3 hours ago, Kova17 said:

Kova usually plays hard for both club and country. Kova was playing under injection in the World Cup as his knee has been bothering him all season. He might have messes up his knee worse. As far as him playing injured well national pride is very high in Croatia. 

Yeah he’s got a great attitude. Clearly a good lad too. Some people got this wrong. 

Hey @CaitlinCFCyou said you would let us have Kova back for the next game...

Edited February 4, 20233 yr by axman2526

13 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Hey @CaitlinCFCyou said you would let us have Kova back for the next game...

Next Champions League game!

Enjoy @CaitlinCFC 

Mateo Kovačić has attracted the interest of Manchester City with the midfielder facing a big decision over his Chelsea future.

- @Matt_Law_DT

— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) February 28, 2023

Only a year left on his deal in summer? If we're going to sell now is the time. Really liked him since he arrived, hope he can pick up form and sign an extension. Still only 28 and should be in his prime right now. 

I say sell. Especially if the goal is still to revamp the entire midfield. Far too limited in the attacking end. Average passer of the ball. No defensive presence. 

But the biggest thing for me is his unreliability. You'd expect him to be at the peak of his fitness powers. Croatia come calling, you can safely bet he will jump from any hospital bed he is in and will play the full 90. Whilst asking him to play two matches on the trot for the club is a near impossibility. 

Sell. 

He's an odd one. Quite a tidy player and has the ability to keep the ball well under pressure and bring it forward. Problem is, once he's done that, there's no end product most of the time. He rarely gets goals or assists, his final ball is quite poor for this level. He's a good ball-winner sometimes. I dunno.

The idea of Kovacic is usually much better than the actual reality.

I don't think we should let him go, if he stays fit then he's a massive asset to the team, plus, getting rid of all of these senior players in such a short space of time might not be the best idea.

12 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

The idea of Kovacic is usually much better than the actual reality.

Kova is one of the most complete midfielder in Europe. However, you need to give him specific role. If you just let him do whatever you will get a headless chicken 

6 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

I don't think we should let him go, if he stays fit then he's a massive asset to the team, plus, getting rid of all of these senior players in such a short space of time might not be the best idea.

I mean he's already here and it already isn't working out. 

 

Just now, Bob stark said:

Kova is one of the most complete midfielder in Europe. However, you need to give him specific role. If you just let him do whatever you will get a headless chicken 

Expand on that. 

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I mean he's already here and it already isn't working out. 

What's not working out? He's been class for us since he's moved here, it's just been unfortunate that his injury record has been poor. 

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I mean he's already here and it already isn't working out. 

 

Expand on that. 

He can do almost everything. He can make final ball, he can win duel, he can carry the ball forward. Technically and physically he is very good. 

 

2 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

What's not working out? He's been class for us since he's moved here, it's just been unfortunate that his injury record has been poor. 

Yeah I phrased that wrong. 

What I mean he is here now and we are already experiencing a full blown crises in midfield. I doubt him leaving will make things any worse than they already are. 

2 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

He can do almost everything. He can make final ball, he can win duel, he can carry the ball forward. Technically and physically he is very good. 

 

Oh I'm sure he can do it, just as Mount can do all those things or hell even Gallagher and Ruben. It's about doing those things consistently and effectively, which is why I disagree with your statement he is a complete player. 

5 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Yeah I phrased that wrong. 

What I mean he is here now and we are already experiencing a full blown crises in midfield. I doubt him leaving will make things any worse than they already are. 

Oh I'm sure he can do it, just as Mount can do all those things or hell even Gallagher and Ruben. It's about doing those things consistently and effectively, which is why I disagree with your statement he is a complete player. 

I don't understand what you mean by consistenly and effectively because Kova was our best midfielder last year. 

 

5 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Yeah I phrased that wrong. 

What I mean he is here now and we are already experiencing a full blown crises in midfield. I doubt him leaving will make things any worse than they already are. 

 

When Potter inevitably gets sacked whoever comes in would definitely benefit from having some senior players about. Our vice captain has left, our club captain will probably be off in the summer, we'll be left with a squad full of mostly new players under 23. Enzo, Santos, Casadei, Carney and whoever our new midfielder will be would definitely benefit from having Kovacic around. Not to mention at 28 years old he can still be a valuable experienced head on the pitch as well as off it.

Another player looking bad because of Potter that we're going to sell stupidly. If he's good enough for Man City he's good enough for us.

We should be dumping the likes of Gallagher and Loftus Cheek before we even consider selling someone like Kovacic. Hopefully Vivell at least sees some sense

It shoes how badly we are struggling when people want us to hang on to Kovacic. Massively overrated player and I don't believe for a second Man City are interested.  Exeter City maybe. 

 

I'd trade him in for one of @Mod 's second hand motors and a Steak Bake.

 

 

1 hour ago, timetowaste said:

When Potter inevitably gets sacked whoever comes in would definitely benefit from having some senior players about. Our vice captain has left, our club captain will probably be off in the summer, we'll be left with a squad full of mostly new players under 23. Enzo, Santos, Casadei, Carney and whoever our new midfielder will be would definitely benefit from having Kovacic around. Not to mention at 28 years old he can still be a valuable experienced head on the pitch as well as off it.

But again, Silva is already here. Kante is already here. Azpilicueta is already here. These senior players are already here and we are experiencing one of the worst seasons in almost two decades. 

I was always adamant in saying only one of Kante, Kovacic, and Zakaria should stay given their unreliability. And the club has chosen Kante. It's something I very much agree with. 

5 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

But again, Silva is already here. Kante is already here. Azpilicueta is already here. These senior players are already here and we are experiencing one of the worst seasons in almost two decades. 

I was always adamant in saying only one of Kante, Kovacic, and Zakaria should stay given their unreliability. And the club has chosen Kante. It's something I very much agree with. 

There was players here in 15/16 that we couldn't have won the title without the following season.

We need to be careful. It's the main reason I don't think we should be too hasty with cutting out loses on Sterling and that I think Navas is worth a look if we haven't pissed off PSG too much.

Kova is some great qualities. There are very few players who are resistant to press like Kova and he is also a good ball carrier and dribbler. Selling him would mean Kante is the only guy who can play as 6 in our team. RLC and Enzo are both more advanced players who are playing as makeshift no 6's. Andry Santos is also very similar. 
 

1 hour ago, Argo said:

There was players here in 15/16 that we couldn't have won the title without the following season.

We need to be careful. It's the main reason I don't think we should be too hasty with cutting out loses on Sterling and that I think Navas is worth a look if we haven't pissed off PSG too much.

Kante, Silva, Sterling, the only 3 i’d keep. 

Kova and Chilwell are high on Cities wanted list apparently.

3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Kova is one of the most complete midfielder in Europe. However, you need to give him specific role. If you just let him do whatever you will get a headless chicken 

In my book, a complete midfielder would contribute a lot more in the way of goals and assists. Kovacic is nowhere near a complete midfielder.

As for Man City being interested in him, can only imagine his agent has started that rumour. He wouldn't get near their starting 11. 

Have always maintained that he's a useful squad player but now our squad is as big as it is and we clearly need a big reduction in numbers, Kova is one I would sell without hesitation.