Matip

If hes on a free in summer then we have no chance in tieing him down. Remember he joined us on a free too. He should have been given a new contract straight after the CL win. Very poor it we let a good CB leave on a Bosman.

Matip is helped a lot by fabinho. hes the only guy who covers the cb runs. Matip has a bit of licence there.


As for his contract? Well 12 months ago he wasn't even going to feature and how quickly people forget the odd mistake here and there, how he got targetted constantly in the air etc etc.

The lad is good, he does get injured a bit as well.

IMO he's better than lovren but hey. If he wants to go and we have Gomez... well.. ok.

if he wants a new contract and signs one great. happy.

He was our best def by a distance until vvd came in his issue was niggling injuries every week and the fact he struggled to play more than once a week when he was fit. Hes had a few poor games but his quality is there to see he was highly rated before we got him and we were lucky to get him on a free.

If he leaves on a free its bad business again like moreno clyne studge can etc because we should have got money for all of them, rejected 11m for moreno then stuck him on the bench for a season until he left for free.

I have always been a fan of him. His only weakness is he doesn't take control in some situations and lacks the leadership to lead a defence.

He gives us the option to counter the opposition high press when he steps into midfield see the game against City in the second half.

We need to offer him the extension what the fack are they writing for?

I'd have him starting over Gomez at the minute.

FSG out.

comment by (kash) I'm the Mané - 6 Times Baby (U1108)
posted 3 hours, 2 minutes ago
If hes on a free in summer then we have no chance in tieing him down. Remember he joined us on a free too. He should have been given a new contract straight after the CL win. Very poor it we let a good CB leave on a Bosman.
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How do you know he’s not been offered one and simply wants to try something else?

comment by The Mane Man ( life at this age is rubbish with no money #needajob) (U19731)
posted 2 hours, 32 minutes ago
I have always been a fan of him. His only weakness is he doesn't take control in some situations and lacks the leadership to lead a defence.

He gives us the option to counter the opposition high press when he steps into midfield see the game against City in the second half.
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Agree with all of this

Hes a decent defender who has benefited from having VVD next to him and a solid screen in front. I like the guy, I like his ability to bring the ball forward.

comment by KLS - Harry Kane wears Mo Salah pyjamas (U1695)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by (kash) I'm the Mané - 6 Times Baby (U1108)
posted 3 hours, 2 minutes ago
If hes on a free in summer then we have no chance in tieing him down. Remember he joined us on a free too. He should have been given a new contract straight after the CL win. Very poor it we let a good CB leave on a Bosman.
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How do you know he’s not been offered one and simply wants to try something else?
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No, no, we must assume that if he leaves it's because of the club's incompetence.

People need to understand a few things.

- the right flank is targeted more to be attacked by the opposition
- Attackers will seek out Matip to duel with because they know van dijks pedigree
- As a result Matip is the busier of the central defenders.
- Matip is a pro-active defender who puts pressure on the attacker while van dijk is a passive defender who invites the engagement.
- Like any elite player van dijk suffers from a loss of form while a player like Matip benefits from van dijks leadership regardless of vvd's form.

Matip is a good overall defender who has a very good understanding with van dijk and can carry the ball forward very well. He'd be my number one next to van dijk. But is he worldclass? No, he puts in worldclass performances now and then and he deserves the credit he gets.