Ian Maatsen

[Strike 7,217]

Great. Looks like both Left backs are leaving the club in any case

[NikkiCFC 7,953]

 

[NikkiCFC 7,953]

Charlton fans impressed with his debut.

 

[King Kante 1,481]

20 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

Charlton fans impressed with his debut.

 

Not surprised. He is the player from the next generation of youth products that looks like he could make the first team fairly soon. If we could've shifted Alonso and Emerson, I was expecting him to become LB2 as Dave can play LB if we found it was not working. 

[NikkiCFC 7,953]

First goal in senior football.

 

[Jase 43,479]

Joins Coventry on a season-long loan deal.

[NikkiCFC 7,953]

Scored today. Playing LWB. Coventry surprisingly 3rd place. Maybe another Livramento. 

[DDA 9,690]

Apparently the lad is having a great time at Burnley.. looks like he has something about him.

 

[Vesper 28,832]

great free kick

 

[Hashishi 148]

Something like 4 goals 4 Assists this season (maybe not including the goal Vesper just posted). We should've given him a chance instead of spunking 60m on Cucurella 

[Vesper 28,832]

Vincent Kompany hails Ian Maatsen after Burnley’s win over Swansea 

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/23224260.burnley-boss-vincent-kompany-swansea-city-victory/

Vincent Kompany paid tribute to his young Dutch loan star Ian Maatsen after he fired in the two goals that earned a sixth successive win in the Championship for his Burnley side with a 2-1 triumph at Swansea.

The 20-year-old Chelsea player, who is on a season-long loan at Turf Moor, scored twice in the opening 23 minutes with magnificent left-footed strikes that gave home keeper Steven Benda no chance.

“That second goal just travelled and kept going. Ian has given so much defensively and then he was able to add that to his game – not many players can give you that,” said the Burnley boss.

“The set-up for the free-kick is never a coincidence, but then how he hits it he has to take the credit for that.”

Maatsen struck first from a free-kick outside the Swansea box in the 12th minute and then added his second with a thunderbolt from the left edge of the box. Swansea replied with an Ollie Cooper goal in the 27th minute.

“We started the first half extremely well and recovered a lot of balls and created moment, and changes in transition and out of our possession,” added Kompany.

“Then for about 20-25 minutes they were better than us and on top of us. That’s because they changed it, as Swansea do. If you get a press on them and get a hold on them they change it around and move positions.

“We weren’t able to get the same pressure on them. If Swansea have time on the ball then they are going to hurt you. We went a little bit more compact, but that didn’t work massively for us. In the second half it was an even game.

“We got a press on for the full 45 minutes in the second half and that made us a better team. We also had the better chances in the second half, although the result is the most important thing.

“We burned up a lot of energy and I could see a lot of tired legs at half-time. Then in the second half they just went again. That’s the strength of this team – they just keep going when you think they are about to bend or break.”

[Vesper 28,832]

How Ian Maatsen has become the complete Vincent Kompany player

https://theathletic.com/4060195/2023/01/06/ian-maatsen-vincent-kompany-burnley-Chelsea/

If you were searching for an indication of where Ian Maatsen’s confidence levels are, look no further than his two goals against Swansea City.

The left-back’s first was a sweetly struck free kick, while his second blasted through the hands of Steven Benda, which resulted in his manager Vincent Kompany learning the term, “stayed hit”.

It took Maatsen’s goal contribution total to eight in the Championship (four goals and four assists), with only Jay Rodriguez, Josh Brownhill, Manuel Benson (all 11) and Nathan Tella (10) producing more for Burnley this season.

The Swansea double in the 2-1 victory was a standout performance in what has been an impressive campaign. It is exactly what the 20-year-old was hoping for when he chose Burnley and Kompany in the summer for his latest spell away from Chelsea. While he held hopes of a Premier League loan, Kompany was determined to bring him to Turf Moor.

After conversations with the Belgian, Maatsen saw the club as an attractive proposition because of the style of football Kompany was going to deploy and his role in the free-flowing, attacking, possession-based system.

His aim entering the season was to improve his defensive ability but primarily work on his attacking output. He has already doubled his goals and assist tallies from his time at Coventry City last season. A key development he has been making is with his mentality, learning to act and compete as an elite player every day and in every session.

He’s settled seamlessly into the dressing room and has engaged with local community projects. He is well-liked by his team-mates, forming bonds with many including Tella, as shown in their goal celebrations together.

Maatsen announced himself to Burnley supporters with his opening-night goal against Huddersfield Town, one befitting his forward-thinking role, operating in an advanced position on the left.

Clearly in front of the rest of the defence when he received possession, he drove forward before attempting to find Ashley Barnes in the box.

He continued his run into the area and curled home a shot when the ball broke perfectly for him.

A frequent in-possession trait of Kompany’s side is that they will shift from a back-four out of possession to a three, with one of the full-backs becoming a centre-back and the other advancing. Alternatively, one of Jack Cork or Josh Cullen will drop in from central midfield.

In the early stages of the season, Maatsen was the full-back who more frequently ventured forward, as displayed in the examples below.

It was effective, as his assist against Hull City showed. With Connor Roberts in possession deep on the right, Maatsen was high on the left.

Roberts passed the ball to Cullen, who quickly released Maatsen…

… and he squared the ball for Rodriguez to finish.

It was that high left channel that Maatsen transitioned into for his second goal against Swansea.

After excellent work from Tella, he set the ball for his team-mate to run onto and produce a stunning finish.

Maatsen’s influence cannot be underestimated. He is second in chances created from open play (25), passes played into the box (79) and expected assists (3.54) for Burnley, with only Brownhill registering more in each category.

Broaden the comparison to Championship defenders and only Watford’s Hassane Kamara (36) and Luton Town’s James Bree (32) have created more from open play.

Maatsen’s role has seen him play the fifth most passes into the opposition half (657) of Championship defenders. He is averaging 5.1 progressive passes per 90 minutes, a pass which moves the ball towards the opposition goal by at least 10 yards. It puts him in the top 10 for all Championship players who have played at least 900 minutes. It is the highest in Burnley’s squad.

His attacking positioning was highlighted by his touch map in the opening game against Huddersfield, where he created a season-high six chances, according to Opta…

… and his average position compared to the rest of Burnley’s defence (Maatsen is No 29).

That was the theme throughout the opening spell of Maatsen’s appearances. Against Blackpool, a game Burnley dominated less, he still did a lot of work in the opposition half…

… and his touch map represents that further.

Maatsen was sent off against Blackpool for reacting to a tackle by Sonny Carey, who was also red-carded. The youngster showed his inexperience and when he returned to the team, he struggled to re-find his top form.

He rotated with fellow summer addition Vitinho before suffering a minor injury. He returned for the 1-0 victory over Norwich City at the end of October, the second game of Burnley’s run of 10 league victories in 11 games, and he has started them all.

When Kompany was asked to discuss the importance of the 20-year-old’s role, he noted the attacking work from the opposite full-back and finding balance. While Maatsen was frequently pushing forward, Burnley’s right-back rotated between Roberts and Vitinho and as Burnley have evolved, they have increased their rate of getting forward. Roberts’ goal and assist against Birmingham City is the most recent example.

The balance has been evident in the two goals Maatsen had been involved in before his double against Swansea. Against Queens Park Rangers, both full-backs were advanced. Vitinho’s shot was parried by Seny Dieng…

… and Maatsen was on hand to finish it off.

His last assist, which came in the reverse fixture against Swansea, came via the same combination, with Maatsen crossing from the left…

… for Vitinho to head home at the back post.

He is behind only Taylor Harwood-Bellis (289) and Cullen (199) for most passes played into the final third with 171, and it is here that provides an insight into how Maatsen’s role has evolved during Burnley’s run.

Maatsen’s passes into the final third have shifted drastically from 6.72 per 90 minutes in his first 11 appearances to 13.1 passes per 90. He is not finding himself in high attacking positions as frequently and his average position has dropped.

Take a look at two of Burnley’s most recent victories against Birmingham…

… and Swansea.

One was a dominant 3-0 home victory while the other was a much tougher away game. Both show Maatsen’s position to be level or even deeper than fellow full-back Roberts (wearing No 14).

The touch maps show he is finding himself on the ball in deeper areas, too.

Firstly against Birmingham…

… and then Swansea.

What has reduced is Maatsen’s chance creation. He has only created four opportunities from open play, according to Opta, in his last 10 appearances. Compare that to the 21 in his first 11 games and it is a significant shift.

This could usually lead to the conclusion that his attacking output and performance levels have dropped. That is far from the case.

The emergence of Tella and Anass Zaroury ahead of him has eased the attacking burden, with Zaroury, in particular, keen to hug the touchline, with less need for Maatsen to be as advanced.

He has shown he can dictate play from deep and has shown his vision and range of long passing to build play.

Operating as one of Kompany’s back three in the 3-1 win against Middlesbrough, he stepped out and curled an inch-perfect pass into the path of Johann Berg Gudmundsson who was through on goal.

It has helped Maatsen defensively and he is looking like a complete all-round player, with Kompany praising both elements of his game.

Teams would look to expose the space behind Maatsen, a tactic West Bromwich Albion used successfully. Defensively the unit has tightened up and they have kept five clean sheets in the last 10 games Maatsen has started.

There is no option to buy in Burnley’s loan agreement with Chelsea but the feeling is the club will pursue a permanent deal for Maatsen in the summer, and it is looking increasingly likely that they will be able to offer the defender Premier League football.

Chelsea drive a hard bargain for their young players so it is unlikely the youngster would come cheap. Under the Todd Boehly and Clearlake ownership, they have been reluctant to let their young players go, with only Billy Gilmour departing permanently.

A deal probably suits all parties, although there will no doubt be interest from elsewhere.

His parent club’s recruitment in his position in recent years with the signings of Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella means they are well stocked in that area and a breakthrough for Maatsen looks a long way away.

His contract situation presents Chelsea with a dilemma. Maatsen will have 12 months remaining on his deal with a further one-year extension option, which means his value will only decrease.

The Dutchman is ambitious so will not want to risk stagnating with no regular first-team football.

That discussion will come at the end of the season. The focus now is on helping Burnley to win promotion, which Maatsen will continue to play a big part in.

[Hashishi 148]

 

 

 

 

[Vesper 28,832]

49 minutes ago, Hashishi said:

 

 

 

 

I am more than open to looking at Maatsen as replacing one of our two LBs (I am open to it because Chilwell is always injured and CuCu is strictly backup squad level, we shit away insane cash on him)

but ONLY

if we fail (and it is likely we do fail, GRRRRRRRR) on both of the only two remotely available LBs I truly rate now (as Theo has dropped off due to shit defence and Robertson is 30yo next season (tempus fugit, bitches) AND also is not leaving Pool in a few months or so, plus Saka will never be a LB again I wager)

those 2 are the same names as always

Alphonso Davies

and

Nuno Mendes

both of whom are miles better than anything we have had since Ash days

but sure, I am open to Maatsen

I just wish he was not a dwarf (I am 16cm taller than he is, over a full half foot, ffs and I am a female, lolol, granted a taller one, just not in my family, who are all semi giants (thank fuck I am not as tall as mummy or my sis, let alone my father and brothers, I would never want to be taller than I already am, not a chance, in fact I would not mind being an inch or two shorter, but I can live with being 6 feet, ie 1.83m)

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/profile/ian-maatsen

1,67m is actually a wee bit little over 5 feet, 5 and half inches

[Hashishi 148]

 

 

 

 

[TheHulk 1,858]

1 minute ago, Hashishi said:

 

 

 

 

Doubt he signs an extension with Chilwell and Cucurella blocking him,we're probably losing him for peanuts.

[Hashishi 148]

2 minutes ago, TheHulk said:

Doubt he signs an extension with Chilwell and Cucurella blocking him,we're probably losing him for peanuts.

I think he gets a PL loan next year (probably Burnley when they get promoted) and then the year after we assess whether to sell one of Chilwell/Cucu. 

[TheHulk 1,858]

Just now, Hashishi said:

I think he gets a PL loan next year (probably Burnley when they get promoted) and then the year after we assess whether to sell one of Chilwell/Cucu. 

His contract expires in one year.