Don't see how you need two defensive midfielders when you have a back 3 and 2 wing backs and Kantes role is to just sit in front of the back 3. Against a team who gives you a lot of possession Matic is more of a weakness than anything. 

40 minutes ago, Argo said:

The great enigma.

We play better football with Cesc in the side, that is undeniable, however in a midfield two that leads to his partner having to do the defensive work of two men which I believe is a major factor in why Matic has fallen off a cliff so badly. I would hate the same to happen to Kante.

The next option is 3-5-2 with Kante and a new arrival like Bakayoko protecting his flaws, but on the flip side that will mean Pedro out and he is really starting to come into his own in a blue shirt.

Great problem to have but problem never theless. On the whole I think Conte has got his use of Cesc right (especially since December), he is using him when the situation requires (let's be honest there were times under Jose Cesc was targeted by opposition) and its paying dividends.

If Conte can convince Cesc to play this role from next season on that will be great, but if he left his boyhood club because he didn't accept that, Antonio will need a big sales pitch.

I think this is why we are so desperate for an upgrade in CM next season. Someone that has some of Fabs passing qualities and some of Matic combatitive nature. When either is out we lack what the other bring

Outstanding game, let's hope Conte sticks with him. When Cesc is playing, Kante just plays his best role, closing people down, stealing the ball, passing it short to Cesc and let him do the fancy work.

I have a feeling he'll be back on the bench for the hammers game, purely as Matic is taller.  West Ham have a couple of great heading options and a good set piece taker.

16 hours ago, Ernie_blue said:

Don't see how you need two defensive midfielders when you have a back 3 and 2 wing backs and Kantes role is to just sit in front of the back 3. Against a team who gives you a lot of possession Matic is more of a weakness than anything. 

You must be watching a different Kante, his role is most certainly not to just sit in front of the back 3.

12 minutes ago, startedwithglenn said:

You must be watching a different Kante, his role is most certainly not to just sit in front of the back 3.

I never meant it like that. I mean it can easily be Kantes role with Fabregas in the team. One sits and the other creates. Won the title 2 years ago.

15 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

I never meant it like that. I mean it can easily be Kantes role with Fabregas in the team. One sits and the other creates. Won the title 2 years ago.

Kante is too good to limit him to just a sitter. The reason he's the best and has such an impact is he is literally like playing with 12 men.

You don't sign a player because he excels at something and then order him not to do it.

I can't remember the players in particular but I remember a while back Real Madrid had a similar central midfield dilemma and ended up playing one in home games and the other away from home. 

I think this could work with Fabregas/Matic. In principal during all home games we are the favourites, therefore the need for 2 sitting midfielders is minimal, as there's been times this season where we have lacked creativity against the poorer sides who sit back and soak up pressure, and we've needed Cesc from the outset.

However the flipside is away from home, we look far too open usually when Cesc is playing and he's often overrun when we're on the backfoot. 

If we could convince Cesc to play 90% home games and the odd away fixture, plus substitute appearances and vice versa with Matic, I think we've solved the problem.

33 minutes ago, startedwithglenn said:

Kante is too good to limit him to just a sitter. The reason he's the best and has such an impact is he is literally like playing with 12 men.

You don't sign a player because he excels at something and then order him not to do it.

Your taking it too literally. For me Kante is a DM, his not a particularly good passer or creater of chances. I don't mean sit there in front of the front 3 and don't move. You don't need two defensive midfielders in a team. One sits more and protects and the other is more creative. 

Matic might be taller but he's hardly a force in the air....

3 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

You don't need two defensive midfielders in a team.

It worked for 13 straight league wins.

3 minutes ago, coco said:

It worked for 13 straight league wins.

Could it have worked better the other way? could we have gone on to 20 straight league wins?

14 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

Matic might be taller but he's hardly a force in the air....

I took that straight from Antonio's press conference Chelsbear.  Next

3 minutes ago, mbh said:

Could it have worked better the other way? could we have gone on to 20 straight league wins?

We will never know, but i would very much doubt it, it's some achievement getting 13 wins on the trot.

Matic and Kante were both big players in those victories, a midfield firewall, so much opposition breakdown happens because of those two, lots of our attacks start from them winning the ball.

 

59 minutes ago, coco said:

It worked for 13 straight league wins.

Might of won those games with Fabregas in the team. There's no way Chelsea needed Kane and Matic for all them games.

9 times out of 10 I would start Fabregas over Matic however there are a handful of teams who I would play Matic ahead of Fabregas. For Spurs, Liverpool & City I would start Matic & bring Fabregas on during the 2nd half when he is likely to get a little more time on the ball.

1 hour ago, Ernie_blue said:

There's no way Chelsea needed Kane and Matic for all them games.

Are you telling me Conte was wrong to stick with Kante-Matic for those 13 games ?

25 minutes ago, coco said:

Are you telling me Conte was wrong to stick with Kante-Matic for those 13 games ?

Can't say he was wrong but I'm not sure alot of the results would of changed. I don't think Matic played every game and there was a few 1-0 wins.

With Fabregas in the team you create more and score more. At home for sure I don't think you need Matic. I can understand in some of the way away games.

I know your Matics biggest fan though.

On 2/26/2017 at 17:41, Chelsbear said:

Simply has to start more Games, he's miles better than Matic

He knows he has to work for that spot now. Every player in the team must follow his lead.

3 hours ago, coco said:

It worked for 13 straight league wins.

LOL. Hard to argue with this.

3 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

 I don't think Matic played every game and there was a few 1-0 wins.

I know your Matics biggest fan though.

He missed the Citeh game through injury but played in all the others.

I think he is very underrated 

I think fan and player relationship plays a factor for us, too, this season. Glad he's loving it here.

England gave me a lot in my life, in my career.

"I really identify with life in England. With the lifestyle, education, everything.

"My daughter was born here, my wife is from here.

"Of course I`m Spanish, Catalan but I feel really adapted to life here. I`m in love with London, I really like the city, how everyone behaves.

"Everyone treated me like a son from day one."

http://www.chelsea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=578477#ixzz4ZuJ5NcaC

5 minutes ago, Tibbers said:

I think fan and player relationship plays a factor for us, too, this season. Glad he's loving it here.

England gave me a lot in my life, in my career.

"I really identify with life in England. With the lifestyle, education, everything.

"My daughter was born here, my wife is from here.

"Of course I`m Spanish, Catalan but I feel really adapted to life here. I`m in love with London, I really like the city, how everyone behaves.

"Everyone treated me like a son from day one."

http://www.chelsea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=578477#ixzz4ZuJ5NcaC

Good advert for the club come the summer transfer window. 

11 minutes ago, coco said:

He missed the Citeh game through injury but played in all the others.

I think he is very underrated 

The matic/kante combo played in 9 games together. Matic played 10 games overall.

Fabregas come on against West Brom and Chelsea scored 2mins later.

My point is most teams have 2 CMS but no team in europe have two what I class as more defensive midfielders. At home I don't think you need it when you have the majority of possession. Maybe some away games against the top teams.

Its not I don't rate Matic it's just he isnt as good as Kante which isn't exactly easy.

3 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

The matic/kante combo played in 9 games together. Matic played 10 games overall.

Fabregas come on against West Brom and Chelsea scored 2mins later.

My point is most teams have 2 CMS but no team in europe have two what I class as more defensive midfielders. At home I don't think you need it when you have the majority of possession. Maybe some away games against the top teams.

Its not I don't rate Matic it's just he isnt as good as Kante which isn't exactly easy.

Kante-Matic was the main reason we got all those clean sheets in that long run. I like clean sheets, they win titles.