Mateo Kovacic

[schfc6]

Think he will struggle the first few weeks

He will have to get used to playing in a proper system where players know their roles and play for the good of the team rather than randomly heading upfield like an under 7s side

In all seriousness I'm really looking forward to seeing what Pep makes of him, not beyond imagination he adds to his scoring output and assists

Croatia are a very tactically astute side, very well coached and over achieving. A real team.
He’ll fit in just fine.

 

[madloaf]

25 million pound Croatian friend for Gvardiol who also played some midfield in what was probably the worst midfield in the league last year. Still, everyone starts with a clean slate. Go on Kova!!

 

[Bluemoon2393]

Croatia are a very tactically astute side, very well coached and over achieving. A real team.
He’ll fit in just fine.

You have to give new players time to settle in. You don't become good at your new job straight away.

Kovacic will be a very good signing when the games go by. Also he's experienced which is what we needed and what we paid for.

I welcome him to the best team in the land and all the world. Roll on the new season.

 

[1Basti]

At least his wife likes Manchester :)

Atm he doesn`t have the goal threat but old dogs can learn...under Pep "old" Robben got a right foot & "old" Ilkay learnt to be more dangerous inside the box

 

[Cotontoquinn]

Are you seriously comparing getting into our first team now, to doing so in 1984?

Of course not. That would be totally stupid. I’m talking about giving our youngsters a real chance to make the first team.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Very mixed reactions to this on their main forum. Some saying good riddance. Others think we've got a steal, and that Pep will improve him significantly.
I suppose, a bit like what happens when many of ours go. Impossible to judge him simply on this past season, in any case. The whole team has been in disarray. And if there's a worse-run club in the Premier League, I don't know of it.
Quite intrigued.

 

[Semper aggressus]

Ok as a squad signing, better than McAtee, but we need absolute top quality like Rice or similar, especially now Gundo has left.

 

[Half Time Draw]

Ok as a squad signing, better than McAtee, but we need absolute top quality like Rice or similar, especially now Gundo has left.

Really??? Gundo is a massive miss but Kovacic isn’t a mug. Great signing. Plus money being saved for Gvardiol who will be next hopefully. Rice would be £100 million at least.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

He's an absolute steal for that price and a complete no trainer. To put it in context, Arsenal bought Havertz for 65m and he is absolutely dreadful.

Technically Kovacic is very good and a very tidy player. He's been very good for them in the past. He isn't the only one who's had a poor season at Chelsea. I guarantee Pep will make him into one of the best midfielders in Europe.

 

[Beanhead]

I’m excited by this.. posted on here a few times in premier league match threads that he is very, very good and will suit us!

 

[Semper aggressus]

Really??? Gundo is a massive miss but Kovacic isn’t a mug. Great signing. Plus money being saved for Gvardiol who will be next hopefully. Rice would be £100 million at least.

Rice would be £100m for a reason. Just like an old Vauxhall is a few hundred quid and a new Mercedes about £50k.

And why do we need to save money? We just made about £300m winning the treble, but if we don’t strengthen and let the best available players go to rivals we won’t be winning it next season.

 

[Paulmcfc2703]

Ok as a squad signing, better than McAtee, but we need absolute top quality like Rice or similar, especially now Gundo has left.

'Absolute top quality like Rice'

What is this based on? The odd decent performance against a top 6 team however when they get battered playing Brighton, or losing to Forest, Everton, Palace he gets a free pass.

 

[MadchesterCity]

I don't get the hype either, he's a solid player don't get me wrong but sadly not at our level IMHO.

If we ever came to selling him we would have to describe him as the worlds best to get the most money for him ;)

Not sure why we’re knocking Lewis unless you’ve just caught a big one ;)

 

[MadchesterCity]

Grealish would have made a decent 8, problem is he's allergic to scoring goals.

Next season he will be double figures in Prem

 

[citymad]

Tbf to the management team they haven’t got it wrong many times. I think Pep will make Kovacic a better player.
`

 

[MadchesterCity]

We’re gonna have some big units in our team next season if we continue with the 4 centre backs
Seems like only yesterday we had a team of midgets
Pep never stands still

Kovacic only 5”10

 

[simmo]

He is in a unique position having won the champions league 4 times. One more and he is in a very select group.

Should fit in from day one.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

He is in a unique position having won the champions league 4 times. One more and he is in a very select group.

That Kovacic 4 champions league medal haul is misleading.
He played flip all champions league matches and in the 4 finals his only run out was from the 83rd minute for Chelsea against us.
A bit of a Scott Carson statistic.

 

[Bernard20]

Ok as a squad signing, better than McAtee, but we need absolute top quality like Rice or similar, especially now Gundo has left.

Good one.

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

Ok as a squad signing, better than McAtee, but we need absolute top quality like Rice or similar, especially now Gundo has left.

Top quality?

Declan Rice?

Decent enough player and all that, but Top Quality is a bit of a stretch!