[Bilbo]

Question for you here @Tom Cato as I feel there's a lot of confirmaiton bias regarding Matic.

Ended last season injured (after being a stalwart in the run that got Ole the job).

• Started the season benched for McTom and Andreas/Lingard.
• Started his first PL game in a 1-0 win vs. Leicester.
• Then started and played shite along with the rest of the side vs. West Ham away.

So 2 PL starts.

Then got injured, came back at the end of December vs. Burnley and was instantly being lauded for looking great.

So "first half of the season Matic", are we basing that on one PL game vs. West Ham? or are we letting confirmation bias slip in because so many had him down as part of the "deadwood" brigade?

Matic had looked poor for quite some time. Very static, very heavy legged. Ole has been quite vocal since the start about his desire to have energy in the team, and Matic simply wasn't offering that for whatever reasons. He obviously wasn't fit, and for all of Lingards faults he has historically been a very willing runner, so its natural that the runners would be seen as the lesser of two evils. Similarly that when a player of his age looks like he has cement in his boots that people are going to forecast a downward trend. I remember when Inter were showing some interest earlier in the season I couldn't help but wonder what they thought they were going to get out of him.

I actually think that his form since January is the best I've ever seen him play. Its a very pleasant surprise and to use the old cliché 'almost like a new signing'.

 

[DoomSlayer]

He's been sensational at times. Looks like a totally different player and his decision making is so much sharper, I can hardly even believe it.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Very true with Shaw being such an example until his recent resurgence. In his case, he responded well to his place in the starting lineup being "threatened" by Williams. That's what some healthy competition can do for you.

As for Matic, he might have felt somewhat aggrieved when he realized that he would be a sidenote in the manager's plans in pre-season. After all, he did play his part in the initial run that gave Solskjaer the permanent job. Nothing wrong with the manager preferring a different type of midfielder and nothing wrong with a player believing that he should be playing as long as the channels of communication between them remain open. Then we had Matic posting on Twitter/Facebook stuff that could be interpreted as slight digs at the manager (didn't have a thread about it or something?) and, after that, he was kind of frozen out by Solskjaer. Which became a problem for the team when we had to resort to illogical tactics in the midfield instead of playing the only holding midfielder in the squad. Now, the problem seems to be solved and Matic seems to be happy at OT and Solskjaer seems to be content with him too. It's good man management by Solskjaer in the end, one may argue it's a case of putting water in his wine (alongside Ighalo and probably demanding of Ed to get the Bruno deal done now and not in the summer).

We should definitely look for a new midfielder but the type we should be after are very hard to find and they usually are quite expensive too. In both McT and Fred, we have the ball-winners with the exquisite energy levels who can cover lots of ground. We need an option that will help us improve the quality of our possession game in the middle of the park without completely neglecting his defensive duties (mainly shielding the ball and not making easy for the opposition to bypass him). Until then, Matic can still have his uses. He's the most experienced midfielder we have when it comes to defensive positioning, he's the best option we have as the deepest lying midfielder (either at the base of a diamond or a reversed triangle) and he can also be a stepping stone for either McT or Fred to venture forward. All these things he does not at a world-class level anymore but, nevertheless, when was the last time a manager complained about having more options to pick from?

It's also depth,

We have spent most of the season being unable to rest first choice midfielders and at one point, we barely had a midfield.

When Pogba leaves in the summer (if, to some posters), we need 2 x midfield signings just to have healthy numbers and competition. Signing just one and relying on Matic as our only true CDM option would be suicidal.

We're at a point now where if we have a good summer window, we could be challenging next season. Let's not fecking blow it.

 

[poleglass red]

Fair is fair, I have been super critical of Matic during most of his time with us, and I believe rightly so. But the way he has been playing recently, I have to give him kudos. The balance he has brought to the mid and his general play have been quality. Good on him.

 

[Foxbatt]

I like the fact he is now even joining the attack too. He has good long range passing and also can shoot from long range. His pace was the only downside to his play now. I think we should bench him for the CL games and use him when only needed.

 

[Devil may care]

He's been decent lately and I see talk of an extension, hopefully not more than a year, he shouldn't be starting next season.

 

[Thisistheone]

He was excellent yesterday, especially first half. Just hoping we can get another full season out of him next year at this level.

 

[Deleted 112447]

I was sure he was done at this level but now i'm happy he will stay for at least another season. He was probably overplayed at times and with a bit of rest we are seeing the real Matic again. Very happy for him and the squad really needed this too.

 

[Davicho]

H

Needs to be managed like Carrick/Scholes/Giggs were at the end of their career. Should never play twice a week.

What an immense performance today. Beast.

He is 31 mate. At that age Carrick played every game and carried our midfield on his own.

 

[SATA]

Like him or not, he’s been one of Jose’s best signings along with Zlatan. His technique for a defensive mid is great. He rarely gets injured and is always available. He just needs to be managed well

 

[RedCurry]

Ole has managed Matic perfectly this season. As we can see now, Matic is a very useful player but his game time has to be carefully monitored. We can get a couple of seasons out of him if we do it right.

 

[Highfather_24]

H
He is 31 mate. At that age Carrick played every game and carried our midfield on his own.

But he is not Carrick. Different players age differently.

 

[Based Adnan]

 

[lumeyes]

Matic form in recent times suggests the way to get the best out of him is to manage him properly, both game time and specific match wise. It also helps that Fred is playing well, sometimes a player can appear worse than he is because of the player next to him.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Rejuvenation.

Well, he's likely will not getting better contract elsewhere...is a negative way of looking at this.

Win-win situation atm, nice to see he seems settle now. He is a quality DMF. Another long buster goal please~

 

[Davicho]

Don't get the hype on him. He has improved massively compared to his last 18 months, but i still think that he is lethargic in possession (sloppy at times), and needs 3-4 touches to accommodate the ball to his left foot. On another hand, a player that at 31 needs his game time to be managed as a 35 year old player, should not be more than squad player for a big club like us. Needs an upgrade.

 

[Alemar]

Don't get the hype on him. He has improved massively compared to his last 18 months, but i still think that he is lethargic in possession (sloppy at times), and needs 3-4 touches to accommodate the ball to his left foot. On another hand, a player that at 31 needs his game time to be managed as a 35 year old player, should not be more than squad player for a big club like us. Needs an upgrade.

If not for Matić, we would need to play Garner as a DM, or, God forbid, Pereira... Fred and McTominay can’t play all the games without rotation, it’s simply impossible - and in this respect Matić fits perfectly.

That said, if we get Partey or Zakaria or someone of that calibre, then probably Matić will have to be demoted to a squad player - but it’s a very big If.

 

[Foxbatt]

The more I watched the City game the more I am impressed by Matic. He did so many simple things that contributed to our victory. Yes he no longer escorts the opposition player to our goal. He does go in and nick the ball of and surprisingly was pressing them high up even in the second half. I have been slating him in the past but I am glad that he has turned his game around and playing very well now. I hope that he keeps it up.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Credit to him, best he's played since his first few months with us.

 

[roonster09]

 

[JJ12]

Sensible move

 

[Robertd0803]

Yeah dont have an issue with the extension. He has been pretty good recently and gives us more depth.

Plus wasnt there some rumour he was going to be used as Garners mentor?

 

[Vault Dweller]

Well deserved. Fair play Nemanja.

 

[TMDaines]

Thought he was done, but clearly we've found how to motivate and get the most out of him. The right call.

 

[Adam-Utd]

From probably his biggest critic on here - well deserved.

It's never personal with players and lets be honest under Jose/early Ole form he was pretty awful. I can only think he was playing injured for several months and hiding it/playing through pain.

Since he's had the time out of the team to rest he's come back and looks like the player we expected when we signed him.

He definitely deserves 1 more year, I hope we don't talk about a new contract until this year is over though to keep him motivated.

 

[AltiUn]

From probably his biggest critic on here - well deserved.

It's never personal with players and lets be honest under Jose/early Ole form he was pretty awful. I can only think he was playing injured for several months and hiding it/playing through pain.

Since he's had the time out of the team to rest he's come back and looks like the player we expected when we signed him.

He definitely deserves 1 more year, I hope we don't talk about a new contract until this year is over though to keep him motivated.

Yeah, he's done very well to turn it around. It's sensible from us, we need a bit of experience in this team and someone who's actually won a few titles, hopefully Matic can pass that on to the youngsters.

 

[Dan_F]

Seems like we could have just triggered this and not worried about the new contract. Have doubts that he will sustain this level for 2 more years.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Good stuff, I'd have been aghast at this earlier in the season but he's earned his keep recently.

 

[Bondi77]

Yeah dont have an issue with the extension. He has been pretty good recently and gives us more depth.

Plus wasnt there some rumour he was going to be used as Garners mentor?

We have Carrick on our coaching staff so I don’t think Garner has to look at Matic as a mentor and from what I have seen of him his style of play would be more Carricklike than that of Matic anyway.

 

[Based Adnan]

Didn't he mentor Scott when he first broke through?

 

[Robertd0803]

We have Carrick on our coaching staff so I don’t think Garner has to look at Matic as a mentor and from what I have seen of him his style of play would be more Carricklike than that of Matic anyway.

True (not many better to learn fron than Carrick) but thats what I seem to remember reading anyway.

 

[ash_86]

 

[Annihilate Now!]

He makes a huge difference to our defence imo.

Think he should be the one to start behind Bruno and Pogs.

 

[DWelbz19]

I think someone on here referred to him as a necessary evil, and I think it’s absolutely true. Fred and McTominay are runners but defensive midfielders they aren’t. Our CBs are tragic and require someone with defensive nous in front of them.

 

[arnie_ni]

He makes a huge difference to our defence imo.

Think he should be the one to start behind Bruno and Pogs.

Been saying this for ages. Not necessarily matic, but moreso that fred and mct arent suited to playing with pigs and bruno.

Neither are disciplined enough or can read play well enough defensively to get into the correct positions.

They work well together, but i think we need a DM as much as RW for next year

 

[izec]

Should have started. Ole dropping him for no reason

 

[Master Yoda]

Matic first touch led to a goal. What a dribble through the middle and finds all the space Munited needed.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I think someone on here referred to him as a necessary evil, and I think it’s absolutely true. Fred and McTominay are runners but defensive midfielders they aren’t. Our CBs are tragic and require someone with defensive nous in front of them.

He's still good on the ball too though, He played a pass that was better then anything McT or Fred did within 5 minutes of coming on.

 

[Amar__]

He makes a huge difference to our defence imo.

Think he should be the one to start behind Bruno and Pogs.

He does, but only for part of the game, or as a sub. He simply can't do it as a starter, as proven even last season, let alone this when he is one year older.

He's had many bad defensive performances in last year or so. But generally, yes, there is a clear difference between smart defensive midfielder and ones who can run a lot(bit harsh on McTominay because he is not expected to be perfect defensively this young).

 

[Stobzilla]

He is the natural way to balance Fernandes and Pogba in the midfield together. 3 month break can see him through 10 games or so between now and the end of the season.