Nemanja Matic

[The Skipper 20,593]

Don't know why people are sticking up for Toure being a defensive liability when he is, watch the first game vs Bayern Munich in the CL, at times Toure was so far ahead of Fernandinho it was effectively a 4-1-3-2 and the same against Swansea a while back back when De Guzman fluffed that sitter which he managed to get into that position because of Toure's lack of working back. He is obviously a box to box midfielder but as Didi Hamann said he leaves Fernandinho exposed and as good as Fernandinho is how can he defend against 2 or 3 players in his zone? Toure doesn't look like he wants to run back at times.

But does that not have more to do with the manager's instructions rather than Toure's defensive abilities?

[JDY 1,290]

But does that not have more to do with the manager's instructions rather than Toure's defensive abilities?

For me I don't see much difference in the Yaya now to last season under Mancini. What's changed now is that he is playing alongside a great player in Fernandinho, and not an incompetent Javi Garcia. Combined with having two strikers that are effectively killing games this season before they've even started.

[Waterfall 893]

Gonçalo Lopes‏@_GoncaloLopes

Matic decided: wants premierleague move, his agent said. #cfc #mcfc #mufc #slb

[nyikolajevics 2,572]

What do Man City want? They have Yaya, Fernandinho, Javi Garcia, Rodwell. If they need a CM sign Guarin instead.

[bababoom 4,478]

Still cant believe we bought David Luiz for £25 million+Matic, now Matic is going to cost more... you couldn't make it up.

I'm not against this signing, but the way our club handles itself is a joke, although in recent years we've been better in the transfer market.

[Waterfall 893]

Still cant believe we bought David Luiz for £25 million+Matic, now Matic is going to cost more... you couldn't make it up.

I'm not against this signing, but the way our club handles itself is a joke, although in recent years we've been better in the transfer market.

No guarantee that he would have turned out to be the player he is now if we kept him. Having to buy the player you sold 3 years ago will always hurt, but what's important is that we make the right decision this time around.

[LondonPride1905 236]

If sources are to be trusted it will be us or United. If It's us, my expectations are the selling of De Bruyne and then buying Matic.

[Pizy 18,360]

Please let him come here!

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

It seems Benfica is in need of money and they are willing to let some players go this winter. They have already opened talks with United for Garay and Zenit for Rodrigo. Hope will be in for Matic in the next days too. I'm a bit concerned with City wanting him too, but I'm willing on his wish to come back and prove he is a Chelsea material. Time for Emenalo to pay for his mistake and give the guy the chance that he deserves.

[blu35_army 551]

Still cant believe we bought David Luiz for £25 million+Matic, now Matic is going to cost more... you couldn't make it up.

I'm not against this signing, but the way our club handles itself is a joke, although in recent years we've been better in the transfer market.

Fabregas and Pique also didn't get much play time in barca,,but there many ways to back to their home. so,,in modern football era it's not a joke again...

[OneMoSalah 8,766]

But does that not have more to do with the manager's instructions rather than Toure's defensive abilities?

They never line up playing 4-1-3-2 though, Pellegrini's mostly used 4-2-2-2/4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 at City, Villarreal and Real. Think its something more to do with Toure and sometimes a lack of concentration as opposed to tactics but I could be wrong.

[The Skipper 20,593]

For me I don't see much difference in the Yaya now to last season under Mancini. What's changed now is that he is playing alongside a great player in Fernandinho, and not an incompetent Javi Garcia. Combined with having two strikers that are effectively killing games this season before they've even started.

Yeah there isn't much difference from Toure as a player but Man City do play a lot more offensive this season so naturally certain players like Yaya are even more gung-ho.

[The Skipper 20,593]

They never line up playing 4-1-3-2 though, Pellegrini's mostly used 4-2-2-2/4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 at City, Villarreal and Real. Think its something more to do with Toure and sometimes a lack of concentration as opposed to tactics but I could be wrong.

City aren't Villarreal or Real or Malaga though.

City has been Pellegrini's most offensive team in recent history; he has the talent to do such. I honestly believe Yaya is encouraged to get forward more while Fernandinho is the one that picks his runs forward more wisely. It's how they operate as a team and it's why they've scored loads this season. Having just Fernandinho shielding is risky but the rewards are tremendous if done right as City have shown on occasions this year.

[OneMoSalah 8,766]

City aren't Villarreal or Real or Malaga though.

City has been Pellegrini's most offensive team in recent history; he has the talent to do such. I honestly believe Yaya is encouraged to get forward more while Fernandinho is the one that picks his runs forward more wisely. It's how they operate as a team and it's what they've scored loads this season. Having just Fernandinho shielding is risky but the rewards are tremendous if done right as City have shown on occasions this year.

Think they are much more attacking in comparison to under Mancini but Mancini had them defensively better than they are now I think. Perhaps a different mindset and mentality. I feel Pellegrini still uses 4-2-2-2 as it probably best suits his players, especially if he can get Aguero and Negredo in the side along with Nasri and Silva basically drifting infield to open up spaces for their fullbacks to get forward to support. Might be that Toure gets forward more due to instructions or might be just that he does get caught out at times because of their different attacking approach but who knows. I mean as good as Fernandinho is I think he also is one who likes to primarily play a more box to box role but he can also play the role he does now. Still its interesting, if they get another/better holder will they play 4-3-3 or stick to their 4-2-2-2

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Matic aint better player than Yaya, but point is how certain player links with rest of team. Yaya is great individual, but Matic could offer much more to the team eventualy.

Like Ozil vs Oscar. Ozil is clearly the better player (with vision and creativity that Oscar might never have), but Oscar is the man who helps his team win. Link up, attack, defend, he has it all. That wins you games, collective game and not individual players (unless you are Messi).

[nadavTKL 1,787]

A Bola reports that Benfica are close to sell their striker Rodrigo to Zenit for around 30m euros, and maybe this will mean Matic could stay until the summer.

We need to act fast if we want him, it seems.

[nyikolajevics 2,572]

A Bola reports that Benfica are close to sell their striker Rodrigo to Zenit for around 30m euros, and maybe this will mean Matic could stay until the summer.

We need to act fast if we want him, it seems.

30 million for Rodrigo? What did they smoke in St. Petersburg?

[The Mak 4,459]

A Bola reports that Benfica are close to sell their striker Rodrigo to Zenit for around 30m euros, and maybe this will mean Matic could stay until the summer.

We need to act fast if we want him, it seems.

Benfica and Porto must love Zenit anf their lunatic board. That would be well over 100m they've given them in the past few seasons.

How about this: We buy Witsel from Zenit and they buy Matic, problem solved!