Mateo Kovacic

[madloaf]

Can't wait for Akanji to start looking good.

I amended it before I read this to include that!!

 

[Skrastins]

Most likely Kova will be for depth and Perrone will go in loan then

 

[Cityfan]

I amended it before I read this to include that!!

To be fair Ortega and Alvarez ain't been bad either

 

[madloaf]

To be fair Ortega and Alvarez ain't been bad either

Bit part players though if we're being honest. There's plenty that do take 2 years, review the grealish and rodri threads for prime examples

 

[youngbob]

I understand why we're all thinking Kovacic is a replacement for Bernardo but I wonder if he's actually a replacement for Laporte, at least in terms of squad numbers. Hear me out. Clearly, looking ahead, Pep wants to persist with this inverted RB/CM/DM hybrid position he's had Lewis, Stones, and (in recent weeks) Phillips playing this season. So maybe the idea is to play Kovacic in that role instead and add him to that group of players instead, meaning that, in the event of Laporte's departure, Stones, Lewis, and even Phillips can be used in defence more often. (Remember that Phillips played CB during a couple of pre-season games last year). It's likely Kovacic will slot in at #8 but I think he'll be playing that #4/#6 hybrid role more often than we expect. Pep sees things in players that nobody else can and I see no reason why he can't add little wrinkles to Kovacic's game, even at the age of 29.

 

[DeBlueLou]

I understand why we're all thinking Kovacic is a replacement for Bernardo but I wonder if he's actually a replacement for Laporte, at least in terms of squad numbers. Hear me out. Clearly, looking ahead, Pep wants to persist with this inverted RB/CM/DM hybrid position he's had Lewis, Stones, and (in recent weeks) Phillips playing this season. So maybe the idea is to play Kovacic in that role instead and add him to that group of players instead, meaning that, in the event of Laporte's departure, Stones, Lewis, and even Phillips can be used in defence more often. (Remember that Phillips played CB during a couple of pre-season games last year). It's likely Kovacic will slot in at #8 but I think he'll be playing that #4/#6 hybrid role more often than we expect. Pep sees things in players that nobody else can and I see no reason why he can't add little wrinkles to Kovacic's game, even at the age of 29.

City are going for Gvardiol when Laporte is off. Its just about adding numbers behind Kdb gundo and bernardo.

 

[youngbob]

City are going for Gvardiol when Laporte is off. Its just about adding numbers behind Kdb gundo and bernardo.

Yeah like I said, I think it's likely Kovacic will spend most of his time in that #6/#8 box to box role Gundogan does, where he sits between Rodri and De Bruyne, but I can also see Kovacic playing behind the halfway line (so to speak) more often, either right next to Rodri or instead of him.

 

[Cityfan]

Bit part players though if we're being honest. There's plenty that do take 2 years, review the grealish and rodri threads for prime examples

Yeah but I think it is quite variable how long players take.
Laporte, Ederson, Walker Dias Akanji Haaland and Alvarez have all been pretty quick.
Silva, Mahrez, Sane and Grealish were all pretty good/excellent at some point in season two.
Nolito, Mendy, Torres and possibly Phillips never really settled.
Stones ,Zin ,Jesus, Cancelo, Gundo and Ake for various reasons had some ups and downs but were all good to excellent at times.

 

[madloaf]

Yeah but I think it is quite variable how long players take.
Laporte, Ederson, Walker Dias Akanji Haaland and Alvarez have all been pretty quick.
Silva, Mahrez, Sane and Grealish were all pretty good/excellent at some point in season two.
Nolito, Mendy, Torres and possibly Phillips never really settled.
Stones ,Zin ,Jesus, Cancelo, Gundo and Ake for various reasons had some ups and downs but were all good to excellent at times.

All fair points. Plenty who haven't settled, and I'll stick by my original claim that he's average, so even if he does settle quickly he's nothing more than average and 30+ very soon.

 

[domalino]

A decade with Internazionale, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, 4 Champions League medals and a Europa League medal, it all means nowt when Bluemoon feigns indifference.

Starts/Minutes played from the 1/4 final onwards in those 4 CL wins.

2016 - 0/ 2'
2017 - 0 / 6'
2018 - 1/ 103'
2021 - 1/ 100'

Never started a final, 1 start out of 8 semi-finals, 1 start out of 8 quarter finals.

I would imagine he holds the record for fewest minutes played in CL finals (12 minutes total) per medal - for outfield players at least.

I still think he's a decent player, a downgrade on Gundogan and Bernardo, but I couldn't care less about him having a front row seat to 4 CL finals he didn't have any input into at all.

 

[hammocity]

All fair points. Plenty who haven't settled, and I'll stick by my original claim that he's average, so even if he does settle quickly he's nothing more than average and 30+ very soon.

Agree and I’d be surprised if we bought him, doesn’t fit the profile

 

[clarion]

Average player.

 

[Cityfan]

All fair points. Plenty who haven't settled, and I'll stick by my original claim that he's average, so even if he does settle quickly he's nothing more than average and 30+ very soon.

You might be right as a signing I don't have a strong opinion either way.

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

Bit part players though if we're being honest. There's plenty that do take 2 years, review the grealish and rodri threads for prime examples

Ortega is a "bit part player" because we need him in that position, I look forward to seeing him start Saturday. I'd have no problem with him starting in the PL in a full strength side.
The same applies for Alvarez. The guy is quality, however there's no guarantee of getting into that front 3 unless you're Haaland or Haaland is injured.
(Edit - must remember we're talking about Kovacic. It's a no for me. Seems to lack pace and not sure if he fits with Rodri)

 

[madloaf]

Ortega is a "bit part player" because we need him in that position, I look forward to seeing him start Saturday. I'd have no problem with him starting in the PL in a full strength side.
The same applies for Alvarez. The guy is quality, however there's no guarantee of getting into that front 3 unless you're Haaland or Haaland is injured.

Can't disagree with you.

 

[The Lone Whalley Ranger]

Has Shaqiri to Liverpool vibes (he actually did well as a squad player for a season or so when they were good). Not very exciting though.

 

[Gabriel]

Starts/Minutes played from the 1/4 final onwards in those 4 CL wins.

2016 - 0/ 2'
2017 - 0 / 6'
2018 - 1/ 103'
2021 - 1/ 100'

Never started a final, 1 start out of 8 semi-finals, 1 start out of 8 quarter finals.

I would imagine he holds the record for fewest minutes played in CL finals (12 minutes total) per medal - for outfield players at least.

I still think he's a decent player, a downgrade on Gundogan and Bernardo, but I couldn't care less about him having a front row seat to 4 CL finals he didn't have any input into at all.

If we win in Istanbul, one of our senior players is likely going to miss out on having played in the final but it shouldn’t diminish his service over the piece. It’s a squad game.

 

[wolviedinho]

Good player on his day. You can see why City want to sign kovacic. As always, we won’t know if he is any good or not until he plays and settles into the team. It will be a relatively low fee so that is a positive and he can play in a few positions.

No point fretting over Bernardo leaving. Not many players can do what Bernardo does anyway. He loss will be tough to take. City don’t do like for like but more a natural progression of tactics and formations.

If he signs, I hope it works out. He is not a flashy player but more an Akanji/Ake feel which is great. Can’t have enough of those types of players.

 

[bugsyblue]

Good player. No Gundo, who I assume must be off.

 

[Ajm1985]

Looks like we have the solution to everyone’s questions on who this deal effects. Just looks like we want more depth

Thank fuck for that - I have been saying to my dad that I'm hoping it's in addition to Bernardo/Gundo etc and not a replacement.

Also think there are opportunities for playing in a double pivot with Rodri, and Rodri being more box-to-box. Moving into back 4 OOP and attacking in possession - Rodri is superb and has it in his locker