49 minutes ago, Argo said:

There was a similar argument in 10/11 when Lampard was off form and Josh was waiting in the wings, in theory it sounds good and plausible but in practice very rarely works out like that. 

Be fair fella you cannot compare matic on his best say to lamps at his worst, never mind his best. 

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Be fair fella you cannot compare matic on his best say to lamps at his worst, never mind his best. 

Lampard in 10/11 was absolutely horrific. Many people were calling for Josh to come in because "he couldn't be worse". 

Be fair fella you cannot compare matic on his best say to lamps at his worst, never mind his best. 

This is not Matic at his best. The first 18 months of his return had some of the best defensive midfield displays I've ever seen.

23 minutes ago, venom2011 said:

 

This is not Matic at his best. The first 18 months of his return had some of the best defensive midfield displays I've ever seen.

 

More like the first 12. After Cristmas the year we won our title he completely went off te boil. Teams would mark out Fabregas and force Matic over to his right foot and it all went lear shaped from there, he had a slight resurgence the first half of this season, but not back to the level he was. I think olayibg with a deep line under Mou also masked his poor positioning, which is certainly very poor for someone whos main strength are supposed to be contributing in defense

More like the first 12. After Cristmas the year we won our title he completely went off te boil. Teams would mark out Fabregas and force Matic over to his right foot and it all went lear shaped from there, he had a slight resurgence the first half of this season, but not back to the level he was. I think olayibg with a deep line under Mou also masked his poor positioning, which is certainly very poor for someone whos main strength are supposed to be contributing in defense

No the team as whole went off the boil and there were fabregas sized holes appearing all around him. He was still pretty solid. There was no masking anything during that period. His positioning and reading of the game was outstanding. And as I said previously, it was some of the best work I've seen. I honestly thought we'd have to wait quite a while for someone to reach those heights... and then came Kante.

16 minutes ago, venom2011 said:

 

No the team as whole went off the boil and there were fabregas sized holes appearing all around him. He was still pretty solid. There was no masking anything during that period. His positioning and reading of the game was outstanding. And as I said previously, it was some of the best work I've seen. I honestly thought we'd have to wait quite a while for someone to reach those heights... and then came Kante.

 

Outstanding positioning is something we saw from Maka. Matic was never close to that and he was just as big of a reason for the "Fabregas sized holes" as anyone. I think that City performance blinded a lot of people and gave him some slack causing others to get the blame for his poor play. His true level is somewere around the first half of this season. Unfortunately his incosistency is on the level of Oscar and we are stuck with Matic of current for longer periods of time then the Matic who is pretty good

Edited April 20, 20179 yr by Xfaxtor

I thought he looked great today. Couldn't do much with the kane goal, it was top drawer. 

With ake and christiensen, we really don't need to spend money in that area. 

Cahill will be nervous about keeping his place. 

Zouma also has a big job to get into the starting 11. I wouldn't write hin off from doing so though, as he seems professional enough to put in the work required.

 

Thought he was fantastic today and got stuck in from the first minute. I personally thought Ake or Moses or MOTM 

Think he showed today that he is ready to be a part of that back 3. For me, I'd have him in rotating with Cahill next season.

He was great today and showed that he is ready to play regularly for Chelsea. There was a lot if responsibility today and he managed to do a good job with the game being a semifinal against a top team.

I thought he did well today too, does this mean there's a chance he will be in the squad next season? Been rumours of a possible sale but I hope we stick by him.

2 hours ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

I thought he did well today too, does this mean there's a chance he will be in the squad next season? Been rumours of a possible sale but I hope we stick by him.

I really hope so too. Question on that is what position if the back 3 does young Andres fill in? If it is left side makes it hard for him or Ake. 

I like Ake at CB and thought he had a good game, but we have a height problem at the back. Many times today, Tottenham were winning headers from corners and crosses into the area, and the lack of height at CB was the main reason. For me, i don't think we can go forward with 2 CB's under 6 feet. Those few inches make a big difference. There is no way i would ever drop Azpilicueta and with Christensen coming back, i don't see Ake becoming a regular. He will always be a squad player. 

2 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I like Ake at CB and thought he had a good game, but we have a height problem at the back. Many times today, Tottenham were winning headers from corners and crosses into the area, and the lack of height at CB was the main reason. For me, i don't think we can go forward with 2 CB's under 6 feet. Those few inches make a big difference. There is no way i would ever drop Azpilicueta and with Christensen coming back, i don't see Ake becoming a regular. He will always be a squad player. 

Van Dijk will solve this problem. Really hope we go for him in the summer. Quick, tall and brilliant in the tackle.

Said it before, will say it again...this kid has the quality and temperament to be a chelsea player...could have been downhearted over not playing for months or for slightly losing Kane (not the first defender to do that) for the equaliser...but no, made a number of key tackles, some meaty ones too...let's give this kid a chance

31 minutes ago, The Brit said:

Said it before, will say it again...this kid has the quality and temperament to be a chelsea player...could have been downhearted over not playing for months or for slightly losing Kane (not the first defender to do that) for the equaliser...but no, made a number of key tackles, some meaty ones too...let's give this kid a chance

It took him a while to break in at Watford and Bournemouth, so I think he is accustomed to waiting now. 

I also disagree with the consensus us recalling him has stalled his progress, he has already proved he can perform at PL level and I reckon the experience yesterday tops an extra four months at Bournemouth. 

1 hour ago, JMaher94 said:

Van Dijk will solve this problem. Really hope we go for him in the summer. Quick, tall and brilliant in the tackle.

And we have to find a way to beat him and his saints team mates on Tuesday. 

 

What a performance!!! If we still go out and buy the flavour of the month (VVD), then it would be a disgrace

 

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

And we have to find a way to beat him and his saints team mates on Tuesday. 

Been injured for a while now.

5 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I really hope so too. Question on that is what position if the back 3 does young Andres fill in? If it is left side makes it hard for him or Ake. 

From what I have seen at gladbach Christensen has been predominantly Right side or central in the back 3 so I don't think it will affect Ake so much if anything it will put Zouma at threat.

Either way going in to next season with Ake as back up/ pressure on Cahill, Christensen as back up and pressure on Luiz, and Zouma as back up to Azpi and an extra height option if we think need it, seems like an extremely strong defensive core to me.
And I would much rather see Ake and Christensen bought into the fold than a player like VVD who in my opinion wouldn't get into our starting 11.

6 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I really hope so too. Question on that is what position if the back 3 does young Andres fill in? If it is left side makes it hard for him or Ake. 

Well we are losing JT so we need a squad still. I guess that's what's good about Ake he can play several positions (CB, LWB, DM). Tbh looking at the back 3 they're ageing and some aren't natural CB so I think both Andreas and Ake can break into the first team.

8 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I like Ake at CB and thought he had a good game, but we have a height problem at the back. Many times today, Tottenham were winning headers from corners and crosses into the area, and the lack of height at CB was the main reason. For me, i don't think we can go forward with 2 CB's under 6 feet. Those few inches make a big difference. There is no way i would ever drop Azpilicueta and with Christensen coming back, i don't see Ake becoming a regular. He will always be a squad player. 

That's what she said. ;-) 

Jokes aside I agree on the height issue. The great thing about ake is he is very versatile and that's a great strength for a player. Time will tell whether conte thinks he's the ideal man for the cb role.