🇷🇸 Nemanja Matic

[kellzfresh 7,229]

He's lost his tackling, he's so slow on the turn, once you get close to his left foot he panics, he can't dribble once you mark his left side and he isn't a good passer. 

Either his weaknesses have increased dramatically or have been massively exposed. 

[AWorriedChelseaFan 151]

1 hour ago, kellzfresh said:

He's lost his tackling, he's so slow on the turn, once you get close to his left foot he panics, he can't dribble once you mark his left side and he isn't a good passer. 

Either his weaknesses have increased dramatically or have been massively exposed. 

He has never looked good or world class ever since that leg breaker challenge from Barnes back in 2015.

 

If we can sell him for around 25m+ I'd take that price any day of the week. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[manpe 10,861]

6 minutes ago, AWorriedChelseaFan said:

He has never looked good or world class ever since that leg breaker challenge from Barnes back in 2015.

Care to refresh my memory? Was he injured?

He used to be one of the best tacklers and game breakers last season, he truly bossed his role. Hence "the spider" nickname. Now he's late to most of the situations where he should be before they happen. He's lost tactically and probably has a demon at the back of his mind telling him he's not good enough.

[Sovieticus 743]

7 minutes ago, manpe said:

Care to refresh my memory? Was he injured?

He used to be one of the best tacklers and game breakers last season, he truly bossed his role. Hence "the spider" nickname. Now he's late to most of the situations where he should be before they happen. He's lost tactically and probably has a demon at the back of his mind telling him he's not good enough.

As far as I remember, he was not injured, but he got sent off.

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

Leg-breaking tackle, luckily nothing happened to him, he lost his nerve and got sent off.
Burnley game at the Bridge last season.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

43 minutes ago, AWorriedChelseaFan said:

He has never looked good or world class ever since that leg breaker challenge from Barnes back in 2015.

 

If we can sell him for around 25m+ I'd take that price any day of the week. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

I remember when I used to curse fabregas earlier in the season, but my brother who isn't a Chelsea fan told me that fabregas was not the problem in our midfield because he was never a good tackler. He said Matic was the cause of our midfield woes because he wasn't making as much effort into stopping attacks as he used to do last season. It took me long to see it but its really obvious now. 

[AWorriedChelseaFan 151]

2 hours ago, manpe said:

Care to refresh my memory? Was he injured?

He used to be one of the best tacklers and game breakers last season, he truly bossed his role. Hence "the spider" nickname. Now he's late to most of the situations where he should be before they happen. He's lost tactically and probably has a demon at the back of his mind telling him he's not good enough.

Nope, he didn't get injured from the leg breaker challenge. But he did get himself sent off, lost his cool and pushed Barnes straight to the ground

 

Matic has never looked the same player again after this incident, always so nervous on the ball. Scared to throw legs to challenge attackers/midfielders for the ball etc....

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Amazing to think Barnes never faced any retrospective punishment, like Matic was meant to let his leg get broken  

[manpe 10,861]

5 minutes ago, LDN Blue said:

Amazing to think Barnes never faced any retrospective punishment, like Matic was meant to let his leg get broken  

One of the things I loved about Jose was how he always furiously defended his players in unjust situations like that. 

[LDN Blue 7,903]

7 hours ago, manpe said:

One of the things I loved about Jose was how he always furiously defended his players in unjust situations like that. 

Yeah it just fell on deaf ears in the end, unhelped by his constant other barages. His rants, to an extent, has valid points but the way he presented them was counteractive. Shame.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

The story goes about a superb centre back who had world at his feet, played in CL final, arguably been on of finest no nonsense defenders in game. Then he declined so bad that nowdays he doesnt even play regulary. There was injury, but surely he could come back after that. No one knows what happend. His name is Subotic.

To this day, I still dont know how he gone from one of best CBs in world relatively young too into average one.

Matic seems to be on same way, but it just surprises me that a player who wasnt realy overplayed, injured and even had several top seasons, then suddenly declines so bad that Mikel takes his place.

He needs to get back on track, because last season, some saw Costa, Eden and Cesc as key players, but Matic was equaly important aswell, and if the rule about midfielders are key in football game is true, then he was perhaps most important player we had last season. And thats a shame to lose such good player to whatever reason he has for such terrible performances.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

Matic is considering his next move after losing his starting place. [Telegraph]

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

6 hours ago, xPetrCechx said:

Matic is considering his next move after losing his starting place. [Telegraph]

He wouldnt start for any champions league side in the league. Unless he is looking to move abroad he would do well to just focus on improving his horrific play.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

What a fall from grace. Hopefully Conte can have a word and get him back to something like his best. If not then it's just plain sad. 

[robsblubot 3,595]

If you are matic, who was one of our best players in our title winning season, and then you have a bad season. A tampon manager comes along and plays mikel fucking obi ahead of you, and the club is ok with it...then just pack your things and go.

dont be like the guy who now plays in your position, who now only at 28 has magically acquired the talent to start for Chelsea.

leave while you can! Money isn't everything... The best players will go in this window and you should too. We don't like talent, only composure. You can do the most absurd things as long as you do them confidently - works for mr trump...

thanks for everything.

[Blue Armour 4,442]

7 hours ago, Robguima said:

If you are matic, who was one of our best players in our title winning season, and then you have a bad season. A tampon manager comes along and plays mikel fucking obi ahead of you, and the club is ok with it...then just pack your things and go.

dont be like the guy who now plays in your position, who now only at 28 has magically acquired the talent to start for Chelsea.

leave while you can! Money isn't everything... The best players will go in this window and you should too. We don't like talent, only composure. You can do the most absurd things as long as you do them confidently - works for mr trump...

thanks for everything.

 

Well at least Mikel is doing his job., but on the other hand you have Oscar who is doing next to nothing by sitting deep in today's match, then you have to wonder why Matic doesn't even get a look in.

 

Full credit to Guus for saving the club from an even bigger mess, but the lineups and substitutions have been really wanting.

[robsblubot 3,595]

On 4/9/2016 at 9:22 AM, Blue Armour said:

 

Well at least Mikel is doing his job., but on the other hand you have Oscar who is doing next to nothing by sitting deep in today's match, then you have to wonder why Matic doesn't even get a look in.

 

Full credit to Guus for saving the club from an even bigger mess, but the lineups and substitutions have been really wanting.

yeah for me Mikel is doing a job that is not in need of doing...  that's why you don't see other mikels in any remotely big clubs out there; yes, we are the only "big" club starting a "limited" player (term used by his fans to describe him) I'd call him something entirely different though. Another way of looking is how many players could do Mikel's job, and provide something extra (aka not being as limited)? I could name a few who play for small sides in England.

personally I think Cahill is limited, while Mikel is a bit below that.

Sorry I just don't buy Hiddink the savior story. It's fictional at best. What did he do really? Play Mikel?! Jose started Mikel against Everton and Porto because he was also fed up with Matic. The squad was just completely unfit then and would have lost to anyone, as they did. The squad is fitter now and play just as shitty football, but at least they can run.

[Blue Armour 4,442]

23 hours ago, Robguima said:

yeah for me Mikel is doing a job that is not in need of doing...  that's why you don't see other mikels in any remotely big clubs out there; yes, we are the only "big" club starting a "limited" player (term used by his fans to describe him) I'd call him something entirely different though. Another way of looking is how many players could do Mikel's job, and provide something extra (aka not being as limited)? I could name a few who play for small sides in England.

personally I think Cahill is limited, while Mikel is a bit below that.

Sorry I just don't buy Hiddink the savior story. It's fictional at best. What did he do really? Play Mikel?! Jose started Mikel against Everton and Porto because he was also fed up with Matic. The squad was just completely unfit then and would have lost to anyone, as they did. The squad is fitter now and play just as shitty football, but at least they can run.

 

Yeah, I agree there are things he definitely should have done better....like not trying to recover Matic like he's trying with Oscar atm..and not giving Begovic chances earlier on. However, the next big mistake he can make is dropping Courtois from the starting 11 entirely..if he wanted to give Begovic chances, now's not the time...especially when you are trying to retain as many quality players as possible for next season.

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

Thought he had a good game today, nothing over the top. Hope he stays with us and regains his form.

[robsblubot 3,595]

He had a great game today. Yes, opposition is weak, so grain of salt required.

Did his thing in midfield *and* added up front with through balls and an actual assist. There is nothing telling CMs to not get involved in the game - they should go where they are needed and contribute, as matic did.