Couldn't be happier with this guy at the minute, think he's absolute class and has given us so much balance to the team. His tackling and positional awareness is first class, and his distribution of the ball is rapid. His passing can be wayward at time but a huge upgrade on what we have. Think he could be a massive player for us in the years to come. (Sorry just seen that there is already a thread on him, mods can lock. Apologies)

Edited February 17, 201412 yr by JMaher94

Need a chant for him.

Need a chant for him.

Was also thinking this!

What a fantastic player.  Perfect CM for us.  I look forward to watching him develop even further and he will be a mainstay in the side for a while.  Great player and glad we got him back. 

Ok I'll risk it.

 

I think you are both over the top in your praise.

Needs a better partner to reach his full potential!

Needs a better partner to reach his full potential!

As showcased against City, Luiz could be that very man if given the opportunity.

We'll see what happens when JT is back and whether Jose moves Luiz forward or benches him.

As showcased against City, Luiz could be that very man if given the opportunity.

We'll see what happens when JT is back and whether Jose moves Luiz forward or benches him.

I think it's a toss up between Luiz and Ramires. But Luiz and Matic are simply the most rounded CMs at the club - good defensively, strong in the air, good energy, good technique, progressive with their passing. Neither player is world class yet but they offer more in that position than the other candidates.

As showcased against City, Luiz could be that very man if given the opportunity.

We'll see what happens when JT is back and whether Jose moves Luiz forward or benches him.

 

Different horses for different courses as they saying goes.

 

Luiz and Matic worked well against City mainly because the main role for them in that game was to sit deep and not venture forward too much. 

 

Luiz was extremely disciplined in that game but on previous occasions he's been poor with his positioning and goes walkabouts too much for my liking.

 

I have no idea what the long term answer is, I would have thought Ramires but he's looked off the pace recently so who knows.

 

Could be that we will actually be in the market in the summer depending on who is allowed to leave and if Lampard isn't given a new deal.  

I realise its still early days for his first team career with us but I have to say that I really think he has performed very well since he returned.

 

When i see his name on the team sheet I feel a confidence about our central midfield that I haven't felt since The Bison was in his heyday. I'm not saying that Matic is as good as Essien was but I don't doubt he'll get there.

Different horses for different courses as they saying goes.

 

Luiz and Matic worked well against City mainly because the main role for them in that game was to sit deep and not venture forward too much. 

 

Luiz was extremely disciplined in that game but on previous occasions he's been poor with his positioning and goes walkabouts too much for my liking.

 

I have no idea what the long term answer is, I would have thought Ramires but he's looked off the pace recently so who knows.

 

Could be that we will actually be in the market in the summer depending on who is allowed to leave and if Lampard isn't given a new deal.  

 

Yep I think people are going a bit OTT with Luiz and Matic, it was perfect for City but we don't play them every week.  A Modric or a Kroos would be his perfect partner in my opinion.  Mourinho had Alonso/Modric and Khedira at Madrid, or a similar combination - so hopefully he has that in mind for us.  As for right now, Ramires and Matic is probably our best combination for most games.  The issue is Ramires seems to be out of form as well and his passing can be shocking.

Yep I think people are going a bit OTT with Luiz and Matic, it was perfect for City but we don't play them every week.  A Modric or a Kroos would be his perfect partner in my opinion.  Mourinho had Alonso/Modric and Khedira at Madrid, or a similar combination - so hopefully he has that in mind for us.  As for right now, Ramires and Matic is probably our best combination for most games.  The issue is Ramires seems to be out of form as well and his passing can be shocking.

 

It's going to be a big decision whether or not to retain Frank for another season.

 

We've let Essien go and bought Matic in which is clearly an upgrade but does Jose see that as job done for rebuilding the midfield? I'm not sure myself, the fact that he is occasionally playing a centre back out of position there to me suggests he isn't entirely happy with his options just yet.

 

Hopefully van Ginkel can return before the end of the season and have a decent pre-season so he can be assessed as an option again but I'm starting to wonder if Mikel could leave this summer as it would be a good time for him considering it's just after a World Cup. 

 

Kroos would be the dream player to come in but I just don't see Bayern letting him leave, there's been rumours of Khedia still joining despite his injury this season which could still be an interesting option. 

It's going to be a big decision whether or not to retain Frank for another season.

 

We've let Essien go and bought Matic in which is clearly an upgrade but does Jose see that as job done for rebuilding the midfield? I'm not sure myself, the fact that he is occasionally playing a centre back out of position there to me suggests he isn't entirely happy with his options just yet.

 

Hopefully van Ginkel can return before the end of the season and have a decent pre-season so he can be assessed as an option again but I'm starting to wonder if Mikel could leave this summer as it would be a good time for him considering it's just after a World Cup. 

 

Kroos would be the dream player to come in but I just don't see Bayern letting him leave, there's been rumours of Khedia still joining despite his injury this season which could still be an interesting option. 

 

Khedira is someone I wanted before Matic arrived, but he's more the destroyer type as well.  I'd love a passer in there, somebody who can pick out our wingers and just control the game from the middle.  I still wouldn't say no to him though.  MVG could end up being a great partner for him but we've just not seen enough of him to know how he'll work out, or how much of a toll his injury has taken.  The two of them would certainly be physically imposing in any case.

 

I agree that Jose isn't satisfied yet.  He said at the beginning of the season that Luiz is a CB and he seems to have changed his mind there.  He also doesn't play Mikel unless forced or to close out a game.  I think we can expect some surgery on our midfield in the summer.

Khedira is someone I wanted before Matic arrived, but he's more the destroyer type as well.  I'd love a passer in there, somebody who can pick out our wingers and just control the game from the middle.  I still wouldn't say no to him though.  MVG could end up being a great partner for him but we've just not seen enough of him to know how he'll work out, or how much of a toll his injury has taken.  The two of them would certainly be physically imposing in any case.

 

I agree that Jose isn't satisfied yet.  He said at the beginning of the season that Luiz is a CB and he seems to have changed his mind there.  He also doesn't play Mikel unless forced or to close out a game.  I think we can expect some surgery on our midfield in the summer.

 

I'm not sure he has changed his mind so much as that he doesn't like the options that he has.

 

I don't think Frank has the legs to play a game like the City one where we are going to play with less possession and chase and harass the opposition with a view of breaking quickly, likewise I don't think Mikel has the speed of thought to play the ball forward quickly and with accuracy to start the attacks.. I still think there's room for improvement in the middle even after Matic's signing. 

 

I think there's going to be a signing for forward, midfield and defense in the summer and it's surprising how much work Jose is doing to the team already but that's why he's been given a say in the transfers and that's the difference between finishing 6th and 3rd like the last two years and actually competing for the title again I suppose. 

Even if we don't win the league this season Matic will be one of those players who can win it for us next season. Remember before the season when many of us here were talking about the need for a quality DM and a striker. Would have loved to have De Rossi but now that we have Nemanja I prefer Roma keep their talisman.

Now we only lack the striker. I have no idea why we didn't address these two problems in the summer but it is looking much better now.

What a signing he is. Our two serbians are the countrys best players and one of the best players in their respected positions in the league as well.

Excellent signing,end of.

Love Matic. He's a big reason why we are in the position we're in IMO.

 

First half of the season we were really lacking that physical presence in the middle - someone who could shut teams down (exactly what he did against both city and arsenal)

 

Not convinced that Luiz is the right partner for him. Would love to see someone like Kroos alongside him. Think a stalwart like Matic could really allow Kroos to shine in the premier league.

Quality player ...

So we sold Mata to pay for Matic.

 

 

 

 

Brilliant!

Tremendous performance against Arsenal, also the partnership with Luiz worked well.

The same partnership against Citeh if I recall correctly. Great for "the big game". If only he could play in the CL

Funny thing for me is,he is what the pro Mikel squad say about Mikel.stable,reliable,nothing fancy-but gets the job done.one IMO is fantasy(Mikel)the other(matic)is real.

Not a great midfielder by any means ,however matic is functional.

Funny thing for me is,he is what the pro Mikel squad say about Mikel.stable,reliable,nothing fancy-but gets the job done.one IMO is fantasy(Mikel)the other(matic)is real.

Not a great midfielder by any means ,however matic is functional.

I think he is a great midfielder!

I thought his over the top ball to Salah for the 6th goal was delightful . It couldn't of been more perfect and highlights how good this guy is at distributing the ball as well as winning it back . What a lethal combination of skills this guy has and they are perfectly suited to the quick counter attacking style of play we are developing under Jose .