Matic - An Appreciation Thread

comment by Obers (U3904)
posted 4 minutes ago
Well i think hes crap. Sometimes things like these happen or injuries happen to players managers like and it actually improves the team
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Aye, that may well be the case. Seems to be working out so far for you....

comment by Nickalopodis-bye bye costa (U9257)
posted 4 minutes ago
Yup, one of contes biggest downfalls last year was rating matic.

Check out a comment I wrote A long while before any departure rumours.

comment by Nickalopodis-bye bye costa (U9257)
posted on 6/7/17
Was one of my main question marks over him this year, Big away games, he doesn't seem to have a plan b.
Playing Matic too much
Playing bats too little.

Out of everything that is not a bad season from him!
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Strange how some managers rate certain players that are just detrimental to the team, we've had mikel over the years. No football guru could tell me that guy helped us as a team. Yet managers picked him.
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In such instances I think fans often overlook the character of the player in question. What impact does he have on the other players in the squad? Is he a leader? Does he help the manager maintain a level of professionalism in the dressing room? Does he train exceptionally well and provide an example to others?

SAF often picked a lot of functional players, especially in his latter years, but we still trophies and he managed to maintain those high levels that he demanded for such a long time.

No facts and a lot of hypothetical thinking there elvis. Matic didn't seem like a leader on the pitch that's for sure. Probably a reason why we didn't win the league earlier in the year and a few games were struggles.

SAF picked functional players but he picked players who performed on the pitch. I would take a park ji sung over matic any day of the week and twice on sundays.

Having said that if a new club releases a new type of performance in matic then fair play.

comment by Nickalopodis-bye bye costa (U9257)
posted 21 minutes ago
No facts and a lot of hypothetical thinking there elvis. Matic didn't seem like a leader on the pitch that's for sure. Probably a reason why we didn't win the league earlier in the year and a few games were struggles.

SAF picked functional players but he picked players who performed on the pitch. I would take a park ji sung over matic any day of the week and twice on sundays.
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When did Matic's performances drop off for you?

He wasn't great in our 10th finish season but imo was not the sole or man reason for that, he was left isolated a lot but then did also not cover himself in much glory.

It was early last season where he just offered nothing and defensively was poor. It was asif having kante doing a lot of work next to him meant he could take his foot off the gas.
He played 35 games for us last year and in a lot was a hindrance, letting people ghost behind him into the box unattended, switching of a throws ins and corners and being sluggish around the pitch.

Would add that he was even quite poor and sluggish in the second half of Jose's title winning season.

Was quality in the season we bought him from January, then again was quality for the first half of the Jose title winning season.

Was the equivalent of one quality season and then 2 and a half seasons of poor, sluggish form for me. Was enough and wanted him out.

Bit annoyed with how matic played for utd for that reason, best performance ive seen from him for almost 3 years and that included almost a year with jose

comment by Nickalopodis-bye bye costa (U9257)
posted 13 minutes ago
He wasn't great in our 10th finish season but imo was not the sole or man reason for that, he was left isolated a lot but then did also not cover himself in much glory.

It was early last season where he just offered nothing and defensively was poor. It was asif having kante doing a lot of work next to him meant he could take his foot off the gas.
He played 35 games for us last year and in a lot was a hindrance, letting people ghost behind him into the box unattended, switching of a throws ins and corners and being sluggish around the pitch.
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Interesting. I have seen a few Chelsea fans say that he hasn't played well for 2.5 years, which seemed unfair to me. I thought that his performances dropped off after Jose left. As I alluded to yesterday, he obviously has respect of Jose as he is so keen to work with him again. I wonder if Matic was disappointed in how some of the players behaved towards Jose in his final season there and has struggled for motivation? He seemed keen to get out of there and keen to work with Jose again, so hopefully them working together again sees Matic return to form in the long term.

I have also seen another Chelsea fan suggest that Matic was asked to play a slightly different role after Kante's arrival and that it doesn't suit him as much?

In terms of Playing in Joses final season, Nobody was happy with the team, but he was still part of the problem, and carried on playing poorly for the rest of it. Like I said not all his fault, but not completely free from blame.
Tbh I can't think of many worse than him or costa, seeing as hazard was injured and was forced to play.

In terms of matic asked to play a slightly different role, I don't quite get that, him and kante were both asked to cover the ground, a lot of the time kante would press higher, some of the time matic would.

In terms of matic asked to play a slightly different role, I don't quite get that, him and kante were both asked to cover the ground, a lot of the time kante would press higher, some of the time matic would.
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That would be my point Nick.

The point I was making, is if he is required to just sit and protect the back four, there are not many around that can do that as well as him.

In a Mourinho side, that's all he wants his DM to do.

In a role that involves him having to play higher up the pitch, a role that requires a bit more stealth, speed and getting around, he's found wanting.