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Sure, but there is more to it than running a lot. I'm just concerned that if we rely on a single player for creativity, say Fabregas, he can be easily stopped by tight marking. I just wish we had more al rounders to be honest. Precisely my point: I'm not sure Baka adds enough in attack to be a vast improvement over matic. Europe is a very different ballgame though...

Good signing if it happens, but isn't he too similar to kante in terms of characteristics? Having specialized players will make it easier for the opponents to focus their defending. Ex close in on Fabregas and let Baka and Kante have the football.

Crap I was right about Salah... Noticed his tight control in pace, and commented on it multiple times on this thread. Oh well... nothing much to do other than to move on.

why are you saying we climbed to 10th because of Mikel's brilliance? lol seriously?! No, my point has been emphasizing Matic's importance and high participation in all success we've had recently. That when he had a bad season we lost our edge. The comparisons with a bit part player who had few minutes and even fewer starts in the last 4 seasons started by someone else. Easier said than done on not selling Matic to United, btw.

All worked out nicely! I too was disappointed with both the result and the performance, but after today's announcement, that Wenger signed a 2-year contract, I completely understand the strategy and am fully behind it.

I have to disagree with your point there, as Mikel played a much smaller part in our recent success. (Cl aside as it deserves an exception post - "an ode to Didier") He got very few minutes in the PL since Matic joined. The one time he got more minutes, while Matic struggled, we ended up 10th. The impact Matic made was quite obvious to be honest and I am shocked others don't see it. Brana was widely regarded as a good player outside of these forums... No it's never a single thing... I try to look and consider a number of aspects: stats, winning (yes!), eyeballs, market value, starts and minutes by diff managers, tough away matches, etc. Market value is also pretty interesting...for example, it proved that I was wrong about Oscar. I would have absolutely no problem if we got someone better than Matic. The same way that I thought Matic was a lot better than Mikel. I do think, however, that an upgrade on Matic will be slightly more expensive.

heh Mikel was one of the worst midfielders I've ever seen play for a top club. I could count in one hand players whom I thought should never be playing at that level and Mikel would certainly be in that list, so don't think we will agree much here. Anyway, he's gone and I don't have to watch him "play football" anymore - not that keen on watching the chinese league. So I can be happy about that, I guess. There was a BBC article a couple of weeks back that called Gary Cahill a "cultured passer' based solely on his pass accuracy, which is a lot higher than David Luiz for example (and Terry as well). If you think, or write, that Gary is a better passer than David Luiz, IMO there is something wrong in your head. IMO a high pass accuracy can be a really good thing or a very bad thing. --- Matic switches play well, produces good long balls (occasionally), and makes good forward runs (more often). He's not a fantastic tackler like Kante, but he makes interceptions and does well in tight contested areas, with his power and height. He also has both goals and assists to him. This is a good midfielder in my book. While I obviously don't agree with the wiz above that Matic is the best thing since sliced bread, nor that Zidane was the most overrated player ever - obviously that was Ronaldinho - he does make valid points as to how come ALL of our recent success, not only takes place after his arrival at the club, but also includes his involvement in the starting XI? Of course we can improve on him and if the opportunity presents itself we should go for it, but so many other players could be improved on that I think it is unfair to single Matic out.

Interesting when the key players vanish, yet again against a tough opponent, it is Matic's thread that gets all attention. Football is a team sport. When some players have a poor showing, including matic himself, that affects other areas of the pitch. Players will get overwhelmed and areas dominated, for a number of reasons other than the individual weaknesses. It's all right to improve on a player: every single player in our starting XI can be improved on (perhaps Courtois is the exception). And no, he's a lot better than Mikel at pretty much every single attribute, especially passing range (which Mikel had none).

On one hand he lacks pace, which Barca values a lot. On the other hand, he has tons of technique, which barca values even more, so not completely crazy idea TBH. He's 26, and playing as well as he did this season, he certainly deserves a shot in the CL next season and I think he will do well.

Second or first striker ?! Be specific damn it!!!

Have to disagree with magic lamps above. he said 'good' and 'very good' maybe there was a verb in there 'feel' but that was it. I will stick with my original statement as I did watch the live interview. besides, understanding a new language comes way way before being able to speak it. The fact tibo had to translate the interviewer should be very telling.

hmm not sure what's to say. Tibo was his translator for the TV interview after the game against WBA.

he is a good player, but a bit like Willian. We already have that... we need players to give us an edge against other top sides. Mahrez isn't it.

he's the Aguero's version in the CAM position... stay clear if you want to win silverware. Ozil is in the same group of zero work rate. Would be very suprised if a guy like Conte was going for him. Now if you want to watch slick touches now and then, he's your guy!

For me one of the better performers in the "final" against WBA. He was good in possession playing quicker - wonder if instructed to do so.

Don't think his game has changed that much. Conte obviously instructs him to stay back, so not many forward runs, but his weaknesses and virtues are all there. The system, as it should, protects and works for him. WBA game had it all: poor anticipation attempt which almost led to a goal (thank azpi for covering); a great interception on an almost certain goal, and fantastic control and distribution from the back. at one time he stopped a long ball with one touch before the bounce and in the same movement he passed he ball forward. When you need a goal and are in attack Luiz is probably the best CB in the world.

I have to disagree that the manager doesn't trust him. The manager trusted him at the most important time and it paid off. Shows that the player has been showing the right attitude. listening to him and looking at his body language, it seems he's not really that unhappy. Perhaps conte is just letting him settle in a bit. Does not speak a work in English so he needs to work on that too. end of the day, if Michy wants to start he will need to move, deal or on loan. But if he's pacient I can certainly expect him to get a lot more playing time regardless who leads the line for us.

well both Hazard and Costa have been pretty poor today. Conte believes 2 strikers up front might do the trick. You may not agree, but there is nothing crazy about it. Let's wait and see.

They are not mutually exclusive. (Doesn't our golden boy hate man-marking?) weekend before matic did similar against spurs. A couple of seasons back and he did it for us to win the league - no kante either. I can certainly understand the wish to improve on him, but he's a good Who gets a lot of imo undeserved criticism.

Perhaps, but the flashes were there. Reckon he improved more the mental aspects than technique really, technique is the hardest attribute to improve on. That's when you acquire good players -- when they need to improve in some areas -- not when they are expensive or unsellable. That's one of the reasons I think we cannot compete in Europe. BTW, I still think that defensively Wanyama isn't that great compared with matic esp physically in tight spaces (as seen in the fa cup match). Matic is a good player. We have a lot of good players on the squad, but not many great players.

Wow although we could certainly improve on him esp in technique, he had a good game today. No not great in possession, only Ok. Though he deserves a lot of credit for the dominance we had in midfield today. comcerning Wanyama, well I spotted him when he was playing in Scotland while we were still insisting with the likes of mikel. Matic still edges him in the physical side, but wanyama is certainly the more technical and more pacey player.

Love the commentator trying to explain how Henessey did not make a mistake and the ball changed direction, even when the replay clearly showed that it did not. Despite the obvious GK mistake - just too far out - Spurs were just dominating this game with easy in the second half. CP simply did not play.

agreed. I'd not say he's that "normal" though. He's a very unique CB with very unique strengths and weaknesses. He loses concentration on occasion, which has the potential to punish your side if the team cannot handle it. Hence why he works better with two other CBs or even in midfield (Jose). If your side and your coach can accommodate him in a system, he will offer a lot on the technical side, probably more than any other CB: first touch, passing (even long), and shooting. He's also pretty good in the air and pacey for a Cb which allows him to produce many interceptions. So, If you have David on your side, you do have to make adjustments, but doing so makes him a strong asset. His weakness in concentration and especially his style of always seeking the anticipation (interception) will always make him look worse than the others around him when things go bad, even when he's "only" just as bad (e.g. Brazil vs germany). The french thought he was responsible for the weak defensive showing of PSG in the CL against barcelona before. It seems not much changed without him, only that now they cannot as easily blame the very composed Silva and Marquinhos.

Different teams; different conditions and esp ambitions. most complaints people have here against Diego are regarding his technique or the lack thereof. Lukaku would certainly NOT be an improvement in that regard. If we want to become a more technical side to compete in Europe, then perhaps Lukaku is not the way to go. On the other hand, with the current level of spending, it does not seem we are serious about Europe, so we might settle for another low-technique striker for the PL.

"I believe Michy and Ake are two players who he has mishandled" perhaps you are right and a bit insensitive from the club with Ake. "it's started to bite us in the finishing sprint." Now this is a conclusion leap: there is zero evidence that the two facts are tied. Whether they were or not mishandled, using them more would've probably made no difference. Are they so much *better* than the players who played? Are the players who have been playing tired by chance? For me at least, it is far more likely this is just showing the limitations of our squad in terms of quality.