As the La Gazzetta dello Sport explains today, Roberto Mancini is searching to create the role for Mateo Kovacic in the team. A role “alla Pirlo” (A Pirlo role): The are days where Mancini is trying him in that position, infront of the defense with two “pitbulls” to have his back and protect him. A formation that could permit him to find better support for the two strikers even better.
Source: fcinternews.it
Kovacic reminds me a lot more of Sneijder than Pirlo. His passes and choice of pass, and his dribbling really have a similar style to Sneijder. He just needs to grow and become more experienced so he can be as smart a player as Sneijder.
that’s his best role, in attack build up
My oh my… this kind of position (deep playmaker) will make him confuse and force him to lose more ball possessions thus will make the team like a sitting duck. Moreover, Kovacic does not have sufficient defensive abilities and mentality to succeed in this position. WM had tried this position for him and he lost lot of ball possessions more than Guarin at that time. In my opinion, Kovacic’s problem is very similar to Iniesta’s problem in his early career with Barca. Iniesta started as a CM/DM but didn’t suitable at all at that positions. And then Barca manager forced him to play as AM and left attacker and we all know the rest of the story. Interestingly, I always believe that Kovacic is the heir of Iniesta because of their similar abilities and I would not be surprised if one day Kovacic ends up at Barca if Mancio gave up on him.
You should try to read the article again. Try to understand it.
Understand what? The article is very clear that Mancio is trying to make a fish to fly.He is just repeating what WM has tried with Kovacic. Kova is still very young to be deployed as a regista or deep playmaker like Pirlo. A player in that position must be excellent in discipline, leadership and composure. Kovacic does not possess that kind of abilities yet. I’m afraid Mancio will lose his patience on him soon.
Andrian your stance seems spot on to me. It is no secret that Kovacic has struggled in games to make positive impacts without the negatives. The way I understand Kovacic’s ideal role which he has expressed himself is to emulate his compatriot Luka Modric. This is why he does not want to play in the trequartista role and believes he is not a trequartista.
Modric is a complete midfielder that does everything well. Kovacic has deficiencies in scoring and reading the game in manner which he can dictate that action.
Here is a formation I feel he can have the greatest chance of success:
I think this position is right for him, under the condition of him having the right players around him to provide cover.
That being said, he’s not quite like Pirlo, as he is much more agile and mobile and likes carrying the ball around, which isn’t the case with Pirlo (he just moved the ball around and spent a lot less time moving himself). But, ultimately, regista is “the Pirlo role” so it’s a decent form of words.
Now, I wonder who the 2 pitbulls around him would be – one is Kondogbia, ok, but who’s the other? Medel can’t play in midfield, he can only be at the heart of midfield and regularly fall back.
If we’re getting Melo, the same goes for him – not mobile or technical enough to play anywhere but at the heart of midfield.
Maybe only Mario Suarez would suit that role.
Let’s see what Mancini has in mind. I certainly hope the second pitbull isn’t Guarin 😛
Brozo will fit to that role, I guess..
Yeah maybe ofc, I forgot about him too but Suarez can offer a lot on that spot anyway
Great! Mancini
Since getting Kondo and not getting Imbula I think a 3 man midfield of Kondo – Kova – Medel has been on everyone’s lips basically. It’s not rocket science
Idk why but I think at this present time knoukori is better than kova in that position. But who knows let’s see …time will tell.
Where is Brozo?
On the bench as a great rotation player who can come in and cover anywhere on the midfield.
Nice 🙂
some body should begin the #savekova campaign again.. 🙂
what’s new about this?
even Mazzarri used him there, and after a few months Mancini started to look at him as a regista instead of a trequartista
with Kondogbia next to him he can concentrate on building up attacks without serious defensive contribution
This role will really allow him to use his two biggest strengths; vision and bringing the ball forward.
He may not have the same technique as Pirlo executing the pass, but he have the vision for making the killer pass. Also, playing back, he have the space to do his kind of dribbling, running between players and bringing the ball forward and creating space for other players.
he some time lost in midfield.. he look so confused.. that’s because he still don’t know when to dribble the ball and when to make a simple pass.. that’s why mancini don’t like to play him there last season.. because if his dribble fail, our shit defence would be in big trouble.. he need at least 2 strong midfield to cover his mistake.. and we got that this season.. last season medel was to busy to cover our deffence.. so i hope that he can improve in that possition this season..
I agree with you. Last season he seemed lost some times, but maybe because erverybody expected that young boy to get us the points by performing magic on a team in crisis. Like you point out – This year could be a turning point with more quality around him and other players to help take responsibility.
I’ll agree that he isn’t Pirlo (obviously), but he has had moments and passes that just leave my jaw dropped. He is a passing talent like Pirlo and Sneijder were here. Pirlo is one of a kind and I’m sad he never came to his prime in black and blue. I just hope we don’t make the same mistake with him we made with so many other talented kids.
use 4-3-3 and put him with Kondogbia and Brozovic / Hernanes.
Am i in heaven??!!
Nice!
This is the best position for him I think…