Mateo Kovacic

[Ghost Hardware]

The problem is all three of Croatia's current CM's are a bit better in reserved positions, and their CF is well below all these supporting players in terms of talent. Rough litmus test, but I like your thinking nonetheless

Remember Mandzukic will be back and he is a very good poacher. Really Rakitic should have played behind the striker as he really doesn't do well to deep, not sure how he is going to fit in with Messi at Barca.

 

[kremlyn]

Thought Rebic looked good.

 

[DaSpurs]

Remember Mandzukic will be back and he is a very good poacher. Really Rakitic should have played behind the striker as he really doesn't do well to deep, not sure how he is going to fit in with Messi at Barca.

Rakitic does play a "CAM," but he plays unusually reserved for one. I think he can play quite well alongside Messi as an aggressive "BTB/DLP hybrid" type... Jesus, @Greenspur is dead on I do sound like I just put down my FIFA controller.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Rakitic does play a "CAM," but he plays unusually reserved for one. I think he can play quite well alongside Messi as an aggressive "BTB/DLP hybrid" type... Jesus, @Greenspur is dead on I do sound like I just put down my FIFA controller.

They are obviously hoping they can mould him into the DLP roll similar to Modric at Madrid, i just feel that the reason he did so well at Seville this season is because he was playing a more advanced roll and really was the creative figurehead of the team which he wont be when teamed with Messi and Iniesta. Tonight was a prime example of to many cooks in the kitchen and it could end up being similar at Barca. I will be curious to see how it works out for him there.

 

[TheAmerican]

I still stand by my belief that Kovacic is not ready for a more physical league. He lost out to Gustavo all game. He is a phenomenal passer but it doesn't do one bit of good if he is pushed out of positions and off the ball.

 

[DaSpurs]

They are obviously hoping they can mould him into the DLP roll similar to Modric at Madrid, i just feel that the reason he did so well at Seville this season is because he was playing a more advanced roll and really was the creative figurehead of the team which he wont be when teamed with Messi and Iniesta. Tonight was a prime example of to many cooks in the kitchen and it could end up being similar at Barca. I will be curious to see how it works out for him there.

I think you have a valid concern, but I think it could work. Rakitic may play a similar position to Iniesta, but he brings an entirely different skillset. I think he'd be a breath of fresh air for them.

However, I think you're right in your identification of the problem for Croatia tonight. Way too many similar players in there. However, they don't really have a top quality CDM in that team to shield their CB's, and especially not one from an attack like Brazil's.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I still stand by my belief that Kovacic is not ready for a more physical league. He lost out to Gustavo all game. He is a phenomenal passer but it doesn't do one bit of good if he is pushed out of positions and off the ball.

Which is strange as he has quit a large frame, you would think he would use his body more when on the ball but your right, he seems to get pushed off quit easily. Still, we could just give him the Bale work out.

 

[DaSpurs]

I still stand by my belief that Kovacic is not ready for a more physical league. He lost out to Gustavo all game. He is a phenomenal passer but it doesn't do one bit of good if he is pushed out of positions and off the ball.

Entirely possible. My chief concern with Lamela at the time was that it seemed his game was too reliant on picking up the ball with some space, and then using the time to not only develop a plan but also some velocity. It may be the same for Kovacic, which also explains why he's better from a more reserved position.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I think you have a valid concern, but I think it could work. Rakitic may play a similar position to Iniesta, but he brings an entirely different skillset. I think he'd be a breath of fresh air for them.

However, I think you're right in your identification of the problem for Croatia tonight. Way too many similar players in there. However, they don't really have a top quality CDM in that team to shield their CB's, and especially not one from an attack like Brazil's.

Agreed. I think he could do very well at Barca IF he manages to adapt his game into a slightly deeper role but it will still be a shame if his attacking runs into the box are diminish because of this. Really depends on how they handle him, they don't have a great track record of adapting players into changed positions. Still, i am looking forward to watching them next season although i don't know what they will do with Reus if they sign him.

And yes, Croatia need some more muscle in that midfield, way to technical to win against the big countries.

 

[Barry Mead]

I still stand by my belief that Kovacic is not ready for a more physical league. He lost out to Gustavo all game. He is a phenomenal passer but it doesn't do one bit of good if he is pushed out of positions and off the ball.

Well to be fair he's only what 20, your first World Cup finals you are facing Brazil, it's easy to get a bit overawed. I think a tough league is what he needs, he's strong enough, lets be fair Modric started off a little lightweight in his approach but he soon adjusted to it and he's smaller.

I think he'll blossom as the competition continues. as for the PL, he could well need a bit of adjusting time but I think he needs to play in that type of physical and high intensity league to quickly develop

 

[DaSpurs]

Well to be fair he's only what 20, your first World Cup finals you are facing Brazil, it's easy to get a bit overawed. I think a tough league is what he needs, he's strong enough, lets be fair Modric started off a little lightweight in his approach but he soon adjusted to it and he's smaller.

I think he'll blossom as the competition continues. as for the PL, he could well need a bit of adjusting time but I think he needs to play in that type of physical and high intensity league to quickly develop

I agree that such a situation is frankly one of the worst litmus tests possible to assess a young player's ability on the big stage in any regard, but ye ol American is right that he was rather easily pushed off the ball a few too many times. Gustavo is not a big dude, with a likely lighter and higher center of gravity than Kovacic's, and at this point in his development I do agree that Kovacic should have been able to resist better than that.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

I don't see what the problem was with Croatia's midfield. Brazil hardly looked like scoring. Neymar scuffed a shot that should have been saved, Fred flopped and Neymar's penalty should have been saved, then Rakitic was blatantly fouled by Ramires before Oscar's shot should have been saved. Croatia had no problem dealing with Brazil in midfield and they should have got at least a point. The referee handed Brazil the game.

Kovacic definitely didn't have a good game tonight though, we will see more from him in the next two games.

 

[DaSpurs]

I don't see what the problem was with Croatia's midfield. Brazil hardly looked like scoring. Neymar scuffed a shot that should have been saved, Fred flopped and Neymar's penalty should have been saved, then Rakitic was blatantly fouled by Ramires before Oscar's shot should have been saved. Croatia had no problem dealing with Brazil in midfield and they should have got at least a point. The referee handed Brazil the game.

Kovacic definitely didn't have a good game tonight though, we will see more from him in the next two games.

It wasn't a poor plan because Brazil don't attack through the center of the middle third anyway. Gustavo and Paulinho are recyclers, not the drivers. The wide players are the vertical movers. So defensively they didn't particularly struggle in the middle, and as such it appeared as though they fared well.

However, they had no sufficient shield for the back four and it's what created some of the problems, as once the ball made it up to Brazil's flare players Croatia wasn't entirely capable of closing them down consistently. A genuine CDM may have helped prevent some of the issues, and especially that first goal.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

However, they had no sufficient shield for the back four and it's what created some of the problems, as once the ball made it up to Brazil's flare players Croatia wasn't entirely capable of closing them down consistently. A genuine CDM may have helped prevent some of the issues, and especially that first goal.

I disagree. If the ball was with Brazil's flair players so much, why were they incapable of creating a good chance? On the first goal. both Modric and Rakitic were there in the skirmish, the ball just took 50/50 bounces twice in Brazil's favor, but even then, Lovren/Charlie (don't remember who) were out quickly to meet Neymar, who got lucky with his shot.

Against Spain at the Euros, with a weaker midfield than now and their shit coach, they were not outplayed whatsoever by Spain in midfield.

 

[DaSpurs]

I disagree. If the ball was with Brazil's flair players so much, why were they incapable of creating a good chance? On the first goal. both Modric and Rakitic were there in the skirmish, the ball just took 50/50 bounces twice in Brazil's favor, but even then, Lovren/Charlie (don't remember who) were out quickly to meet Neymar, who got lucky with his shot.

Against Spain at the Euros, with a weaker midfield than now and their shit coach, they were not outplayed whatsoever by Spain in midfield.

It's not that the ball was "with their flair players so much," it's that when it got there, it created too many problems in overlap somewhat due to insufficient shielding. My point is that it's an illusion because Croatia's midfielders were not played around by Brazil's center mids. It's not what they do. Conversely, Croatia's midfielders couldn't establish a consistent vertical game early on because of the pressure of the inverted flair players and two holding players in Gustavo and Paulinho to sweep up the issues. Modric and Rakitic had 2-3 on the ball at most even at full dribble, and not in a good way because they usually played wide or backwards instead of finding each other, or Kovacic centrally or Jelavic (lol).

So the major problem was Croatia's ability to establish a consistent enough movement through with the ball the middle, coupled with a lack of a defensive-minded player to eliminate the counter because of the intense pressure. I think this is why even when at a draw, they simply decided it was a better plan to withdraw the choked CAM and bring in a more defensive player to maintain more presence centrally (and also because of Hernanes in for Paulinho, being a more aggressive player himself).

 

[Barry Mead]

As reported by Sky Sport, Real Madrid have met the agents of Inter Milan 20-year-old midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

 

[danielneeds]

I don't see what the problem was with Croatia's midfield. Brazil hardly looked like scoring. Neymar scuffed a shot that should have been saved, Fred flopped and Neymar's penalty should have been saved, then Rakitic was blatantly fouled by Ramires before Oscar's shot should have been saved. Croatia had no problem dealing with Brazil in midfield and they should have got at least a point. The referee handed Brazil the game.

Kovacic definitely didn't have a good game tonight though, we will see more from him in the next two games.

I just don't feel it gets the best out of Rakatic. I would just play him behind the front man, and let him go where he wants, he was deadly for Sevilla this season. Then have a pure sitting player alongside Luka. Keep Kovacic as the impact sub.

The best three players don't always make the best midfield combination. I don't know if they really have a holder to come in though.

 

[DaSpurs]

I just don't feel it gets the best out of Rakatic. I would just play him behind the front man, and let him go where he wants, he was deadly for Sevilla this season. Then have a pure sitting player alongside Luka. Keep Kovacic as the impact sub.

The best three players don't always make the best midfield combination. I don't know if they really have a holder to come in though.

They do have several "holding mids" in their team, including Brozovic (the one who came in late) and Vukojevic. But the plan was to undoubtedly to provide some razor through the middle because Scolari has used the same tactic with Gustavo and Paulinho for well over a year now. They keep the ball moving to the widemen but they don't press forward, so they're available to shield the back line if possession is lost. So with that kind of a platform sitting there, I believe Kovac figured it was better to play a physical Rakitic in a more reserved position to win the ball (did rather well all things considered) and quickly transition with their creative mids and get the ball forward and hopefully past the platform.

Very ballsy lineup then, and you have to say it didn't quite work out judging by the first Brazilian goal alone considering a holding mid should've easily snuffed that out (as should have Lovren and the keeper), as well as the fact that until late Rakitic and Modric were barely allowed to pass the ball vertically. It was wise to withdraw Kovacic early, as he just wasn't getting the ball centrally at all.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

As reported by Sky Sport, Real Madrid have met the agents of Inter Milan 20-year-old midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

So what, are they are going to swap Modric for Ramirez and buy Kovacic

 

[TEESSIDE1]

As reported by Sky Sport, Real Madrid have met the agents of Inter Milan 20-year-old midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

Why why why ...

He'll be lucky to get on the bench with Real's midfield. Isco barely gets a look in and he's and outstanding player, certainly better than Kovacic.