Nemanja Matic

[zolayes 14,489]

Stop fucking talking about Lampard, this is the Matic thread... Jesus Christ.

I said that pages ago but the Lampard Haters kept hating

[Korea 734]

Anyone know the updated version to MVG injury status is?

Is next season realistic?

I wonder if we buy another cm or bring in a youngster to fulfill the role...

[zolayes 14,489]

Anyone know the updated version to MVG injury status is?

Is next season realistic?

I wonder if we buy another cm or bring in a youngster to fulfill the role...

I should hope he will be be ready for pre season ,,I thought he was in light training now

[termninja 5,290]

My Serbian brother rejoins!

I'm so fucking happy for this transfer! Glad we got the lad back, he has been great at Benfica. Mourinho will make a brilliant player out of him!

Well fucking done Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

[manpe 10,861]

Is he a defensive midfielder, box to box, deep playmaker? What's his best trait - defending or attacking? How about his passing? Is he a quick player? Technical or rather relies on strength? He's 1.94 m, that's massive and exactly what we need, some height and physical intimidation in the middle. I'm just wondering if he fits with the style we're trying to implement.

[termninja 5,290]

Is he a defensive midfielder, box to box, deep playmaker? What's his best trait - defending or attacking? How about his passing? Is he a quick player? Technical or rather relies on strength? He's 1.94 m, that's massive and exactly what we need, some height and physical intimidation in the middle. I'm just wondering if he fits with the style we're trying to implement.

Am.....all of those which is why I'm very happy about this transfer Very rarely balanced midfielder! Most importantly, he works very very very hard and has a very calm, strong and stable personality. I believe his plan was always to shine at Benfica and return here

Great stamina, strong, good tackling, very good break up and counter attack play, never give up attitiude...just a player we need, just a player Mou likes, and a player at the mere start of his best career

AW CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM PLAY!!!

[Korea 734]

Good read about the situation....from BR.

What Nemanja Matic Will Bring to Chelsea Following January Transfer

According to the BBC, Nemanja Matic is set for a medical with Chelsea football club ahead of a £22 million move from Benfica.

He was pictured last night arriving at a London airport and, subsequently, at a hotel near the ground, affirming wild speculation that the Serbian was all set to ink a second deal with the club.

Casual fans will be confused by the deal: it's the same player the Blues sent to Benficaas part of the mega David Luiz deal, and his value, back then, was around €3 million. Now, Jose Mourinho is buying him back for 10 times that, so what gives?

Rapid, perhaps unforeseeable progression has elevated Matic to near world-class status as a defensive midfielder in just two short years.

He's blossomed with regular playing time and makes great strides every game, capable of dominating a match defensively and providing a platform for the forwards to attack.

In the summer of 2012, he assumed full control of Benfica's midfield, and with JaviGarcia sold to Manchester City, he immediately began showing Benfiquista why the Spaniard would never be missed.

He trumps Garcia in almost every tangible way, boasting great height (6'4"), wonderful range, better agility and more energy to his game.

Tighe B/R

Those tuning in to Premier League matches weekly won't believe this to be a feat considering how sub-par Garcia has been for City, but in the Liga Sagres, he showed enough to convince Roberto Mancini to spend £15 million on him. Matic has shown to be better.

He's a tough, clean tackler and reads the game exceptionally well. He has an appropriate level of base speed and agility to cover the pitch sideline to sideline but spots danger in a fashion Per Mertesacker does, too; He's proactive, not reactive.

In possession, he's extremely reliable, ironed out his few faults on the ball quickly and has become an excellent distributor. It's not fancy, but that's not his job.

For Chelsea, he walks into the side as the club's No. 1 defensive midfielder. John Obi Mikel doesn't boast the top-end talent Matic does in any area of the game, and this is a big step toward solving the club's second-weakest area (behind forward).

A partnership of Matic and Ramires/David Luiz looks to be perfectly balanced, allowing for midfield solidity and central, vertical drive. Matic plus Frank Lampard or Mikel will not work quite as well.

He's got the discipline to succeed in Mourinho's system and will enjoy playing at the heart of an elite midfield. If you're looking for a Premier League comparison, look no further than the snappy nature of Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin.

Chelsea fans will be hoping the Serbian emulates the success of fellow January arrivalBranislav Ivanovic in 2008. We can't say whether he will yet, but we can say £22 million is a steal.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I think and hope that he will finally fill that Ballack-shaped gap in our midfield that has been there since 2010.

[manpe 10,861]

Am.....all of those which is why I'm very happy about this transfer Very rarely balanced midfielder! Most importantly, he works very very very hard and has a very calm, strong and stable personality. I believe his plan was always to shine at Benfica and return here

Great stamina, strong, good tackling, very good break up and counter attack play, never give up attitiude...just a player we need, just a player Mou likes, and a player at the mere start of his best career

AW CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM PLAY!!!

Does he have any skill or trait he's particularly known for or is he just an all-rounder who's good at everything but exceptional at nothing?

[zolayes 14,489]

He looked like Ballack when he was with us before .. He had class just like the Kaiser ,,,pity we have missed 3 years of him ... but like Jose he is HOME

[Yeboii 1,844]

Does anyone have a video of the Chelsea TV interview with him? They are always fun to watch.

[termninja 5,290]

I think and hope that he will finally fill that Ballack-shaped gap in our midfield that has been there since 2010.

Exactly this. Reminds me so much of Ballack with his style

Does he have any skill or trait he's particularly known for or is he just an all-rounder who's good at everything but exceptional at nothing?

Work rate

[didierforever 7,349]

Does anyone have a video of the Chelsea TV interview with him? They are always fun to watch.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19q6i2_nemanja-matic-first-interview_sport

[didierforever 7,349]

Does he have any skill or trait he's particularly known for or is he just an all-rounder who's good at everything but exceptional at nothing?

rambo-esque but with better reading of the game and definitely better range of passing.

[manpe 10,861]

Exactly this. Reminds me so much of Ballack with his style

Work rate

rambo-esque but with better reading of the game and definitely better range of passing.

So basically coupled with Rambo we'd be witnessing a bukkake? Anyways, I hope in the end he justifies the hype.

[The Skipper 20,593]

rambo-esque but with better reading of the game and definitely better range of passing.

He's not Rambo-esque because he doesn't have his pace IMO, which is a big part of his game.

[didierforever 7,349]

So basically coupled with Rambo we'd be witnessing a bukkake? Anyways, I hope in the end he justifies the hype.

hahahaha... that's one way of putting it.

[Stats 7,053]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11096/9116886/matic-lowdown

Never realised until now that he completed that many passes and also made the most tackles in our match against them last season. Impressive