Nemanja Matic

[The Skipper 20,593]

Immense performance against Everton. What a thunderous shot!!

Thought he was average tbf, until the latter stage of the second half when he did step it up.

[manpe 10,861]

He's still shaking off some rust. Remember it's been only 3 games, he looks like the type of player who needs time to get back to his best. The mistakes he's made look more like something that will get ironed out with more games. I'm not worried, he will be back to mr reliable in no time.

[Henrique 9,133]

Had a poor game untill the final 20 minutes, his goal and his assist was an example of a truly good DM midfielder is capable of.

[iseah100 5,612]

Got his first goal! So happy for him, needs to improve, he was amazing last season.

[Barbara 15,149]

Mourinho thinks he's our best player so far combined with Ivanovic - which is unfair and to be quite honest, not even true.

He had an average first half against Leicester, he was poor piss defending in the first half against Everton where I counted four times he gave the ball away under pressure, in our half, and initiated Everton attacks.

And then I thought, maybe we could sub him, but the option is Mikel and while I'm sure Mikel wouldn't make the same mistakes, he wouldn't have scored that goal either (although I would never say he would assist Costa with a back heel either, and well, he did it).

His natural substitute is Ramires - or could have been Marco (I wish it was Marco in all honesty), but the matches Ramires is playing, we're left with Mikel. So in the end it was good he played the 90 minutes not only because of the goal, but because when things got tough before the fifth and sixth goals, he actually stepped up.

He's one of the reasons our defense is conceding so much imo. He isn't protecting them as he did last season and we were a oil machine defensively last season because every guy played their part. He's not the only problem, but he's causing us a problem but helping to create the abyss between our midfield and defense - which is one of our major problems this start of season imo.

[TheWiz 109]

Mourinho thinks he's our best player so far combined with Ivanovic - which is unfair and to be quite honest, not even true.

He had an average first half against Leicester, he was poor piss defending in the first half against Everton where I counted four times he gave the ball away under pressure, in our half, and initiated Everton attacks.

And then I thought, maybe we could sub him, but the option is Mikel and while I'm sure Mikel wouldn't make the same mistakes, he wouldn't have scored that goal either (although I would never say he would assist Costa with a back heel either, and well, he did it).

His natural substitute is Ramires - or could have been Marco (I wish it was Marco in all honesty), but the matches Ramires is playing, we're left with Mikel. So in the end it was good he played the 90 minutes not only because of the goal, but because when things got tough before the fifth and sixth goals, he actually stepped up.

He's one of the reasons our defense is conceding so much imo. He isn't protecting them as he did last season and we were a oil machine defensively last season because every guy played their part. He's not the only problem, but he's causing us a problem but helping to create the abyss between our midfield and defense - which is one of our major problems this start of season imo.

The Problem is .. I dont see anyone who can adequately replace Matic. And I dont just mean in our Team. Because he is such natural and complete Footballer.

I do agree that last 3 Games he wasnt at his absolute best. Because when he is at his absolute best, he chains attacking Opponents into Submission and creates chances by using his sublime vision.

And although he scored a goal an delivered one assist in his usual nonchalant style, it was not the Matic we are used to. However, I dont think its right to make him out as the main reason every time we concede goals.

I do think that Jose should try Matic and Mikel together. While Ramires does not do anything fore defence, MIkel and Matic are good in both Departments and could rotate by either combining with Fabregas in Offense ore staying back, in front of the Defense.

[The Chels 2,502]

The Problem is .. I dont see anyone who can adequately replace Matic. And I dont just mean in our Team. Because he is such natural and complete Footballer.

Tiago would have which is why I was really disappointed when we pulled out of the deal. A leader, experienced, defensively solid, tactically astute and his passing range is better than Matic's too.

[Rom2013 446]

Ramires can play there like he did for 6 months really well in the last season. We have no problem with this position, and also we have Mikel.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Do I realy read people want to sub Matic...

Mikel will do well in less important games while Matic, engine as he is can probably play more games per season than any other player in our team atm.

His form will also get better for sure.

[iseah100 5,612]

Do I realy read people want to sub Matic...

Mikel will do well in less important games while Matic, engine as he is can probably play more games per season than any other player in our team atm.

His form will also get better for sure.

Welcome to TalkChelsea.

[Special Juan 27,439]

This lad is fucking awesome and I was buzzing for him scoring on Saturday.......

Love him.

[DH1988 1,304]

To be honest ramires was good there last season but we were always worried about needing him for penetration in the final third even if his passing is woeful.

I agree I'm worried about Matic but let's see how the first big game pans out should be a belter, will be won or lost in midfield against city for sure.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Mourinho thinks he's our best player so far combined with Ivanovic - which is unfair and to be quite honest, not even true.

He had an average first half against Leicester, he was poor piss defending in the first half against Everton where I counted four times he gave the ball away under pressure, in our half, and initiated Everton attacks.

And then I thought, maybe we could sub him, but the option is Mikel and while I'm sure Mikel wouldn't make the same mistakes, he wouldn't have scored that goal either (although I would never say he would assist Costa with a back heel either, and well, he did it).

His natural substitute is Ramires - or could have been Marco (I wish it was Marco in all honesty), but the matches Ramires is playing, we're left with Mikel. So in the end it was good he played the 90 minutes not only because of the goal, but because when things got tough before the fifth and sixth goals, he actually stepped up.

He's one of the reasons our defense is conceding so much imo. He isn't protecting them as he did last season and we were a oil machine defensively last season because every guy played their part. He's not the only problem, but he's causing us a problem but helping to create the abyss between our midfield and defense - which is one of our major problems this start of season imo.

I thought that was weird too but I think Jose was more just making a point about the fitness levels of players who went to the world cup versus player who did not.

[Barbara 15,149]

Do I realy read people want to sub Matic...

Mikel will do well in less important games while Matic, engine as he is can probably play more games per season than any other player in our team atm.

His form will also get better for sure.

so a player can't have a bad day in the office and be subbed out during the match?

He had an awful first half, if we have a better replacement (as Ramires was already playing) I'm positive we would have subbed him - or maybe Mourinho would take the risk and hope for him to reach form, but no player is infallible and having bad matches is part of the job.

Only in TalkChelsea this would seem like a foreign concept.

[Polo7 3,496]

so a player can't have a bad day in the office and be subbed out during the match?

He had an awful first half, if we have a better replacement (as Ramires was already playing) I'm positive we would have subbed him - or maybe Mourinho would take the risk and hope for him to reach form, but no player is infallible and having bad matches is part of the job.

Only in TalkChelsea this would seem like a foreign concept.

How can you single out matic during the Everton match? The whole team defended badly. Mistakes were made by almost every player.

[Barbara 15,149]

How can you single out matic during the Everton match? The whole team defended badly. Mistakes were made by almost every player.

I'm saying in the first half he had a horrible match, it has nothing to do with how the team defended, how many goals we conceded, nothing. He had a bad first half, but couldn't be subbed because either Mourinho is giving him time to regain form (although according to Mourinho himself he's our best player of the season alongside Iva - which honestly makes no sense, unless it's in the physical aspect as Choulo suggested) or he didn't see a better option in our bench...

Everyone with two eyes could see how he was individually bad, technically poor and misplacing too many passes without being effective pressing. He only improved in the last 20 minutes or so of the match. What I'm saying here has nothing to do with how the team defended through the match and the goals conceded, I'm not singling out anyone, I'm pointing one player had a terrible first half and in other scenario would probably be subbed off.

I'm astonished as people in this forum get shocked now by the suggestion of a player having a bad match being subbed out in said match. I guess the football rules changed and I missed the memo? Aren't substitutions during a match allowed anymore? Can't players having a bad day be subbed? I guess those became foreign concepts around here because I only said he could have been subbed out and people are reacting as if I said we should give him a few weeks in the bench or that it was his fault we conceded three goals... talk about overreaction.

I've been clear on my opinion about it, if people want to interpret it any other way, be my guesses, I won't be arsed to keep answering the obvious though. I think he could have been subbed, you disagree, we move on, but don't make it into something I did not.

[Polo7 3,496]

I'm saying in the first half he had a horrible match, it has nothing to do with how the team defended, how many goals we conceded, nothing. He had a bad first half, but couldn't be subbed because either Mourinho is giving him time to regain form (although according to Mourinho himself he's our best player of the season alongside Iva - which honestly makes no sense, unless it's in the physical aspect as Choulo suggested) or he didn't see a better option in our bench...

Everyone with two eyes could see how he was individually bad, technically poor and misplacing too many passes without being effective pressing. He only improved in the last 20 minutes or so of the match. What I'm saying here has nothing to do with how the team defended through the match and the goals conceded, I'm not singling out anyone, I'm pointing one player had a terrible first half and in other scenario would probably be subbed off.

I'm astonished as people in this forum get shocked now by the suggestion of a player having a bad match being subbed out in said match. I guess the football rules changed and I missed the memo? Aren't substitutions during a match allowed anymore? Can't players having a bad day be subbed? I guess those became foreign concepts around here because I only said he could have been subbed out and people are reacting as if I said we should give him a few weeks in the bench or that it was his fault we conceded three goals... talk about overreaction.

I've been clear on my opinion about it, if people want to interpret it any other way, be my guesses, I won't be arsed to keep answering the obvious though. I think he could have been subbed, you disagree, we move on, but don't make it into something I did not.

Ok but Oscar clearly had a terrible first half against Leicester but you defended him. If you are going to pick out Matic's performance against Everton then how can you defend Oscars shoddy performances for club and country in 2014?

[communicate 2,703]

I'm saying in the first half he had a horrible match, it has nothing to do with how the team defended, how many goals we conceded, nothing. He had a bad first half, but couldn't be subbed because either Mourinho is giving him time to regain form (although according to Mourinho himself he's our best player of the season alongside Iva - which honestly makes no sense, unless it's in the physical aspect as Choulo suggested) or he didn't see a better option in our bench...

Everyone with two eyes could see how he was individually bad, technically poor and misplacing too many passes without being effective pressing. He only improved in the last 20 minutes or so of the match. What I'm saying here has nothing to do with how the team defended through the match and the goals conceded, I'm not singling out anyone, I'm pointing one player had a terrible first half and in other scenario would probably be subbed off.

I'm astonished as people in this forum get shocked now by the suggestion of a player having a bad match being subbed out in said match. I guess the football rules changed and I missed the memo? Aren't substitutions during a match allowed anymore? Can't players having a bad day be subbed? I guess those became foreign concepts around here because I only said he could have been subbed out and people are reacting as if I said we should give him a few weeks in the bench or that it was his fault we conceded three goals... talk about overreaction.

I've been clear on my opinion about it, if people want to interpret it any other way, be my guesses, I won't be arsed to keep answering the obvious though. I think he could have been subbed, you disagree, we move on, but don't make it into something I did not.

I don't think his passing is the problem. I think he was just being dragged out of position multiple times. Everton player movement was fantastic.

Naismith (I think it was naismith, need to watch the game again) drag Matic out of position multiple times. We were exposed. I have to give everton player a lot of credit, their movement was fantastic.