Mario Mandžukić (61 Viewers)

Legend or Rookie?


  • Total voters
    68
  • Poll closed .

MikeM

Footballing Hipster celebrating 4th place with Tuz
Sep 21, 2008
12,850
Now people realize that this signing wasn't logical at all. Mediocre player that doesn't suit the type of football we want to play.
He might be a mediocre talent but his total package has always been enticing. He could always finish well. Tall and strong. And we've seen him press opposing backlines all by himself. He presented a unique skill set that also fits our identity pretty well (hard working grinta). The price was modest.

I don't think he can play beside Morata though.
 

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Hydde

Minimiliano Tristelli
Mar 6, 2003
38,988
I dont mind having a physical dude like him...i dont even mind having a physical donkey like zaza...because they offer something different. But having BOTH of them..for that insane cost is way overkilling it.
 

catch22

Senior Member
Aug 23, 2015
557
Limited forwards are a thing of the past. All the best teams in the world have well rounded forwards. Icardi, Toni, Mandzukic etc might score 20 goals a season, but a team is going to struggle to play good football with a player as limited as they are.
 

Post Ironic

Senior Member
Feb 9, 2013
42,253
We play terrible when he's on the pitch.

Too early but I think this signing is looking like a mistake more so than Zaza all aspects considered.
Aside from against ManCity, before he got injured. We were very good against ManCity with him on the pitch in a 4-3-3 with Cuadrado and Morata as RWF and LWF respectively.

The reason we look like shit the last couple matches with him, is because of 3-5-2 and partnering two non-creative, non-passing CFs up front, forcing Morata to play as an SS. Morata can play two positions well, CF and LWF. He's always been a decent wing forward, a la Ronaldo, being allowed freedom to roam in attack.

And Mandzukic is an excellent forward in a 4-3-3, and was very good playing between Morata and Cuadrado.

If it's 4-3-1-2 or 3-5-2 or first choice up front should be Morata-Dybala.... But in 4-3-3, Morata-Mandzukic-Cuadrado is excellent and should be rotated heavily with a Morata-Dybala-Cuadrado trio.
 

zizinho

Senior Member
Apr 14, 2013
51,816
Aside from against ManCity, before he got injured. We were very good against ManCity with him on the pitch in a 4-3-3 with Cuadrado and Morata as RWF and LWF respectively.

The reason we look like $#@! the last couple matches with him, is because of 3-5-2 and partnering two non-creative, non-passing CFs up front, forcing Morata to play as an SS. Morata can play two positions well, CF and LWF. He's always been a decent wing forward, a la Ronaldo, being allowed freedom to roam in attack.

And Mandzukic is an excellent forward in a 4-3-3, and was very good playing between Morata and Cuadrado.

If it's 4-3-1-2 or 3-5-2 or first choice up front should be Morata-Dybala.... But in 4-3-3, Morata-Mandzukic-Cuadrado is excellent and should be rotated heavily with a Morata-Dybala-Cuadrado trio.
:tup:

Barzagli has been fantastic but we need Licht back tbh. Cuadrado is too isolated on that right side, especially when Dybala is not playing, and no matter how limited he is offensively, Licht is constantly attacking and pressuring the opponents defense which takes away pressure of Cuadrado and creates more space for him. we could play 4-3-3 more often with a real fullback on that side
 

Hist

Founder of Hism
Jan 18, 2009
11,620
Why are people criticizing him? He barely had any game time, was injured and when played had no service at all. Give him a functioning midfield with an ounce of creativity or a semblance of an attacking game-plan and see him score. He did it at the highest level for both Bayern and Atletico. If we can't get him to perform then thats Allegri's fault. Other coaches made very good use of him.
 

JuveJay

Senior Signor
Moderator
Mar 6, 2007
74,987
The more I see of Mandzukic the more he looks unsuited to how we play. Really he needs a goal from somewhere, but long term there are big question marks against this guy. I can see the idea of having different types of strikers, the desire to have the option of a big, bustling old school centre forward is a good one to have in certain types of game, but starting this guy regularly in an intricate build up team where he is obviously out of form. That is rarely going to work.
 

Post Ironic

Senior Member
Feb 9, 2013
42,253
The more I see of Mandzukic the more he looks unsuited to how we play. Really he needs a goal from somewhere, but long term there are big question marks against this guy. I can see the idea of having different types of strikers, the desire to have the option of a big, bustling old school centre forward is a good one to have in certain types of game, but starting this guy regularly in an intricate build up team where he is obviously out of form. That is rarely going to work.
He doesn't suit us unless we're playing 4-3-3, which it seems will be more of an occasional thing. He had a fantastic match against ManCity before his injury layoff in a 4-3-3...
 

Osman

Koul Khara!
Aug 30, 2002
61,503
He hides from the ball too much, even if we arent playing in a way that fits his limited skillset, he is defenitely not doing his all to get involved whatsoever.
 

Stevie

..........
Mar 30, 2003
20,885
I expected him to be so much better when we signed him. I still think he is a deadly finsher and i expevt him to score most chances he gets but if he starts missing chances then he has nothing left to give.
 

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