£10m), Wilson-Esbrand (£5m), McAtee (£25m), Perrone (£5m), and Phillips (£15m) - and maybe Nunes (£30m)- are all sold.

What's happened to Perrone ? (Has he gone flat...?)

 

[clarion]

Been saying it for weeks, kovacic has to play. We're a structural mess without him. Glad pep took the unusual decision to make an early sub, could have cost us if he hadn't. Now he just needs to stop dropping him and we will be golden.

This. With Kova alongside Rodri and Bernardo on the right our control gets a boost.

Bernie comes often to help and we roll.

Bernardo, KdB, Foden, Haaland up front.
Kova and Rodri behind them.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

He loses the ball in some precarious positions, but the positives outweigh the negatives—really strong performance.

 

[Gabriel]

Such an intelligent player. Good to see both he and Rodri finish the game. The more minutes together, the more they understand each other’s movements.

 

[MCFCFanTX]

Dribbling and ball carrying is immense.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Kova plays, the team plays. People will realise how pivotal he will be for us. Immense once again.

 

[youngbob]

Everyone's saying Kovacic doesn't have Gundogan's instincts for goal, which is true.

But, do you know who does have Gundogan's instincts in the final third and is able get forward loads more whenever Kovacic plays?

View attachment 110705

Two assists for Rodri and one for Foden today. A lot like Grealish, Kova allows others to shine their brightest.