The Mak

Oh I understand that. But this is also a club who would rather sell Modric to Real for £32m instead of £40m to us.

The first thing i'll say is that, despite his age, no one is pushing JT out of the team in the near future. He's our number 1. The way he's playing there is no way he'll be 3rd choice next year. The only scenario I could see this happening is if Luiz was sold. But even still, I don't think José rates him judging from his comments about him after the Spurs game. I would take him, but for no more than Spurs paid and there's no way we'd get him for that price with that bitter wanker Levy there.

So Mata had this competition on his blog and it was for fans to find creative pictures that included his new number, 8. He made an album on Facebook with some of them and he included these: Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool.

Woah, calm down Charlie. What are you freaking out for? It's just a forum, stop being so serious. Enjoy your life

It's nothing personal if I'm simply pointing out that you've also done something you're condemning others for. So I think you should take your own advice.

Give over. Stop acting as if you don't respond with one liners. You did it to me the other day and it had little relevance to my post. Get off your horse.

Best thing is we get to sit back, relax and see what Arsenal and City do. Easy enough games, but the pressure is all on them now. Lets hope they were all watching when JT stuck that one in! Psychological blow perhaps?

Rami! Bring into the corner, don't cross it ffs!!

WTF is with Ramires falling over and slipping all the time. He's like Bambi on ice.

Oh shit, that's right, José had a press conference today! ...reading this thread makes it seem like he was on the catwalks in Milan!

Maybe, but I know who I'd rather have going forward!

Don't argue with the TC fanshionista!

I think Mourinho doesn't really give a shit about the result. He's just happy he's managed to mind-fuck so many people in such a short space of time! It's all quite funny when you think about the amount of chaos he's caused in less than 2 weeks! Again, no one is criticising any of our players! No one talks about our poor performance against City: Salah's weak appearance or Luiz's brain fart etc. While Pellegrini and Wenger are dealing with criticism to do with Demichelis and Giroud, our players are only focused on the next league game!

Sweet divine baby Jesus, that was some goal!

I'm not really sure what you're trying to get at. You act as if Matic is no better than Mikel but then you say this: I don't get it. That is my main point, but yet it seems like you want to disagree with me at the same time for the sake of it. Thank you!

Fixed. Sorry Ryan, but the fact is Mikel was the only DM we've had since Mak (even still, Mikel was a AM moulded into a DM). You might be right, but that would simply be because we had no comparison for so many years. However, traditional DMs like Mikel are effectively dying out in the modern game. Would he get into the Munich, Barca, Madrid, City teams? Is he as good as the starting CM/DMs they have? Not a chance. So much more has to be offered now and Matic is a player that offers a lot more than Mikel in every department.

And in the majority of those matches, his contribution was more than that of Ramires or MIkel; I know you like to go against the grain, but it's hard to argue otherwise. It's the fact that he's come in mid-season, meaning he is still adapting to the team and PL but manages to still be head and shoulders above our current CMs - that's what makes him special. He's only going to get better with time.

Mikel is lucky he doesn't play for Magath then, he'd go bankrupt!

I don't necessarily disagree, but I think it's as simple as you're portraying it. I feel that Mikel's decline in the eyes of fans is for a number of reasons... First off, we've had Mikel as a starter for almost all of the 8 years he has been here. Maybe at the start of his tenure people were more willing to cut him slack because he was young and knew it would take time to replace someone of Makelele's quality. However, he never even came close to replacing Mak (who could?) but everyone just seemed to get used to his average performances because, gradually, that's all we came to know - as we had no real comparison in the team for years. Then Rami came along, had a few performances as DM and his athleticism made Mikel look like a pensioner. Here is where even more people began to lose patience. Our attention then turned to getting an adequate DM partner for Ramires. Now Matic has come along and, to be honest, is starting to make Ramires look average, nevermind Mikel. It seems now we (the fans) are actually looking for a new partner for Matic. I will say about Ramires though that I don't think people are so annoyed with his passing it's more about his decision making as of late, which has been absolute dogshit. Passes to no one, making the wrong decision in the final third killing our momentum and simply giving the ball to the opposition countless times - this is the most frustrating thing. We know he can't really pass, so he should just be keeping it simple and using his athleticism when he can. Anyway, now that Matic is here and has cemented himself in front of Mikel with such ease. He is displaying everything we have been missing from a quality DM for the past 8 years, therefore putting Mikel's deficiencies in the spotlight once again. He does absolutely everything Mikel does except he is a lot quicker of mind and feet (despite being taller), a more incisive and progressive passer and not to mention a decent goal threat. He is what the modern DM should be and what Mikel should've really evolved into. The fact he is showing all of this in a matter weeks of arriving makes it even worse for people's perceptions of Mikel. As well as all of this, I'll mention again that Mikel has been here for 8 years. Besides from Cech, he was our longest standing servant on the pitch last night but you wouldn't think it at all. You would think that a player who has been here for so long would be pretty influential on the pitch and for other teammates, but he was a passenger. A player here for that amount of time should be barking orders, trying to inspire others and showing them the way - but nothing. He is the captain of his national team for fuck sake and he seems to show no drive whatsoever. Saying 'everyone had a bad game' as an excuse will only get you so far - such a long-standing servant should at least be showing something on the pitch to show that they care. Mikel defenders will say that his job is thankless and anonymous and so can't influence in the same way, but it's still no excuse for showing no passion on the pitch after 8 years. Anyway, that's just my take on things. Personally, I just hope his wages at the club reflect that of a squad player because that is all i'll ever see him as.

I'm scared to think how much he gets paid a week...I was never a fan, but the fact that Matic has cemented himself so easily ahead of him and his whole 8 years of experience in the PL says everything you need to know.

To be fair, a lot of people on here would've been up in arms if he started instead of Hazard tonight. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. However, I do think he should've started in either the West Brom or Newcastle games previously, because I seriously doubt he will start against Gala (though I believe he plays better in European competitions until he is completely adjusted to the PL). Slightly worrying because it's clear that Hazard and Willian need a good rest.

Simply not at the races today. I know it takes a lot to come to the Eithiad and get something - it's even more difficult considered we had to do it not so long ago, but the lack of effort at times was absolutely shocking. And its another game on the trot for Hazard, Willian and Ramires when its pretty clear they're knackered. Not sure when they'll be rested. Ramires needs a 2 week holiday or something.

Not THAT bad a half. We're still playing away to City remember. However, it is shocking how sloppy we can be in some areas e.g. Ramires' passing, Willian's shooting and Luiz in general. Luiz needs a straight jacket again. Nutter. All this talk recently, well, if anyone offered £35m for him and I'd snap their arms off. I said this last year and I got lambasted. How long are we going to wait for this fabled WC defender? We're sorely missing JT right now and we really shouldn't be with Luiz.

Nice one mate! I'll PM you now!

If we're really going for him, we should just give them Torres along with the buyout clause. It's the only chance we have to get rid of the bugger before he drains us even more!