🇷🇸 Nemanja Matic

[Special Juan 28,141]

He hasn't travelled with the team apparently. and he refused to train with Benfica last night.

Interesting.

[LondonPride1905 236]

There are reports that Nemanja Matic won't play for Benfica against Porto today amid claims the midfielder is close to rejoining Chelsea. Matic had also been linked with Manchester United, but reports in Serbia suggest the player could be back at Stamford Bridge by Tuesday.

Just read this on SSN. [Rumour]

So, I am expecting the De Bruyne - Matic substitution soon enough.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

If we buy matic, we won't buy in this position again for 4years.

Its worth the 25mil

[The only place to be 11,313]

So he's refusing to play against Porto? That's a massive match for them and if it's true then he's not messing around. Hopefully it's more a case of the move being so close that he's looking out for himself so as not to compromise a move.

Personally I objected to this move on the grounds that re-signing players we've let go for about ten times more money made us look like mugs. But he's a fantastically talented and rather unique player, and I remembered I don't really give a fuck what other fans think about us. We're turning a nice profit in the De Bruyne deal and so many other young players have really exploded in value for us that this deal really isn't the beginning of a trend for us.

Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the Pivot problems for us. I for one won't miss that and once you've got a stable presence in that position (this guy alongside Oscar might be part of our new spine for some time) then you can start experimenting with younger players alongside him. As much as we love Ramires, he's not the type of player you can chuck a Chalobah in next to. If Matic can make that position his going into next season then that gives us a lot of room to try different things in midfield and also in defence.

He's a great age (he's also 4 years younger than Makelele was when he signed, if you want to set the bar really high), he'll improve our team both in the short-term and into the future and if he does become the player we're all hoping he does then he's not actually that expensive (comparisons would be Toure and Martinez who were both more expensive in all likelihood, and if you want a good laugh then Fellaini is probably more expensive too).

[Strike 7,489]

He's a great age (he's also 4 years younger than Makelele was when he signed, if you want to set the bar really high), he'll improve our team both in the short-term and into the future and if he does become the player we're all hoping he does then he's not actually that expensive (comparisons would be Toure and Martinez who were both more expensive in all likelihood, and if you want a good laugh then Fellaini is probably more expensive too).

it may make us look like mugs but it isn't that big of a deal really especially if he settles in quickly

[De_ChrapQaa 192]

Who cares how we will look, he's quality and would fit perfectly, and that matters if you ask me.

[drog.ba 239]

Is he refusing to play or are they just not playing him as the deal is close?

Not sure I'm bothered by us re-signing someone for far more then we sold them, he's massively improved and the best available option. Although I don't want him to leave, selling De Bruyne for £18m and Matic for £21m would be good business and give us a much more balanced squad. Just got to hope Matic doesn't flop and De Bruyne doesn't become the next Ronaldo.

[Toli 977]

According to Record we are close to get him

http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior_premium.aspx?content_id=862451

if we pay anything over 20 m would be clearly overpaying on this player. dont even know why this board is so eager to get him. he is a little bit better than Mikel in terms of offensive-play, but nowhere near what we need. We need a DLP, not another B2B type of player or a destroyer (depends on how you categorize Matic)

[laeth 527]

According to Record we are close to get him

http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior_premium.aspx?content_id=862451

if we pay anything over 20 m would be clearly overpaying on this player. dont even know why this board is so eager to get him. he is a little bit better than Mikel in terms of offensive-play, but nowhere near what we need. We need a DLP, not another B2B type of player or a destroyer (depends on how you categorize Matic)

We don't need a playmaker (we've got three of those behind the striker), we need a really good all-rounder who can move the ball forward quicker than our current players, so that said three behind the striker have more time and space to do their thing.

[Toli 977]

We don't need a playmaker (we've got three of those behind the striker), we need a really good all-rounder who can move the ball forward quicker than our current players, so that said three behind the striker have more time and space to do their thing.

we need someone who build up fom behind. its evident. dont you see how our pivot isnt able to build-up decently if they are getting pressured? its our biggest problem since ages. Matic is a better version of Mikel and I dont think a better version of Mikel will make our problems in the pivot dissapear. especially if the 35 m quoted are true. that would be madness. even the 21 m pounds are a lot for Matic.

[The only place to be 11,313]

we need someone who build up fom behind. its evident. dont you see how our pivot isnt able to build-up decently if they are getting pressured? its our biggest problem since ages. Matic is a better version of Mikel and I dont think a better version of Mikel will make our problems in the pivot dissapear. especially if the 35 m quoted are true. that would be madness. even the 21 m pounds are a lot for Matic.

What Matic can do is break up play and deliver simple, fast balls to the three attacking players accurately. He can also hit a pass himself, take a shot and even run at players sometimes. That will add a lot to our midfield.

[Pizy 18,909]

Must....resist....getting excited......

I've been burned too many times before.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

double

[Mouri_Matic 560]

£20m for potential yet again while the likes of world class like Gundogan are £30m max

[lucio 5,418]

What Matic can do is break up play and deliver simple, fast balls to the three attacking players accurately. He can also hit a pass himself, take a shot and even run at players sometimes. That will add a lot to our midfield.

he can even play defence splitting balls over the top.

"Matic is now making excellent quick decisions on what to do and moving the ball in short order. He's not a dynamic distributor in the style of Andrea Pirlo, but he's certainly not going to be someone that we complain "only passes it sideways"."

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2014/1/12/5299326/chelsea-fc-transfer-target-profile-nemanja-matic-benfica?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=mustreads&utm_campaign=blogs

3.04 -4.00

[Reddish-Blue 2,505]

What Matic can do is break up play and deliver simple, fast balls to the three attacking players accurately. He can also hit a pass himself, take a shot and even run at players sometimes. That will add a lot to our midfield.

Also, he's the perfect age for our midfield....not too old and not too young

[The only place to be 11,313]

£20m for potential yet again while the likes of world class like Gundogan are £30m max

In what way is he potential? We're not paying for what he can do next year, but next week. He is an immediate upgrade to what we already have in midfield.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

In what way is he potential? We're not paying for what he can do next year, but next week. He is an immediate upgrade to what we already have in midfield.

Oh I know but he just seems no where near the world class bracket yet and in these type of money are paid for those players, if a decent mid like Matic is £20m then what for the likes of Yaya,Gundogan,Khedira,Alonso...etc? A lot that is for sure. So I am not saying he is a bad signing, just saying the amount we are paying is sort of overpriced.

Btw just found out he is 26 so basically at the peak now, you are right no more potential. Still maybe he isn't that much talked about because he plays in Portugal, but then so did Moutinho, Falcao, Hulk...etc at 1 point.

[diskoviolente 425]

What an ironic situation.

[lucio 5,418]

Oh I know but he just seems no where near the world class bracket yet and in these type of money are paid for those players, if a decent mid like Matic is £20m then what for the likes of Yaya,Gundogan,Khedira,Alonso...etc? A lot that is for sure. So I am not saying he is a bad signing, just saying the amount we are paying is sort of overpriced.

Btw just found out he is 26 so basically at the peak now, you are right no more potential. Still maybe he isn't that much talked about because he plays in Portugal, but then so did Moutinho, Falcao, Hulk...etc at 1 point.

he still won portugese player of the year. obviously he will be less hyped than attackers like falcao and hulk. defensive mids get less attention