Absolute beast.  In the match thread Sydney was talking about how he and Luiz weren't doing a good enough job on Silva and Toure (perhaps in the first half?) and I'll never find the post now.  I thought they did brilliantly considering how rampant those two usually are.  Not a complete shut down but as good as you can hope for against world class players.  Silva switched flanks several times to escape his mark, and neither of them managed to assert themselves as they usually do.  Compared to previous City v Chelsea performances our midfield had a masterclass, and Matic starred the show.  

Brilliant peformance, I can see him starting every game he is eligible for now.

Immense tonight, exactly what we have been missing in the middle for a couple of years.

Toure has been bullying our midfield for years.  We just bought a bigger bully.

 

He was incredible tonight, to 'out Toure' Yaya on his debut is just amazing... the most powerful midfielder in the league and Matic easily dispossessed him on a number of occasions, and also breezed past him at times as if he wasn't there

Anyone missing Mata?

Great debut, grew and grew as the game progressed. Just the type of player we needed.

He was incredible tonight, to 'out Toure' Yaya on his debut is just amazing... the most powerful midfielder in the league and Matic easily dispossessed him on a number of occasions, and also breezed past him at times as if he wasn't there

That's a bona fide central midfielder for you. Mikel has his qualities but he could never produce such a performance. Top signing and one more please.

Toure has been bullying our midfield for years.  We just bought a bigger bully.

Loved watching that battle evolve tonight. Thought Toure had the better of the first half and Matic the second. Toure was his usual monster self tonight but think Matic just edged it.

Absolute beast.  In the match thread Sydney was talking about how he and Luiz weren't doing a good enough job on Silva and Toure (perhaps in the first half?) and I'll never find the post now.  I thought they did brilliantly considering how rampant those two usually are.  Not a complete shut down but as good as you can hope for against world class players.  Silva switched flanks several times to escape his mark, and neither of them managed to assert themselves as they usually do.  Compared to previous City v Chelsea performances our midfield had a masterclass, and Matic starred the show.  

 

It's the sign of having a top-class manager when he notices things and fixes them in the space of a half-time team talk. On reflection I think it had more to do with Willian's positioning, who was focusing more on hassling Nastasic which allowed one of Silva/Toure/Demichelis to be free in midfield. Jose spotted it, Willian/Ramires start dropping back into midfield and suddenly Matic and Luiz grew into the game. 

Looks like a very good bit of business even at 22 mill.

Nice to have the manager back and obviously having a big say in transfers.

What really impressed me was how he stood up to be counted versus one of the best players in the Premier League. He didn't play defensively or conservatively either, he just stuck to his role linking defense and attack. 

 

Promising, promising signs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9mbOcNZS8o

I think that video sums up really nicely what we've been missing with Luiz/Mikel/Essien/Ramires in that position. Four very serviceable options but each just lacking one other thing that makes them top class.

 

The difference between him and Mikel is quite outstanding; he doesn't amble back to defend, he tracks his man, he wins headers and crucially he can both maintain possession and spot the quick release for the counter-attack. Against some teams, given their contrasting styles, Mikel and Matic could make an outstanding duo with Mikel freed from the defensive work he is normally shackled with.

Mikel absolutely still has a role to play in this team . He has been a great servant to the club and without him we wouldn't of won the champions league which some people on here seem to forget .

 

I think one positive about having Mikel , Matic and Luiz available is it does give our attacking players (including Ramires and particularly Lampard) a little bit more attacking freedom in terms of where they are positioned on the field. Ramires is most effective when given this opportunity to bomb forward at pace and it looks like Willian is made for it as well .

 

Exciting times lads . 

Mikel absolutely still has a role to play in this team . He has been a great servant to the club and without him we wouldn't of won the champions league which some people on here seem to forget .

For sure. Just as Mata still very much had a role to play but similarly, when considering the player's characteristics for the formation and philosophy we are playing, there will always be huge question marks.

In the WHam match his selection was a bad one by Jose, unfortunately. I still don't think I've ever seen a central midfielder burst forward and receive the ball only to pass it back as often as Mikel in that game. He just doesn't have enough in his locker to start regularly for a big club in a 2-man midfield.

Given the nature of the game, it being his PL full debut, Matic can be very proud of himself (as can they all). It was a great battle in there.

I was curious as to why we had made the big push for him as in previous games against us for Benfica he didn't stand out/dominate against our midfield, now I see why we had him in the 1st place,

excellent both in air and ground last night, knows when to cover and go forward and didn't let the game, atmosphere or the opposition intimidate him....will get even better (as he did the longer the game went on).............

excellent decision to play both him and Luiz in the middle-----mobility and strength and willingness to win the ball from both of them.........could be the future pairing

outstanding player. not just composed and technically brilliant on the ball, but physically he is tremendous. towering presence, and plenty of pace/acceleration. i remember one example last night where navas threatend to break forward and matic was matching him stride for stride. not bad for a big man!

He was a demon last night.

We finally got some muscle in the middle!!!!!!!

outstanding player. not just composed and technically brilliant on the ball, but physically he is tremendous. towering presence, and plenty of pace/acceleration. i remember one example last night where navas threatend to break forward and matic was matching him stride for stride. not bad for a big man!

 

i wouldnt as far as to call him technically brilliant. some of his passes were way of the mark. id say mikel has better technique than matic. but matic more than makes up for it with his workrate and discipline

 

 

Mikel and Matic could make an outstanding duo with Mikel freed from the defensive work he is normally shackled with.

 

willian and ramires work more in defence than mikel and still manage to create more

 

and im really struggling to see what could he possibly offer if given a more attacking role. more sideways passes? more timid shots on goal?

Edited February 4, 201412 yr by Lane

I think someone like Modric would be perfect next to Matic.  f**king Spurs.  Perhaps Kroos? 

 

Edit: I hasten to add that I love Ramires but his passing and decision making is infuriating at times.  Fernandinho is a similar type of player but he has an excellent range of passing and he's vital to City's team.  I could see him beating Rambo to Brazil's midfield on merit for that alone.  I think he could use the competition with a great passer and our team would really benefit from it, especially when facing a parked bus. 

Edited February 4, 201412 yr by Castiel

Shame Essien's left after injuries, the thought of them playing together would be every other midfielder's worst nightmare.

20 million is a f**king bargain

Toure has been bullying our midfield for years.  We just bought a bigger bully.

 

Seeing Matic push him around was just wonderful, probably the highlight of the game for me.

 

Couldn't help but laugh when Toure kept diving because Matic was too much for him.

Apparently covered the most distance out of all the players on the pitch. Yes even more than Rami

Edited February 4, 201412 yr by Lane