[AKDevil]

His composure is freakish. There were a couple of times yesterday when he did things that make you go 'that's why he's a pro/so good.' A normal/lesser player panics, he just took that touch and created a new passing angle. It was like he knew what opposition player was going to do before they did. Class today, especially second half.

 

[FootballHQ]

POTY.

 

[Yagami]

A beastly performance! He's so good under pressure with his close control, dribbling and shielding of the ball. Those attributes helped us keep on top of them for the winner.

 

[Who's Kissing Cameras?]

Brilliant today imo. The way he moves his body to get the ball out of tight situations is incredible.

 

[Godfather]

Very good again.

 

[SATA]

How i wish he's 25. Great player that i have never noticed at Chelsea. Probably i don't watch much of them though

 

[breakout67]

If only we had got him a few years earlier, the DM position sorted for several years. Hopefully he remains injury free so we have him for 3-4 years.

 

[Yagami]

How i wish he's 25. Great player that i have never noticed at Chelsea. Probably i don't watch much of them though

Same. Who'd choose to watch Chelsea, though?!

 

[Minimalist]

Think I would call him the POTY for us at this stage.

I mean there's only Dave (maybe Lukaku) competing with him for it but I think it's him.

 

[arthurka]

Really I thought he was terrible today... Slow and slowed everything down .. He looks shattered to me .

 

[haram]

Takes responsibility in midfield.

 

[Freak]

Class. Again.

 

[MikeKing]

Think I would call him the POTY for us at this stage.

I mean there's only Dave (maybe Lukaku) competing with him for it but I think it's him.

I think that would be fair. The most consistent outfield player certainly. Had a great start, then a perceived dip but really i just think some people has taken his influence for granted since. I dread on how our midfield would look this season without him.

 

[bosnian_red]

Before everyone misunderstands... I like him, and think hes been a very good signing. But I'm not sure hes really improved us all that much compared to last season if we compare his performances this season to Herrera last season. Herrera lost form and was injured this season so thank feck he was here, but if you replicate Herrera last year for Matic this year, we'd be better off with Ander IMO. Think Mourinho could've got more out of both throughout the season if he rotated them more, instead of killing matic physically playing every game.

Really I thought he was terrible today... Slow and slowed everything down .. He looks shattered to me .

Agreed. Weird, everyone is way different, but for me he took way too long on the ball and ignored quick and easy forward passes far too often. If we do the quick pass through the lines right away more often, we'd look much more incisive imo. Matic is one of the worst for that, as he'll ignore that to play the safe choice almost every time.

 

[AgentP]

Before everyone misunderstands... I like him, and think hes been a very good signing. But I'm not sure hes really improved us all that much compared to last season if we compare his performances this season to Herrera last season. Herrera lost form and was injured this season so thank feck he was here, but if you replicate Herrera last year for Matic this year, we'd be better off with Ander IMO. Think Mourinho could've got more out of both throughout the season if he rotated them more, instead of killing matic physically playing every game.


Agreed. Weird, everyone is way different, but for me he took way too long on the ball and ignored quick and easy forward passes far too often. If we do the quick pass through the lines right away more often, we'd look much more incisive imo. Matic is one of the worst for that, as he'll ignore that to play the safe choice almost every time.

Don't agree with that. He is way better than Herrera in the DM role. The role Herrera is playing right now as a defensive b2b is what suits him more.

 

[AgentP]

Think I would call him the POTY for us at this stage.

I mean there's only Dave (maybe Lukaku) competing with him for it but I think it's him.

Yep. Our best outfield player without a doubt. He adds that bit of class and elegance to our midfield that we clearly lacked.

 

[Lawman]

Don't agree with that. He is way better than Herrera in the DM role. The role Herrera is playing right now as a defensive b2b is what suits him more.

Agree 100% and Matic choice of passing and composure is top notch. He’s a bit one paced but we have a right top player here who has improved greatly.

 

[Bulldogg]

Before everyone misunderstands... I like him, and think hes been a very good signing. But I'm not sure hes really improved us all that much compared to last season if we compare his performances this season to Herrera last season. Herrera lost form and was injured this season so thank feck he was here, but if you replicate Herrera last year for Matic this year, we'd be better off with Ander IMO. Think Mourinho could've got more out of both throughout the season if he rotated them more, instead of killing matic physically playing every game.


Agreed. Weird, everyone is way different, but for me he took way too long on the ball and ignored quick and easy forward passes far too often. If we do the quick pass through the lines right away more often, we'd look much more incisive imo. Matic is one of the worst for that, as he'll ignore that to play the safe choice almost every time.

Pretty much disagree with your entire post, expect maybe rotating Matic slightly more but then again Herrera was very poor at certain points this season and Fellaini was injured as was Pogba.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Before everyone misunderstands... I like him, and think hes been a very good signing. But I'm not sure hes really improved us all that much compared to last season if we compare his performances this season to Herrera last season. Herrera lost form and was injured this season so thank feck he was here, but if you replicate Herrera last year for Matic this year, we'd be better off with Ander IMO. Think Mourinho could've got more out of both throughout the season if he rotated them more, instead of killing matic physically playing every game.

Have you seen the league table or even the top six table for that matter?

 

[Adisa]

We need a more mobile alternative.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Really I thought he was terrible today... Slow and slowed everything down .. He looks shattered to me .

Not sure what game you were watching.

He was class. Controlled the midfield. Made some threatening passes, and controlled the tempo of our play well.

I love how he gets out of messes. So many occasions he was surrounded and he does one spin and he's away.

 

[arthurka]

Not sure what game you were watching.

He was class. Controlled the midfield. Made some threatening passes, and controlled the tempo of our play well.

I love how he gets out of messes. So many occasions he was surrounded and he does one spin and he's away.

All of the above is what I had problems with ..
He is one of the biggest reasons for that slow and sluggish play as he takes 10 touches before he passes sideways or back . He is most of the time the guy who gets himself into those messes as he never moves the ball forward or picks up a runner. .

I agree he looks controlled but not in a way that is of much use..

 

[Trizy]

Our most important player this season. Some people annoyed me on here throughout the year criticizing him for not playing well in some games when he clearly was abandoned in midfield by Pogba. If Matic is one thing it's consistent so if he does have a bad game more often than not it's due to other reasons than his ability/form.

 

[FootyGirl88]

I don't think he had a great game yesterday him and Herrera were the reason we conceded, I find that he has a bad habit of holding onto the ball for too long and takes too many touches.

 

[TheFlagStaysDown]

He will get praise every game and I think he was decent at times in the second half but god he's so slow and before he releases the ball all the gaps and chances for a counter are closed. Don't understand Herrera was subbed off and he stayed on the pitch, Herrera is a quicker passer more creative, speeds the game up and can break up the play easily too, showed he can play with Pogba last year and get the best out of him, it is not entirely true we would be too open with him, Matic can barely cover half the space what Herrera does.

So I think we should rahter be looking for a replacement or upgrade on Matic, the midfield is just too slow

 

[Jig1234]

I don't think he had a great game yesterday him and Herrera were the reason we conceded, I find that he has a bad habit of holding onto the ball for too long and takes too many touches.

This is the thing. Pogba plays with risk tries to make things happen but gets stick if it don't work out. Matic was signed in summer and already looks like he needs to be replaced. You are spot on about him taking too many touches at times. He is not mobile or agile enough for me.

 

[Adisa]

Only one post. He gets away with murder occasionally. Was shocking tonight.

 

[Swift Football]

He was quite poor tonight, along with both Pogba and Fellaini.

 

[Canagel]

Not good enough. Pogba and Fellaini are getting slaughtered but this guy was even worse today. But he doesn't have a fancy haircut so it's all good. I want him replaced in the summer. Desperately lacking in both mobility and speed of thought. Carrick is ten times the player Matic will ever be. I miss his quick early through passes into the feet of the attackers. Matic slips under the radar but soon people will realise he needs to be replaced. Very strange that this thread is so quiet.

 

[Van Piorsing]

He clearly needs a rest, or he's already resting on the pitch. Just be ready for the final... and if nothing works, just hit it from distance. It generates actual attention to a game.

 

[ivaldo]

He clearly needs a rest, or he's already resting on the pitch. Just be ready for the final... and if nothing works, just hit it from distance. It generates actual attention to a game.

This is become a parody now.

 

[Van Piorsing]

This is become a parody now.

SAF would call it rotation in half important game but Mourinho is not SAF.

The real parody comes when we're not reacting in the 3rd summer ahead accordingly. With that I can't argue.

 

[ivaldo]

SAF would call it rotation in half important game but Mourinho is not SAF.

The real parody comes when we're not reacting in the 3rd summer ahead accordingly. With that I can't argue.

The same thing was being thrown about when he had played 1 game in 15. He's not overplayed, it's just an excuse for his poor performances.

3 starts in 18 days. Needs a rest...

 

[Van Piorsing]

The same thing was being thrown about when he had played 1 game in 15. He's not overplayed, it's just an excuse for his poor performances.

...and the same can be said about entire team in that manner when we don't even have replacement for Carrick and you already want Matic out.

Sure he's visbly poor lately and Mourinho admitted that we need improvements in midfield. Let's see if he and the club will deliver in the summer, but right now there's no bigger options.

 

[ivaldo]

...and the same can be said about entire team in that manner when we don't even have replacement for Carrick and you already want Matic out.

Sure he's visbly poor lately and Mourinho admitted that we need improvements in midfield. Let's see if he and the club will deliver in the summer, but right now there's no bigger options.

Who said I want Matic out? I like Matic and was a big advocate for his signing, but it doesn't mean ill make up excuses for him. He's not tired, he's just playing poorly. This excuse just keeps coming out time and time again and it's absolutely untrue.

 

[Van Piorsing]

Who said I want Matic out? I like Matic and was a big advocate for his signing, but it doesn't mean ill make up excuses for him. He's not tired, he's just playing poorly. This excuse just keeps coming out time and time again and it's absolutely untrue.

After playing poorly I would be even more keen on resting him, probably for a longer time if we only had a DM to step up in a longer run.

Form dip is enough of excuse to rest him.

 

[haram]

Yaya Toure on his toughest opponent: “Matic, I hate him, this bas**rd. He’s such a difficult player to play against. Tall, strong as well. To be able to find an opponent to play against me and stop me, there’s few of them, but Matic was one of the close ones.” [Guardian]

 

[Silver]

The same thing was being thrown about when he had played 1 game in 15. He's not overplayed, it's just an excuse for his poor performances.

3 starts in 18 days. Needs a rest...

At what point of the season was this?

Apart from De Gea, Matic has played the highest number of games this season. No other midfield player has played anywhere near to the minutes he's played. How can you not even factor that towards his later performances?

 

[ivaldo]

At what point of the season was this?

Apart from De Gea, Matic has played the highest number of games this season. No other midfield player has played anywhere near to the minutes he's played. How can you not even factor that towards his later performances?

Between the 2nd and 30th of Jan he had played 2 games. Is that being "overplayed?" At times it's a valid reason, at others it was just the go to excuse to absolve him of any blame.

 

[Acole9]

We need to look at buying a younger version, he can't play the number of games he's currently playing. He needs a rest, had decent moments in the second half of the season but first part he was excellent.