with rumors that Matic wanted by Juventus if Pogba goes, that's could be either warning off or bidding up price. unless Juve pay up I'm inclined to keep and ship off one of the others (not Nate though - want him given a chance). Or ask for Bonucci in return.

 

 

If Juve cash in on pogba big time we need to be doing to them what clubs typically do to us... we know you have the money so Matic just doubled in price. 

 

Personaly I still believe Matic can be the beast we remember  

Conte has been singing Matic's praises in his first press conference in America

"Matic is an important player for me, a very important player. In my idea of football he is an important player and he knows this."

"I am delighted with Matic's attitude and behaviour and I see in him a great commitment."

"I know with Matic's work he can become a fantastic midfielder, one of the best in the world in my opinion."

"When I have players like N’Golo, Nemanja, Cesc, Oscar, Chalobah and Mikel, it is not easy to choose. I want to have this problem."

 

Interesting that RLC not mentioned in that list - nice to Chalobah's name 

Interesting that RLC not mentioned in that list - nice to Chalobah's name 

 

Conte seems to think RLC is better suited at ST for some very bizarre reason.

Interesting that RLC not mentioned in that list - nice to Chalobah's name 

 

RIP Mourinho said Conte's previously referred to RLC as a "striker". 

 

Bit concerned by that personally because I don't think RLC influences play pushed high up the pitch. He's looked best for Chelsea on the few occasions he's played deeper in midfield and been able to pick the ball up in out own half, stretch his legs and carry the ball forward. 

 

Can't see it being a long term plan for RLC and maybe he's just being utilised in that way during pre-season as we're stacked for midfielders because we've not sold anyone yet but lack enough fit forwards for a two striker system. 

4 pre-season games so far and in each of them he has looked terrible. I don't like to judge players on how they perform in pre-season, but Matic was so bad last season that you even end up looking at these games for some sign of improvement. Those problems Matic was having last season are quite clearly still there and i don't think he is going to snap out of it. It wasn't even surprising to see Matic almost head that ball over Begovic's head in the game against Real Madrid, it was just typical Matic of the last year. It's such a shame because i thought we had that position sorted for years with Matic there.

4 pre-season games so far and in each of them he has looked terrible. I don't like to judge players on how they perform in pre-season, but Matic was so bad last season that you even end up looking at these games for some sign of improvement. Those problems Matic was having last season are quite clearly still there and i don't think he is going to snap out of it. It wasn't even surprising to see Matic almost head that ball over Begovic's head in the game against Real Madrid, it was just typical Matic of the last year. It's such a shame because i thought we had that position sorted for years with Matic there.

 

Like you Scott...I think he has been woeful TBH, friendlies or not, his job is to protect the back and he simply is not doing it and in the process giving the ball away too easily. The aging central defenders are worrying me and Matic isn't giving me any confidence that he can offer even a layer of protection....apart from Kante it seems that we still need someone to sit in there...who I just don't know.   At this point I just might flog him to Juventus and make some money and go an get someone else or give one of the kids a chance....

I'm getting a bit worried. He's not played well for quite a while now. Although maybe playing with Kante will bring out the best in him.

Was he a pure dm at benfica or nah? Maybe he would be more use next to a dm like kante.

i think during the 2015-2016 offseason he got abducted by the monstars of space jam and they stole his talent

i think that's the only logical explanation, from arguably the best dm in the world to a borderline unplayable player in just a span of 2 months and never improve since then

Edited July 31, 20169 yr by havelschayes

He's broken, beyond repair I think. Cash in.

He's broken, beyond repair I think. Cash in.

Hate to say it bjd but I'm starting to agree with that sentiment.

Problem is we'd lose a lot as well. He is our only left footed cm and we'd have quite a short midfield without him as well.

In a three man midfield I think he would work but he just isn't mobile enough in a two.

Mid way through last season every under performer had raised their level and either returned to normal or had a few good games here and there, but Matic is the only one stuck at rock bottom. I don't think he even had a single good game since last year.

 

I'd still keep him at the club because we know what he can do and he cost £20 which is peanuts in today's world and I don't think we can sell for much either. Either he keeps plugging away trying to improve in the squad or go out on loan if this club can't seem to rehab him back to normal.

Matic is a lost cause I am afraid, after seeing him in pre-season continuing his very bad form from last year. All this after Conte reassured him he is a big part of our future, trying to bring his confidence levels up.

I don't know if we sell him how much we can get, we " only " paid 21 million for him, he should be worth about 35-40 mil in this crazy market

Matic used to be one of my favourite players the year we won the league.If it was up to me i'd keep him for one more year(not as a starter tho) and if he didn't improve then go on and sell

He's broken, beyond repair I think. Cash in.

 

Let me start the bidding:

 

Let me start the bidding:

 

Grab them while you can, 6 months from now he won't even be worth the shells......

Let me start the bidding:

has he changed his name to Percy Dalton? One for the old boys!

matic certainly doesn't look like the player he was one or two years ago, but besides a moment of tics during a back header to begovic i didn't feel that he was all that bad. all of real madrids dangers came on our right side, where oscar and willian were supposed to help aina. i would personally wait to see if the introduction of a good defensive midfield player like kante would make matic up his game, but i wouldn't hold it against the club if we got the chance to cash in on the serb either, i would just hope that the club sells him out of the country if so be.

matic certainly doesn't look like the player he was one or two years ago, but besides a moment of tics during a back header to begovic i didn't feel that he was all that bad. all of real madrids dangers came on our right side, where oscar and willian were supposed to help aina. i would personally wait to see if the introduction of a good defensive midfield player like kante would make matic up his game, but i wouldn't hold it against the club if we got the chance to cash in on the serb either, i would just hope that the club sells him out of the country if so be.

Problem is, I don't think you can play both Matic and Kante in a 2 man midfield.  Unless you ask the second striker (Hazard) to drop REALLY deep and play as a creator.  If you do that you take him out of scoring positions and only use him for link up play.  I think more than likely it's going to be a two man midfield with Kante and Fabregas, Fabregas acting as playmaker. 

i'm not sure what conte thinks, but if matic looks lethargic in a two man midfield i cannot image what fabregas would look like. i do share your thoughts on having a player who can play the ball through the oppositions midfield, but kante is pretty good at that from what i saw last year. 

 

as well as this, to truly examinate how bad/good our two player midfield situation is, i would like to see how they will cope when they get a striker ahead of them who can provide a target to aim at without the ball returning right away because no one can hold the ball up well.

Edited July 31, 20169 yr by opinionsarelike

He's gone for me, cash in while we can.

 

We always knew he had no pace, but now he just looks sloppy, constantly tired and his passing is terrible at times.

 

It looks as if as Mikel is staying as he is now away in Rio, so I'd rather have Mikel and RLC as our midfield back up, at least these guys can pass the ball.

What the hell has happened to him? Confidence completely shot?

What the hell has happened to him? Confidence completely shot?

 

Never recovered from the Ashley Barnes incident. 

Remember when he first arrived from Benfica and completely dominated Yaya Toure who was crushing every PL-midfield at that time and leading us to a win. He was fantastic back then, hard to pinpoint what has happened. I do have a hope Conte can get something out of him again though.

Never recovered from the Ashley Barnes incident.

Utterly ludicrous that challenge. One of the worst I've seen