7 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Sarri ball is working already, not a single defeat yet and stats are showing it, those Napoli fans that came here last summer and left comments about how great Sarri is as a pure coach type manager were right.

IMO we will need new midfielders after this season, Fabregas is older, Kovacic is only on loan...but I can bet that most fans would openly say that our wingers and strikers should be improved, sure Morata scored a couple of goals but he can still look underwhelming, so can Willian.

Maybe the truth is that a squad could be improved most of the time.

I would still start with Barkley vs Spuds, I believe that he plays more confident as a starter even if he did well as a super sub, IMO in the long run that doesn't make him a better player and if he plays bad Kovacic can always come in and do well while if Kovacic starts and is replaced by Barkley there is less guarantee that he will impact the game.

Kovacic won't score a goal, but he can assist well.

I'd disagree with starting Barkley against spurs, they play a high press and Kovacic is a completely press resistant midfielder, Barkley, while he offers more of a goal threat, is more prone to being disposessed, Kovacic keeps the ball and recycles possession or makes space with his dribbling

8 hours ago, RMCM said:

I'd disagree with starting Barkley against spurs, they play a high press and Kovacic is a completely press resistant midfielder, Barkley, while he offers more of a goal threat, is more prone to being disposessed, Kovacic keeps the ball and recycles possession or makes space with his dribbling

I agree that Spurs is one of those big matches where we  need to be prudent by all means bring on Barkley or RLC if we need goals yet would not start with either in the first XI.

9 hours ago, RMCM said:

I'd disagree with starting Barkley against spurs, they play a high press and Kovacic is a completely press resistant midfielder, Barkley, while he offers more of a goal threat, is more prone to being disposessed, Kovacic keeps the ball and recycles possession or makes space with his dribbling

While that is all true, I fear that if Kovacic has a bad game and we are losing, Barkley won't be able to influence the game coming from the bench. In any case scenario maybe it's better to start with the best possible team and hope for the best so Kovacic in the starting lineup like you feel, although I do think that our playstyle is a bit too predictable for the opposition.

I don't see Real Madrid selling him, surely he's there replacement for Modric?, and Madrid are hardly splashing the cash like they use too.

Simple solution reincarnate lamps.  if only. 

9 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

I agree that Spurs is one of those big matches where we  need to be prudent by all means bring on Barkley or RLC if we need goals yet would not start with either in the first XI.

I thought the days of us backing off/being cautious were supposed to be over with. I could understand if it was City away, but its against a Spurs team that's hardly been flying this season. If we back off it'll be no different to what Conte and Jose used to do and I don't want that! I think we should try to dominate!

12 hours ago, Dixon said:

I thought the days of us backing off/being cautious were supposed to be over with. I could understand if it was City away, but its against a Spurs team that's hardly been flying this season. If we back off it'll be no different to what Conte and Jose used to do and I don't want that! I think we should try to dominate!

A fair argument guess we will agree to see this differently.

If you were wondering why Mateo wasn't on the bench for Croatia today, I found out the reason why

22 hours ago, Dixon said:

I thought the days of us backing off/being cautious were supposed to be over with. I could understand if it was City away, but its against a Spurs team that's hardly been flying this season. If we back off it'll be no different to what Conte and Jose used to do and I don't want that! I think we should try to dominate!

We did it a bit vs pool at the Bridge. Even pep the Saint does it now in some games. If it gets you a win im all for it. Spurs havent been flying yes, but still grinding them 3pts all game every game.......dont take them for granted, they could well do us........especially with these pathetic refs who love to do their Fellow Eng players favours.

Too slick, too Croatian.

 

Such a tidy player

5 hours ago, enigma said:

Too slick, too Croatian.

 

Tidy bit of play that but I remember when watching that live and he was going to ground I thought for a moment he was going for a studs up tackle.

Good performance yesterday, he is ideal for playing against a press.

Must sign permanently imo

Real would want a lot of money for him and although he's a good player, he doesn't offer any goals and very few assists. RLC or Barkley in that position would offer more and we already own them..so I'm not sure it would be worth the money. We could better spend it on a new striker.

3 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Real would want a lot of money for him and although he's a good player, he doesn't offer any goals and very few assists. RLC or Barkley in that position would offer more and we already own them..so I'm not sure it would be worth the money. We could better spend it on a new striker.

Course it depends on how much Real want for him, i maybe wrong but i don't think Real will want stupid money for him. I know he hasn't gotten many goals or assists but i think he has the ability too, he's our best player apart from hazard when being pressed and his work rate/defensive contribution is great. I always feel when he doesn't play we miss him.

Technically I think he is one of our best players, he just needs to work on his productivity in the final third, which is definitely something he has the ability to add to his game. Defensively he's tenacious, adds great pace to our team and really helps us to retain the ball. If Kante got injured he's our only real option to play that box to box role on the right hand side. I'm just in awe of his silky moves under pressure though, very rarely gives the ball away in midfield and if he does he's on them like a terrier to win it back. Underrated player in my book

I think if Hazard leaves next summer we'll need all the creativity we can get so I'd take Kovacic any day of the week. Spurs want him too according to the rumour mill.

1 hour ago, the special one said:

I think if Hazard leaves next summer we'll need all the creativity we can get so I'd take Kovacic any day of the week. Spurs want him too according to the rumour mill.

Problem is Kovacic doesn't really create alot, specially when a team sits back.

5 hours ago, Zeta said:

Real would want a lot of money for him and although he's a good player, he doesn't offer any goals and very few assists. RLC or Barkley in that position would offer more and we already own them..so I'm not sure it would be worth the money. We could better spend it on a new striker.

I think we should keep them all, and rotate Kovacic into the RCM spot from time to time to give Kante a rest.  There’s enough games for all of them to play quite a bit.  I think Kovacic would do quite well in that role.  We would just need a backup for Jorginho if Cesc moves on.

As far as the goals/assists, apparently Kante will be taking care of that for us 

He put in a great shift on Saturday. Top class.

He is a very good player and definitely deserves to play in a top club. I think at summer it will depend on Real. I think we should not pay more than 35m when we have Barkley and RLC behind. 

29 minutes ago, IliyaKrostin said:

He is a very good player and definitely deserves to play in a top club. I think at summer it will depend on Real. I think we should not pay more than 35m when we have Barkley and RLC behind. 

While im happy to see two HG lads making promising strides Kovacic is the type of signing that can help make us a CL contender, rejecting the chance to sign Kova (who could sign for Spurs if hd doesn't us) to appease two players while improving not quite on his level is the kind of lack of ambition fans have moaned about for years.

2 minutes ago, Argo said:

While im happy to see two HG lads making promising strides Kovacic is the type of signing that can help make us a CL contender, rejecting the chance to sign Kova (who could sign for Spurs if hd doesn't us) to appease two players while improving not quite on his level is the kind of lack of ambition fans have moaned about for years.

I wouldn't really he is level above of them. I can accept that he might have more experience, played with top players and clubs. But when we talk about winning competitions, then we would need players to score goals and win games, Kovacic isn't exactly the right player for that. He can play an important role in possession, building attacks and help in the defence, but when we need goals he is not the answer for that. RLC is showing his scoring ability this season, Barkley known for his shooting ability and he also can finish. 

Maybe Kovacic can still improve and become an even better player for us. Until now he does his job. And I would like to keep him with us, a trio of RLC, Barkley and Kovacic is an amazing rotation, but I don't think we should pay a huge amount for him to keep him.

52 minutes ago, IliyaKrostin said:

He is a very good player and definitely deserves to play in a top club. I think at summer it will depend on Real. I think we should not pay more than 35m when we have Barkley and RLC behind. 

All 3 of them deserve to play, IMO RLC the most. But all are still not in their prime years and can improve, if all 3 can accept to be in rotation then the best decision on paper is to keep all of them, I would value Kovacic above 35m though.

We do lack stability in midfield and maybe Sarri would prefer to sell for example one of the two (that have a contract) sign Kovacic and bring a player for his own taste but having in mind that he said that he doesn't want to be too much involved in the transfer market I have a feeling that it will be the players who will decide if they are happy with their current roles or if they want more.

Maybe RLC can try to play as a striker, he has 3 goals in the league and 3 in Europe, he's strong and tall...and we need a striker so a win-win if it works.