Mateo Kovačić

[BBZ8800]

That's because he didn't went to Inter, but FC Barcelona Globetrotters. No young player is close to the 1st team here. Not since quite a long time, anyway.
He would get just as much game time as Kovacic at Inter. Also, he IS near NT team, just has mostly played in unimportant matches, which is understandable given his less experience at top level football, reason of which i gave above.
Also weak physique. Some boy mature physically faster than others. I think that is quite important to note.

Ok, again, I am from Croatia.
I watched him, and other guys here like Bojan, Stric, Gaudi, Dakt, Barca1987 (or something like that) way more than other Barca's fans.
Imo, and some others will agree:
Kovacic was just way more consistent and offered way more in early age in Croatian league than Halilovic. (If we compare 16-17-18 years old Kovacic vs 16-17-18 years old Halilovic).
Kovacic was already "all-round" player and very well developed tactically, had high IQ, and still good technical skills.
Halil, on the other hand, is quite different.
He was never well-rounded all-rounder.
Since always, he was an insane dribbler with insane moments and solo actions.
He can take the ball, dribble past 5 opponents and score a wondergoal. But in other 89 minutes, his "game" was never overly impressive, neither in Dinamo, neither in youth NT teams, and neither in Barca B, mostly.

So, no, I won't agree with these comparisons that Kova is better "only" because he went to Inter.
Kovacic was much more developed in Halil's age and he was somewhat ready to play on NT level.
Halil, when he plays for NT team, even though he is aged 19 now, he just runs around like a headless chicken most of the time.
Again, yes, he can do a wonder-solo action and he has much more potential in that area than 99% of players in the world.

Again, it is hard to talk in numbers, but if I would need to use numbers, then all Kovacic's aspects of the game were around:
-- 80/100, 80/100, 80/100 when he was aged 17-18
-- and now, aged 21, he improved to 85 or 90/100 in all areas. And he can still improve further.
-- so, he was a good, developed all rounder, and he is improving in each Season further

Halil, well he had dribbling and solo actions already at level 99/100 aged 15-16, there is no doubt about that.
But his tactical play, teamplay over 90 minutes, IQ, decisions, was always around, let's say 50-60/100, even when he was 17-18.

Yes, Halil is improving lately in a lot of area, but it very questionable whether he will ever reach "needed" level in all areas for Barca's Cm or a winger.

Again, I don't want to be rude, but I, sadly, see Halil, the same as Alba. Like the guy who will just never improve too far in IQ, decisions and similar aspects.
(Some fans could now say, as always, that young Messi also had weaker decisions.
True, but he was miles ahead of Halil.
Ok, people will reply: don't compare him with Messi.
Ok, then I still think that Halil has just too weak decisions/footballing IQ for Barca's level, compared to most of young players, and I am not too sure how much a player can improve in that area)

Anyway, Halil will probably get loaned this Season, and we will soon see whether his overall play will improve a lot and whether he will become a more balanced all-round player, or he will be a player with 100/100 in dribbling and technique, and with poor/average skills in some other key aspects of the game.

 

[XaviMessiGirl]

Halilovic at his current level would not see much if any game time at Inter. Other than random appearances here and there, you just don't see 18 year old kids playing there. Halilovic would have maybe come on as a sub once or twice, but most of the time he would play in the Primavera, so the same situation as at Barca right now.

 

[BBZ8800]

Halilovic at his current level would not see much if any game time at Inter. Other than random appearances here and there, you just don't see 18 year old kids playing there. Halilovic would have maybe come on as a sub once or twice, but most of the time he would play in the Primavera, so the same situation as at Barca right now.

Also, Halilovic will be 19 in 3 weeks.

People too often think that Halil is just a kid.
Deulofeu was the same age as Halil when he was the best player in Segunda division.
Kovacic was already the leader of Inter in the same age.

 

[DonAK]

Also, Halilovic will be 19 in 3 weeks.

People too often think that Halil is just a kid.
Deulofeu was the same age as Halil when he was the best player in Segunda division.
Kovacic was already the leader of Inter in the same age.

Kovacic was the leader of Inter at 19? Come on....

 

[BBZ8800]

Kovacic was the leader of Inter at 19? Come on....

In terms that he was bought as a 19 year old and played in the first team more or less since then. 32 League matches in his first Season and 34 in the 2nd (out of 38 matches)
Halil will be loaned next Season to Werder or some stronger team.
The same as Deulo.

I was comparing 19 years old boys.
Even though, people will maybe reply that our gems are not playing because they are loaned...

 

[xavi_the_Boss]

In terms that he was bought as a 19 year old and played in the first team more or less since then. 32 League matches in his first Season and 34 in the 2nd (out of 38 matches)
Halil will be loaned next Season to Werder or some stronger team.
The same as Deulo.

I was comparing 19 years old boys.
Even though, people will maybe reply that our gems are not playing because they are loaned...

Barca isn´t Inter and Kovacic didn´t start all these league matches.

 

[BBZ8800]

Barca isn´t Inter and Kovacic didn´t start all these league matches.

I don't see your point.

Well, if you want "proven" players, then you can buy only players from Real, Bayern or Chelsea.
But you won't buy 20-23 year old gems then, for 20-30 Millions.

Was Verratti playing in a big team before he turned into an awesome player?
Or Isco etc?

Rakitic wasn't playing in Barca also (Schalke and Sevilla).
Nor Modric.

Modric sometimes struggled in Tottenham, even aged 25.
Later he turned into one of best Cms in the world, aged 28.

Anyway, Inter's forum, you can read about him from Inter's fans:
http://forzainterforums.com/showthread.php?11379-Mateo-Kovai/page355

Also, in the polls, he is Inter's player with best rating, with the highest amount of votes for:
10 - Legend. One of the absolute best players in the history of the game (think Meazza, Matthäus) 15%
9 - Icon. One of the best players in club history, and one of the best players in the world 26%
8 - Great. A player of high quality that adds a lot to the team, one of the best in the league 38%
7 - Good. A valuable asset to the team, one of the 10-15 best in his position in the league 14%
6 - Above average. Useful player, but will never be a key player for a team 1%
5 - Average. Completely average player. Does his job, but doesn't stand out 2%
4 - Below average. Not a disaster, but would be better if we didn't sign him in the first place 0%
3 - Anonymous. Will never be remembered due to the fact nobody expected anything from him 0%
2 - Useless. Adds nothing of value, detrimental to the team when on the pitch 0%
1 - Infamous. Awful signing, will go down in history as one of the shittiest Inter players ever 2%

He turned 21 a Month ago.
He earned these votes from Inter's fans as a 20 years old boy.

I really don't see what is wrong if I say that he is Inter's best player, aged 21, and a young player with very good all-round game and a lot of potential to improve further to a world class level.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Anyway, Inter's forum, you can read about him from Inter's fans:
http://forzainterforums.com/showthread.php?11379-Mateo-Kovai/page355

Also, in the polls, he is Inter's player with best rating, with the highest amount of votes for:
10 - Legend. One of the absolute best players in the history of the game (think Meazza, Matthäus) 15%
9 - Icon. One of the best players in club history, and one of the best players in the world 26%
8 - Great. A player of high quality that adds a lot to the team, one of the best in the league 38%
7 - Good. A valuable asset to the team, one of the 10-15 best in his position in the league 14%
6 - Above average. Useful player, but will never be a key player for a team 1%
5 - Average. Completely average player. Does his job, but doesn't stand out 2%
4 - Below average. Not a disaster, but would be better if we didn't sign him in the first place 0%
3 - Anonymous. Will never be remembered due to the fact nobody expected anything from him 0%
2 - Useless. Adds nothing of value, detrimental to the team when on the pitch 0%
1 - Infamous. Awful signing, will go down in history as one of the shittiest Inter players ever 2%

He turned 21 a Month ago.
He earned these votes from Inter's fans as a 20 years old boy.

The fact that over 41% voted for the 1st 2 options take any credibility from that forum and their fans tbh .no disrespect to Kovacic

 

[JamDav1982]

That poll on the Inter site is not reflective of the comments on him.

They are very mixed and a lot of them dont rate him all that highly or think he has matured recently.

None of them really talk about him as a legendary player leading the team. Would take that poll with a pinch of salt as seems way off reality of what the fans are discussing.

 

[BBZ8800]

The fact that over 41% voted for the 1st 2 options take any credibility from that forum and their fans tbh .no disrespect to Kovacic

I agree, but you have to look it from this perspective:
1. if Inter fans think that Kovacic is already one of the best players in the history, then we also have to realize that we are biased on our players (Deulo and Halilovic, for example)
Just look at some posts and alibies in this thread about them or in their topics.

But still, he is rated by the polls as Inter's best player.

That poll on the Inter site is not reflective of the comments on him.

They are very mixed and a lot of them dont rate him all that highly or think he has matured recently.

None of them really talk about him as a legendary player leading the team. Would take that poll with a pinch of salt as seems way off reality of what the fans are discussing.

I agree.

But on the other hand, Neymar is surely in top 3 or at least in top5 players in the world currently, and me and a lot of other of our fans are bashing him the whole Season, even though he scored an insane number of important goals and we are on the verge of treble.

Neymar has more "haters" on Barca's forum and he is one of the best players in the world, surely.
So, it is not that simple.

 

[xavi_the_Boss]

I don´t have a problem if barca would buy him.
But the thing is at Barca he wouldn´t have played with the 1st Team at the age of 19.We probably would have also loaned him out like we want to do with Halilovic and other youngsters.
Inter are just nowhere near Barca right now.Hell they are a midtable side in Serie A right now.

 

[JamDav1982]

I agree, but you have to look it from this perspective:
1. if Inter fans think that Kovacic is already one of the best players in the history, then we also have to realize that we are biased on our players (Deulo and Halilovic, for example)
Just look at some posts and alibies in this thread about them or in their topics.

But still, he is rated by the polls as Inter's best player.



I agree.

But on the other hand, Neymar is surely in top 3 or at least in top5 players in the world currently, and me and a lot of other of our fans are bashing him the whole Season, even though he scored an insane number of important goals and we are on the verge of treble.

Neymar has more "haters" on Barca's forum and he is one of the best players in the world, surely.
So, it is not that simple.

Neymar is rated highly by almost everyone though even those that dont like some of the ways he behaves.

Even you as one of prime Ney haters have said he is one of best in world.

Those Inter fans are very mixed on what he brings to the team, far more so than anyone on here with Neymar.

No idea how that poll ended up like that going by the comments. So it proves nothing other than its not the general feeling of the fans.

 

[BBZ8800]

I don´t have a problem if barca would buy him.
But the thing is at Barca he wouldn´t have played with the 1st Team at the age of 19.We probably would have also loaned him out like we want to do with Halilovic and other youngsters.
Inter are just nowhere near Barca right now.Hell they are a midtable side in Serie A right now.

I agree with that.

But still, IMO, Kovacic aged 19>way more all-round and developed player that Halil aged 19
(And please, I don't agree with alibies like Bteam coaches screwed him, he is young, he is the foreign country etc)

I don't see too much point in Kovacic vs Halilovic debate because I rate Kovacic much, much higher.
He just have "all" need skills, in all areas.
Halil is awesome in some, but very weak in too many other areas, and that is not good enough for Barca, imo.
Just like Deulofeu.

 

[JamDav1982]

Halilovic did develop in the B team, towards the end of the season he was playing more with head up and making more of the correct decisions.

I think he has a chance to make it at Barca more so than likes of Deulofeu.

Time will tell but to write of a young guy of 18 coming to his first season in Barcas B team is a bit much.

 

[Barcalove]

Midfielders usually take longer to mature and play in high level, as i can see, Kovacic is a superb prospect, he can flop of course like every other player, but he can also be a legendary sign, and a cheap one, so i think its a worth risk, much more than Pogba