25 million euro, so roughly 20 million pounds. Anyone else remenber when that was a sh*tload of money?

25 million euro, so roughly 20 million pounds. Anyone else remenber when that was a sh*tload of money?

 

I don't think i have ever seen the market inflate so much in such a short amount of time. Strikers that were worth £30 million only 5 or 6 years ago are now worth £50 million, that is crazy.

I don't think i have ever seen the market inflate so much in such a short amount of time. Strikers that were worth £30 million only 5 or 6 years ago are now worth £50 million, that is crazy.

 

Strikers that are worthless are worth 50 million quid now, and who do we have to blame for that 

I don't think i have ever seen the market inflate so much in such a short amount of time. Strikers that were worth £30 million only 5 or 6 years ago are now worth £50 million, that is crazy.

 

Imagine what hypothetically what the "Torres of Liverpool" would be worth now and shudder...

 

Matic has been fantastic, even from opposition fans mainly United and Liverpool, how much they'd love to have him in their side over Hazard and Costa.

 

He's been one of the best signings we've had in a long time.

One of the rare occasions we'll be without him due to his suspension. In my opinion he's probably the hardest player in our squad to replace along with JT. He does so much proactive work both with and without the ball that we're going to look like a completely different team without him against Newcastle and I'm not sure how we'll cope.

 

Shows just how important he's come in such a short space of time. Honestly think that we will struggle massively without him.

For one game, I would like to think we will cope. 

 

Ramires isn't as savvy defensive wise but he's not exactly rubbish in all things midfield.  

 

Mikel isn't anywhere near Matic's level but he should be able to come in, sit in the holding role and allow Fabregas a bit of license going forward.

 

Long term I think we would miss Matic if he were to miss a string of games on the bounce but for the one match I think we are more than covered if we approach the game right. 

If we could somehow combine Ramires and Mikel into one player we would have a good replacement for Matic

If we could somehow combine Ramires and Mikel into one player we would have a good replacement for Matic

 

Was thinking the same thing. Amazing to think Mikel earns £70k a week and needs someone to hold his hand in midfield.

He's a massive loss for the Newcastle game but if Ramires and Mikel were to play alongside each other I just hope they play well enough to counter any attacking threats from Newcastle.

 

Matic is the most underrated player in the EPL outside Chelsea and our supporters!

I would not risk Mikel in that position this game, much rather play Ramires who will at least cover ground. Perhaps he is not as tidy on the ball but I just have nightmares of Mikel trying to cover ground, I don't want to come up too short going up north again.

Was thinking the same thing. Amazing to think Mikel earns £70k a week and needs someone to hold his hand in midfield.

 

Yet someone is talking about using Mikel so Fabregas has license to go forward. Amazing how Fabregas needs someone to cover his ass in midfield.

Yet someone is talking about using Mikel so Fabregas has license to go forward. Amazing how Fabregas needs someone to cover his ass in midfield.

 

Hmm, ok. Different players who have different roles in midfield. Fabregas's job isn't to sit like Matic, it's to be a playmaker.

 

Despite that he covers more ground than any other player in the league and also makes a lot of tackles for us.

 

Think you're confusing 'needs someone to cover his ass' with 'needs a teammate capable of pulling his weight'.

Ok I'll risk it.

 

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

 

Still think that, Stim?

Watching the game it was evident how important Matic is defensively.

 

We should have done better but I reckon we would not have lost had Matic played

 

A real linchpin in midfield  

Edited December 6, 201411 yr by Las7

We did miss him but his replacement had a very good game, mikel was our best player in my opinion.

Yeah and don't forget Matic also played against Sunderland which was another game we struggled to get going in.

 

Mikel was good today, it would have been brilliant if he scored that chance.

Agreed, I thought Mikel was good today, played the ball forward :)

Looked shocked to be the most advanced player at one point though

Agreed, I thought Mikel was good today, played the ball forward :)

Looked shocked to be the most advanced player at one point though

Ha ha, yeah he definitely sh*t himself then.  I know how he felt though, anytime I got forward I had no idea what to do. 

Edited December 6, 201411 yr by dkw

Just exemplified how important he is to the team. He adds so much to the team when he's in possession and was seriously missed, even though Mikel had a good game defensively.

Mikel stepped up well in his absence but he's no Matic though and seeing him out of action really hurt us on Saturday.

 

Thankfully he'll be back soon!

Edited December 8, 201411 yr by Jezz

His absence on Saturday showed his true value. Unbeaten games, off one game and we lost. Let's hoe he get a good rest and roaring to go on Saturday,

Im not sure how much of a difference he makes, He’s better then mikel, yes but Mikel’s contribution over the years is massively underrated on these bored. People just need a scape goat and mikel fits the bill, Oscar and Willian both get it as well from time to time.

 

Matic would have pressed higher but that in it’s self wouldn’t have won the game, we had our chances, we didn’t take them, they had a couple of pieces of luck go there way and capitalised on both.. it really was that simple, Cahill aside no one really had a bad game, but the problem is drogba aside no one really had a great game. Most of the time it will be enough, in the north east apparently it isn’t

Mikel needs to go though imo. We need someone of fernandinho quality who won't mind being a cover for matic. Mikel will have one good game out of 5, but overall he just isn't good enough to cover matic. I would be much more confident with a 20 yr old ake as matic replacement than mikel tbh.

Mikel needs to go though imo. We need someone of fernandinho quality who won't mind being a cover for matic. Mikel will have one good game out of 5, but overall he just isn't good enough to cover matic. I would be much more confident with a 20 yr old ake as matic replacement than mikel tbh.

This after Mikel had an excellent game. The ultimate scapegoat. Our attackers and Gary Cahill failed us, not Mikel. Matic is amazing but Mikel is excellent back up.

This after Mikel had an excellent game. The ultimate scapegoat. Our attackers and Gary Cahill failed us, not Mikel. Matic is amazing but Mikel is excellent back up.

 

Why is Mikel so protected? Any criticism of him and someone whines about him being a scapegoat? Is it impossible that criticism of him is entirely justified?

 

Saying he's a scapegoat is about as ridiculous as saying he had an 'excellent' game on Saturday. He had a decent game but nobody had an excellent game. Nothing he did in that match was exceptional.

 

If we had Matic in a few of the situations we had Mikel in then the outcome may have been different, and that's because he's a much better player.

 

And if he was an 'excellent back-up' then Mourinho would use him to give Matic a break in league matches once in a while. But he doesn't. EVER.