Thursday, September 19, 2024

Kovacic impressing, but are the goals conceded a worry?

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[BBC]

Pep Guardiola and Mateo Kovacic Pep Guardiola and Mateo Kovacic

[Getty Images]

We asked for your views on what is going under the radar at Manchester City.

After winning a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, City have started the season as they would have hoped to have done – winning all three Premier League games. Our query each week is simple – what is one thing nobody is talking about but should be?

Here are some of your comments:

Timothy: It’s a case of so far, so good. Top of the table and a great team spirit bodes well for the rest of the season. All this with Rodri not making the team sheet. Looks ominous when he’s on the pitch dominating. Haaland has been majestic and clinical with his two hat-tricks. Also return of Jack Grealish along side KDB. Yes, another Premier League.

Rhiannon: Two things no one is talking about. Savinho coming and being tasked with replacing Mahrez has done his job, he arguably won us the first home game of the season challenging the goalkeeper and forcing the mistakes which led to goals – the perfect Mahrez replacement. Haaland’s form already has been unstoppable. Guardiola again has carved Haaland into another being.

Abdullah: The one thing that has gone under the radar is Mateo Kovacic. He is unreal. As much as I love Gundogan and want him in the team, I didn’t really think we needed him that much because of Kovacic. He is so versatile and smart. The backup for Rodri is already with us. The box-to-box midfielder that you could argue we need is already here. One to watch.

Liam: Rico Lewis. He’s been absolutely exceptional so far and Kyle Walker might struggle to get his place back. The improvement in Kovacic has been important too.

Fraser: We concede too many deflected goals or own goals. All three of our Premier League losses last season had either a deflected goal or an own goal and the two goals we’ve conceded this season have been easily avoidable. Pep needs to sort out our closing down on the opposition or it will start to become a serious worry.

Anton: I’m surprised no one, including commentators, pick up on how poor a goalkeeper Ederson is. So many first shots on goal by the opposition get scored. Ipswich did it. United did it in the Community Shield but it was disallowed for offside. He’s a really poor shot stopper.

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