The point is that a weak area can be papered over by having much better players in other areas of the pitch. As we did and as Chelsea did.

Matic has shown it in him to be a good player two and a half years ago. And this is why they're potentially selling him. Yes players do leave and go on to be good, but how many after being in bad form for that long?

comment by Conte'nt (U20893)
posted 16 minutes ago
Fans don't usually get excited about the signing of DM's,
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Pretty sure Chelsea fans were excited about Kante

Yeah but that doesn't count because he's actually good.

My point Daz

I agree weak areas can be papered over but not the CM for 2 title wins IMO.

The whole 'Chelsea were sh-t in the second half of Jose's title winning season' is massively overstated too. They dropped 3 more points in the second half of the season compared to the first, 5 of which were dropped after they had won the league. They were more exciting in the first half of the season but were still defensively sound throughout and Matic played a big part in that.

Man United 2011 and 2013 title wins would suggest otherwise.

I didn't say they were shiiiiit, but their performances massively dropped off and a huge reason for that was the big drop off in form of Fabregas and Matic. The back four and Hazard's heroics were the main factors in that second half of the season.

Making up the numbers in a title winning team doesn't make a good player. If it did they wouldn't be selling him - providing this is actually true, which I hope not.

The thought of Matic and Fellaini in midfield makes me want to go all Lee Harvey Oswald on Mourinho.

But we are highly unlikely to play both, Matic would be brought in to play the same role with Herrera a more b2b and Pogba license to push forward.

But we are highly unlikely to play both
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Don't get your hopes up.

Making up the numbers in a title winning team doesn't make a good player. If it did they wouldn't be selling him - providing this is actually true, which I hope not.

The thought of Matic and Fellaini in midfield makes me want to go all Lee Harvey Oswald on Mourinho.
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It's a done deal according to reliable sources.

Haven't really watched Matic since his first season back at Chelsea. I remember him in the EL final for Benfica against a Chelsea and he was immense. I wrote an article on here about him after the game.

Difficult to judge him by his second Chelsea season as the whole team seemed to down tools. And he's just won the league again playing as a mainstay in CM. He's good enough to sit behind Pogba and Herrera for us and if playing under Jose at the base of a three (his best role I think) then I'm content.

That said, from the little I've seen of Fabinho I'd rather take a punt on him. Has a bit of the Vieira about him and can also play RB if needed. Penalty taker too I believe.

comment by Conte'nt (U20893)
posted 1 minute ago
Making up the numbers in a title winning team doesn't make a good player. If it did they wouldn't be selling him - providing this is actually true, which I hope not.

The thought of Matic and Fellaini in midfield makes me want to go all Lee Harvey Oswald on Mourinho.
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It's a done deal according to reliable sources.
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I best get down the shooting range then.

comment by Zlatan The King Ibrahimovic (U10026)
posted 32 seconds ago
comment by Conte'nt (U20893)
posted 1 minute ago
Making up the numbers in a title winning team doesn't make a good player. If it did they wouldn't be selling him - providing this is actually true, which I hope not.

The thought of Matic and Fellaini in midfield makes me want to go all Lee Harvey Oswald on Mourinho.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a done deal according to reliable sources.
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I best get down the shooting range then.
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Too early to jump the gun imo

Berba

Exactly my view.

£40MIL

Whoever we get, they're gonna look horrible in our new 3rd kit.

http://www.footyheadlines.com/2016/12/manchester-united-17-18-third-kit.html

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I got dizzy from reading all the spin on this thread.

He's not been that good for us for years now after a brilliant start. Maybe we could have achieved more last year had he not been a mainstay.

comment by Salah (U6489)
posted 4 minutes ago
I got dizzy from reading all the spin on this thread.

He's not been that good for us for years now after a brilliant start. Maybe we could have achieved more last year had he not been a mainstay.
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We do have a number of phenomenal spin doctors on our board

What more could you have achieved, you weren't in Europe and I don't remember him being the reason you lost the FA Cup final.

Matic is awful, seriously are we actually trying to create the slowest ever midfield in history or something?

We had Cleverley in our title winning teams. We might as well buy him back for 20m

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

The argument some have he's been part of a title winning side so can't be bad. I was using Cleverley as an example of a player who has won titles while never being rated as a good player by many fans here.

Also, according to the Telegraph, Matic is our third choice midfield signing...

comment by 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆�... (U18355)
posted 5 hours, 22 minutes ago
This is hilarious. All my United mates are raging 😂

£40M for Matic 😂 I had no idea he was 29 either. Makes it even better
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He's 28. 29 in August. Nainggolan has been 29 since last month. No-one talks about his age though...