Devil may care
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- Jan 7, 2010
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He's not a CB and it showed, looked terrified when they were running at us and his passing disintegrated as the game went on.
That three-year contract is looking absolutely ridiculous at this point.
There was a moment where he didn't know what to do so he just smashed the ball into the air and then had to run and try and get his head on it because it went backwards.
if I could rate him -1 I would.
Absolutely cannot stand watching him play.
If he actually tried a little bit harder he could have easily stopped lennon or even blocked the shot. Instead he’s happy to just bluff it and jog along.
We desperately need to get another CM in.
He's tall I will give you that.-1
As others have said here, he provided much needed balance. He's past it, but he's the only proper holding midfielder at the club. Plus, it's Burnley and we needed his height and physicality.
There is no way we're not signing a DM in January. Hopefully the club is more proactive than usually and does it early in the month.
He's tall I will give you that.
Not sure what balance you are talking about since we looked wide open in midfield all game long.
Sure it allowed Mctominay more freedom, but Matic's performance was very poor IMO.As others pointed out, he enabled McTominay to burst forward during our breaks, making our attack more purposeful, not just playing the ball to marked attackers or isolated forwards. He can also take the ball past people in for stretches to open up play and he's a very decent passer. Ten years younger and we'd all be quite happy.
Rangnick said after the match that they've not talked about the January window, but I'd be surprised if he's not given them a list some time ago.
if I could rate him -1 I would.
Absolutely cannot stand watching him play.
If he actually tried a little bit harder he could have easily stopped lennon or even blocked the shot. Instead he’s happy to just bluff it and jog along.
We desperately need to get another CM in.
if I could rate him -1 I would.
Absolutely cannot stand watching him play.
If he actually tried a little bit harder he could have easily stopped lennon or even blocked the shot. Instead he’s happy to just bluff it and jog along.
We desperately need to get another CM in.
Glad to see, there are others who see it like that. I probably wouldn't go as far as -1 but how he gets something above 4 or 5 is beyond me. We are talking about professional footballers here, don't we, he did the bare minimum and had quite a few blunders in there as well. I get it, he was at the right spot a couple of times but shouldn't the good things get evened out by the bad ones? Burnley didn't fight today at all. And still McNeil had me on the edge of my seat a few times because no way is Matic catching up to anything these days. The second half was the typical Ole-ball performance. Thankfully, we sat on three goals and we have a tight schedule but that second half was as lacklustre as it gets.if I could rate him -1 I would.
Absolutely cannot stand watching him play.
If he actually tried a little bit harder he could have easily stopped lennon or even blocked the shot. Instead he’s happy to just bluff it and jog along.
We desperately need to get another CM in.
But he isn't 10 years younger, isn't he? To be honest, there were quite a few players who played these stupid passes into players who had nowhere to go. McTom as per usual, AWB and Matic as well. I get it, he has a reputation to be a consistent passer but he is just as much part of the problem as everybody else.As others pointed out, he enabled McTominay to burst forward during our breaks, making our attack more purposeful, not just playing the ball to marked attackers or isolated forwards. He can also take the ball past people in for stretches to open up play and he's a very decent passer. Ten years younger and we'd all be quite happy.
Rangnick said after the match that they've not talked about the January window, but I'd be surprised if he's not given them a list some time ago.
Completely agree. I was crazy mad at Ole for letting this happen. Not because this dropping back thing is wrong per se, but dropping back indicates that the player returns to his midfield position eventually which Matic takes ages to do. Add that to McTominay habit of placing himself in the cover shadow of more than one opponent if possible and there are no chances to play out from the back. With our so called "wingers" who are just waiting to go for "attacking the space".@NZT-One
obviously i’m exaggerating SLIGHTLY, but he’s somebody who frustrates me greatly.
The thing that bothers me the most is when we have possession in defence he completely vacates midfield and stands in the LB position.
I know people will say “it’s to cover for shaw pushing forwards” but it’s a complete waste. Instead of giving us a proper out ball into midfield, he leaves his midfield partner alone. They then receive the ball and we immediately get pressed and forced to lump it.
Maybe with people who can carry the ball from defence it works ok, but not in our team.
He’s just far too slow for the league now.
But he isn't 10 years younger, isn't he? To be honest, there were quite a few players who played these stupid passes into players who had nowhere to go. McTom as per usual, AWB and Matic as well. I get it, he has a reputation to be a consistent passer but he is just as much part of the problem as everybody else.
I agree with the observation. But I'd argue, that Newcastle would have taken us to the cleaners with that midfield. But yeah, that is speculation. I hope to see the back of him as soon as possible as he, for me, is one of the icons of what went wrong at our club. Buying him when he was on the decline wasn't very progressive and not getting him an understudy to this day is borderline negligence. I would have have even prefered Garner instead of him a year ago. His minutes are just wasted. Had they been given to Garner, at least we would know now, if the player has it in him and is worth the time to invest...I'm not disagreeing with us needing to replace him. As is, there are a few options all of which are insufficient or leave a lot to be desired, and the midfield tonight against their 442 formation wasn't more negative than positive.
Agree. Thought he was way off.
I get those saying just by him being there he allowed Scott to get forward a bit more but as an individual his time has gone at this level.
The guy in that position has to get to Lennon for the goal.
I agree. Brian Kerr (ex Ireland manager) was saying on my commentary we were wide open and 15 of the 19 midfields in the PL would have bettered us today. Praising Matic for letting McT get forward and jogging around is praise for doing the absolute minimum in his position. Hate watching him play for us. Zero dynamism. Can’t wait to see someone as good on the ball but actually mobile confident creative and aggressive in the squad instead of him. Can’t believe we keep wheeling this guy out in the place of making signings (progressing) It’s midfield by numbers. Same thing as sticking Mata in the team. He keeps it tidy but is physically useless.
Glad to see, there are others who see it like that. I probably wouldn't go as far as -1 but how he gets something above 4 or 5 is beyond me. We are talking about professional footballers here, don't we, he did the bare minimum and had quite a few blunders in there as well. I get it, he was at the right spot a couple of times but shouldn't the good things get evened out by the bad ones? Burnley didn't fight today at all. And still McNeil had me on the edge of my seat a few times because no way is Matic catching up to anything these days. The second half was the typical Ole-ball performance. Thankfully, we sat on three goals and we have a tight schedule but that second half was as lacklustre as it gets.
But he isn't 10 years younger, isn't he? To be honest, there were quite a few players who played these stupid passes into players who had nowhere to go. McTom as per usual, AWB and Matic as well. I get it, he has a reputation to be a consistent passer but he is just as much part of the problem as everybody else.
I understand your opinion and would agree, IF all there was to football was what meets the eye. Passing, shooting, dribbling, running. They are the easy things to pick up on. McT managed these things very well yesterday and is therefor praised by the majority (simply because its easy to spot).@NZT-One
obviously i’m exaggerating SLIGHTLY, but he’s somebody who frustrates me greatly.
The thing that bothers me the most is when we have possession in defence he completely vacates midfield and stands in the LB position.
I know people will say “it’s to cover for shaw pushing forwards” but it’s a complete waste. Instead of giving us a proper out ball into midfield, he leaves his midfield partner alone. They then receive the ball and we immediately get pressed and forced to lump it.
Maybe with people who can carry the ball from defence it works ok, but not in our team.
He’s just far too slow for the league now.