Nemanja Matic

[Shaan 263]

It may sound strange but i think matic has completely no trust in this teams defenders this season hence he is trying to tackle any one through at them even when he is on card making silly errors and moving out of position to cover others which is indirectly affecting his game.....

[iseah100 5,612]

Don't know what's happened to him. Before December last year we were talking about him being the best DM in the world. Now...idk.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I don't think he's been "awful", as he's constantly having to bail Fabregas out of trouble - but there is no denying he's been poor by comparison to this time last year.

[didierforever 7,349]

I don't think he's been "awful", as he's constantly having to bail Fabregas out of trouble - but there is no denying he's been poor by comparison to this time last year.

no doubt.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

people still trying to convince themselves this guy isnt awful! LOOL

Fact is he has been terrible this season! and against West Ham he played alongside Ramires, and people will still try to blame Fabregas!

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

This lad needs to take a good long look at himself in the mirror. Praying the old Matic returns and soon.

[Stats 7,140]

LOL, he goes out the team and we have looked as worse if not more worse defensively than any other game. Proves Matic is not the problem but the whole team's system from back to front is awful. Matic would be excellent in a team with identity. We don't have one when we play and that is the problem.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

bench warmer now! but but he was MOTM against Crystal Palace.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

LOL, he goes out the team and we have looked as worse if not more worse defensively than any other game. Proves Matic is not the problem but the whole team's system from back to front is awful. Matic would be excellent in a team with identity. We don't have one when we play and that is the problem.

The problem is not the problem. The attitude how you deal with problem is.

And Mou attitude is questionable to say at least.

[didierforever 7,349]

LOL, he goes out the team and we have looked as worse if not more worse defensively than any other game. Proves Matic is not the problem but the whole team's system from back to front is awful. Matic would be excellent in a team with identity. We don't have one when we play and that is the problem.

anyone who has a shred of common sense in them, should agree with you.

[Tomo 21,751]

LOL, he goes out the team and we have looked as worse if not more worse defensively than any other game. Proves Matic is not the problem but the whole team's system from back to front is awful. Matic would be excellent in a team with identity. We don't have one when we play and that is the problem.

No one player is that big a problem, not even Ivanovic.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

LOL, he goes out the team and we have looked as worse if not more worse defensively than any other game. Proves Matic is not the problem but the whole team's system from back to front is awful. Matic would be excellent in a team with identity. We don't have one when we play and that is the problem.

Of course he's not the only nor the biggest problem. That said, Mikel in the past couple of games put in much better performance than anything Matic has shown this season, despite being a more limited and much less dynamic player.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Of course he's not the only nor the biggest problem. That said, Mikel in the past couple of games put in much better performance than anything Matic has shown this season, despite being a more limited and much less dynamic player.

don't really know what you see that Mikel did that was so good. Yes, a few interceptions and tackles, but really that's the bare minimum DMs do... His positioning in the first goal was suspect as he was positioned as a defender instead of challenging in front of the box. Of course Ramires defending was nothing short of ridiculous though.

Best DM on the pitch today was Lucas. He is a lot better than mikel IMO with a much wider range of passing and more dynamic even though also on the slow side. BTW, I also dislike Lucas and wouldn't want him at Chelsea, but he is better than Mikel and plays in a very similar role.

But I digress. My point really is that with Matic (esp instead of Mikel) we'd be more likely to score a goal. A second goal might have killed the game, or should I say Mourinho might have been able to kill it - perhaps with Mikel coming on.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

don't really know what you see that Mikel did that was so good. Yes, a few interceptions and tackles, but really that's the bare minimum DMs do... His positioning in the first goal was suspect as he was positioned as a defender instead of challenging in front of the box. Of course Ramires defending was nothing short of ridiculous though.

Best DM on the pitch today was Lucas. He is a lot better than mikel IMO with a much wider range of passing and more dynamic even though also on the slow side. BTW, I also dislike Lucas and wouldn't want him at Chelsea, but he is better than Mikel and plays in a very similar role.

But I digress. My point really is that with Matic (esp instead of Mikel) we'd be more likely to score a goal. A second goal might have killed the game, or should I say Mourinho might have been able to kill it - perhaps with Mikel coming on.

I've long given up debating Mikel with you as we both no one will change the opinion of the other. Regardless, at the bare minimum Mikel did not let players just walk past him nor did he give the ball away more often than not which is an improvement on Matic this season.

PS: For the goal, his positioning was correct because he was in JT's place who was out of position covering for Oscar who had left Azpi isolated against two.

[robsblubot 3,595]

I've long given up debating Mikel with you as we both no one will change the opinion of the other. Regardless, at the bare minimum Mikel did not let players just walk past him nor did he give the ball away more often than not which is an improvement on Matic this season.

PS: For the goal, his positioning was correct because he was in JT's place who was out of position covering for Oscar who had left Azpi isolated against two.

fair enough - we just value different things in a DM/CM - though again Lucas is very similar in terms of characteristics.

Disagree on the positioning, I did see that Aspi was wide, but Mikel was marking nobody in a situation position marking wasn't necessary.

Doesn't matter because Ramires challenge was very poor which allowed a free shot from Coutinho - ramires marked the ball and not the player.

BTW, reckon Matic had indeed poor games, but also good games too. He was the only good player against City for me for example. So, I wouldn't say he's been as bad as it's been said.