this discussion is not about guarin but just to clearify - i only mentioned guarin because you wrongly said hes brain dead and implied that he isnt good enough. its true he carried the team no wonder chelsea and juventus were interested in him and juve came close to signing him as well. hes just played in the wrong position. being in the final third is not his forte so ofcourse he will come across as unintelligent and selfish.
Mateo Kovacic
- Thread starter GIT Z RED
- Start date
- Status
Rakitic has been played up, but he has been played wide-ish which really curtails what Rakitic can do. He needed to be played in the middle and so in the last few matches, he was transferred to the midfield where he complements Modric very well. Kovacic can be played alongside Modric and Vuckojevic with Rakitic ahead of them three or Kovacic can be played on the left in a 4-1-4-1 with Modric, Rakitic in the center taking their normal places. I think Eduardo can be dispensed with even with his quite good goal-scoring record unless there is a real need for width against the opposition because Rakitic is a good crosser of the ball as well.
Yeah we're in a situation right now where we can't gamble on young talents. We need two experienced midfielders right now and once we get back into Europe next year I think we should go for Kovacic. He's a wonderful talent.
A couple of lovely passes there, good to see him coming good at Inter. He clearly had something when he was playing in the champions league for Zagreb
The defender fell on his arse for both of those assists. Nice vision though. The sort of thing we could do with, if only to give defensive-minded teams something different to think about.
you're right about kovacic playing on the left, he used to play there for dinamo. but i think croatia should go for a genuine winger. considering they are playing brazil and neymar and hulk dont always workhard defensively, it wont be a bad idea to play perisic and illicevic alongside mazdukic,rackitic with modric and Vuckojevic in the engine room. i think we would see the best from croatia if rackitic plays thhrough the middle with modric with vuckojevic sweeping up.
Kovacic vs lazio. I would love to see him here at United playing under a more experienced midfielder if we get Carvalho next season. Ideal midfield for next season:
Carvalho(Carrick/Pearson) - Kroos or Strootman(Kovacic/Rothwell)
But, unfortunately some or all of Fellaini, Cleverley and Fletcher will most likely still remain unboard for next season
Last edited:
Kovaciç would probably cost the same amount as Kroos or more than Strootman. I don't see the point of buying a 19 year old to be an understudy for a 24 year old either.
I would just buy Kovacic and be done with. The only I would perhaps consider ahead of him of our reported targets is Koke.
4 months ago he didn't play under mazzari and you could sign him without spending big money, but not now
#thingschangequickly
#thingschangequickly
I will still under the impression that Inter Milian does not value him and he would go for £8m-£10m as was his evaluations few months ago. As :sonny: said, it seems he is now rated highly by Mazzari.
The point of him being an understudying is to not put so much pressure on him as our answer towards improving our midfield. I believe United need a starting regular that is a leader/mentally tough in the midfield(Strootman) or a player that has experienced at the highest level(Kroos), over an inexperienced player like Kovacic who is still very early in his developing process. Making him play as the understudy will help strengthen his future development and it would not put so much pressure on his shoulder.
Beit, the world cup will change my mind if he shows he is capable of carrying his nation at one of the highest stage in football without looking out of place.
All I'm seeing in these videos is a kid dribbling when he needs to lay it off or playing passes that'd get cut out in the Prem.
There are glimpses of good vision and yeah he could learn with his dribbling but he'd be a massive, massive risk at this moment and we don't need risks in our next midfielder. We need guaranteed quality.
There are glimpses of good vision and yeah he could learn with his dribbling but he'd be a massive, massive risk at this moment and we don't need risks in our next midfielder. We need guaranteed quality.
Yeah I couldn't watch more than half of it but he seemed to over-complicate almost every thing he did and his passing didn't look all that impressive. Looks to have the skillset and mentality of an attacking midfielder rather than a CM and I have no idea how he'd fit into the side.
I think he is pretty tidy in possession and sometimes he does dribble himself into trouble, but that accounts for little when he has one of the best dribbling stats in Europe. His passing is clean and pentrative. He may not consistently showcase the holloywood longball but he is more than capable of doing so as exhibited to his pass to Milto out wide in this game.
He is has the skillset and mentality of a box to box midfielder. As an attacking midfielder, he does not have to space to run at defenders and his goal scoring output is not good enough to be efficient in this role. He would be an exemplary ball carrying box to box midfielder for United.
Damn deleted my post by accident in response to Martheto...
Last edited:
Ordinarily I would agree with this theory. That said, I just don't think these things are an exact science. The individuals must be considered on each case. In this particular case, I think Kovacic is of the talent to be considered.
That's a brilliant performance against a decent team. Seems like he'd be perfect for the 4-3-3 Van Gaal generally favors, maybe as the LCM linking up often with Januzaj and Shaw.
Some lovely passes to Nagotomo that Shaw would feast on with his pace, and obviously he's capable of a brilliant through-ball down the centre, with 2 in that video particularly tasty.
Some lovely passes to Nagotomo that Shaw would feast on with his pace, and obviously he's capable of a brilliant through-ball down the centre, with 2 in that video particularly tasty.
If these Evra to Inter rumours are true and they field Evra-Vidic as the left side of their defense next year, I`ll be mad we weren`t able to strongarm them into giving us Kovacic (with extra money going their way).
There would be no 'extra' money, Evra and Vidic are out of contract, them joining Inter would give us no upper hand in negotiations.
Will he start for Croatia? They already have Rakitic and Modric.
My bad. I`ll commit Muppet Yubitsume and not post in a transfer thread for 10 minutes as penance.
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yubitsume
Where is his best position?
ta very much
Italian journalist claims Liverpool set to battle Manchester United for wonderkid Croat
Liverpool and Manchester United are both keen on signing on Inter Milan’s young midfielder Mateo Kovacic, reports Italian publication Gazzetta.
The 20-year-old Croat will be heading to the World Cup with Croatia this summer, after an interesting season with the Serie A giants. While he has by no means been a guaranteed starter with Inter, his talent, and precocious ability, is simply undeniable.
His passing is his main asset, and at his best, he can cut open defences with intricate through-balls or lofted scoops practically at will. This has led to four assists so far in the Italian top flight, but if he does fulfil his potential, he’s be hoping to become a key player for a top European side rather than a bit party playmaker.
Scouts from both Premier League giants have earmarked Kovacic as a summer transfer target, although Inter’s mega rich new owner Erick Thohir will not be able to be financially bullied.
United though are desperate to improve their central midfield options, and have been linked to Benfica midfielder Enzo Perez heavily today as well. Liverpool have already made a £20m bid for Adam Lallana, but the Saints are holding out for closer to £25m.
Seems Liverpool are going to be battling us on all out targets.
Carvalho, Kovacic, heard they are going for Shaw now too
Liverpool and Manchester United are both keen on signing on Inter Milan’s young midfielder Mateo Kovacic, reports Italian publication Gazzetta.
The 20-year-old Croat will be heading to the World Cup with Croatia this summer, after an interesting season with the Serie A giants. While he has by no means been a guaranteed starter with Inter, his talent, and precocious ability, is simply undeniable.
His passing is his main asset, and at his best, he can cut open defences with intricate through-balls or lofted scoops practically at will. This has led to four assists so far in the Italian top flight, but if he does fulfil his potential, he’s be hoping to become a key player for a top European side rather than a bit party playmaker.
Scouts from both Premier League giants have earmarked Kovacic as a summer transfer target, although Inter’s mega rich new owner Erick Thohir will not be able to be financially bullied.
United though are desperate to improve their central midfield options, and have been linked to Benfica midfielder Enzo Perez heavily today as well. Liverpool have already made a £20m bid for Adam Lallana, but the Saints are holding out for closer to £25m.
Seems Liverpool are going to be battling us on all out targets.
Carvalho, Kovacic, heard they are going for Shaw now too
I'd give anything for us to get this kid. Him and William would be a dream.
Man Utd have made an enquiry regarding Kovacic according to Corriere Dello Sport.
*** *** *** ***
Corriere Dello Sport have been linking us to loads of players recently like Cavani and Pogba etc.....Perhaps they are trying to build up a bigger English speaking following to try and bring in more revenues
Kovacic has already expressed his desire to stay at Inter on numerous occasions recently
Kovacic has already expressed his desire to stay at Inter on numerous occasions recently
This lad is ludicrously good at football.
They also wrote that Shakhtar offered 30 mil € and there were reports about United and Liverpool bid all turned down. I don't think he'll leave, even if he will have a good WC. Seems like Thohir just doesn't want to sell, and why would he... If he want's to rebuild the club, he needs to hold on to players like him.
Hello.
I think I'd be more excited about this signing than any others of those mentioned. He would add such a dynamic edge to the side and that ability to suddenly explode into action is something we definitely need.
Kovacic is my number 1 transfer target. I would choose him over Ronaldo or Messi even because of his age and my belief that eventually he will be as good as both.
Good to know their are rumours of our interest floating around on the internet.
Would be my number one midfield target and a player I'd prefer us to pursue than the likes of Vidal, Fabregas, etc, given his age and sky-high potential.
Would provide a great injection of pace and energy through the centre of the pitch, in an otherwise static and pedestrian midfield. Seeing his ability to beat players and create openings as he approaches the final third would greatly enhance our dynamism and creativity in that area of the pitch, opposed to the one-dimensional approach we've mostly conjured up last season. Great end-product and vision to boot also.
I'm not sure what his current situation at Inter is like and whether he is immediately attainable or not, but I just hope he doesn't star too much at the World Cup and drive his value up drastically.
Would provide a great injection of pace and energy through the centre of the pitch, in an otherwise static and pedestrian midfield. Seeing his ability to beat players and create openings as he approaches the final third would greatly enhance our dynamism and creativity in that area of the pitch, opposed to the one-dimensional approach we've mostly conjured up last season. Great end-product and vision to boot also.
I'm not sure what his current situation at Inter is like and whether he is immediately attainable or not, but I just hope he doesn't star too much at the World Cup and drive his value up drastically.
Laugh all you want, but if we add Kovacic to our midfield and keep the same squad of forwards, we will be much stronger than if we add Ronaldo or Messi to our forwards and keep the same squad of midfielders.
That may be the case, but I think he's laughing at your claim that he will reach the level of both Messi and Ronaldo.
He's my number one target too. In my entire life, I think Anderson is the only midfielder I've seen at the club who can dribble or beat men. It is great to have passers and tacklers, but the ability to skip past opponents centrally opens up the game in a different way.
The lad is talented no doubt, no argument there. But he has done nothing so far to even suggest he will reach the level of the likes of Messi, Ronaldo. For God's sake, he plays in a very poor Inter team in the Italian league..
People are always quick to name somebody the next Messi,Ronaldo or whatever. But these player do not only possess exceptional raw talent, they have the hunger to succeed more than anything else. Don't be deceived, if it wasn't for Ronaldo's eagerness to be the best from a very young age, he wouldn't be where he is now. Raw talent can only do so much, it all depends on the player's attitude and hunger to succeed. It's silly to claim he will reach their level when in truth, not many players do. The likes of Morrison and Nani annoy me so much because at times they show they are exceptionally talented but do feck all with it. Talent is one thing, dedication is another.
- Status