Mateo Kovačić

[_Ivan_]

Give him on loan, I'm fine with that.

 

[Provi]

Kinda miss these.

 

[Wobblz]

Kinda miss these.

That game was quite literally the exception for "these" in Kova's Inter career, sadly.

 

[Sokrates]

What the fuck did Icardi there? This pass was made for Jonathan to score! :serious:

 

[Pajo]

Kinda miss these.

That was his best game in our jersey. By far. He had more shit ones than like those vs. Lazio unfortunately.

 

[varmin]

Are you nuts? Kovacic was 20-21 years old in his last Inter season, playing with awful teammates and still he was able to score 8 times and assisted 5. He also had a great game against Empoli (4-3), where had only one assist but was involved in most of our goals. He had shit games too, but that is normal for such a young player, which position wasn't clarified neither by Mazzari nor by Mancini. Brozovic was much worst than him in his first two season but once when Spalletti (or Ausilio as per rumors) found his place he's turned in a great player.

I still believe that Kova's potential could be unlocked and probably Conte is a right man for that job. Loan + option will be great deal for us considering our other alternatives in the midfield.

 

[Pajo]

Kova has declined instead of improved since then. That's the issue. He was mediocre at RM, and mediocre at Chelsea as well. He was decent for us, even tho his contribution was/is overrated by our fans. He did score 8 goals, but go back, 3 of them were in EL qualification vs that club from Island i cant even pronounce. He had only handful of good games for us, no more than 5-6, no way around it.

I have nothing against him coming back, especially if it's loan + option. But by no means he should be our main signing for the midfield or be a regular starter in it - till he proves otherwise.

 

[Universe]

I agree that he has stagnated since leaving us by rotting on Madrid's bench instead of playing and developing week in and out.

I disagree that his contribution in our team was overrated, the same way I disagree that Brozovic is overrated. Ironically, Brozovic is/was the new Kovacic in that he was the only half-functional midfielder in a midfield which would bring grown men to tears due to their absolute collective incompetence. I saw a headline on Michael's site that was more or less identical to what Pirlo wrote in his autobiography: "La Stampa - Conte is obsessed with tactics, will ask his players to repeat plays 30 times until they're memorized correctly". By comparison, under Mazzarri, Mancini, Pioli and all but 6 months of Spalletti's 2 years, it looked like our players had repeated zero plays, zero times. Kovacic/Brozovic were the only ones with the technique, sense or urgency to try to move the ball forward and bring others into play. But when you're surrounded by the likes of Vecino and Medel, you're bound to make mistakes.

Either way, there just simply hasn't been enough positive in Kovacic since leaving us for me to want him back. Somewhat similar to Rafinha tbh. Both departures were regrettable at the time, some might even call their departures a mistake. But in cold, hard reality, there has been nothing from either player for me to want to fix those mistakes or "right those wrong" so to speak. Leave them as past mistakes that can't be fixed and instead, learn from them and move on IMO.

 

[varmin]

Kova has declined instead of improved since then. That's the issue. He was mediocre at RM, and mediocre at Chelsea as well. He was decent for us, even tho his contribution was/is overrated by our fans. He did score 8 goals, but go back, 3 of them were in EL qualification vs that club from Island i cant even pronounce. He had only handful of good games for us, no more than 5-6, no way around it.

I have nothing against him coming back, especially if it's loan + option. But by no means he should be our main signing for the midfield or be a regular starter in it - till he proves otherwise.

I agree that he is stalling since than but that doesn't mean that he was shit back than. He was promising young midfielder and due to that Real paid 35mln for him.
I also think he shouldn't be a main signing in the mid but i'd welcome him as an option. He definitely can bring something more than Vecino, Valero and Gagliardini.

 

[Shark]

That was his best game in our jersey. By far. He had more shit ones than like those vs. Lazio unfortunately.

Kova didn't have a single shit game for us. I'm not exaggerating. If the Lazio game were the only one he played well, we would have been glad to sell him to Real for 30m or so. You think Real would have bought him if his performance vs Lazio was an exception? Besides, pretty much all Interisti were PISSED when he was sold. I dont think that reaction fits your description of his time here.

He had many decent games and great ones like the one vs Lazio. The problem is that at Real his development stagnated and he pretty much stayed at the same level. That being said, I wouldn't mind having him here if we can avoid overspending.

Will he improve? I don't know, but seeing how he frequently got benched by Barkley we could say that he's maybe reached his ceiling.

 

[Pajo]

I dont remember that most were pissed. Quite the contrary, many were sad to see him go, but the money we got for him were great, hence it was good business. Being sad =/= being pissed. I was in one of those, i was sad to see him go as he was the only one that was able to bring the ball forward, but i wasn't pissed at all.

Too many pages are in this thread since then, but if you go back you will see many people criticizing him.

That being said, it's not even important if he was good with us or not. Main issue is what i stated above, he has declined since his days at Inter, instead of improving, whatever the reason. People are whining about Politano that his end product is shit, and he is 25 years old, hell, Kova is basically the same, probably even worse when it comes to end product. And at same age.

I also don't think there is anyone that wouldn't welcome him back, for cheap or loan + option. He can be valuable off the bench or to take Valero's place. If he can prove otherwise, even be a starter in future.

 

[firmino]

I remember i was sad that he was leaving and then I was also pissed that we spent that money for Kondogbia.

 

[Wings]

Just curious... has there ever been an example of a player leaving a club only to return a couple of years later and be better than his first time?

Aduriz (Athletic), Zaha (Crystal Palace)

I dont remember that most were pissed. Quite the contrary, many were sad to see him go, but the money we got for him were great, hence it was good business. Being sad =/= being pissed. I was in one of those, i was sad to see him go as he was the only one that was able to bring the ball forward, but i wasn't pissed at all.

Too many pages are in this thread since then, but if you go back you will see many people criticizing him.

That being said, it's not even important if he was good with us or not. Main issue is what i stated above, he has declined since his days at Inter, instead of improving, whatever the reason. People are whining about Politano that his end product is shit, and he is 25 years old, hell, Kova is basically the same, probably even worse when it comes to end product. And at same age.

I also don't think there is anyone that wouldn't welcome him back, for cheap or loan + option. He can be valuable off the bench or to take Valero's place. If he can prove otherwise, even be a starter in future.

I think you're misremembering...most people were not happy at all. Especially because we sold our only other creative player in Shaqiri at the time as well.

 

[Doffy]

I think you're misremembering...most people were not happy at all. Especially because we sold our only other creative player in Shaqiri at the time as well.

Shaqiri? He didnt do anything. Nobody cared when he left. Kovacic was hot and cold, more cold than anything. Once in a blue moon he played decent and when he was sold a big part of the forum was actually relieved. He didnt light it up in his time after us, on the contrary. Seems like he gets offloaded everywhere he lands. Enough said imo. I dont understand how people can defend this move. The biggest problem was his position. He didnt have any. He was basically build as an AM but with no idea how to play in the AM position. He got put farther back and was to inefficient to make a difference. He is an okay player at best tbh

If he comes to strenthen our bench im not against it but if people expect him to boss the league they got another thing coming.

 

[Pajo]

I think you're misremembering...most people were not happy at all. Especially because we sold our only other creative player in Shaqiri at the time as well.

I never said happy, but not angry either.

As I remember, the main issue was that as you said, we sold the only player who had some creative mind, and were left with DMs + hernanes lol. Another crap thing was the timing, he played in pre season, our management claimed he is our future, just to sell him at the end of the transfer window, WITHOUT buying proper replacement. And people complaining about this were right. And of course, he was fan favorite, so many were sad to see him go. The whining mostly wasnt about Kova, or the transfer itself, but the management acting without a plan.

Shaqiri? He didnt do anything. Nobody cared when he left. Kovacic was hot and cold, more cold than anything. Once in a blue moon he played decent and when he was sold a big part of the forum was actually relieved. He didnt light it up in his time after us, on the contrary. Seems like he gets offloaded everywhere he lands. Enough said imo. I dont understand how people can defend this move. The biggest problem was his position. He didnt have any. He was basically build as an AM but with no idea how to play in the AM position. He got put farther back and was to inefficient to make a difference. He is an okay player at best tbh

If he comes to strenthen our bench im not against it but if people expect him to boss the league they got another thing coming.

Thank you i'm not the only one.

 

[rfU]

Will he improve? I don't know, but seeing how he frequently got benched by Barkley we could say that he's maybe reached his ceiling.

He never got benched by Barkley. Sarri rotated them with Kova handed more minutes because he offered more consistency in terms of pressing, passing and possession. Barkley offered a more offensive threat (shooting primarily) and directness. Kova was played out of position while Barkley wasnt good enough to start. Hence the rotation.

The biggest problem was his position. He didnt have any. He was basically build as an AM but with no idea how to play in the AM position.

He was always touted to be a regista, it's just that he was far too young and inexperienced to play the role. His vision is lacking also which affects his range but how many registas playing for top european side peak at 22-25?

 

[Helenio Herrera]

Hope we can get him in. Don't understand the hate, he's a proper midfielder.

 

[morrisama]

out : Valero, Vecino, Mario, Gagliardini.

In : Barella, Sensi, Kovacic, SMS. + Nainggolan-Brozovic

that's a good and reliable line up of midfield.

 

[thatdude]

That would be a hell of an upgrade but I don’t think it’s realistic sadly. Too much change for one summer. I think Kovacic is only possible if it’s instead of SMS or if N9 leaves.

 

[rockball]

It's not unrealistic really. It could be achieved, but I don't think this midfield is still good enough. There still isn't a good free kick specialist in there. And neither are the forwards/wingers that we are linked to especially good for it.