Nemanja Matic

[CHOULO19 24,332]

True. But he would still beat most people he'd face in midfield and that's all that mattered.

I don't even know what the point of this is. What are we talking about?

He's been poor and it's his own fault.

What are we? Why do we even live?!

And no, it's Fabregas' fault. It's always Fabregas' fault...

[Special Juan 27,424]

It isn't just a Matic or Fabregas problem, it runs a lot deeper. We have zero aggression in that area of the park, the press and desire is gone. Go back and watch Wanyama's display from tonight if you want to know what we miss most of, that is the clearest indication.

[Peace. 4,352]

I'm sorry, I can't hold it in anymore, and this is in no way about the penalty today to but his performances since the start of the year: This guy is criminally overrated and for some reason always manages to avoid criticism and get afforded all the excuses in the world.

He had an excellent four month period at the start of last season but calling him the best defensive midfielder in Europe is akin to Liverpool fans labeling Joe Allen as one of the best midfielders in the world!

He is avoiding criticism for many reasons :

• as Oscar, he put a 'brilliant' performance in one of his very first game here and thus he is still living of that game against City ;
• 'he' (it is rather the fans) built his myth during his first four months here where the fact he could not play every games was hiding his limitations and his lack of consistency ;
• (If my counts are correct) Out of 14 games he played in the league during these four months, he was paired six times with Ramires, thrice with Ramires and once with Mikel. All that within an ultra-defensive team, it is not hard to look like a 'defensive beast' ;
• He has very long legs so yeah when he puts a challenge that is impressive (i.e. the 'spider') ;
• Chelsea fans love their 'beast players' — Essien and Costa being good examples. His 'beast' performance against Manchester did allow Chelsea fans to believe, in a time where there were no longer 'beasts' (Luiz could have, though he was already frustrating everybody), that there was finally someone to pursue the 'beast' legacy of Essien, Ballack, etc..

In a nutshell, Chelsea fans needed to have their 'beast' ; Matic did a 'beast' performance ; Matic has a 'beast' nick-name, i.e the spider... It was a match made in heaven, and that is how Matic became our very own 'Beast'. And because he is our very own 'Beast', he cannot do wrong.

[Gappy 130]

Always the same old problem : Our Midfield

We need a real MC that balance quality in attack and defense

Matic was lost his form completely.

Passing ,Holding ,Tacking ,Positioning ,Make a wise foul

One big thing that i miss from him was make a wise foul that break opponent counter attack

Last season he always brilliant in this part but this season from his lack of pace

His tackle also poor, can't even pump for the ball or even a good foul.

Hope we get new 2-3 MC that balance the game like ballack.

For him, he was far behind his last season like others.

This Chelsea squads was like full completely to success. Just 1 decent season theirs desire to be a champ was gone.

[robsblubot 3,502]

Yes, you can say that CMs are the midfield in system like 442/4411/352, but not in the 4231....

Yes, our problem is in midfield, and no Fabregas and Matic are not the midfield. They are maybe 50% responsible, but in the system we play the AMs should be helping solidify the middle and they haven't been able to do that.

You can go even further and say that our old school defenders also aren't able to help the midfield and remain quite isolated - at least in comparison to sides that go for total football (barca and bayern).

[Fernando 6,453]

I thought he was much better when Mikel was on as he bombed forward more.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,890]

I'm sorry, I can't hold it in anymore, and this is in no way about the penalty today to but his performances since the start of the year: This guy is criminally overrated and for some reason always manages to avoid criticism and get afforded all the excuses in the world.

He had an excellent four month period at the start of last season but calling him the best defensive midfielder in Europe is akin to Liverpool fans labeling Joe Allen as one of the best midfielders in the world!

He is avoiding criticism for many reasons :

• as Oscar, he put a 'brilliant' performance in one of his very first game here and thus he is still living of that game against City ;
• 'he' (it is rather the fans) built his myth during his first four months here where the fact he could not play every games was hiding his limitations and his lack of consistency ;
• (If my counts are correct) Out of 14 games he played in the league during these four months, he was paired six times with Ramires, thrice with Ramires and once with Mikel. All that within an ultra-defensive team, it is not hard to look like a 'defensive beast' ;
• He has very long legs so yeah when he puts a challenge that is impressive (i.e. the 'spider') ;
• Chelsea fans love their 'beast players' — Essien and Costa being good examples. His 'beast' performance against Manchester did allow Chelsea fans to believe, in a time where there were no longer 'beasts' (Luiz could have, though he was already frustrating everybody), that there was finally someone to pursue the 'beast' legacy of Essien, Ballack, etc..

In a nutshell, Chelsea fans needed to have their 'beast' ; Matic did a 'beast' performance ; Matic has a 'beast' nick-name, i.e the spider... It was a match made in heaven, and that is how Matic became our very own 'Beast'. And because he is our very own 'Beast', he cannot do wrong.

I'm afraid you are both right. When Nemanja left for Benifica I was neither surprised nor disappointed but when he returned I was seduced by those four months into believing, along with many, that he was actually a really good player. For more than a year however he has been demonstrating that he isn't and that those of us who bought the idea that he was the genuine article were simply wrong.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

It wasnt just 2014 and 2015,...he was great in benfica before too.

If anything Mourinho ruined his confidence or composure or he just doesnt give a fuck anymore.

I still think Matic is great DM, but like with the rest of team, maybe he just doesnt feel the need to go extra mile for the club. Sadly.

[DYC. 7,542]

It wasnt just 2014 and 2015,...he was great in benfica before too.

If anything Mourinho ruined his confidence or composure or he just doesnt give a fuck anymore.

I still think Matic is great DM, but like with the rest of team, maybe he just doesnt feel the need to go extra mile for the club. Sadly.

Exactly. His role was different though. He played left midfield, with a holding midfielder in the middle and with another player in right midfield. Benfica would play either 4-3-1-2 or 4-5-1 wiith three centre midfielders and two wide midfielders, Jorge Jesus' favourite systems.

Matic was the aggressor. The physical presence. He would harry, press, tackle (standing tackle, not sliding tackle, for the most part), intercept. High up or deep in midfield.

Classic play: opposition has the ball, a player is carrying the ball, the holding midfielder maintains position and contains, Matic comes in like a wrecking ball, tackles and wins the ball and initiates the transition from defence to attack. If there is one thing I love about Matic, it's how he always wants to play the ball forward.

Or Matic gets forward, presses very early and high up and wins the ball.

He would get up and down the pitch, the player to cover the most ground. He would carry the ball forward. Also move into advanced positions to provide a passing option and drag players out of position. And he would pop a powerful shot at goal from time to time, get a couple of goals.

Freedom because there was cover.

We know that role. Essien was that man for Chelsea for years and there was no one better at the time. Imagine Essien and Lampard in front of defence. It would work at times but never long-term. It's not their game. I think the same applies to Matic.

[Ossie the King 634]

Very good player, but in bad form and suffering because the striker isn't making the right moves, his midfield partner shirks his duties and his defence isn't as good as it needs to be.

He's been bad but he's stranded half the time and asked to cover everyone else's flaws. Let's not write him off or rewrite history just yet.

[Stats 7,053]

If people only realised that his vulnerabilites are caused by Fabregas awful positioning most of the times. I tell you, put Busquets in this team and he would get the same level of criticism Matic is getting but he is better protected in Barca. Matic always has to cover Fabregas ass and when teams are countering he is often having to mark like 3 players running towards him. It will be difficult for a lot of players in his position in a 2 man midfield playing with Fabregas tbh.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

He's been awful but come on. He's not that bad. He's in very deep shit form for a year or so but he was bossing things at Benfica and at the first calendar year here. He was Portuguese Player of the Year, remember ? In the same time when James was playing there ! So tell me which players we're supposed to sign and which are good enough if not the best player of one of the best leagues in Europe ?

[Jase 43,479]

This thread is pretty quiet for someone who fucked the best chance of the game!

[Fernando 6,453]

This thread is pretty quiet for someone who fucked the best of the game!

Becausase despite the miss he was good.

As posted before for last game, Matic improved with Mikel in the team so he can bomb forward.

Again he was much better with Mikel in the team to hold the fort down.

Going forward this might not be the best when we need break teams down, but when need to park the bus it's effective.

But we need to win, so hopefully we don't continue to play Mikel-Matic all the time.

Although I see the point right now, and that's not to lose. Need to regain confidence.

[Stats 7,053]

This thread is pretty quiet for someone who fucked the best of the game!

Because apart from that, he had an excellent game. Genuinelly thought he was the best player on the pitch.

[DYC. 7,542]

Becausase despite the miss he was good.

As posted before for last game, Matic improved with Mikel in the team so he can bomb forward.

Again he was much better with Mikel in the team to hold the fort down.

Going forward this might not be the best when we need break teams down, but when need to park the bus it's effective.

But we need to win, so hopefully we don't continue to play Mikel-Matic all the time.

Although I see the point right now, and that's not to lose. Need to regain confidence.

Too. Many. Touches. Every time. He takes six touches before he releases the ball. The ball circulation is horrible.

[Milan 17,853]

Against Watford, he gifted the opponent a penalty, today he missed a bloody sitter. Fuck sake.

[Jase 43,479]

Because apart from that, he had an excellent game. Genuinelly thought he was the best player on the pitch.

Not IMO. Thought Terry was the best.