Nemanja Matic

[DYC. 7,542]

Would love to play against him right now, so predictable in his movement and force him onto his right side and he's basically like a hedgehog on it's back

What I loved about him was his unique skillset. Tall, strong and left-footed (!), offering a great physical presence in midfield and decent technique, even capable of skipping past a player and carrying the ball forward. But 2015 has not been a good year, and that's putting it lightly.

He can recover from this but not in his current role imo. He's not a (lone) holding midfielder. Not at this level. He lacks the tactical intelligence of a shield and lacks the intelligence on the ball of a midfield general. He's better off in the Essien/Ballack role, with the tactical freedom as a box-to-box midfielder.

[FabHazard 655]

He is lacking composure on the ball and being sloppy in dangerous areas....and like special juan said any one can dribble him and take him out of equation

[Jase 43,479]

Tall, strong and left-footed (!)

Honestly, Matic is so incredibly one-footed that it's painful to watch. Everything he does is with his fucking left foot only. There have been so many times I wanted to shout 'USE YOUR RIGHT FOOT FOR FUCKING SAKE!!!'.

[DYC. 7,542]

Honestly, Matic is so incredibly one-footed that it's painful to watch. Everything he does is with his fucking left foot only. There have been so many times I wanted to shout 'USE YOUR RIGHT FOOT FOR FUCKING SAKE!!!'.

True, it's a major weakness. He can only turn one way, is forced to everything with his left (making him easier to read) and he's easily passed by on his right. Willian is like that with his right foot but he has the advantage of being quick.

[Jase 43,479]

True, it's a major weakness. He can only turn one way, is forced to everything with his left (making him easier to read) and he's easily passed by on his right. Willian is like that with his right foot but he has the advantage of being quick.

He has also become like Mikel to be honest, taking one touch too many before passing the ball, which makes it all the more worse since he only has one foot!

[DYC. 7,542]

He has also become like Mikel to be honest, taking one touch too many before passing the ball, which makes it all the more worse since he only has one foot!

Excessive touches, I agree. But he's always had that in his game. It's the disappearance of his driving runs forwards that makes it more annoying.

[Jase 43,479]

Excessive touches, I agree. But he's always had that in his game.

True but he always know when to release the ball early previously. Now...he's just hogging onto the ball before passing it sideways or backwards.

It's the disappearance of his driving runs forwards that makes it more annoying.

Yeah. Still remember that game where he bossed Toure at City two seasons ago.

[robsblubot 3,502]

He has also become like Mikel to be honest, taking one touch too many before passing the ball, which makes it all the more worse since he only has one foot!

nah even his movement is completely different than mikel's. Mikel stays back even when he is free to move forward. His passing range is different too and he does make runs forward - something mikel never does. I remember a few runs in last game myself. The fact we played without a striker made things worse IMO - multiple players roaming about the same areas.

Hazard did exactly the same thing (holding to the ball when he should pass it). Perhaps the players are trying to hard and should been playing the simpler game.

[El P. 1,354]

I think he was decent in last game. 6/10, or 6.5/10 performance.

[lucio 5,418]

amazing how much better you can play, when you aren't dragging along a pregnant Spaniard with you.

[didierforever 7,349]

amazing how much better you can play, when you aren't dragging along a pregnant Spaniard with you.

hahahah.. but according to a certain someone... cesc has absolutely no effect on the way matic plays.

[DDA 9,690]

It's no surprise our best performance this season happens when this guy isn't playing next to Fabregash. Absolute beast in the first half. Didnt get to see much of the second but on that first half alone.. i was very happy.

[DYC. 7,542]

Good game. Consistency is the key. I've said that a few times before this season. This year even.

[manpe 10,861]

Damn he looks so slim, his legs are like toothpicks. Was he always like that?

[Jase 43,479]

Not sure if this has been pointed out in the pre-match thread but Matic will be suspended for the last 16 first leg after picking up his third booking of the competition against Porto.

[El P. 1,354]

Not sure if this has been pointed out in the pre-match thread but Matic will be suspended for the last 16 first leg after picking up his third booking of the competition against Porto.

That's quite a huge blow, especially if we get PSG/Juventus.

[Jase 43,479]

Matic clearly isn't playing for Hiddink. Rat!

[JaKstone 307]

He should be a squad player at maximum. Need a Texeira-Gundogan upgrade from Cesc-Matic.