15 Jul 2015 06:18:30
Hai Eds warm Mng and great day ahead
EMS
This is with reference to the discussion we had below on the central midfield position.
You have claimed below that only three sides have better midfield pair than us
1. Matic - Fabrigas
2. Carrick - Morgan
3. Coquelin - Carzola
Since city are not done with their business, I expect them to retain any one of the above position which makes us 5th and exactly where we finished last season.
You should check the stats of Kovacic and come back with your post. The kid is super excellent and how often you find all the Eds on this page thumbs up on one player?
From Ed01 to ed023.
Kovacic is a special breed of its own. Defensively good and carry the attack by himself from the back.
He is more important than Benteke to me.
People are throwing random names to play that role. Can positional discipline was found out when he was deployed at CB and FB.
Cheers guys.
15 Jul 2015 08:34:52
I think the only thing we learned about Can from seeing him at RB was that he isn't much of a right back. I don't think it tells us anything about anything else.
He will develop into a regular in the German national team in my view.
15 Jul 2015 08:43:06
Kovacic is a good young player bit I think yourself and many others have built him up as some kind of saviour.
Last season he played left wing and attacking midfield and scored and assisted less than Henderson or Milner. He is no doubt a good playmaker, but there is no evidence he can dictate a premier leagie game from deep. He's onlyreally played holding midfield at youth and international level.
He isn't better than Lucas. He isn't better than Henderson. And he isn't better than Milner.
And for the record, I said midfield trio. I genuinely believe we have the second strongest midfield in the league if Rodgers plays Lucas.
We've addressed our main weaknesses and replaced people who've left with better players (for once). Even if we don't sign Benteke we have Sturridge, Ings and Origi. Sinclair might even stay in that scenario.
I just don't get all this negativity on here lately. Okay so Bogdan wasn't the best option, and Ings and Gomez are relatively unproven. Milner, Firmino and Clyne are both instant improvements to the side. Is 3 new starters not enough for you people?!
15 Jul 2015 08:47:02
We finished 6th
15 Jul 2015 08:47:23
Your post lost credibility when you said we finished 5th?? U need to look at the final league table again.
15 Jul 2015 08:53:06
Kovacic is a great young player but defensively he is still working on. I wouldn't call him even good yet. For me its a weakness in his game if he is going to play DM. His passing and dribbling is great.
I really like Kovacic but I'm with Ed001 on this one. Medel will give us a more powerful balanced side and certainly short term is the better option.
15 Jul 2015 09:00:43
EMS
Apart from hednerson I don't see anyone making a defense plsiting pass of finding the gaps from the centerof midfield. We had all the burden last season on Countinho.
Disagree to the fact where he played at inter, he played at the base and I have watched him a lot last season. The kid recieves the ball from the defenders and then carry the ball well, A better version of Verratti and Wilshere.
His defensive qualitiies is superb.
Scoring goals, How many did Alonso managed in his whole career?
Regardless of where he ends up, He is a cracking player. A perfect Passing Midfielder.
Cheers man
15 Jul 2015 09:01:48
I agree with EMS. I think Kovacic is a very good player. We'd be a better and deeper squad with him in it but we should first look at fixing our problem positions.
I would include keeper and left back in our problem positions. Before anybody says it, yes, I know that we won't be getting another keeper this summer. I'm not saying why will happen, just what I'd prefer.
15 Jul 2015 09:07:03
Defensive midfielder and centreback are 2 completely different positions,Basing your judgement on Can from his days at centreback next to skittles is extremely naive EG
15 Jul 2015 09:33:54
Kovacic is a special talent,stats are bit misleading,he can do what Wilshere did for Arsenal.Being said that i don't think he is the most important signing,presently for Brenda his most important signing would be a striker.
And we didn't actually address our weak areas as User013 pointed we need a GK,which we won't be signing this season.
Also our midfield trio mentioned by EMS are equally capable because of their industry and experience.
Personally I would be really happy if we can get Kovacic.I fear that under Rodgers we will have another kid losing confidence like with Markovic and Can.Can played well given the chance,it would be foolish to expect him to perform well in defence and Rodgers tactics hung him out to dry.
15 Jul 2015 09:41:45
My Italian mate thinks kovacic isn't ready for first team football at Liverpool. Very much a rough diamond who looks good in YouTube clips but makes too many mistakes and goes missing all the time. I was getting reminded of Ryan babbel when I wrote that out then lol.
I would much rather have Lucas and use Can as back up/competition for him until he's ready to take over from Lucas full time.
15 Jul 2015 09:49:57
bob
Unlike the other positions in midfield and attack, DM and CB are closely related and so does Madcherano has been top class at Barca.
Both needs positional discipline. You could often see a CB playing the DM role in necessity.
Zouma for Chelsea
Toure for Arsenal.
Skrtels presence had nothing to do with Can being bullied by attackers when we was deployed at the back.
Can is decent going forward and he himself has stressed to play as an advance midfielder.
15 Jul 2015 09:50:20
I think Kovacic is a very exciting talent, but I would much rather see Chirivella given a chance in a DLP role as he is more accomplished In that role despite being younger than Kovacic. Chirivellas passing is on point and he reads the game exceptionally well for a young player
15 Jul 2015 10:01:19
Glory I think you're forgetting Coutinho and Firmino mate. Those 2 combined with Henderson and Milner is plenty of creativity. Not to mention Teixeira, Ibe, Lallana, Markovic etc.
How much more creativity do you want? Even Can is pretty good at picking a pass.
Kovacic is a great young player but is he really any better than Can or Teixeira? I don't think so personally. As someone else said. He adds depth. Nothing more.
15 Jul 2015 10:20:06
Mascherano has been top class at Barcelona . MY WORD! European Glory,you just threw that statement out there didn't you. Mascherano has been terrible at centreback.
The positions are nothing alike.otherwise we'd have never had a need to buy another DM when we had several centrback at the club,we could have just slotted on of out 10 centrbacks there.
Can was asked to be able to keep pace with wingers, whilst also stepping forward out of the line,without cover. Teams drew fouls from him because they outnumbered us on the right.
As I said in another thread when Can played midfield he was composed and linked well with the mids. He read the play infront of him without having to worry about some 1 getting in behind him on the wing with apce because he knew he also had 2 centrebacks to cover which allowed him the freedom to close down.
Right sided centreback of 3 is completely different to Defensive midfield.
15 Jul 2015 10:58:53
Agree with Bobatron here. Sorry EG.
15 Jul 2015 11:05:45
Most centre backs who can also play holding midfield are actually just holding midfielders who weren't good enough technically to play in midfield for their respective teams:
Mascherano, Kompany, K.Toure, Kouyate, J.Martinez etc.
15 Jul 2015 11:50:18
EMS
Allen is the only CM in our side, Like it or not, You could shorn the whole first team to the postion,But the fact remains fact.
Do you find any difference between Scholes and Lallana?. Xavi and Iniesta?, If yes, then there is your answer
Bob
Could you elighten me how is Mascherano the worst CB for barca who has decided not to replace him with any other player in 5 good years, given they spend more than 75 mill every year?. they bought one from Valnecia and Arsenal yet couldn't make the bench ahead of Mascherano?
Are you saying Barca couldn't buy a CB?
Mascherano is a top class tackler, like it nor not and has been from years. His positional sense is magnificent.
Emre Can at time reminds me of David Luiz at Chelsea. He doesn't got much idea what's ahead of him and behind.
If lucas gets injured during the season, we are doomed.
We will regret not buying one on that position.
15 Jul 2015 12:44:18
I do believe Barca have been restricted in their transfers.
They also bought jeremy matheiu and thomas vermaelen to play centreback.
Pique was injured for about 10/12 game,
Mathiaeu had a terrible start and was also injured inparts
Vermaelen was out for practically the whole season
When barca had 2 centrebacks available they would more often play themEG Bartra and pique,Vermaelen when he was fit. Mascherano would often be on the bench behind busquets.
For the record I don't think Barca bought decent centrebacks in the window they were afforded.
Mascherano dives in,is reckless,and his positional sense for a centreback is poor. He often drops too deep,or steps out far too quickly,he isn't composed on the ball,and wants rid of it asap. He constantly gives away fouls when it's not necessary and is too square on against the attacker. He is an awful centreback
15 Jul 2015 13:00:06
I think it's quite funny, EMS makes 1 little mistake in his post and you guys say he loses all credibility because of it? Perhaps it was a typo?
God damn it, some of you are so bloody stupid and naive, you really are.
15 Jul 2015 13:29:42
EG you are completely wrong about Masch,he looks good because of Sergio Busquets.And Barcelona not buying is their foolishness in
transfer window.Problem is if we sign Kovacic then wat about Pedro Chirivella who is actually a specialist in that position?