Mateo Kovačić

[Wallace]

agreed. tbh i dont mind players who fade in and out a bit, if you fade out for 30 minutes then the defenders tend to switch off of you a bit more and look at you as less of a threat, thus giving you a bit more space. its a tactic some players use for sure. like palacio. whether its intentional or not there i dont know, though

I usually don't mind about that, but I think it's a different case due to Kovacic's role. We should be using Kovacic as a pivot of our play rather than letting Gargano and Cambiasso hitting long passes/clearance, giving possession away to opponent when being pressured a little.

We are pretty much the opposite of the way PSG plays, and they are very efficient in moving the ball forward to the three attackers and Ibrahimovic. This is the case for both counter attack or in possession, where their attack concentrate in going through their deep lying playmaker, by passing the ball centrally. For example, Verratti would be their most-completed-passes player.

IMO we are instigating our attack a little too much on the wings rather than in the center, and it's not exactly efficient in converting possession to an attack. Because let's face it, both Pereira and Nagatomo are rather average in passing and on the ball, it'd be better if we make use of their off ball movements a little more instead, which they are both pretty good at.

I think it's probably better for us to nurture Kovacic into something like Verratti, where he proactively takes control of the midfield. Surely, he'll be able to do that, as he doesn't really lack any quality in playing such role.

 

[rockball]

Did someone mention PSG are efficient at moving the ball forward? Their only plan is Verratti long ball to Ibra, or Lucas/Pastore running with the ball along the wings. PSG are currently the most boring team to watch in entire Europe, which is a pity considering the talent present.

 

[Wallace]

Did someone mention PSG are efficient at moving the ball forward? Their only plan is Verratti long ball to Ibra, or Lucas/Pastore running with the ball along the wings. PSG are currently the most boring team to watch in entire Europe, which is a pity considering the talent present.

And what's wrong with playing long ball? I'm talking about efficiency, not how boring it is to watch.

PSG are a counter attack team, and so are we. We don't have their pace up front, but there are things we can emulate to be as efficient as them in sending direct passes up front.

It's not like we're entertaining to watch either , I just don't see anything wrong playing in this way considering the fact that we've played this way for so many years.

 

[sanka]

We're gonna need a sky observer for this lad's potential.

 

[yoszee]

rate him 10

 

[sacha]

just been watching some videos of him playing and i think the modric comparison is close in terms of the areas that he likes to play on the pitch.

i thought (and i assume most others did too) that kovacic was a #10 like Sneijder, looking to play ahead of the midfield (behind the strikers) but this kid likes to play deeper (in the centre circle), whilst not as deep (infront of the defence) as pirlo or verratti, he likes to pass or drive with ball beyond the midfield but not beyond the forwards like Guarin for example. This kid a baller, he's not a register as such but i can see him developing more along the lines of Iniesta than Xavi if that makes sense.

I think that Strama has the right idea by playing a 4-3-1-2, giving Kovacic space to play in but giving a larger amount of the defensive responsibility to cambiasso/gargano etc. my only concern here is that to play Guarin (amc) and Kovacic (playmaker) in the areas that they are strongest and not giving the too much defensive responsibility, Schelotto becomes a complete waste of money unless some how he is converted into a RB in which case Perriera is a waste of money.

 

[Fapuccino]

this guy's best asset is probably dribbling something that modric doesnt have.


in terms of style you're right about the iniesta part as his best assets are dribbling and passing.

 

[sacha]

this guy's best asset is probably dribbling something that modric doesnt have.


in terms of style you're right about the iniesta part as his best assets are dribbling and passing.

never said that the comparison was based on his dribbling, however, modric has awesome close control and is a very good dribbler but by virtue of being a play maker, he passes the ball. Iniesta is also not a prolific dribbler. these are players that use good close control and good balance in tight spaces to create space to pass and move, thiago alcantara is another player in this mould. these guys aren't like ozil or kaka who has (well, had) the ability to run directly at pace or like Guarin who has power to drive through midfield with the ball at his feet.

 

[Fapuccino]

iniesta is an amazing dribbler, but I dont mean that in the CR7 sense of beating fullbacks one on one for pace. I mean navigating through tight spaces, which is something he can do.

 

[sacha]

Iniesta is also not a prolific dribbler. these are players that use good close control and good balance in tight spaces to create space to pass and move,

so you mean this?

 

[Cal]

this guy's best asset is probably dribbling something that modric doesnt have.

Dafuq did I just read?

 

[Fapuccino]

if you're correcting my sentence formation, i was refer to the asset of dribbling, so it's right

if you're referring to modric's ability to dribble

 

[Cal]

So what you're saying is Modric cant dribble. Ok. Cool.

 

[Fapuccino]

mate any football player can dribble, but im saying dribbling is not one of his main skills

 

[shingayi]

ninuk just wanted to say that Kovacic is faster, more dynamic and can go past two or three defenders in full run, something Modric can't do, or do very rarely.

 

[sacha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7TUU5415lw

Modric at Dinamo - fast, dynamic and going past 2 or 3 defenders in full runs regularly.


When he moved to a better league, he improved tactically and learned that the ball moves faster when you pass.


Personally, I'll be very happy if Kova develops to be as good as Modric is now (or was last season at Spurs)

 

[Fitzy]

Although I don't see why we had to sacrifice another young talent to get him, there's no doubt that he's a brilliant talent.

 

[Solfice]

Although I don't see why we had to sacrifice another young talent to get him, there's no doubt that he's a brilliant talent.

€ or £ or $.

 

[Fitzy]

€ or £ or $.

Yet we have enough of it to spend on Icardi...

 

[rockball]

And what's wrong with playing long ball? I'm talking about efficiency, not how boring it is to watch.

PSG are a counter attack team, and so are we. We don't have their pace up front, but there are things we can emulate to be as efficient as them in sending direct passes up front.

It's not like we're entertaining to watch either , I just don't see anything wrong playing in this way considering the fact that we've played this way for so many years.

There is nothing wrong with playing that way but don't call it efficient because it is not. Efficient can be Bayern with their quick movement, or Dortmund or even Madrid with their lightning fast counters, but those long balls. Fucking no.