Nemanja Matic

[DYC. 7,542]

It'd be great to have Schneiderlin here in a midfield 3 with Cesc and Matic. Jose would obviously never select this (especially the back 4!) but I'd love to see:

Courtois

Azpi Zouma Varane Luis

Schneiderlin Cesc Matic

Willian Costa Hazard

Equipazo.

Varane and Zouma in the middle... I have to say, I don't believe in a youngster couple. Has there ever been a top team with a very young CB duo? Who is leading that defence? Who is that rock you can count on to perform consistently?

Another problem I see is just two players in that line up hitting 10+ goals over the season, Costa and Hazard. You would be lucky to get 7 goals from Matic, Willian and Schneiderlin. This team seriously needs a reliable goal scorer.

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

Varane and Zouma in the middle... I have to say, I don't believe in a youngster couple. Has there ever been a top team with a very young CB duo? Who is leading that defence? Who is that rock you can count on to perform consistently?

Another problem I see is just two players in that line up hitting 10+ goals over the season, Costa and Hazard. You would be lucky to get 7 goals from Matic, Willian and Schneiderlin. This team seriously needs a reliable goal scorer.

Any suggestions for a reliable goalscorer?

[The Chels 2,502]

Varane and Zouma in the middle... I have to say, I don't believe in a youngster couple. Has there ever been a top team with a very young CB duo? Who is leading that defence? Who is that rock you can count on to perform consistently?

Another problem I see is just two players in that line up hitting 10+ goals over the season, Costa and Hazard. You would be lucky to get 7 goals from Matic, Willian and Schneiderlin. This team seriously needs a reliable goal scorer.

Zouma-Terry is the most realistic option but I just wanted to fantasise about an all-round mobile and athletic team (with the exception of Cesc) whose pressing no longer causes me so much frustration

A more productive RW than Willian would also be nice but I don't think we will spend even more on that position and I'd be surprised if Cuadrado managed to usurp him. The side would depend on Hazard and Costa's productivity (set pieces and the back-up striker (Icardi?) can also help) but would be defensively solid enough to cope with not having so many goalscorers. That's the vision anyway!

[termninja 5,290]

Burnt out almost completely, a very simple reason for his performances. Needs a strong rest. Also have to mention that Fabregas' bad form also influences Matic's game because he is left exposed more.

[DYC. 7,542]

Any suggestions for a reliable goalscorer?

Are you willing to pay me to look for this fantasy purchase that is never going to happen? I warn you, I'm very expensive.

In 09/10, teams were looking at that Chelsea team with fear. 4 players in that starting XI highly capable of scoring goals in Drogba, Lampard, Malouda and Anelka. That's one of the main reasons Bayern, Barca and Real are so strong. So much fire power. I think Messi alone has scored more goals than Chelsea's front four... isn't that something?

I was hoping for Schurrle and Oscar to step up this season and score goals for the team. Schurrle sadly didn't work out and Oscar has faded yet again after a pretty good start. At a club like Chelsea, you'd expect the player playing behind the striker to either create or score goals. He's doing neither for a long time now. That hurts the team. Take out Costa and the team is in trouble. Set-pieces have been key for not faltering like City.

As for options, Reus was my dream signing because of this. That's pretty much ruled out. Griezmann is very good. Depay is the brightest talent in the Eredivisie. Goal-scoring winger. But he's still very young and who knows how he'll do. He could end up like Suarez or he could end up like those other countless 'flops'.

A less popular shout would be Pedro, though I think he's quality. He would benefit from a move away from Barca. With the trust of a manager and consistent playing time, I think he would be very good addition. Not the most creative player, but a proven goal-scorer over the years. And you can count on him to control a ball properly. Experienced and good work rate (there's that balance again).

They're hard to find but they are out there. The club has a gigantic scouting network and they are paid a lot of money to provide quality players. Put them to work. More Azpi and Matic esque signings. Look at how Zouma turned out. A goal-scoring midfielder would be good too. That de Bruyne chap looks pretty decent. Or steal Alexis Sanchez.

Zouma-Terry is the most realistic option but I just wanted to fantasise about an all-round mobile and athletic team (with the exception of Cesc) whose pressing no longer causes me so much frustration

A more productive RW than Willian would also be nice but I don't think we will spend even more on that position and I'd be surprised if Cuadrado managed to usurp him. The side would depend on Hazard and Costa's productivity (set pieces and the back-up striker (Icardi?) can also help) but would be defensively solid enough to cope with not having so many goalscorers. That's the vision anyway!

Very understandable, I do the same. Dreamland is a fun place to visit.

Hmm, a bit like Atletico. I wonder if that works when you're not the underdog. And it would take some back-up striker to score a high amount of goals with Remy like game time.

[iseah100 5,612]

Schnediderlin or Ward- Prowse would be nice.

[mikeholiday 209]

Feels like he's not breaking down attacks as he used to. He's not making enough of those "stab" tackles and interceptions. I've a feeling that the incident with Burnley that could have broken his leg is in his head...

...or he's just tired..

[Despiadado.Maleante 1,046]

We always complain about players not getting rest, but when they do there form becomes shit. Has happen to him, Cesc and Costa

[killer1257 3,282]

We always complain about players not getting rest, but when they do there form becomes shit. Has happen to him, Cesc and Costa

Nobody is talking about giving them three matches of rest lol.

Once in a while they should get one match to relax and start the next game.They will not lose form after one match of absence,so it will only make them better.After playing 120 minutes against PSG,I am sure that Cesc is tired and he should have had a rest day against Southampton,but Mourinho did not give him the rest he needed.

[iseah100 5,612]

Schniderlin-Cesc-Matic would be awesome.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Schniderlin-Cesc-Matic would be awesome.

Too defensive imo

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Matic is a good player but his biggest weakness is his lack of mobility. Maybe that would be fine if he could compensate by his reading of the game but he cant do that either. ramires proved to be better because he has the legs to intercept their passes.

Honestly, id rather have Schneiderlin than Matic anytime of the week.

Honestly, having Wanyama or Cesc next to you is huge difference when comes to defending.

he's turned in to shit the last couple of games

Whole team has.

This lad has regressed in a big way, his reading of play is one of the biggest problems.....he's lost it right now.

Everyone is lost in this team right now. Cesc turning crap is one of major reasons. He is a passer of the game realy. Just jogging all the time, not chasing the ball etc. He has one oddly good tackle every game, but allround he is no where near people think he tracks, runs and chases opponent for ball. Slow as fuck too and needs 5 seconds to turn around. Zero mobility. Matic plays leading role in team when we defend, but our CBs, our fullbacks, Cesc turned into crap recently, while Costa, Willian and Oscar do nothing in attack to release pressure from midfield.

It'd be great to have Schneiderlin here in a midfield 3 with Cesc and Matic. Jose would obviously never select this (especially the back 4!) but I'd love to see:

Courtois

Azpi Zouma Varane Luis

Schneiderlin Cesc Matic

Willian Costa Hazard

Equipazo.

Our coach is Mou. I think it has become clear Azpi will never play RB regulary, Luis wont be our starter. And good luck with that U-21 CB pairing. While both are good, you just cant play two so young defenders in season when we will be probably chase CL too. Just no.

Secondly I would rather buy someone faster and more mobile than Scheniderlin, because our midifeld is already slow.

Thirdly, we struggle in creating chances, but we would add another DM instead of Oscar. That right side though; Azpi, Schneiderlin, Willian. Florent Malouda would give more creativity from that right side than those three players.

Either we add another DM instead of Oscar, but also top RW and very allround, fast full back or we just keep the team as it is with some minor additions.

[Myself 793]

Matic is a good player but his biggest weakness is his lack of mobility. Maybe that would be fine if he could compensate by his reading of the game but he cant do that either. ramires proved to be better because he has the legs to intercept their passes.

Honestly, id rather have Schneiderlin than Matic anytime of the week.

Yo, Scheiderlin is an excellent player and all but over Matic? Nope.

[Shaan 263]

if only ramires would have been a tab bit better passer , him and matic would have been the perfect midfield pair...

[iseah100 5,612]

Too defensive imo

In big games it could be just what we need. Matic could go forward more in other games as well.

[Rapkun 668]

Yo, Scheiderlin is an excellent player and all but over Matic? Nope.

I think he's a superior defensive midfielder to Matic. Morgan is more mobile, stronger tactically and faster at releasing the ball. Nemanja has only looked good against the lower sides, where his lack of speed and mobility is less of an issue. he struggles against fast players and when he's beaten he can't do much about it. His midfield partner in Fabregas is not the most dynamic player either, which is why I think the midfield duo is as much of a problem as the center back duo.

[Azul 1,615]

I think he's a superior defensive midfielder to Matic. Morgan is more mobile, stronger tactically and faster at releasing the ball. Nemanja has only looked good against the lower sides, where his lack of speed and mobility is less of an issue. he struggles against fast players and when he's beaten he can't do much about it. His midfield partner in Fabregas is not the most dynamic player either, which is why I think the midfield duo is as much of a problem as the center back duo.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I think he's a superior defensive midfielder to Matic. Morgan is more mobile, stronger tactically and faster at releasing the ball. Nemanja has only looked good against the lower sides, where his lack of speed and mobility is less of an issue. he struggles against fast players and when he's beaten he can't do much about it. His midfield partner in Fabregas is not the most dynamic player either, which is why I think the midfield duo is as much of a problem as the center back duo.

Matic was poor the last two games.

He was exceptional against city in several games, he was good in europe, against liverpool etc.

Cut the crap and stop bandwagoning Schneiderlin just because we played southampton last weekend and Schneiderlin had better game than Matic who was way below his standards.

That said Scheiderlin is quality player, but not better than Matic. Just not.

And if we are going for a more defensive CM to pair Matic and Cesc, I hope we go for someone in mould of Vidal then. Faster and mobile, b2b with allround quality.

Matic, Schneiderlin and Cesc would be slowest and most immobile midfield of the top sides. Zero creativity. Ut would be good if they parked inside penalty area and defend for 90min though.

But some of us want to see more from our team. Thats why we bough Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Costa, Cesc etc.