Mateo Kovacic

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Belgique est Fantastique said:
There’s a world of difference in goals and assists netwerk Kovacic and Gundogan. Thats’s something we can’t forget when replacing Silky Ilky.
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Maybe if we think in terms of Kovacic replacing Bernardo and Jude replacing Gundogan it evens out a little bit.
 
SebastianBlue said:
…what?
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Jude and Kovacic combined may not be far off the output of Gundo and Bernardo.

Very important to not think about how Kovacic is playing for Chelsea. Its a completely different proposition under Pep. He is very talented technically, there is a lot of scope to grab 10 goals a season.
 
decmancity said:
Jude and Kovacic combined may not be far off the output of Gundo and Bernardo.

Very important to not think about how Kovacic is playing for Chelsea. It’s a completely different proposition under Pep. He is very talented technically, there is a lot of scope to grab 10 goals a season.
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Bellingham for Gundogan I agree with.

But Kovacic is in no way a replacement for Bernardo, in style, ability, or output. They are very different players that contribute very different things. Kovacic is never going to be playing RW or AM, for instance.

I have no doubt that Pep will make him a better player and he will perform better than in the current Chelsea team, but asserting that Kovacic is a replacement for Bernardo (or even that combined with Bellingham he will help replace Bernardo’s contributions) is just demonstratively wrong.

Now, if the argument is that we can play in a different way with Kovacic that will allow us to mitigate the loss of what Bernardo gave us, then I can get behind that. That I believe Pep can do.
 
City_Sean said:
Think is a very bizarre and potentially poor signing. He's not as good as anyone we have, is injury prone and will be 29 this summer.

Seems a bizarre move.
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I think it makes sense if we are in fact not getting Bellingham or if we are getting Bellingham but losing Bernardo/Gundogan and Pep wants to play a different way.

For instance, perhaps Pep thinks we would be a more controlling, productive team with this setup (in possession), with Kev being able to replace Kovacic, Bellingham, or Foden, depending on where Pep thinks we need to exploit the free space in a particular match (or not at all, so we can rest Kev more).

————————————— Eddie —————————————
——— Akanji —————— Dias —————— Ake ————
————————— Stones ——— Rodri —————————
————— Kovacic ————————————————————
————————————————— Bellingham ——————
Foden ———————— Haaland ——————— Grealish
 
SebastianBlue said:
I think it makes sense if we are in fact not getting Bellingham or if we are getting Bellingham but losing Bernardo/Gundogan and Pep wants to play a different way.

For instance, perhaps Pep thinks we would be a more controlling, productive team with this setup (in possession), with Kev being able to replace Kovacic, Bellingham, or Foden, depending on where Pep thinks we need to exploit the free space in a particular match (or not at all, so we can rest Kev more).

————————————— Eddie —————————————
——— Akanji —————— Dias —————— Ake ————
————————— Stones ——— Rodri —————————
————— Kovacic ————————————————————
————————————————— Bellingham ——————
Foden ———————— Haaland ——————— Grealish
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I agree with this. Also, Pep is very capable of improving players. Before the summer, how many of you knew of/rated Akanji? Besides, the Croatian midfield was arguably the best one at the world cup, and he was a part of it. I agree with the above setup (assuming we lose Bernie/Gundo, which is likely).
 
SebastianBlue said:
Bellingham for Gundogan I agree with.

But Kovacic is in no way a replacement for Bernardo, in style, ability, or output. They are very different players that contribute very different things. Kovacic is never going to be playing RW or AM, for instance.

I have no doubt that Pep will make him a better player and he will perform better than in the current Chelsea team, but asserting that Kovacic is a replacement for Bernardo (or even that combined with Bellingham he will help replace Bernardo’s contributions) is just demonstratively wrong.

Now, if the argument is that we can play in a different way with Kovacic that will allow us to mitigate the loss of what Bernardo gave us, then I can get behind that. That I believe Pep can do.
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Kovacic is an excellent dribbler with great ball retention and workrate who does his best work deep in midfield next to the 6. Great ball carrier. Would fit the role bernardo plays next to Rodri, not quite at that level but nobody in the world is. Probably the best possible candidate that is gettable for us to play in that role if bernardo chooses to leave.
 
Sprayleej3 said:
Kovacic is an excellent dribbler with great ball retention and workrate who does his best work deep in midfield next to the 6. Great ball carrier. Would fit the role bernardo plays next to Rodri, not quite at that level but nobody in the world is. Probably the best possible candidate that is gettable for us to play in that role if bernardo chooses to leave.
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As I said, they aren’t remotely the same player; eyes (and data for the past three seasons, which I reviewed before responding to your message just to be sure I wasn’t going crazy) confirm this to be true. He can’t fill the same roles as Bernardo has, which extend beyond playing next to Rodri. His versatility map, if you will, only partially overlaps Bernardo’s. If I had some time I would draw one up to illustrate but I think you’ll understand what I mean.

He isn’t a direct replacement for Bernardo (he can’t be). But he could help change our play to make losing Bernardo ultimately a non-factor.

That Pep can do very well.
 
I think Gundo and Kalvin might go, with Jude, Kovacic, and (maybe) Veiga coming in.
I hope Perrone gets a chance as well, so let's see how it all plays out.
 
I don't who can he replace! ? Gundo NO
Bernardo NO. Letting Gundo out on free and getting a potentially inferior and expensive and injury prone option is not good look
 
SebastianBlue said:
As I said, they aren’t remotely the same player; eyes (and data for the past three seasons, which I reviewed before responding to your message just to be sure I wasn’t going crazy) confirm this to be true. He can’t fill the same roles as Bernardo has, which extend beyond playing next to Rodri. His versatility map, if you will, only partially overlaps Bernardo’s. If I had some time I would draw one up to illustrate but I think you’ll understand what I mean.

He isn’t a direct replacement for Bernardo (he can’t be). But he could help change our play to make losing Bernardo ultimately a non-factor.

That Pep can do very well.
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Turns out I did have some time to draw one up.

Here is their Effective Role (Versatility) Map, left side is the opposition goal, Bernardo is the blue box and Kovavic is the yellow box.

There is only some overlap, which is the role we both agree Kovacic could play well in a Pep side. But there is a big effective area where he cannot replace Bernardo’s contributions.

1948-A755-05-B1-4-D3-D-AAF2-291475746-ECF.jpg
 
dhruvblue said:
I don't who can he replace! ? Gundo NO
Bernardo NO. Letting Gundo out on free and getting a potentially inferior and expensive and injury prone option is not good look
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“Letting” Gundo out on a free???

It’s Gundo’s choice and he deserves every good thing that comes his way, imho.

I knew he was done when he married his Barbie Doll. No way she was staying here!

Bernie? Not sure how much is about him or his partner, but if he wants to go and a deal can be done, it’s in the best interests of all concerned…except us fans who would love him to stay forever!

“This is football,” as they say, as teams evolve and face change. It’s a young man’s game now, as the game is getting quicker and more technical. Sure, there will always be the rare exception to the rule, but in the rarefied air of the Top 16 in Europe, they really are exceptional players.

Might be interesting to see Doyle & McAteer brought back for the start of next season and Palmer sent out to fill out his game, plus a couple or 3 solid (top?) midfielders to fill out the middle of the park.

Tbh, I’m surprised Phillips hasn’t got a look in as an 8 to relive the pressure on a few players, but Pep clearly hasn’t seen the ball possession he needs to see to make that leap.

Gundo and Bernie are top, top players who will be very, very difficult to replace, but time marches on and Kovacic at €20M is a “snap your hand off” deal!
 
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CWMCFC said:
People get so hung up on replacements being like for like - perhaps Pep sees Kovacic as something different to what we currently have which would benefit the squad?
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That is the point of my posts.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
“Letting” Gundo out on a free???

It’s Gundo’s choice and he deserves every good thing that comes his way, imho.

I knew he was done when he married his Barbie Doll. No way she was staying here!

Bernie? Not sure how much is about him or his partner, but if he wants to go and a deal can be done, it’s in the best interests of all concerned…except us fans who would love him to stay forever!

“This is football,” as they say, as teams evolve and face change. It’s a young man’s game now, as the game is getting quicker and more technical. Sure, there will always be the rare exception to the rule, but in the rarefied air of the Top 16 in Europe, they really are exceptional players.

Might be interesting to see Doyle & McAteer brought back for the start of next season and Palmer sent out to fill out his game, plus a couple or 3 solid (top?) midfielders to fill out the middle of the park.

Tbh, I’m surprised Phillips hasn’t got a look in as an 8 to relive the pressure on a few players, but Pep clearly hasn’t seen the ball possession he needs to see to make that leap.

Gundo and Bernie are top, top players who will be very, very difficult to replace, but time marches on and Kovacic at €20M is a “snap your hand off” deal!
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100% agree about Gundo and Bernardo but not sure about Kovacic although I will say I think he had a great WC
 
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