How is this lad showing up ? I was impressed by him during Serbia U21's encounter with Italy at the youth European championships in the summer. He skinned players half his size with impressive pace. Linked with United afterwards but to no avail..

What do you guys make of him ? Has he been good with the Reserves lately ?

How is this lad showing up ? I was impressed by him during Serbia U21's encounter with Italy at the youth European championships in the summer. He skinned players half his size with impressive pace. Linked with United afterwards but to no avail..

What do you guys make of him ? Has he been good with the Reserves lately ?

hes only played a couple of games, but looks very composed on the ball, and looks to have deceptive pace and skill for a big fella. we might see more of him during the ANC if he is up to speed and fitness, or it would be nice to see him get some first team time during the CC run maybe.

Certainly someone that we all have high hopes for.

He played well against Stoke on Monday night

Finding his feet and was a bit disappointed not to see him get a chance in the last round of the Carling Cup. Watched him in the warm up and he's got some great touches and a hell of a wicked free kick which he gets to curl into the side netting inside the goal. He did this 3 times on the trot. Not sure whether it really was meant or he was aiming for the cross bar though :D

Ray Wilkins' week at work on the official site

Best training…

The best person is Nemanja Matic, he has been outstanding. He has come on leaps and bounds and we have all been thrilled with how he has done and long may that continue. His application when he has been with the reserves, his dedication and training with the reserves has been outstanding and we have a first class professional on our books.

It's good to know...the first sign of a good player is one that works as hard as possible to get to, and to stay at the top of their game.

A player may be the most naturally talented, but if they don't put in the hard yards, they will never meet the potential.

Hopefully in Matic, we will have someone who can step into the midfield when Ballack and Deco depart/retire.

Nice to hear it. :D

He was really excellent against Wolves, and has impressed hugely whenever I've seen him in the reserves. Ancelotti said on the site that he'd make the first team soon.

Ancelotti said on the site that he'd make the first team soon.

I bet he is a good singer.

Very impressed with his performance in the reserves. By far the best player in terms of consistency and looks the most likely player to break into the first team. He may have an outside chance to make it to the world cup, that would do his confidence and chances a world of good.

Hopefully see a little more of this guy in first team action, dare I say it the best chance he may get this season is the FA Cup match vs Villa?

Hopefully see a little more of this guy in first team action, dare I say it the best chance he may get this season is the FA Cup match vs Villa?

Honestly I dont seem him playing any part in that game. There is a lot riding on the game and it is our most realistic chance of silverware so there is no way Carlo will choose him ahead of Deco/ Ballack. He continues to put in consistent performance for the reserves.

Edited April 6, 201016 yr by Maverick

Glad to see him get a run out in the biggest game of the season last Sunday.

Well with rumors of Ballack and Deco going, I believe he has really good chances of making a good number of games next year. Use him as a direct replacement for Essien (if we use Essien in the same sense that we use Lampard in the 4-3-3). I believe he has a very good chance of really establishing himself, and dare I say replace Lampard in a couple of seasons.

For the few games I've seen Matic play I've been quite impressed. He's tall, strong, an excellent passer and unafraid to go into the tackle. Ancelotti believes he can convert him into a holding midfielder and that makes sense to me.

For what I've seen of him he looks a solid player, how big is he? he's huge that can be so important in games. I hope to see more of him next season.

Pity that Carlo hasn't put him into the pitch yesterday. Belletti wasn't good.

Pity that Carlo hasn't put him into the pitch yesterday. Belletti wasn't good.

Its pretty evident that Carlo prefers experience everytime over youth, that begs the question about the role of the 5 players that are to break into the first team.

For a game like the FA Cup final, a kid who has played only a handful of minutes with the first team isn't the safest option, especially for a position like DMC.

No doubt Belleti wasn't awe-inspiring, but he was the best alternative for that position

Agreed - Carlo's given more playing time to youth players than any manager since Roman took over; even if that's partly because he's the first one who's really had youth players worth using, he still deserves the benefit of the doubt on that front. Goalless cup finals are the last place you're going to see an inexperienced DM thrown on, no matter who's managing.