Nemanja Matic

[drog.ba 239]

Those saying we need a Modric/Alonso type player (although there very different to each other), who is there we could actually sign of that type? Modric is pretty unique in being good at distributing the ball and carrying it forward from central midfied. I think Matic was signed as he was the best holding midfielder available. I think if we had say Pirlo alongside Matic it would create two much space between the holding players and front three. Ideally someone would teach Ramires to pass better and be more composed.

[ZanSnake 1,211]

And yet we let him go ,,,, someone should swing for that

I guess you don't believe people make mistakes?

He was in a peroid of time we had a strong midfield conjunct, which didn't change due to the formation we had success with. It was either to gain Luiz or let him go on Loan and HOPE he will progressed to the level he has!

[Alabama 1,992]

if not for gundogan's setback and back injury...he is best central deep lying midfielder to partner the beast in matic...anyway exciting transfer summer window coming up...vidal/koke or if possible pogba can work wonders along with matic in that pivot position...atleast by then Hazard and Oscar can fully concentrate on their offensive responsibilities...

[teignman 441]

Good heavens, what a joy it is to finally have a top class Central Midfielder again. It's been too long.

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

He's one of the many reasons why we are top of the league. One of our best signings ever so far.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

a like as a consolation prize

LOL that cheered me up

[ZOS 580]

with him not playing, I'm not looking forward to CL games

[YouNameIt 1,511]

with him not playing, I'm not looking forward to CL games

I know. Feel the same. But with the performance our back 4 are doing at the moment and with Luiz at DM I feel we should be fine.

[Barbara 15,149]

with him not playing, I'm not looking forward to CL games

while not even close, the one thing that comforts me about UCL games is that Mourinho is very likely to use Luiz in the position, which already improves significantly any combination between Ramires, Lamps and Mikel.

We'll still miss his impact, but I think to a lesser extend if Luiz is fit.

[Tomo 21,733]

His creativity and passing is criminally under-rated.

[ZOS 580]

I don't expect us to last much longer in CL so it won't matter... but a matic-luiz combination would've taken us at least to the semi final, even with the clowns we've now as strikers ... can't wait for next season

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

No compo for his performance against Spurs?

[communicate 2,703]

It is crazy how solid we look with Matic in midfield.

Without Matic even gala can dominate us

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I genuinely think that if we win the title, it is quite largely down to Matic. We just seem so much more "complete" with him in the team. The bloke is a fucking tank.

[Jase 43,479]

Matic's second coming at Chelsea, by way of Jesus, proves divine inspiration from Mourinho

[Henrique 9,133]

His creativity and passing is criminally under-rated.

???

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).

[The only place to be 11,313]

Well, it seems I'm alone here.

Yep.

[iceman 329]

why can't we see yet him and Luiz in the middle?