Kovacic was an absolute warrior today. Loved the goal, but what I most appreciate about him is how hard he fights through contact. It was like a slip and slide show out there, he’d take a hit, go down, and slide right back up all while maintaining control of the ball. What a player he’s been the past few years.

The goal was absolutely fantastic, but his performance was even better.

An example of a player that gives no interviews and plays for the team. I still remember his first season with us and I was so mad to see him playing, when we signed him I was so against it but now, he's my favorite player. 

World class midfielder. 

There’s some ‘Unseen Match Footage v Liverpool.’  On the club official site .

Worth watching, in my humble opinion.

On 02/01/2022 at 20:28, mojo said:

 

What a brilliant goal. 

3 hours ago, erskblue said:

What a brilliant goal. 

He doesn't score many, but when he does, it's a cracker!

 

Edited January 4, 20224 yr by Vagabond

2 minutes ago, Vagabond said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVO8-zZTe9o

Oh! I’d almost forgotten that. He certainly should have scored more goals based on his ability - probably 3 or 4 per season. I mean he knows how to direct a ball with incredibly accuracy, which alone suggests he should. I think he’s been stuck in one of those bad luck-low confidence-more bad luck-lower confidence self-reinforcing loops? Good news if it’s broken. 

can't see this goal enough times

the way he walks backwards to match the flight of the ball is absolute class

Edited January 4, 20224 yr by azpi28

11 minutes ago, azpi28 said:

can't see this goal enough times

the way he walks backwards to match the flight of the ball is absolute class

The ''Taylor you're a c*nt'' chant before the freekick is taken just adds to the beauty of the goal 😅

3 hours ago, Whiskyjack said:

He doesn't score many, but when he does, it's a cracker!

Agreed.

Technically not many players in the world come close to his dribbling, touch and when he's in the mood defense splitting passing. He has the fine ability to kill the ball no matter where he is on the pitch, his touch is exquisite. 

Very big fan of his between him Kante and Jorginho we have the best midfield in the world. We can really boss any team in the middle of the park. 

I always wondered why the Balkan countries produce such fabulous footballers, behind Brazil and Argentina, the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia produce just class players....the list is very impressive

2 hours ago, Ballack & Blu said:

I always wondered why the Balkan countries produce such fabulous footballers, behind Brazil and Argentina, the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia produce just class players....the list is very impressive

some great managers as well 

especially Valeriy Vasylyovych Lobanovskyi

7 hours ago, azpi28 said:

can't see this goal enough times

the way he walks backwards to match the flight of the ball is absolute class

Yeah he really meant it.

On 03/01/2022 at 05:55, Scott Harris said:

One of the best games he has played for us. Brilliant performance.

 

He seems to save his best for Liverpool tbh. Always one of our best players against them.

1 hour ago, azpi28 said:

some great managers as well 

especially Valeriy Vasylyovych Lobanovskyi

He was great and I do long for the days when teams like dynamo kiev and red star Belgrade could compete with the best.
 

I hate to be pedantic but he wasn’t Balkan, though I’m not crazy about the Balkan designation anyway. I prefer former Yugoslavia (if we are talking about Stojkovic, Savicevic, Prosinecki and co) as I think it had quite a specific football/sports culture.

There’s a “style” and as @Ballack & Blu observes Kova does have it. Reminds me of Stojkovic the way he glides with the ball. As for the goal, looks quite a lot like THAT Stankovic cl goal and one by Rakitic. Coincidence? Probably. I mean I’m sure one could find three or more Brazilians or Italians or Englishmen who scored similar goals. But still…

4 hours ago, Dean said:

He was great and I do long for the days when teams like dynamo kiev and red star Belgrade could compete with the best.
 

I hate to be pedantic but he wasn’t Balkan, though I’m not crazy about the Balkan designation anyway. I prefer former Yugoslavia (if we are talking about Stojkovic, Savicevic, Prosinecki and co) as I think it had quite a specific football/sports culture.

There’s a “style” and as @Ballack & Blu observes Kova does have it. Reminds me of Stojkovic the way he glides with the ball. As for the goal, looks quite a lot like THAT Stankovic cl goal and one by Rakitic. Coincidence? Probably. I mean I’m sure one could find three or more Brazilians or Italians or Englishmen who scored similar goals. But still…

Yea I loved the old Yugoslav team, R/S Belgrade and Pancev, some reason Croats seem more skilful, probably not but Sukor, Boban, Modric, Perisic, prosinecki, And our Mateo, does remind me of a Figo type, glides around with a first touch of a God..

10 hours ago, Ballack & Blu said:

I always wondered why the Balkan countries produce such fabulous footballers, behind Brazil and Argentina, the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia produce just class players....the list is very impressive

Red Star Belgrade and Steaua Bucharest won the European Cup in the 90's and 80's respectively. The Romanian club participated in 2 finals in the mid-late 80's and the Serbian club in the early 90's once, there is also another Serbian club that reached the finals once so technically speaking those few teams are the only ones from Eastern Europe that managed to compete with the best.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_Cup_and_UEFA_Champions_League_finals

The both teams had one player that won for both teams, a Romanian Belodedici.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miodrag_Belodedici

Edited January 5, 20224 yr by Gol15

 

10 hours ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Yea I loved the old Yugoslav team, R/S Belgrade and Pancev, some reason Croats seem more skilful, probably not but Sukor, Boban, Modric, Perisic, prosinecki, And our Mateo, does remind me of a Figo type, glides around with a first touch of a God..

I don’t think much different over the years in terms of skill. In recent years Croatia had more skilful players but Serbia do have Tadic (underrated and underachieved at club level maybe) and SMS. Going back: Prosinecki is half Serbian / half Croatian. Savicevic and Mijatovic were Montenegrin. Jugovic was Serbian- v skilful, one of the most “complete” midfielders of the time. Finally, arguably the most talented player of all, Stojkovic, was Serbian. Insane skills. 

8 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Red Star Belgrade and Steaua Bucharest won the European Cup in the 90's and 80's respectively. The Romanian club participated in 2 finals in the mid-late 80's and the Serbian club in the early 90's once, there is also another Serbian club that reached the finals once so technically speaking those few teams are the only ones from Eastern Europe that managed to compete with the best.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_Cup_and_UEFA_Champions_League_finals

The both teams had one player that won for both teams, a Romanian Belodedici.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miodrag_Belodedici

Good knowledge Gol :). Belodedici was a great player. I think he was half Serbian (if not more) and could have played for Yugoslavia or Romania I believe. Wisely chose Romania 🙂

20 hours ago, Dean said:

He was great and I do long for the days when teams like dynamo kiev and red star Belgrade could compete with the best.
 

I hate to be pedantic but he wasn’t Balkan, though I’m not crazy about the Balkan designation anyway. I prefer former Yugoslavia (if we are talking about Stojkovic, Savicevic, Prosinecki and co) as I think it had quite a specific football/sports culture.

There’s a “style” and as @Ballack & Blu observes Kova does have it. Reminds me of Stojkovic the way he glides with the ball. As for the goal, looks quite a lot like THAT Stankovic cl goal and one by Rakitic. Coincidence? Probably. I mean I’m sure one could find three or more Brazilians or Italians or Englishmen who scored similar goals. But still…

Yea I loved the old Yugoslav team, R/s Belgrade and Pancev, some reason Croats seem more skilful, probably not but Sukor, Boban, Modric, Perisic, one of the very very best was this Montenegrin,Dejan Savićević, what a player for Belgrade and AC Milan  

5 hours ago, Dean said:

I don’t think much different over the years in terms of skill. In recent years Croatia had more skilful players but Serbia do have Tadic (underrated and underachieved at club level maybe) and SMS. Going back: Prosinecki is half Serbian / half Croatian. Savicevic and Mijatovic were Montenegrin. Jugovic was Serbian- v skilful, one of the most “complete” midfielders of the time. Finally, arguably the most talented player of all, Stojkovic, was Serbian. Insane skills. 

Dejan Savićević

12 minutes ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Dejan Savićević

He was my fave! Such imagination!