🇷🇸 Nemanja Matic

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

Matic did have a very good season, borderline world class in his position. Mikel has been consistently poor with a few good performances against average opposition for 9 years. I'd take my gambles on the former.
If he does have another bad season, then yes, I wouldn't mind selling him, but not before offloading Mikel.

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

About having him in the starting XI: 1- Are we operating under the assumption that Matic has improved from his last season form? From what I saw, every player but him and Oscar made some sort of improvement towards the end of the season. 2- Conte said that he will play with two midfielers. Having Matc and Kante would cripple us offensively more because Matic is shocking going forwards.

I don't know anyone other than Kante in the team who can play as a midfielder in a 4-4-2. Nainggolan/Gomes/Joao Mario is a must. 

[illmatic 901]

 

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Keep calm guys, Nemanja will stay, and together with Kante, will destroy all midfield in England And then, in Europe.
 

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I read somewhere yesterday that Conte said he wants to ply with 2 central midfielders. If true, then surely that means that Matic is gone because the 2 starting central midfielders will no doubt be Fabregas and Kante, likely with Mikel and RLC as back up. 

[Jype 6,398]

2 hours ago, CHOULO19 said:

I read somewhere yesterday that Conte said he wants to ply with 2 central midfielders. If true, then surely that means that Matic is gone because the 2 starting central midfielders will no doubt be Fabregas and Kante, likely with Mikel and RLC as back up. 

 

Or the two central midfielders will be Matic and Kante, with Fabregas being pushed up for an attacking midfield role.

But yea if it comes down to just two of Kante, Cesc and Matic to be picked for preferred starting lineup, which I think is likely, I have a feeling it will be the first two and Matic will look to leave for Juve. I think Cesc, Kante, Mikel and RLC is really thin for two positions with Mikel simply not up for the required standards and lot of question marks looming over RLC's level over a season. One or two injuries to midfielders there and we're fucked, which is why I think Matic shouldn't be sold or at least needs to be replaced properly if he goes. 

[BXL70 396]

I do not think Matic will go: CM will be Matic and Kante, with RLC and Mikel as back-up.

It all sounds to me that Fabregas is on its way out. 

Now we are chasing Riyad Mahrez but facing tough competition from Arsenal and Barcelona. Hope the signing of Kante can convince him to join us.

 

[Styles 9,790]

4 hours ago, CHOULO19 said:

I read somewhere yesterday that Conte said he wants to ply with 2 central midfielders. If true, then surely that means that Matic is gone because the 2 starting central midfielders will no doubt be Fabregas and Kante, likely with Mikel and RLC as back up. 

I can't see a manager as tactically clued up as Conte playing Fabregas in a midfield two. Kante is great at what he does but he alone cannot compensate for all of Fabregas deficiencies.

[Amblève. 4,995]

2 hours ago, Styles said:

I can't see a manager as tactically clued up as Conte playing Fabregas in a midfield two. Kante is great at what he does but he alone cannot compensate for all of Fabregas deficiencies.

While I get what you mean I do think you can get away with playing Fabregas there. Defensively, for example, you would have Willian/another winger drop into midfield and play with a 3-man formation there while one of the strikers helps out on the wing if necessary. Speaking about offense though we've known for years now that to get the best out of Fabregas (and Hazard) we need to keep the ball and dominate possession; fortunately, Conte seems to like playing with the ball more than that former manager of ours...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

7 hours ago, Jype said:

Or the two central midfielders will be Matic and Kante, with Fabregas being pushed up for an attacking midfield role.

But yea if it comes down to just two of Kante, Cesc and Matic to be picked for preferred starting lineup, which I think is likely, I have a feeling it will be the first two and Matic will look to leave for Juve. I think Cesc, Kante, Mikel and RLC is really thin for two positions with Mikel simply not up for the required standards and lot of question marks looming over RLC's level over a season. One or two injuries to midfielders there and we're fucked, which is why I think Matic shouldn't be sold or at least needs to be replaced properly if he goes. 

I REALLY doubt that Conte would play Cesc in advanced position. The mobility of the forwards are usually key for Conte, both in attack and defense. Also, a midfield 2 of Kante and Matic seriously lacks a creative spark.

I don't think it's about selling Matic but rather whether or not he'd want to stay.

 

5 hours ago, Styles said:

I can't see a manager as tactically clued up as Conte playing Fabregas in a midfield two. Kante is great at what he does but he alone cannot compensate for all of Fabregas deficiencies.

The thing with Fabregas is that unless you play with 3 central midfielders he's going to leave you with an obvious weakness, be it deep or, imo worse. in an advanced role. 

But he is still a key player for us, and probably our only top class player along with Eden. I understand why he needs to be in the team despite his weaknesses. 

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

Only use him as leverage to sign Bonucci otherwise I would be worried to let him go.

[Blue Armour 4,443]

10 hours ago, CHOULO19 said:

I read somewhere yesterday that Conte said he wants to ply with 2 central midfielders. If true, then surely that means that Matic is gone because the 2 starting central midfielders will no doubt be Fabregas and Kante, likely with Mikel and RLC as back up. 

 

When he said 2 CM's, I think he just meant 2 in front of the back four and an attacking midfielder/extra striker in front of them. Similar to how he had RLC in the first half yesterday in front of Matic and Mikel, and later having Oscar/Traore there in the second half. I would expect Fabregas to play the role that RLC did. And plus, Fabregas is not a stranger to playing up top as well.

[nono 791]

Kante makes him redundant because he's a big zero on offense. Loses the ball too much as well. I hope we go for a good box to box midfielder. Sell Matic and Oscar if necessary.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

2 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

When he said 2 CM's, I think he just meant 2 in front of the back four and an attacking midfielder/extra striker in front of them. Similar to how he had RLC in the first half yesterday in front of Matic and Mikel, and later having Oscar/Traore there in the second half. I would expect Fabregas to play the role that RLC did. And plus, Fabregas is not a stranger to playing up top as well.

I don't think Conte will play Fabregas in an advanced position AT ALL. Unless he completely throws away both his Juve and Italy tactics, I can almost guarantee that that won't be the case. 

[the wes 7,212]

Roman Abramovich has personally contacted Nemanja Matic to request he remains with #Chelsea for at least another season. [Independent]

[Pizy 18,928]

7 minutes ago, the wes said:

Roman Abramovich has personally contacted Nemanja Matic to request he remains with #Chelsea for at least another season. [Independent]

Shite. He stays if we want him to stay. Roman doesn't have to "request" anything. 

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

It was probably a request he could not possibly refuse.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

20 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Shite. He stays if we want him to stay. Roman doesn't have to "request" anything. 

You meant if roman wants him to stay.

you cant say no to roman.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

I thought Matic looked great in the first match. Got tired really quickly though. And he's pretty good on offence too, not sure why people keep saying he's shit. Think his best position is actually box-to-box instead of a holding midfielder. I think the midfield 2 is definitely going to be Matic-Kante, both are relatively dynamic, can win the ball and run with it.

I think Cesc has to be in the team so I think eventually we may end up back at a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 with a midfield of Matic, Kante and Cesc.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Think he has to stay. He is the sort of player I would imagine Conte likes, constantly covera a high distance, tackles, intercepts etc.

Obviously last season was an indifferent season for the whole club and I feel he let Cesc down at times when they played next to each other but if we have a 3 man MF this year I think we will see Cesc and Matic back to their best. Kante gives us more balance for a 3 man midfield, which we need to play with now considering the lack of genuine talent in the #10 role, midfield was a big issue last year so hopefully we can get it right and none of this 4-2-4 carry on which would leave us hilariously outnumbered in midfield and also leaves us questioning either Fabregas/Matics' roles in the squad because Kante is here to start. 

[robsblubot 3,595]

5 hours ago, Bir_CFC said:

I thought Matic looked great in the first match. Got tired really quickly though. And he's pretty good on offence too, not sure why people keep saying he's shit. Think his best position is actually box-to-box instead of a holding midfielder. I think the midfield 2 is definitely going to be Matic-Kante, both are relatively dynamic, can win the ball and run with it.

I think Cesc has to be in the team so I think eventually we may end up back at a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 with a midfield of Matic, Kante and Cesc.

people make it out to be a lot less dynamic than it actually is.

Fabregas would be moved up but not that much... same as what they've tried to do with Oscar, but failed for one reason or another.

Yes, on paper it is a pivot, but if a team only has 2 midfielders they'd get destroyed every time. Our best moments in the winning season were when everyone was pulling their weight - even oscar, so that opponents had no space and were allowed no time on the ball. Kante is far more technically gifted than Ramires was, so I think we are going to be a lot stronger in that area - matic staying or replaced by someone of the same caliber.

However, I am a firm believer of the weakest link in football. As an (mediocre but pacey) attacker, I used to seek out weaker players (not that hard just move to where they are) and avoid the good ones: ex guy has a poor first touch, stay close; he's slow? run past him; can't read the game? movement... and unfortunately our squad has still just too many weak links that will be found whenever we face tough opponents - so no, not contenders yet.