Mateo Kovačić

Pajo · Mar 3, 2013

I really hope he plays vs. Spurs. FROM THE START!

Y&h · Mar 3, 2013

Nyall said:
For me it's a matter of keeping his feet on the ground. Remember Santon? Jose took him from just another Primavera player into a guy who won his first Italian NT cap in like 6 months and then after things went downhill, and the main reason for that was the expectations and how it affected mentally. Instead of viewing him as just a kid playing the fans started viewing him as the new Facchetti, Inter's Maldini.. And as soon as his performances went downhill he was dropped, loaned off and sold. The same nearly happened to Alvare.. we need to chill and stp demanding that the kid play every game just because we spent 15 million euros on him.

He will play when the time comes, and that time is soon. We just need to be patient.

Even though I do agree on the Santon bit, I disagree on the reasons of playing each of them.

Santon came in as a filler in an already functioning unit that started gaining it's full strength and transforming into a compact unit later on. With Kovacic, we should look at building the team around or with him as a piece of the futuristic Inter and not as a rotational option. That is what we are not seeing now not only with Kovacic but with other players that we loaned out (Duncan) or benched (Benassi).

I said before the game today, that I trust Stramaccioni to start him against Bologna and Sampdoria next. I will trust him until those two games, and if Kovacic in particular dosen't start; then that is the end of the trust. I say this because from my experience, not playing a youngster now will only deteriorate as the final matches close on which favors the concentration on gaining points ahead of anything else.

Kovacic shouldn't play every game but the sensible ones, or even the remaining minutes of a match.

Wallace · Mar 3, 2013

Maybe we can send him to primavera to get some game time if we are that worried about his lack of playing time.

He'd do well in that, what's it called...CL for u21.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

wera · Mar 3, 2013

u mean NextGen?

.h. · Mar 3, 2013

Nyall said:
For me it's a matter of keeping his feet on the ground. Remember Santon? Jose took him from just another Primavera player into a guy who won his first Italian NT cap in like 6 months and then after things went downhill, and the main reason for that was the expectations and how it affected mentally. Instead of viewing him as just a kid playing the fans started viewing him as the new Facchetti, Inter's Maldini.. And as soon as his performances went downhill he was dropped, loaned off and sold. The same nearly happened to Alvare.. we need to chill and stp demanding that the kid play every game just because we spent 15 million euros on him.

He will play when the time comes, and that time is soon. We just need to be patient.

The Santon comparison isnt really valid. Santon came in as an amateur player, basically, who grew up in our academy, was completely unknown, and thrusted into the lime light forced to man mark Ronaldo. Kovacic, on the other hand - whilst very young - has quite a lot of champions league experience (20 games, which makes him more than most of our squad, only a few less than Guarin, a fair few more than Handanovic, more than JJ, and 2/3rds of the way to what Milito already has). He's a whole different story.

Thats before you look at the arguments that Y&h makes, with, for example, youth development for the future.

You dont spend 13-15m euros on someone you dont think is already good enough to start. Thats more than we paid for Alvarez, Palacio, Pereira, take your pick. Shit, that's almost more than we paid for Guarin?

Howl · Mar 3, 2013

guess he didnt start today because he'll probably start vs tottenham

I have a feeling he'll thrive in europe, especially vs english opposition

La Brujita · Mar 5, 2013

Don't worry guys, he's learning from Jonathan, he's definitely gonna be world class now :derpcry:

king_elnino · Mar 7, 2013

Make us dance tonight !!!

b4h4mooth · Mar 7, 2013

Pajo said:
I really hope he plays vs. Spurs. FROM THE START!

Yes, he is.

Bluenine · Mar 7, 2013

Nyall said:
For me it's a matter of keeping his feet on the ground. Remember Santon? Jose took him from just another Primavera player into a guy who won his first Italian NT cap in like 6 months and then after things went downhill, and the main reason for that was the expectations and how it affected mentally. Instead of viewing him as just a kid playing the fans started viewing him as the new Facchetti, Inter's Maldini.. And as soon as his performances went downhill he was dropped, loaned off and sold. The same nearly happened to Alvare.. we need to chill and stp demanding that the kid play every game just because we spent 15 million euros on him.

He will play when the time comes, and that time is soon. We just need to be patient.

You are right about Santon, and I think you are right about Kovacic. But wrong to draw a parallel between the two, because Kovacic already has significant pressure on him due to his big money transfer.

But you are spot on about easing him into the starting XI. Too much too soon in a new country and league, could prove damaging for a young kid. We must not think about how much we paid for him, but look objectively at his age and situation. Its best to ease him into the starting XI this season, and make him more of a regular next season.

And lets NOT build a team around a 18 year old newcomer just yet. He could do without that added pressure.

Ed. · Mar 7, 2013

What language does he use to speak with Strama??

Nerazzurro · Mar 7, 2013

Ed. said:
What language does he use to speak with Strama??

Sign language. We all use sign language in Italy.

Kakaroto · Mar 8, 2013

Needs a rest TBH. See you over the summer kid.

king_elnino · Mar 8, 2013

Feel sorry for this kid...

Has a lot potential, but can't get a room to show..

rockball · Mar 8, 2013

This critical phase of his life is called unlearning. He will be made to forget all that he knows about technique, passing, tactics and football in general.

Aliano · Mar 8, 2013

You shouldn't expect him to grow in a team with a disgraceful style of play that have a coach who himself needs to learn!!

Wallace · Mar 8, 2013

Completely anonymous, I honestly haven't seen a more anonymous display from any player than his first half.

Strama clearly working his magic, the Inter youth curse is now on.

Batman · Mar 8, 2013

It was wrong to play him against Tottenham yesterday.

Wallace · Mar 8, 2013

That's why you don't play Kovacic as an AM, our midfielders can't even get the ball to him :lol:

, he's way more needed in a deeper role in this team. In a small game it might be okay, but in a game where our CM's are pressed with great intensity, it won't really work.

Furthermore, we don't really want to play him there in a big game, because he's weaker defensively than Gargano and Cambiasso, and he risks losing possession in critical positions.

I can definitely understand Stramaccioni's ambivalence when he was choosing his lineup, it was a pretty difficult choice to make. We made a more defensive selection, but we all know the denouement, it didn't pay off one bit.

thatdude · Mar 8, 2013

Guys he's an 18 year old who just moved to our team like a month ago. Wtf did you expect? When everybody else is shit he's going to be shit to... This is called learning and even a anonymous performance like the one yesterday is good for his development. If he has the mentality to make it at a club like Inter he won't get discouraged he will play quicker, make better decisions, and be more decisive because that's what development does.

Mateo Kovačić

Rate the player

10 - Legend. One of the absolute best players in the history of the game (think Meazza, Matthäus)

9 - Icon. One of the best players in club history, and one of the best players in the world

8 - Great. A player of high quality that adds a lot to the team, one of the best in the league

7 - Good. A valuble asset to the team, one of the 10-15 best in his position in the league

6 - Above average. Useful player, but will never be a key player for a team

5 - Average. Completely average player. Does his job, but doesn't stand out

4 - Below average. Not a disaster, but would be better if we didn't sign him in the first place

3 - Anonymous. Will never be remembered due to the fact nobody expected anything from him

2 - Useless. Adds nothing of value, detrimental to the team when on the pitch

1 - Infamous. Awful signing, will go down in history as one of the shittiest Inter players ever

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