richards30
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 20 May 2009
- Messages
- 34,134
I`ll be shocked and gutted at the same time if we let him go to the rags!
Kovacic is underrated. I thought he'd become lazy after joining from Chelsea but last season when we were in a crisis, he scored 5 PL goals as a substitute central midfielder. A season before that, he scored 4. That is incredible, he was never scoring that much at Chelsea. That's more than Silva, Cherki, Rodri and Gonzalez this season and more than Gundogan last season.Kova started 16 league games that season. He didn't allow Rodri to do anything. Rodri has always been great at getting forward and then getting back - Villa and Inter examples.
Marmoush out, Kroupi in is something I'd absolutely love. I think Marmoush is a good player but doesn't really fit our system that well and he was a bit of a panic signing by Txiki, we gave him very high wages for a substitute striker.Marmoush moving to Newcastle would save them 5 or 6 goals/season when they play us alone.
Tonali is quality be a fantastic addition. Wtf are some going on about?!
'We can also confirm that City are prepared to offer Newcastle a selection of players to help facilitate potential deals.And yet:
"Meanwhile, City are prepared to offer the Magpies a selection of players to help facilitate a potential deal for Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali, 25. (Teamtalk, external)"
I`ll be shocked and gutted at the same time if we let him go to the rags!
Viana don’t lose what he wants he gets he’s ruthless in that regard. Tonali and Anderson have probably been tapped up and agreed since January if they are genuine targets. Not fees with the clubs but personal terms etc
I don't think he wants to join them so that's a good thing.I`ll be shocked and gutted at the same time if we let him go to the rags!
He would definitely be worth it in case Rodri leaves. Even if he doesn't go this season, next season he might and we'd need to replace him. By buying Tonali now, we would already have that replacement and he'd learn a lot while playing and training with Rodders.I will be gutted if City spent 100m on him
He is not bad player, but not the match winner who should the club break the bank for
Hope so mate, both would be a nice refresh in midfield and are the type of hungry players we should be pushing for.
Marmoush would be perfect for them.
Kovacic made 46 appearances in total during the 23/24 season.Kova started 16 league games that season. He didn't allow Rodri to do anything. Rodri has always been great at getting forward and then getting back - Villa and Inter examples.
I have a weird feeling Barca might come in for Marmoush. Lewandowski is over, Marmoush is basically Ferran Torres but better and they play really well with Torres.
Newcastle could never afford the £275k/week wages we're paying Marmoush so it's a non-starter.
He doesn’t like to lose out on a player. I remember reading about he’s very competitive and is close with multiple big agents in football.
One of the football shows on YouTube interviewed Semnyo asked about the city move how did it come about and from Semnyo, he said Viana and city got in touch first out of any club and layed out the plan which instantly convinced him, made him feel welcome and wanted.
How would Barca afford him mate?
Kovacic made 46 appearances in total during the 23/24 season.
30 starts, 16 sub appearances.
He started alongside Rodri on 19 occasions.
Rodri scored a total of 9 goals and contributed a total of 15 assists in 23/24.
Kovacic was on the pitch for 3 of the goals and 9 of the assists (12 G/A) (50% of Rodri's G/A)
In the 19 games they started together, Rodri contributed 11 G/A. (0.6 G/A per game)
In the 31 games they didn't start together, Rodri contributed 13 G/A. (0.4 G/A per game)
Based on averages... If Kovacic and Rodri had started together for all of Rodri's 50 games, Rodri would have finished the season with 29 G/A. If Rodri had started without Kovacic for all 50 of his games, Rodri would have finished the season with 17 G/A.
Kovacic unlocked something in Rodri during 23/24 imo that we've not really seen in any other season. 6 G/A in the 19/20 season, 7 G/A in 20/21, 9 G/A in 21/22, 11 G/A in 22/23 [Kovacic signs] 24 G/A in 23/24, [Rodri injured] 0 G/A in 24/25, [Kovacic injured] 2 G/A so far in 25/26.
He clearly enabled Rodri to do the business up front.The original comment "allowed us to win the league" He started 16 games in the league. He didn't allow Rodri to do anything.
He clearly enabled Rodri to do the business up front.
But fine, we'll limit this to the league games to suit you.
I'm gonna count Burnley away on the opening day because Kovacic came on after 23 mins.
Kovacic started (or played 67 mins) alongside Rodri in these PL games (14 games):
vs Burnley (A) [Kovacic played 67 mins]
vs Newcastle (H)
vs Sheffield United (A)
vs Fulham (H)
vs Bournemouth (H)
vs Luton (A)
vs Sheffield United (H)
vs Newcastle (A)
vs Bournemouth (A)
vs Arsenal (H)
vs Brighton (A)
vs Wolves (H)
vs Fulham (A)
vs Spurs (A)
In those 14 games, Rodri scored 3 goals and contributed 6 assists. 9 G/A in 14 games from defensive midfield.
Without Kovacic, Rodri started 20 games. In those 20 games he scored 5 goals and got 4 assists. 9 G/A in 20 games.
So it's 9 G/A in 14 games vs 9 G/A in 20 games.
0.64 G/A per game vs 0.45 G/A per game. Based on averages, if Kovacic had started the same 34 games as Rodri, Rodri would have contributed 21 G/A overall. If Rodri hadn't started with Kovacic in any of those 34 games, he would have contributed 15 G/A overall. An increase of six whole goals/assists.
Kovacic clearly had a positive influence on Rodri's attacking numbers that helped us win the league.
The only way it will be £100m is if the rags/ Chelsea pay over the odds or we sell Trafford to Newcastle as a seperate deal.I will be gutted if City spent 100m on him
He is not bad player, but not the match winner who should the club break the bank for
But he hasn't, as I explained in a previous post.Rodri has done that every season
If Newcastle are our rivals then we are finished and may as well pack up the club.Again, why would we weaken our squad to strengthen a rival?