Unfortunately, it would cause a whole bunch of new problems at the back.

I don't think so. Most teams who play a 4-2-3-1 play with a defensive line closer to their midfielders. We just need faster defenders I think. 

Think it's both Fabregas and Matic that's at fault. Neither are at their best but the setup isn't helping either. Matic has looked quite erratic in his play, but Fabregas has looked quite poor both offensively and defensivesly. Fabregas himself has caused a few misplaces passes in key positions, although Matic himself needs to improve his ball playing which would ease the burden off Fabregas. All in all, although the partnership worked last season, there are a few weaknesses. 

 

I believe when he debuted he was partnered with David Luiz (and was there a few times) which looked like a pretty damn solid partnership. With Ramires it was alright as well -- not a great deal of creativity but quite robust in midfield. 

 

Think this isn't too much of a concern though. He'll be good again. Perhaps this is why we're looking for a marquee CM though. 

 

 

I don't think so. Most teams who play a 4-2-3-1 play with a defensive line closer to their midfielders. We just need faster defenders I think. 

 

I understand what you're saying & I agree, but it's not even the space between the two; it's more the fact that players can get an easy run in on the players generally. Against West Brom for example, there was no space to play through our mid but they troubled us because they could run at us quite easily. When we do decide to push and then press they just hit us over the top with a faster player, which is why, like you said, we need faster players to match those runs. 

 

Alternatively we've got players capable of high press runs ourselves so we could do what Barca does and aim to win the ball back in the final third. 

 

Also would suggest why not only we're keen on Pogba (or so the rumours say) but for Stones as well.  If we do buy Pogba though then we'll need to switch to a 4-3-3

Edited August 25, 201510 yr by MANoWAR

Remember in the first half of last season when Matic would sit deep, tackle the opposition and then set us off on another attack ? where has this Matic gone ?

 

The Matic we see today seems to get too involved in the attack, which leaves gaps, and he takes forever to make a pass which leads to the opposition tackling him. I miss the clean tackling, no nonsense Matic that we were seeing.

He doesn't deserve that criticism towards him. He can't control the central alone, he need Fabregas for that, but Fabregas is our current worst player so he's the one that should be on the bench and get all that criticism. The guy can't even win a tackle, I don't expect Matic to be as good as last year because he can't play alone. 

 

I agree with Jose when he said that Matic is touching the ball too much but other comments against him just wrong. Jose was really unfair with him against Southampton, I think it's kind of disrespectful situation. But he's the boss and he decides what to do. I'm just saying that Ivanovic and Fabregas worse than him and they're untouchables. 

Matic must be feeling awful right now. Or seething with rage.

I agree with Jose when he said that Matic is touching the ball too much but other comments against him just wrong. Jose was really unfair with him against Southampton, I think it's kind of disrespectful situation. But he's the boss and he decides what to do.

 

Which other comments are you referring to? As far as I understood the game, it was a tactical decision to remove Matic. It has happened to Mikel more times than I could care to remember.

Which other comments are you referring to? As far as I understood the game, it was a tactical decision to remove Matic. It has happened to Mikel more times than I could care to remember.

I can't remember mikel coming on and then being subbed?

Felt sorry for Matic today but he showed his class by coming off without a scene. A number of others in the same situation may have spat the dummy out.

I can't remember mikel coming on and then being subbed?

Felt sorry for Matic today but he showed his class by coming off without a scene. A number of others in the same situation may have spat the dummy out.

Was today your first time watching a Chelsea game?

I'm of course only teasing, but taking off your DM is standard fare when throwing caution to the wind. What I said was that this has happened to Mikel many times over the course of his career. Bringing Matic on was tactical decision, with Ramires on a yellow and the game in delicate balance. And taking him off was again a tactical decision.

That matic decision could send shockwave to an already messy dressing room..  whatever matic's flaw, it's not as obvious as ivanovic.. poor matic, he got mata treatment... 

Was today your first time watching a Chelsea game?

I'm of course only teasing, but taking off your DM is standard fare when throwing caution to the wind. What I said was that this has happened to Mikel many times over the course of his career. Bringing Matic on was tactical decision, with Ramires on a yellow and the game in delicate balance. And taking him off was again a tactical decision.

Why did you ask me that? Has he been then?

Yes we took off our holding midfielder but hardly threw caution to the wind because we then had Fabregas holding for the remainder of the game.

And tbh at the moment you or I could pass better than Fabregas lol

Why did you ask me that? Has he been then?

Yes we took off our holding midfielder but hardly threw caution to the wind because we then had Fabregas holding for the remainder of the game.

And tbh at the moment you or I could pass better than Fabregas lol

Countless times, as I've said. Surely having Fabregas as your DM is the very definition of throwing caution to the wind?

Ha! How I wish I could pass that well...

Either way, it's very easy to be critical of Mourinho's decisions in this moment. No fan or critic is taking any risk by doing that because they simply use the result as the ultimate justification for every argument made. I find it lazy and ignorant.

Mourinho takes off Willian - boooo! What is he doing? (Willian is sick)

Mourinho takes off Matic - booo! That is disrespectful! (A tactic Mourinho himself has used countless times when chasing a game but right now some choose to have a problem with it)

It annoys me just a little... :)

Felt bad for Matic Infact I think Jose f**ked up there

Matic has been as bad as everyone else, but he hasn't been as bad as Ivan. I think Jose singled him out in the interview (haven't seen it but heard he digged him out on a beIn Sports interview) to support his bizarre on and off sub after some 20 minutes.

 

When Matic is playing his best game he rules the midfield, protects the defence so that an aging slow JT can function well and allows Fabregas to play pure creative football without really needing to defend, I feel like him not doing well is one of the biggest reasons why we concede so many and score so few.

He's not the problem, felt so bad for him.

Not the first time in his career Jose has scapegoated a player to cover up his own failings.

Bit pathetic from Jose today, don't like it personally.

Not the first time in his career Jose has scapegoated a player to cover up his own failings.

Bit pathetic from Jose today, don't like it personally.

Have to agree

Matic' passing has been very poor as of late but to single him out is beyond lunacy. He never hides and despite being short on confidence, always wears his heart on his sleeve. The guy goes crunching into tackle after tackle and seems the only one willing to shoot from distance lately.

Matic would be one of the first names on the team sheet. He just needs help in there and he's not getting that from specific players.

I've had a bit of time to think on the Matic sub and as hard it was on Nemanja I believe it was the right call to make. I'm working from memory here so feel free to correct me if I've got mixed up. Here's my view of events:

I've heard from one of Jose's pressers that Ramires was vomitting in the dressing room at half time and the medics told Jose he couldn't continue. Jose's forced into the sub, bringing on Matic for him.

We concede the second goal and Remy starts to warm up ready to come on, I remember thinking at the time that it would be to replace Falcao who I believe was on the floor clutching his ankle. While Remy is getting ready to come on, we concede the third.

This, to me, forced Jose's hand again. We now need two goals in what's left of the second half. There's not much point in having a defensive mid at this stage so Matic comes off and we go with two up front to chase the game. It's this sort of bold, tough decisions that Jose's renowned for and is one of the reasons we praise him so.

Now, Nemanja has every right to feel humiliated and upset with coming off just after he'd come on but Jose and his coaching staff now need to handle that situation. In the background, I do hope that they sit him down, look him in the eye and say to him 'listen, it was a tactical decision, nothing personal' and explain the reasoning to him. Although Jose saying what he did to the media hasn't helped but the message has to be different behind the scenes.

There would have been alternatives, taking off a defender and going three at the back is one of them, but things always look so much better with hindsight.

EDIT: Just found it is was Willian who was vomitting, not Ramires. Not 100% right in my assessment but the rest is still applicable!

Edited October 4, 201510 yr by Huttsey

I fully understand why he subbed Matic but I still don't think it was right, especially when Matic is already low on confidence. It's bad man management and the press comments won't hep either. 

 

I don't even think much changed when he came off either, Fabregas took over Matic's role so it's not like we were pressing really hard. 

I've had a bit of time to think on the Matic sub and as hard it was on Nemanja I believe it was the right call to make. I'm working from memory here so feel free to correct me if I've got mixed up. Here's my view of events:

I've heard from one of Jose's pressers that Ramires was vomitting in the dressing room at half time and the medics told Jose he couldn't continue. Jose's forced into the sub, bringing on Matic for him.

We concede the second goal and Remy starts to warm up ready to come on, I remember thinking at the time that it would be to replace Falcao who I believe was on the floor clutching his ankle. While Remy is getting ready to come on, we concede the third.

This, to me, forced Jose's hand again. We now need two goals in what's left of the second half. There's not much point in having a defensive mid at this stage so Matic comes off and we go with two up front to chase the game. It's this sort of bold, tough decisions that Jose's renowned for and is one of the reasons we praise him so.

Now, Nemanja has every right to feel humiliated and upset with coming off just after he'd come on but Jose and his coaching staff now need to handle that situation. In the background, I do hope that they sit him down, look him in the eye and say to him 'listen, it was a tactical decision, nothing personal' and explain the reasoning to him. Although Jose saying what he did to the media hasn't helped but the message has to be different behind the scenes.

There would have been alternatives, taking off a defender and going three at the back is one of them, but things always look so much better with hindsight.

EDIT: Just found it is was Willian who was vomitting, not Ramires. Not 100% right in my assessment but the rest is still applicable!

 

 

When asked about the sub, he didn't mention about tactical decision but instead he said of how poor matic was as to indicate that's the reason why he was taken off then came on the next question (albeit after some other questions) the terry performance and jose said he doesn't discuss individual performance, totally forgetting he already did with matic.. 

 

Now after such media presser, do ya think the player would just buy his sweettalking just because of it's being delivered with eye contact in close range? Hindsight is indeed wonderful.. 

 

It's been a mess on and off the pitch and it shows no sign things would get better by the look of it.. 

Feel for him. Motd2 just gave their pov, feel for him.

That was very stupid. Only Willian, Zouma and Dave are better than Nemanja this season. I dont say he is at good level, I'm just try to explain he is one of the fifth the best. Even that happened with Ivanovic, who completely deserves it, I wouldnt agree. Very, very pathetic.

The comments in the press are a bit sh*t if true, but the substitution is perfectly fine.

Matic at his best is the best DM in the world, his performances this year highlights how good he was last season that he (along with JT) was able to cover the liability playing alongside him and still perform excellently. IMO, Fabregas is not a Chelsea player, never was. I always thought he was overrated but didn't realize how limited he actually is, even when talking about the few months period he was decent in a Chelsea shirt, I remember games against Swansea and Everton where he was dominated in midfield and looked clueless to what and where he needs to be or just completely invisible. He shouldn't and couldn't start for any top team long term. What annoys me is how our actual world class midfielder in Matic, a player who can in 5 years be on the list as one of our best ever midfielders, is paying the price of not doing the job of three players.

 

I'm not talking about yesterday specifically because that game he should have been on the pitch from the start alongside Ramires, in general, Matic deserves better than Fabregas, simple as that. He deserves a midfield partner who cares and sacrifices like him, for me that should be first priority to get the team back to the top. Jose basically hinted that he's only playing Fabregas because he thinks "he can cope with the pressure", my only hope is that we can replace him with a player who can cope and be useful at the same time.

well, come to think of it, maybe taking off matic is his way of trying to justify his action of not starting him in the 1st place.. arghh...