Nemanja Matic

[Mr_President 404]

^

Luiz has been injured, no?

[Polo7 3,496]

Better passer than Ramires, stronger than Lampard and more reliable that Luiz. What's not to love about this guy!

[The Skipper 20,593]

???

What are you talking about?

Well, it seems I'm alone here. Don't get me wrong here, but I do believe that Mikel years affected many people. I think Matic is a good player, but not as good as some people here make him look. I usually find here things like "Matic is having a godlike performance" after a decent match, now some people believe we are hopeless when he doesn't play, and if we win the title its "quite largely down to Matic", he is "Jesus"...

After reading those comments after he joined, I wont be surprised if he gets the Player of The Year, or if he manage to win the Fifa Ballo D'or at the end of the year.

My theory is that fans usually fell in love with new players that came to fit a weak link, and as a result they end up thinking those players are better than they really are, because the standards are low. Just take Juan Mata as an example. During his first season, 11/12, he was really inconsistent, as the rest of Villas Boas team, but many people thought he was really great. I remember '12 Fa Cup final, when Mata barely touched the ball, but bizarrely was named the man of the match...well, he arrived when the team was getting really old and lacked creativity, so its not difficult to know the reason why some people thought he was superb.

For many years we had Mikel as our DM, just remember that after some games, we had many people saying Romeu was the new Makelele. Matic had one GREAT game, and thats was against City, after that he never came close to reproduce the same kind of performance, but for now I will stay quite, time (results) will change some people's mind (including mine).

I can see where you're coming from, and do agree that sometimes people overstate Matic's performances, but the guy has been good since he's come in. I do agree that his best performance was definitely against City, but he has had other great games i.e. the 3-0 against Newcastle, where he was just a beast defensively (made like 11 tackles and 6 interceptions or something crazy like that).

Your Romeu analogy is interesting because I agree that the kid was overrated a lot because he was the new kid on the block, but his impact on the team wasn't as great as Matic's - Matic has definitely helped solidify a weak part of our team and because of that he'll definitely be part of the reason as to why we win (if we do) the PL. IMO though Hazard's form will mainly decide that.

Again, I do get what you're saying and do agree with certain points, but Matic is being praised more so because he's been good, not mainly because he's a newcomer like Romeu (whom I still think is vastly overrated by quite a few on here).

[BlueLyon 9,359]

If we get Vidal/Pogba type of player next to Matic, then Hazard, Oscar and Willian could concentrate more on offensive play. If we get someone ala Gundogan/Kroos/Koke/Pjanic then we will have creativity from midfield, but our attackers will still have to work hard in defense. Its up to Mou do decide what he prefers more.

[dee25 1,044]

I can see where you're coming from, and do agree that sometimes people overstate Matic's performances, but the guy has been good since he's come in. I do agree that his best performance was definitely against City, but he has had other great games i.e. the 3-0 against Newcastle, where he was just a beast defensively (made like 11 tackles and 6 interceptions or something crazy like that).

Your Romeu analogy is interesting because I agree that the kid was overrated a lot because he was the new kid on the block, but his impact on the team wasn't as great as Matic's - Matic has definitely helped solidify a weak part of our team and because of that he'll definitely be part of the reason as to why we win (if we do) the PL. IMO though Hazard's form will mainly decide that.

Again, I do get what you're saying and do agree with certain points, but Matic is being praised more so because he's been good, not mainly because he's a newcomer like Romeu (whom I still think is vastly overrated by quite a few on here).

You're being way too nice to him. I wish I can be that diplomatic, but really that post by Henrique is sheer nonsense. Sorry but it is.

Matic is getting praised by the supporters because he's a good player that has filled a weak position. What's the fucking problem?

Of all things to complain about.....

The club did well with this transfer and we're very lucky to have him as he's exactly the kind of player we needed for the pivot. He's getting praise not only from the fans but also from pundits and If you look at his stats on whoscored, he's actually rated as our 2nd best player. Anyone who says that the City game was his only good performance simply hasn't the slightest clue what they're talking about.

[The Mak 4,459]

I can see where you're coming from, and do agree that sometimes people overstate Matic's performances, but the guy has been good since he's come in. I do agree that his best performance was definitely against City, but he has had other great games i.e. the 3-0 against Newcastle, where he was just a beast defensively (made like 11 tackles and 6 interceptions or something crazy like that).

Not to mention you're going to have a hell of a lot more work to against a team like City compared to any other team in the league (where he can only currently play). We played counter-attacking football in that game, so of course his performance would stand out. It's the same for when people point to Mikel's performance in the CL final - it suited him.

However, the big difference between Matic and Mikel is the fact that Matic still puts in good, notable performances against teams where we have the majority of the ball - that is the impressive part. But put him in another counter-attacking game against Barca or Munich and he'll escalate his game again to the level of the City performance, that I fully believe.

So for people to start pointing to his fantastic performance against City, ignore it's context and use it as some sort of proof that he isn't really that good is, quite frankly, ignorant and laughable. In a desperate attempt to be different, they're trying to start some sort of hate-train that does not exist.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Utter beast. One man midfield....which is handy when he's got to play next to Ramires.

Next season this guy could be utterly immense.

[Eligius 121]

Matic died out at the end of the game (besides that fantastic game)..

Stamina might be an issue for him. Would be nice if Jose actually rotated his players so they don't burn out.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Matic died out at the end of the game (besides that fantastic game)..

Stamina might be an issue for him. Would be nice if Jose actually rotated his players so they don't burn out.

First couple of months in a new league so it's hardly surprising. The problem is a lack of quality competition in midfield beyond Matic, especially when Luiz is injured.

[Special Juan 27,424]

Best player on the field by far.

As for Delph???? what a wanker he is.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Phenomenal for 70 minutes, wank for the last 20.

[didierforever 7,349]

Hopeless last 20 minutes. Seemed ready to fall down. Should have picked up delph for the goal.

[Jase 43,479]

Like others have mentioned above, Matic was fantastic for the first 60-65 minutes or so and then ran out of steam after that. His challenge in that buildup to Villa's goal was almost like Luiz's suicidal challenge that you normally see from him. Looks greats if he wins it but almost disaster if he doesn't.

[StrategiC 73]

Absolutely love this guy. Diffenetly getting his name on next season's shirt.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

That's typical Henrique. I'm surprised he hasn't posted on the Hazard thread yet. He loves belittling our best players, for some strange reason.

[mediator 2,026]

That's typical Henrique. I'm surprised he hasn't posted on the Hazard thread yet. He loves belittling our best players, for some strange reason.

He did last season

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

He did last season

I know. I was being sarcastic.

[dee25 1,044]

It's funny cos it's true.

He definitely does have stamina issues though. Even at Benfica I think he got subbed off a lot before full time, at least in the games I saw of him. If anyone remembers the EL final, I really do think part of the reason why we grew into the game in the 2nd half is largely because Matic ran out of steam whereas in the first half he was a force.

So Mourinho might want to consider subbing him off around the 70 min mark especially in away trips. Or even putting in an extra man so we don't get overrun in midfield. He was struggling really badly towards the end of the match and getting bypassed way too easily.

Still a beast tho.