Mateo Kovačić

[Astrix]

Kovacic's touches vs Bologna.

Good impact, starting to try to affect the game more instead of just keeping possession. I think his pass to Ranocchia towards the end of the video was probably the best of the day. Not spectacular, but it split the lines and this is the thing this team struggles with the most. No connection between the front line and the midfield or lack of service as some call it. He may not be the one to pick the final ball out, but him being on the pitch makes us look a more cohesive unit.

On another note I think Walter is finally figuring out his best position. The rough midfield line up below shows where I think he can most affect the game. Almost like a hybrid 3-4-3 with Cuchu - Hernanes as the base of the midfield where Kova plays a bit higher to the left but can also drop back into midfield. This gives him the space and ability to let his dribbling affect the game, without exposing our defense. Icardi will be the high point in the formation and we could potentially use a player like Alvarez on the right to make it a 3-4-3 or a player like Palacio more centrally to make it a 3-5-2.

-------------Kovacic
--------------------------Hernanes
Nagatomo ------Cambiasso ------------D'Ambrosio

Agreed, he's knows how to play a pass, that's not an issue, it the frontline which is separate from the rest of the squad, there was a good amount of pressure from Bologna to stop any sort of pass really opening them up, his vision and idea is there.

 

[rfU]

Essentially, yes.

cool so we can say Balotelli at 19/20 was more decisive than Kova i.e. used his talent better but that's not to say he's a more talented player.

I didnt catch Kovacic's last game for the main part, so I'm not commenting on that, but 80-90% of the runs we see from Kovacic either result in a very poor final pass to an ineffective position (rather than to create a chance), or a wasted shot. Quoting his passrate is retarded because 90% of his passes are sideways or backwards, as he only dribbles a few times a game.

This is 100% garbage. Catch the bologna game.

Kova isn't overrated or overhyped here. Acutally he's very much underrated. He's a playmaker, orchestrator in midfield, a ball retention genius. He's far from the finished product, but he's also far from 'raw' as you put it. He was ready to play 2 years ago, i don't see how or why he should remain on the bench.

 

[.h.]

cool so we can say Balotelli at 19/20 was more decisive than Kova i.e. used his talent better but that's not to say he's a more talented player.

I dont agree. Balotelli can do things with the ball Kovacic - or indeed many top players - can only dream of doing. Kovacic has a much better mentality, but in terms of raw talent, I think Balotelli simply is phenomenal, as Pajo has posted above.

This is 100% garbage. Catch the bologna game.

Kova isn't overrated or overhyped here. Acutally he's very much underrated. He's a playmaker, orchestrator in midfield, a ball retention genius. He's far from the finished product, but he's also far from 'raw' as you put it. He was ready to play 2 years ago, i don't see how or why he should remain on the bench.

One game a season does not make... My point was that in the Bologna game - by all accounts as I happily admit I didnt catch the second half - he had a great impact. But look at him under Strama, look at him in the first half of this season, little to no effect in 95% of the games he played. He's developed an awful lot since September, by all accounts, the question is now about making it more consistent and more permanent.

My comments are DEFINITELY true to the end of last season and the start of this season. I dont think any reasonable human being would dispute that. The question is whether the last game is the norm or an exception for Kovacic... If it becomes the norm, then I concede he has changed enough that my previous position no longer applies. If it's the exception, well, then he's showing signs of improvement but still has a long way to go.

Ready to play 2 years ago? No, he was good enough to play in the Croatian league 2 years ago, but he's clearly not on the level of a player ready to start week-in-week-out for a top club (say, Real, Barca, etc).... He's ready to learn, for sure, and has shown enough to justify more minutes. Of all people on here I think I've been in favour of that quite consistently. But let's not pretend he's some hugely decisive and effective player who will single handedly create 15 goalscoring chances a match, because he's really not.

Some games he will come in and be super effective, other games he's a complete passenger, who will dribble to no effect, do almost nothing other than a bunch of meaningless sideway passes, and have no defensive impact.

 

[Campione]

Apparently, Inter fans have put a banner at Appiano Gentile saying "#SaveKovacic".

http://www.fcinternews.it/focus/appiano-a-savekovacic-fallo-giocare-almeno-147726

 

[thatdude]

How do you think Taider must feel? Kovacic is actually get 30 minutes here and there Taider hasn't seen the field in months!

 

[rfU]

I dont agree. Balotelli can do things with the ball Kovacic - or indeed many top players - can only dream of doing. Kovacic has a much better mentality, but in terms of raw talent, I think Balotelli simply is phenomenal, as Pajo has posted above.

This goes back to which role is more demanding or requires more output/skill/talent. For me it's easily center midfield. Vision/awareness the hardest skills to hone. Note that most young talents emerge either upfront, on the wings, or defense. Rarely do you say a u20 center-mid talent emerge and make the first team. But lets agree to disagree.

But look at him under Strama, look at him in the first half of this season, little to no effect in 95% of the games he played. He's developed an awful lot since September, by all accounts, the question is now about making it more consistent and more permanent...

whoops, I say 2 because he was 18 when he came and he'll be 20 this year... Anyway, remember his debut vs Cluj? I know what you're going to say, that was one game. Remember vs Spurs? vs Iceland, vs. Lazio, vs Parma, vs. Atalanta, vs. Siena (serie a debut) Where do you get this 95% from?

IBut let's not pretend he's some hugely decisive and effective player who will single handedly create 15 goalscoring chances a match, because he's really not.

Again by 'delivery' you mean assists, not influence or decisiveness like you said (well, I said and oyu agreed), but assists (or goals)? I see that you view Kova as a Iniesta type player who favors attacking positions in the final third. Kova can perform as such (but not effectively) but his favored position is in center mid. Clearly so. Notice he's always dropping back to collect the ball and get thing s going. Thats his nature. You complain he's all about sideways passes but that his role, that's what we call ball possession and build up play. Again he's a playmaker. What's more playing deep takes full advantage of his ability to drive the ball forward, draw players out of position and create space for the forwards.

There are so many misconceptions about Kova... he's not Kaka or Hamsik or Iniesta or Hernanes, he's a center mid, like Xavi for example, but more mobile on the ball. He's optimal position is in a midfield three, between an AMF (Hernanes) and a DMF (Masherano). He's about possession. Not assists. Not goals. Possession.

P.S. how many players do you know single-handedly create 15 chances a match? Not even Pirlo is at that level.

 

[chipschups]

Apparently, Inter fans have put a banner at Appiano Gentile saying "#SaveKovacic".

http://www.fcinternews.it/focus/appiano-a-savekovacic-fallo-giocare-almeno-147726

is that photoshopped pic from before whiich barzaghi reported?
or they already make a real one..

 

[.h.]

This goes back to which role is more demanding or requires more output/skill/talent. For me it's easily center midfield. Vision/awareness the hardest skills to hone. Note that most young talents emerge either upfront, on the wings, or defense. Rarely do you say a u20 center-mid talent emerge and make the first team. But lets agree to disagree.

whoops, I say 2 because he was 18 when he came and he'll be 20 this year... Anyway, remember his debut vs Cluj? I know what you're going to say, that was one game. Remember vs Spurs? vs Iceland, vs. Lazio, vs Parma, vs. Atalanta, vs. Siena (serie a debut) Where do you get this 95% from?

Again by 'delivery' you mean assists, not influence or decisiveness like you said (well, I said and oyu agreed), but assists (or goals)? I see that you view Kova as a Iniesta type player who favors attacking positions in the final third. Kova can perform as such (but not effectively) but his favored position is in center mid. Clearly so. Notice he's always dropping back to collect the ball and get thing s going. Thats his nature. You complain he's all about sideways passes but that his role, that's what we call ball possession and build up play. Again he's a playmaker. What's more playing deep takes full advantage of his ability to drive the ball forward, draw players out of position and create space for the forwards.

There are so many misconceptions about Kova... he's not Kaka or Hamsik or Iniesta or Hernanes, he's a center mid, like Xavi for example, but more mobile on the ball. He's optimal position is in a midfield three, between an AMF (Hernanes) and a DMF (Masherano). He's about possession. Not assists. Not goals. Possession.

P.S. how many players do you know single-handedly create 15 chances a match? Not even Pirlo is at that level.

I have to install a new hard drive.. give me a bit of time to reply.



Okay. Went smoother than expected.

whoops, I say 2 because he was 18 when he came and he'll be 20 this year... Anyway, remember his debut vs Cluj? I know what you're going to say, that was one game. Remember vs Spurs? vs Iceland, vs. Lazio, vs Parma, vs. Atalanta, vs. Siena (serie a debut) Where do you get this 95% from?

Clearly 95% is an exaggeration. Don't take it literally. Kovacic has played 47 games for us by my counting - how many of them would you say he's impressed in? Even if there are twice as many as you've listed, that's still only 10 of 50 i.e. 20%. Not really that good.


When I talk about delivery, NO, I am not talking assists. I am talking about influence. If he was a defensive midfielder, I'd be looking at the number of crucial tackles he makes, and the number of interceptions. What I am talking about, as you say, is how often he influences a game. Possession - how well does he retain it, how well does he use the ball when he has it, and how often does using that ball lead to something decisive for us?

When I see Kovacic dribble up the pitch, most of the time - at least until recently - it was to little gain. He's great at going up field. He's great at keeping the ball when he does so. He's great at picking out through balls for players who aren't there making the runs. But he's rarely going up field to make a decisive impact. More often than not it gets intercepted, or he passes to an invisible player.

Hell, just watch this. The first hit for Kovacic highlighgts on youtube for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BS41y0O5AM

There's a couple of great passes in there. There are even way more completely pointless ones, runs that yield in nothing or losing the ball, or passes that are completely astray.

You also dont have to sell me on the perks of a deep playmaker, I've been crying out for one for years. Watch this video if you want more evidence of what I'm talking about. The second hit for Kovacic highlights on youtube for me.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3JJWK1DydQ


So many of his 'actions' are completely ineffective and we gain nothing for. Passing to players who are closed down already, rather than ones in space. Passes that are actually slightly astray. Runs that dont really help us that much.

The kid has an awful lot of talent. He just needs to learn to use it at the appropriate time, rather than every opportunity he gets.

It makes me think of Ronaldo when he was first at United in many ways. Many tricks, could dribble a whole fucking team, but rarely used his talent to a lot of effect. The greatest thing Ferguson ever did was help him to refine his talent to be EFFECTIVE, rather than just pretty and aesthetically pleasing.

That's the difference between a raw talent and a professional footballer. Kovacic is doing well on this path if the last couple of games are anything to go by, but he's still got a LONG way to go.

 

[hypno123]

you're moron, kovacic could play wherever you put him, if you tell him what to expect out of him in that position. that's long known for me. you also have short memory. balottelli was never that good, he had flashes, but mostly in goalscoring, what he supposed to do consistently. his dribbling skills? WHAT? kovacic is like 100x better in terms of dribbling.

 

[Inter7]

Browha,

What you are saying is maybe true for this Inter side, but its not his fault he is playing with the most stagnant team I have ever had the displeasure of viewing. One player can only do so much. Other then Palacio, who has possibly world class off the ball movement, the rest of this team is complete shit at it.

- - - Updated - - -

you're moron, kovacic could play wherever you put him, if you tell him what to expect out of him in that position. that's long known for me. you also have short memory. balottelli was never that good, he had flashes, but mostly in goalscoring, what he supposed to do consistently. his dribbling skills? WHAT? kovacic is like 100x better in terms of dribbling.

I am not saying you are a Kova fan boy but thats just a ridiculous statement.... and balo could dribble he won a lot of real penalties that way before he started becoming a huge flopper.

 

[Fapuccino]

browha you're exaggerating too much man. Kova's set of talents is pretty unique and he doesn't fit the mold of any regular position. That doesn't mean he's inefficient.

he can control the tempo of the game, bring the ball up from defence to offence, beat players by dribbling. I've said before his central dribbling reminds me so much of Messi who draws players to him, and makes space on the wings for Sanchez/Pedro. Some of his passes to the wings for wingbacks were Pirlo like.

He needs a coach who can fit a system around him to make best use of his skills. And I don't mean make all 11 men based on him. Simply, just like Pirlo, have some other players cover for his shortcomings, while making the best out of his skills.

There are some players, who can play in any system no matter what, (usually box to box players), but other players like Kova and Icardi are not extremely well rounded, but they are really good at one/two things, and need others to cover for them, and depend on their teammates to get the best out of them. Iniesta for example, is short, weak physically, mediocre defensively, is not fast. But his slalom dribbling is unmatched by no one, and his vision is top class. If it wasn't for his reputation, he'd prob be benched by Mazzari.

 

[.h.]

Browha,

What you are saying is maybe true for this Inter side, but its not his fault he is playing with the most stagnant team I have ever had the displeasure of viewing. One player can only do so much. Other then Palacio, who has possibly world class off the ball movement, the rest of this team is complete shit at it.

- - - Updated - - -



I am not saying you are a Kova fan boy but thats just a ridiculous statement.... and balo could dribble he won a lot of real penalties that way before he started becoming a huge flopper.

Well, I dont disagree with that. There is clearly a team impact on it. But I dont believe its JUST a team impact. Vision isnt about picking great passes to players who arent there, its about seeing players who are there. Brilliant through balls to nobody isnt vision.

I think that its at least 50% the team's fault, but in similar, its at least 50% from Kovacic's side

you're moron, kovacic could play wherever you put him, if you tell him what to expect out of him in that position. that's long known for me. you also have short memory. balottelli was never that good, he had flashes, but mostly in goalscoring, what he supposed to do consistently. his dribbling skills? WHAT? kovacic is like 100x better in terms of dribbling.

okay, I guess both the most pessimistic and one of the most optimistic members on this forum must be wrong about Balotelli then, the two guys who joined nearly ten years ago will sit here and get lectured by the guy who joined 6 weeks ago...

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browha you're exaggerating too much man. Kova's set of talents is pretty unique and he doesn't fit the mold of any regular position. That doesn't mean he's inefficient.

he can control the tempo of the game, bring the ball up from defence to offence, beat players by dribbling. I've said before his central dribbling reminds me so much of Messi who draws players to him, and makes space on the wings for Sanchez/Pedro. Some of his passes to the wings for wingbacks were Pirlo like.

He needs a coach who can fit a system around him to make best use of his skills. And I don't mean make all 11 men based on him. Simply, just like Pirlo, have some other players cover for his shortcomings, while making the best out of his skills.

There are some players, who can play in any system no matter what, (usually box to box players), but other players like Kova and Icardi are not extremely well rounded, but they are really good at one/two things, and need others to cover for them, and depend on their teammates to get the best out of them.

see, now I think you're being harsh on Kovacic. In my view, I agree, he's primarily the tempo-setter in the middle of the park, but I think he has the talent to be a complete midfielder. To defend well - something Mazzarri has brought into his game - to attack well, to keep possession, etc.
I think he has the talent to be extremely well rounded.

 

[Inter7]

Well it becomes a double edged sword, if he plays a pass to the players who are there its generally going to be a lateral pass right or left. If this occurs you will say he doesnt play the ball forward, and if he wants to pass forward his options are palacio and maybe one of our wing backs if they choose to make the run. I would go 80/20 as kovacic has a special talent for dribbling past people and creating space for absolutely no one to run into. You have a team full of runners like Ladri and I bet Kova would instantly look 100 times more effective.

 

[Fapuccino]

No man. I don't care about his defending. I don't buy into that b.s. Look at Xavi, Iniesta and Pirlo. No one tried to turn them into Makelele. They just needed the right coach and right system, which wasn't at Inter or Allegri.

If over time he gets better defensively, then great. If not, then whatever. He's not a defensive type of player. Simply cover his shortcomings with other teammates.

Don't force a player to turn into something they're not. (That includes shooting). Make the best out of he can do, and let the other stuff come naturally. Don't force anything.

 

[.h.]

No man. I don't care about his defending. I don't buy into that b.s. Look at Xavi, Iniesta and Pirlo. No one tried to turn them into Makelele. They just needed the right coach and right system, which wasn't at Inter or Allegri.

If over time he gets better defensively, then great. If not, then whatever. He's not a defensive type of player. Simply cover his shortcomings with other teammates.

Don't force a player to turn into something they're not. (That includes shooting). Make the best out of he can do, and let the other stuff come naturally. Don't force anything.

I dont expect him to turn into Makelele, but for example the Lazio video I posted above, he is developing a defensive aspect to his game.

Part of being a coach is about forcing them. Teaching Ronaldo when not to shoot, when not to dribble. Teaching Lucio how to defend properly. That's the whole point of the coach

I dont expect him to become Cambiasso or anything, but I Think we could get a nice edge on his defensive game and have him more involved there. Similarly I think with some work, he could be quite dangerous goalscoring wise. I dont expect him to score 15-20 a season, but I do think we can see the day where he is a genuine and serious threat at the edge of the box.

 

[Fapuccino]

I have nothing against him becoming better defensively. But that should not become a priority.

We should be 99% focused on finding out how to get the best of a talent who has a very peculiar combination of skills, and make the best of them. Rather than make a priority moulding him into something he's not.

 

[.h.]

I have nothing against him becoming better defensively. But that should not become a priority.

We should be 99% focused on finding out how to get the best of a talent who has a very peculiar combination of skills, and make the best of them. Rather than make a priority moulding him into something he's not.

Of course I agree with you there, but theres no harm in trying to round him as well. You might never convert him to Makelele, but you might be able to get a decent defensive contribution out of him.

 

[Wings]

I don't think Kovacic will ever become a bruising tackler or a very physical player. His defensive contribution will come from his ability to read the game and intercept passes. But I agree, he could work on his pressing.

Also, I envision something like this:

AM
Kova-Taider

with Kova mainly playing balls to the AM or to the wingers, who would provide the final ball.

edit: that's in the future of course, when we have a coach willing to play both at the same time

 

[JJM]

GDS: Kova is a name for the future Inter,however Alvarez is at risk and could very well be sold this summer.

 

[Shaun]

That's good news. Kova should be untouchable, and Alvarez has shown his various limitations and should be sold if we receive a decent enough offer. If no decent offer comes he should stay though.