I think they're a good partnership and quite rightly are usually the first choices.

I also think he's having a very good season.

but it is probably true to say that beyond this season his is one of a number of positions where it wouldn't be hugely surprising to see us try and improve. although it will probably be huge money to do so.

Kante made 14 tackles yesterday, but his pass completion was only 68%. 

I think that highlights the problem with pairing him with matic instead of fabregas.

One of those midfield 2 need to be able dictate the play, kante isnt going to be that player, and while matic has done okay this season, apgainst the top teams we have struggled to get a foot hold in the game. 

We have still been solid enough defensively, and clinical enough on the break to pick up wins against united and spurs at home with that pairing, but looking fotwsrd to next season, if like to see us perform slightly better in the big games, especially with champions league football looking likely.

I think fabregas deserves more starts than he is getting, although im not sure that kante and fabregas is the best going forward, but i think its worth giving that combination a chance, especially now alonso looks settled and is starting hold his own on that flank.

Shows how we can see things differently. I think Matic started ok but has been going downhill quickly. At home I simply don't think Matic should be playing but I think he does simply for his height. Against high pressure teams well he might aswell be on the opposition team. All I see is Chelsea defend well it falls to Matics feet and then goes back to the opposition, Chelsea then defend well goes to Matics feet and back to the opposition. It just puts to much pressure on a team and eventually you will concede.

You don't need two dms in a team with a back 3 and 2 wing backs. People moan about Fabregas but he would keep the ball, play the right passes and I bet Costa would make a hell of a lot more runs knowing Fabs in the team. His higher pass perecentage would put less pressure on the defence and in turn it helps the defence. All I see is Matic giving the ball away and putting more pressure on the defence.

Yes there are others guilty but Matic plays in the middle and in an important role where you can't be giving the ball away so much. I have also never seen someone take so long to pick a pass or a big player get muscled of the ball apart from Can at Liverpool.

Matic has been good this season and that is exactly the reason Conte keeps picking him. Cesc has been good too. We need them both.

For a player as inept as Matic being in the middle of the team it is amazing that we're 9 points clear at the top of the league. 

I can think of 2 more. Koke and Toni Kroos, i don't think we would ever be able to get one of those two though.

Kroos, Veratti, Modric or Fabregas will be a perfect pairing with Kante.

 

2 minutes ago, wallosh said:

Kroos, Veratti, Modric of Fabregas will be a perfect pairing with Kante.

 

meh we're not getting those guys

 

realistically, tolisso would be perfect

29 minutes ago, Van Butsen said:

 

 

Just out of interest, is it possible to show that table for Fabregas, Kante and Matic ?

@Sexyfootball

 

@Van Butsen very interesting - thanks very much !

Is that Opta or something similar ? How much does the licence cost for that level of info ?

No matter what, there will always be a scapegoat.

10 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

@Van Butsen very interesting - thanks very much !

Is that Opta or something similar ? How much does the licence cost for that level of info ?

It's on Squawka. http://www.squawka.com/comparison-matrix

They haven't charged me anything yet, made about 5-6 of them so far, I'm just presuming they are all free.

After all the song & dance start Fab routine on here I was relieved when the team-sheet came out & saw Matic. The right choice by Conte & he had an excellent game against Le Arse. True it is that the Coquelin/Oxlade-Chamb. partnership was an awkward pairing for them & so it proved but Matic I feel had some of his old swagger back & for me was important as Kante on the day.

He was fantastic yesterday again and we need to appreciate him more. Gets far too much stick for my liking.

We still need a top class box to box. We miss goals from central midfield. Kante does the defensive side, but matic is not strong in offence or defence. If we had a goal scorer who is also competent defensively, we would be in a great situation. He and Kante did well yesterday because they had little to battlr against in the centre of the park. Against Spurs it showed how fragile we can be with matic in there. Kante does a hell of a lot of work defensively,  but matic hardly makes an impact. Its no wonder Kante is always being heralded, while matic does nothing of apparent imapctfullness. 

On 02/02/2017 at 11:29, Van Butsen said:

@Sexyfootball

 

Cherry picking stats again.

The only stat that matters....

 

3 hours ago, Ivanov87 said:

He was fantastic yesterday again and we need to appreciate him more. Gets far too much stick for my liking.

Kante was fantastic, Matic did ok. For Matic to be fantastic, then I expect him to play to his strength and shield the ball against cocquelin at the end of first half (big Ozil chance) and follow Mustaffi on his free header in 77min.

He had a better game than he did against Liverpool that's for sure. He needs to keep it going though because too often he is having really poor games.

He played well, physically he was much stronger than his counterparts, and he didn't have the usual issue of being pressed too hard.

I think he will start unless he's injured or has 2-3 shockers, as much as I don't agree Conte is more likely to be right than me.

 

I can see why Pogba was so expensive when you look at those stats. Kanté is a master of the tackling and retaining possession, Fàbregas is a master of creativity, but how many guys out there can do both at such a level. Past Pogba, Verratti and perhaps Vidal i cant think of any. That sort of calibre of player is the player we need to improve, yes we can use Matic or Fàbregas to pair Kanté, but i feel that either one leaves us lacking in one area, whether that be creativity or solidarity. 

20 hours ago, coco said:

Cherry picking stats again.

The only stat that matters....

 

Just giving the poster what he wanted.

Absolutely no agenda here so jump down off your horse chief.

Edited February 6, 20179 yr by Van Butsen

Matic played very well agasint Le Arse. I do think that Chalouba would be a perfect fit there though

He has been very rated for football fans around the world. 

Interesting that we as fans of the club don't really rate him, but we all know that he's one of our keys to success this season. I asked a lot of friends and read forums of different clubs, most of them are really dreaming about Kante and Matic in their central. 

When he puts a bad performance we all know how to speak negatively about him, but when he puts a good performance only a few of us giving him some credit. Unfair towards him. We all know that his passing ability isn't best, his reaction with the ball isn't that fast, but let's not forget how many important things he offers us. 

If we're going to win the title this season, then he won 2 titles in 4 years.