39 minutes ago, jack_super_class said:

No it's not its based on the whole of last season too. The only thing Jorginho has over Kovacic is passing, everything else Kovacic is better thats why i prefer him.

Jorginho is much better and more disciplined holding. Kante has always had someone holding next to him whether that be Matic/Drinkwater etc.

Kovacic is more in the box to box role similar to Kante, i worry whether between them they're disciplined enough to play next to each other.

Jorginho also dropped deep between the two CB's during our build up to allow our full backs to push higher when we had the ball, something else i question whether Kovacic could manage that.

10 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

No it's not its based on the whole of last season too. The only thing Jorginho has over Kovacic is passing, everything else Kovacic is better thats why i prefer him.

That's not really true, Jorginho was one of our key players last season, Kovacic did nothing, maybe he had 2 good games in total. 

9 hours ago, Gol15 said:

That's not really true, Jorginho was one of our key players last season, Kovacic did nothing, maybe he had 2 good games in total. 

So Kovacic isn't more agile and mobile than Jorignho?, his work rate and tackling isn't better?, his dribbling and ability to get out of tight spaces isn't better? with his back to goal he isn't better?.

Just now, jack_super_class said:

So Kovacic isn't more agile and mobile than Jorignho?, his work rate and tackling isn't better?, his dribbling and ability to get out of tight spaces isn't better? with his back to goal he isn't better?.

He's better at running with the ball. Dribbling, running with the ball. I give you that.

Jorginho is a fine player, amazing at reading the game, Kovacic really isn't a better player overall, and if he were he would have been back in Real Madrid before the summer you can be sure of that.

There is a good reason why Sarri wanted Jorginho to join us and why Guardiola wanted to steal him from us, the quality is there and he has shown it last season as our key player as well as this pre-season.
 

 

Both were poor without the defensive capabilities needed in a deeper midfield role. 

Which was it that Alassanne Plea walked past for his goal the other day? Sums up the protection the back four can get with those two. 

It was one of them but I wasn't sure which. 

 

2 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

So Kovacic isn't more agile and mobile than Jorignho?, his work rate and tackling isn't better?, his dribbling and ability to get out of tight spaces isn't better? with his back to goal he isn't better?.

I honestly don't get this claim that Kovaacic worked hard last season. In a great many of games he went completely missing to the point where many fans forgot he was even on pitch, until the inevitable moment when he was hauled off.

Last season he had plenty of playing time, something he has not been used to in Spain, now he is settled in England and knows the league, this season he can push on and improve, have faith in Frank Lampard the best midfielder tutor you could dream of having.

The decision to bring him in permanently has been justified already, imagine the sh*t we'd be in right now with Kante's injury woes had we not.

Same old Kovacic.

Kovacic was excellent yesterday.

I find Kovacic the exact same as last year so I’m surprised he gets as much praise as he does. He’s still a very tidy dribbler but does nothing of significance when he goes forward and our defence gets left exposed with a midfield of him & Jorg. I think Jorginho’s ability in the ball gives him the edge against teams we will dominate to start with Kante. I’d still prefer Kova against teams which will press us and where we’ll need energy and pace in the centre of the park! 

He has got better, although i admit he has a long way to go to sway the fans. But i think now the link with RM and the dream has gone, and hes secured a decent contract here, he looks more relaxed and happy, i also like some of his decision making of late.

1 hour ago, EdinburghBlue said:

I find Kovacic the exact same as last year so I’m surprised he gets as much praise as he does. He’s still a very tidy dribbler but does nothing of significance when he goes forward and our defence gets left exposed with a midfield of him & Jorg. I think Jorginho’s ability in the ball gives him the edge against teams we will dominate to start with Kante. I’d still prefer Kova against teams which will press us and where we’ll need energy and pace in the centre of the park! 

I think his assist to Abraham was pretty significant considering it won the game.

2 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

I find Kovacic the exact same as last year so I’m surprised he gets as much praise as he does. He’s still a very tidy dribbler but does nothing of significance when he goes forward and our defence gets left exposed with a midfield of him & Jorg. I think Jorginho’s ability in the ball gives him the edge against teams we will dominate to start with Kante. I’d still prefer Kova against teams which will press us and where we’ll need energy and pace in the centre of the park! 

I think the difference is now he's been used better which allows fans to focus on what he can do as opposed to what he can't.

For all the media talk of Kante being used wrong it was actually Kova that was, he was played in a role final 3rd product was expected instead of being a bonus, now with Mount taking on that role out of the midfielders Kovacic is getting a role more suited to his skillset.

I think he's excellent always have. Shame he cant score.

15 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

I think he's excellent always have. Shame he cant score.

Never understood all the criticism he gets tbh, do people really think we would be better off without him this season? 

Kovacic made Garth Crooks' team of the week. Yeah alright, it's Garth Crooks, but still... Interesting comments on both Kovacic and Abraham.

Cahill made the team too, well done agent Cahill. David Luiz got a dishonorable mention, so well done to him too

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49468704

29 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Never understood all the criticism he gets tbh, do people really think we would be better off without him this season? 

Kovacic got criticised last year because he was awful, just like other players have in the past. I haven't seen much criticism this season if any and he had a good game against Norwich, let's see how well he does over the season.

18 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Kovacic got criticised last year because he was awful, just like other players have in the past. I haven't seen much criticism this season if any and he had a good game against Norwich, let's see how well he does over the season.

Awful is a strong word to use, and just in this page alone you can see criticism of him before the Norwich game. 

I don't think he was awful at all, but did he do enough? No. Obviously we expected more but I think he's still a good player, he's still quite young, he become much better. 

Edited August 26, 20196 yr by Slojo

5 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Awful is a strong word to use, and just in this page alone you can see criticism of him before the Norwich game. 

I don't think he was awful at all, but did he do enough? No. Obviously we expected more but I think he's still a good player, he's still quite young, he become much better. 

Might be the wrong word but I personally think he was awful, was a passenger in the majority of games he played and couldn't even play 90mins, that's just my opinion. This season I think he has been good, much improved but I do think the expectations are lower because of last season. Hopefully he can kick on and improve over the season, I've got faith in Frank and the football has been good so far this year.

 

People have got to remember that the vast majority of foreign player DO NOT adapt well to the EPL. Some do, but most struggle. I remember watching Malouda, or Drogba etc (there are many to name) who struggled to adjust to the speed and physicality of the EPL. Will we see the best of Pulisic this year or will it also take a year to adapt? Don't also forget he was in the tactical straitjacket of Sarri last year and not every player likes to be treated like a robot. 

Give the guy some time.

4 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Might be the wrong word but I personally think he was awful, was a passenger in the majority of games he played and couldn't even play 90mins, that's just my opinion. This season I think he has been good, much improved but I do think the expectations are lower because of last season. Hopefully he can kick on and improve over the season, I've got faith in Frank and the football has been good so far this year.

 

Passenger is fair, I often used that with him in some games where he just wasn't doing enough. His work rate and passing was spot on, on the ball I used to get him mixed up with Hazard a lot because he was the only other player who could move the ball like him, it was glued to his feet. If he could have more performances like the one yesterday and in the Europa Final he would be a star, his dribbling is one of his best aspects. For me he just doesn't seem to want to take risks, he can play a really nice ball, he just chooses not to.

Just don't write him off, I know you're not doing that, but he's still quite a young player, people forget this. He might not have hit the ground running here but he has a lot of time to develop, I think we will see a better season from him this year. 

Some of the critism our players get is mind numbing to be honest, unless a player disrespect the club I will always encourage him until he leaves the club, yes I may get Heating in the moment but I would never go to the lengths some do on here jesus.

He made a couple of crucial tackles and overall had a good game. I think he's starting to improve and is probably more settled with the move made permanent, plus the this is his second season. 

Good signs last game. 

On 25/08/2019 at 19:36, mwblue10 said:

I think his assist to Abraham was pretty significant considering it won the game.

Fair play, I must admit on first viewing I thought it looked it was under hit but seeing it on MOTD it wasn’t, it was a decent pass but hardly Fabregas against Burnley.

 

It is a bit of a stretch to make out that goal was made by his assist, it was Abraham who made the most of it to open up the opportunity to get the strike away. He won the match, not Kova’s pass.

 

I’ve always said he’s a decent player I just think folk are going overboard with how good he is this season because of how average he was last season.

Edited August 27, 20196 yr by EdinburghBlue