I'd rather see Loftus or Nate starting next to Kante, they offer a lot more going forward than Matic. He's good breaking up play but at times i have to cringe trying to watch him carry the ball forward. 

A tiny improvement last night, his passing was poor and defensively he wasn't as good as Oscar and Matic, they provided him a free role that should have gone to Cesc and we probably would have won more easily but the pressure is off him and he's found his joy in football again.

I think this is the first step in his rehabilitation to returning to his best.

Played better second half than he did the 1st, but i still think he gives the ball away too much, has poor vision, and is too one footed.

A more assured performance, certainly.  However, his reluctance to use his right foot is criminal.  I really hope we don't send Ake out on loan and give him a chance in the first team 

A more assured performance, certainly.  However, his reluctance to use his right foot is criminal.  I really hope we don't send Ake out on loan and give him a chance in the first team 

 

He's already gone out on loan to Bournemouth.

Baffles me that a professional footballer can be so one footed.

He's already gone out on loan to Bournemouth.

 

Sorry, mate. That was meant to say Nate, as in Chalobah.  Must've had Ake on the brain for some reason.

Just give him a chance folks...  It's only one game and he's shown an improvement on last season already.

Sorry, mate. That was meant to say Nate, as in Chalobah.  Must've had Ake on the brain for some reason.

 

Ah, ok then 

Didn't Matic hit the ball to Mitchy for the winner?

Just give him a chance folks...  It's only one game and he's shown an improvement on last season already.

 

Lying on the floor and not moving would have been an improvement on last season. 

Thought he actually played better today than he did against west ham. Looks clumsy on the ball still at times, and attacks do nroke down because of it, but he is improving compared to last season.

Thought he actually played better today than he did against west ham. Looks clumsy on the ball still at times, and attacks do nroke down because of it, but he is improving compared to last season.

I would still like to see him and Kante together against Burnley, i think we look more solid in midfield with those 2 together.

 

The problem is though that i would like to see Fabregas and Batshuayi both starting, that would mean that Matic would have to be dropped to fit them both in.

I would still like to see him and Kante together against Burnley, i think we look more solid in midfield with those 2 together.

The problem is though that i would like to see Fabregas and Batshuayi both starting, that would mean that Matic would have to be dropped to fit them both in.

Id keep the same team but oscar for fabregas, and willian back if fit. batshuayi will probably get a start midweek, and he is looking good. Dont think we can drop costa though.

Until Oscar and Matic are taken out of the starting 11, it's going to be very limited and boring up front. Batman should take Oscar's spot and play up front with Costa. And somebody like RLC or Chalobah should take Matic spot. They offer more going forward. Kante can definitely handle the holding duties by himself.

Batman should take Oscar's spot and play up front with Costa.

 

Would 4-4-2/4-2-4 be as effective over 90 minutes than just 10/15 minutes here and there though? I'd like to see it too but I'm not convinced.

Edited August 20, 20169 yr by the special one

It was like watching the Matic of last season tonight, a horrible performance by him. I would rather have seen Chalobah play than him tonight, i doubt Chalobah would have performed as badly.

 

The Matic and Fabregas combination obviously doesn't work anymore. Luckily we won't have to see much of it this season, unless Kante get's injured that is 

It was like watching the Matic of last season tonight, a horrible performance by him. I would rather have seen Chalobah play than him tonight, i doubt Chalobah would have performed as badly.

 

The Matic and Fabregas combination obviously doesn't work anymore. Luckily we won't have to see much of it this season, unless Kante get's injured that is 

 

Chalobah is more creative than Matic in my opinion, I think he can offer more in the attack when he has Kante behind him. I agree with that Chalobah has to replace Matic, but it seems like Conte won't give up on Matic and will give him a chance to back to his best. 

Conte will probably play Matic for a while and end up with Mikel in the end. 

Obviously tough to tell today with there being no coverage.  But I hope this at least told Conte that Matic and Fabregas can't play together.

 

I mentioned it in the US Tour thread, Minneapolis.  Cesc leaves the RB (Aina when I watched) far too exposed.  And Matic doesn't seem that comfortable being the main defensive midfielder in a 2 man pivot (aahhhhhh, the pivot).

 

I could see Conte play Matic in a mid 3 with Oscar or even Fab alongside him, so long as Kante was behind them both.

 

Otherwise, I'd rather we cashed in on him if Juve are serious. 

The penalty we conceded was a pretty good example of the DM not doing his job, I couldn't even see Matic in the picture when their attacker went straight through with no defenders around him. I'm happy Conte is keeping faith in Matic, but I don't think he will get many chances if he keeps up his level.

He's going to struggle to keep his place once Mikel is back and match fit.

The penalty we conceded was a pretty good example of the DM not doing his job, I couldn't even see Matic in the picture when their attacker went straight through with no defenders around him. I'm happy Conte is keeping faith in Matic, but I don't think he will get many chances if he keeps up his level.

You never know. Matic was sh*t last season but José was willing to play in all games instead of giving RLC and Mikel a chance until Gus took over.

This season Conte prefer him not just over RLC but over our most creative midfielder Fabregas.

The penalty we conceded was a pretty good example of the DM not doing his job, I couldn't even see Matic in the picture when their attacker went straight through with no defenders around him. I'm happy Conte is keeping faith in Matic, but I don't think he will get many chances if he keeps up his level.

So glad you say this! That's not the only game this season/preseason. His positioning has become dogsh*t, can't remember which game it was this season but we got carve open on numerous occasions because the guy doesn't want to stay where he should be playing. Is it too much to ask him to defend these days?

Strong performance today. Not quite at his best but a 7.5-8 if you will.

Good to see.