Koke

[BloodIsBlue 291]

@BloodIsBlue

You mention Kovacic in almost all of your transfer related posts

There is a tremendous amount of truth in what you said, and I might be taking every opportunity and I might be a little obsessive. One thing I am never is illogical or biased. No bias on my adoration for this possible gem at all, no bias to Slavic folks or Serie A (I'm Portuguese for fucks sakes) I genuinely believe he is a going to a big player.

I'm quick to comment on suggestions of Koke with my suggestion of Kova and here's why... In today's football its normal that players have to be many different things as a player, especially attacking players today expected to be comfortable anywhere in the opponents third. Some players a bred in this multi-position vein while others are more old school. Koke does have this but he has this in a purely attacking sense however, as you demand this attacking player to play centrally and behind 3 or more players you might be asking a lot of Koke, he under 23-25 and he can definitely go through major changes to his style but all the coaches and professionals around him AVOID playing him in that deeper role (they do it out of necessity). Obviously I'm going to be shouting Kova's name when this kid is already at this moment undergoing the metamorphosis some here are asking Koke to go through. The football professionals around Kovacic have obviously seen these qualities in him and convinced him this is a good position for him to work on. A lot of times people suggest signing a forward minded player to play in our pivot and I cannot deny there are advantages to playing technically gifted players there but there are more disadvantage to forcing players to change their style towards a direction they have no intention of going themselves.

Kovacic started young as a purely attacking player so his dribbling and flair are a testament to that but somehow the management around him saw a different player in him. To be honest last year and when he played in Croatia (and a bit at Inter) he was definitely a diamond in the rough, he had superbly mature dribbling but he wasn't aware of his team mates and he didn't look ready to be consistent and do anything in a central role. This year however his passing has massively improved and he knows when to give up and let someone else do the work instead of beating the team by himself. He's now not only able to carry the ball through warzones he is developing an understanding what to do with it. The Croatian national team coach also picked up on Kovacic widening his view of the game and played him as a holding midfielder, where his performance essentially won them a crucial game against rivals Serbia in qualifiers.

Kovacic is a player born to thrill and that's why I want him here. Mourinho likes to talk about cold blood infront of goal, well Kova is absolutely fearless in possession in all areas of he pitch. His fearlessness is what gives him the Pirlo like vision into the future and allows him to beat so many men. I want him here because there is nothing that gets us the supporters out of our seat quicker than watching someone skip past 3 defenders, there also nothing that gives quite the same advantage as dribbling past defenders. The ball sticks to the kid and he is lighting over 20 yards, Ramires might be lighting over 30 or more yards but I don't think anyone here could say the ball sticks to him. The maze of dribbles Hazard and Kovacic could pull off together would leave teams dizzy.

[iseah100 5,612]

There is a tremendous amount of truth in what you said, and I might be taking every opportunity and I might be a little obsessive. One thing I am never is illogical or biased. No bias on my adoration for this possible gem at all, no bias to Slavic folks or Serie A (I'm Portuguese for fucks sakes) I genuinely believe he is a going to a big player.

I'm quick to comment on suggestions of Koke with my suggestion of Kova and here's why... In today's football its normal that players have to be many different things as a player, especially attacking players today expected to be comfortable anywhere in the opponents third. Some players a bred in this multi-position vein while others are more old school. Koke does have this but he has this in a purely attacking sense however, as you demand this attacking player to play centrally and behind 3 or more players you might be asking a lot of Koke, he under 23-25 and he can definitely go through major changes to his style but all the coaches and professionals around him AVOID playing him in that deeper role (they do it out of necessity). Obviously I'm going to be shouting Kova's name when this kid is already at this moment undergoing the metamorphosis some here are asking Koke to go through. The football professionals around Kovacic have obviously seen these qualities in him and convinced him this is a good position for him to work on. A lot of times people suggest signing a forward minded player to play in our pivot and I cannot deny there are advantages to playing technically gifted players there but there are more disadvantage to forcing players to change their style towards a direction they have no intention of going themselves.

Kovacic started young as a purely attacking player so his dribbling and flair are a testament to that but somehow the management around him saw a different player in him. To be honest last year and when he played in Croatia (and a bit at Inter) he was definitely a diamond in the rough, he had superbly mature dribbling but he wasn't aware of his team mates and he didn't look ready to be consistent and do anything in a central role. This year however his passing has massively improved and he knows when to give up and let someone else do the work instead of beating the team by himself. He's now not only able to carry the ball through warzones he is developing an understanding what to do with it. The Croatian national team coach also picked up on Kovacic widening his view of the game and played him as a holding midfielder, where his performance essentially won them a crucial game against rivals Serbia in qualifiers.

Kovacic is a player born to thrill and that's why I want him here. Mourinho likes to talk about cold blood infront of goal, well Kova is absolutely fearless in possession in all areas of he pitch. His fearlessness is what gives him the Pirlo like vision into the future and allows him to beat so many men. I want him here because there is nothing that gets us the supporters out of our seat quicker than watching someone skip past 3 defenders, there also nothing that gives quite the same advantage as dribbling past defenders. The ball sticks to the kid and he is lighting over 20 yards, Ramires might be lighting over 30 or more yards but I don't think anyone here could say the ball sticks to him. The maze of dribbles Hazard and Kovacic could pull off together would leave teams dizzy.

I'm gonna look this guy up. Doubt we get him, but still.

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

What a player. I'd take him next to Matic in a heartbeat. I know he's been playing a wider position, but I see his future as a b2b or a guy that pulls the strings from a deeper position.

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

What a player. I'd take him next to Matic in a heartbeat. I know he's been playing a wider position, but I see his future as a b2b or a guy that pulls the strings from a deeper position.

Superb player, but you would ruin him there. He is a proper 10, he can pull the strings from there, you just have to give him that freedom he needs by putting to guys to do the dirty job for him. Just like Cholo did with Thiago and Mario tonight.

___ Koke ___

_Matic Vidal__

As I said, great player, but Barcelona bound, I feel...

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

Superb player, but you would ruin him there. He is a proper 10, he can pull the strings from there, you just have to give him that freedom he needs by putting to guys to do the dirty job for him. Just like Cholo did with Thiago and Mario tonight.

___ Koke ___

_Matic Vidal__

As I said, great player, but Barcelona bound, I feel...

That right there, would be the best midfield in the world. I know the chances of him coming here are slim to none, but hey, sue me for dreaming. Don't know about Barça, I actually haven't read or heard any rumors about him since he renewed his contract and had a 60M release clause inserted into it.

[didierforever 7,349]

i am sure after sevilla's match tomorrow, the "rakitic-thread" will be trending.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Superb player, but you would ruin him there. He is a proper 10, he can pull the strings from there, you just have to give him that freedom he needs by putting to guys to do the dirty job for him. Just like Cholo did with Thiago and Mario tonight.

___ Koke ___

_Matic Vidal__

As I said, great player, but Barcelona bound, I feel...

Not so accurate. He can literally play anywhere, that's why I like him. CM, right wing, left wing, left midfield, right midfield, CAM.... He's brilliant.

Another thing I like is that he combines physicality with brilliant passing range. He is a robust playmaker, not a light weight like so many others like him. He also, as we've seen, delivers good crosses and has a fairly decent shot.

Almost a perfect player and he's only 22. Certainly one of the best young players in the world.

Let's hope he doesn't go to Barca. They will turn him to a tiki-taka playing drone. They destroy anyone who doesn't fit into their philosophy.

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

That right there, would be the best midfield in the world. I know the chances of him coming here are slim to none, but hey, sue me for dreaming. Don't know about Barça, I actually haven't read or heard any rumors about him since he renewed his contract and had a 60M release clause inserted into it.

Your dream is in Roman's hands to be honest. If he wants him, he'll get him. The problem is that Chelsea has shown too much respect to Platini and his FFP rules and Roman is a bit afraid of that thing. But as FFP has turned to be a big horse shit, I think Roman could be in for some dandy signings this summer. Every player has a price eventually and, more than that, he comes from Atletico, a team that is forced to listen to offers everytime Chelsea, City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG are knocking at the door. Now, they might play at the same level as those mentioned, but they know they can't cope with those wages Chelsea/Barcelona are offering to Koke, Diego Costa etc. Their best players will eventually leave, just like Kun did, Torres, Falcao, Vieri, De Gea.

The same goes for Juventus too. I can't see Vidal at Juventus after this season, to be honest. Juve might be the best club in Italy, but that's it. Their best players will be eager to leave if Chelsea/Real Madrid will come and ask for them. Juventus does not have the power to refuse offers coming from Chelsea, City, Real Madrid, Barcelona.

Champions League money, some players leaving, Adidas money, Roman adding some money from his pocket and Chelsea should be in for an entertaining summer (Three world-class signings).

[Nike 373]

Koke good, but Thiago is better and a healthy Lahm/Martinez-Bastian-Thiago is better than Matic-Vidal-Koke.

[iseah100 5,612]

Koke good, but Thiago is better and a healthy Lahm/Martinez-Bastian-Thiago is better than Matic-Vidal-Koke.

Umm. No?

[Nike 373]

Umm. No?

Haha. When Martinez-Bastian smashed everyone last season including Juventus, now all of a sudden they are not good? Also, Thiago is better than Koke.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Haha. When Martinez-Bastian smashed everyone last season including Juventus, now all of a sudden they are not good? Also, Thiago is better than Koke.

That's your opinion really and I'm sure most people will disagree with that. As for Thiago being better than Koke, that's pretty subjective. Can you provide some evidence backing your claim?

[Nike 373]

That's your opinion really and I'm sure most people will disagree with that. As for Thiago being better than Koke, that's pretty subjective. Can you provide some evidence backing your claim?

u21 championship.

Go ask anyone in Spain who is better, thiago or koke.

Thiago is pretty much better in everything minus long passes/set pieces. This is the same kid that broke into Barcelona so called greatest team with the greatest midfield as a teenager. The same kid that Barcelona fans thought was better than Arsenal's Cesc at that time and captain of Spain u21 champ team.

[iseah100 5,612]

Haha. When Martinez-Bastian smashed everyone last season including Juventus, now all of a sudden they are not good? Also, Thiago is better than Koke.

Umm... no?

[Nike 373]

I love how Matic all of a sudden rose to world class status in the likes of Bayern's cm, Madrid's cm and Barca cms...

Chelsea tinted glasses at its best.