22 Jun 2017 12:54:44
What is everyone's thoughts on trying to sign Matic?
22 Jun 2017 13:12:23
Double EPL winner, knows Jose's system, provides a solid base for the midfield. Would be a fantastic signing for us. Exactly the type of player who would give Pogba a bit more freedom to attack, and could help the likes of Fuzzy Mensa and Tuanzebe develop their game.
22 Jun 2017 13:18:30
Personally never been overly impressed. Always seemed a bit one dimensional to me. However he does the job well and played a big part in bolstering the midfield for Chelsea to win the title with Jose.
I'm also a tad unsure over whether signing someone who Chelsea are looking to upgrade on sends the right message.
However, it's a position that needs filling and I can't think of anyone I've found particularly convincing. Taking into accounts the Eds comments on Fabinho and his laziness, I'm not enthralled by Bakayoko, William Carvalho never seems to have reached that top tier and Milinkovic-Savic has signed a new deal. I don't know whether a left field option like Idrissa Gueye would do a job until someone of a higher tier comes to the fore.
22 Jun 2017 13:30:41
When he returned to Chelsea and I watched him a couple of times I had 3 thoughts:
1. This guy is an absolute beast, he's strong, can tackle, good passer, got the lot
2. Why the hell didn't we go for him as he's exactly what we needed (at that time)
3. I like Serbians named Nemanja
Now we arguably need that player even more, but I'm not sure if Matic is the same player now as he was 2-3 years ago. Maybe Chelsea's form 2 seasons ago and Kante's presence 1 season ago wasn't flattering for him.
If we do sign him there's no doubt he'd improve our team.
22 Jun 2017 13:30:47
A proven Expert In his role. A great signing imo.
Proven with the coach.
Would not be my first choice but i don't pick the team.
He is highly effective and very low risk. A near perfect signing in many ways.
22 Jun 2017 13:32:14
I think he's a really good player. Good in the tackle, strong, excellent positionally and very reliable and consistent. Ok, he's maybe not the name that everyone is looking for but I reckon he would really anchor himself in that defensive position which would free up Pogba more to go rampaging. I think it would take some pressure off Pogba as well. A good addition in my opinion.
22 Jun 2017 13:43:01
Probably a better option than fabinho.
22 Jun 2017 13:47:24
Certainly an upgrade on felaini.
22 Jun 2017 13:58:18
I'd be delighted with Matic. Except what our midfield needs. Fabinho would also be a great addition on top of Matic as he came share right back duties too.
{Ed004's Note - Fabinho is also a very good penalty taker. I think his record is 15 out of 16 for Monaco. I watched quite a few games of Monaco this year but I can't remember if Fabinho is in any way dominant in the air or not. Specifically for set pieces. The majority of signings we have been linked with this season are all tall players who are also good on the ball. We are definitely building a very strong physical side}
22 Jun 2017 14:11:34
I think he would be an ideal signing. He knows the EPL and he knows Jose, he would need no "bedding in" time and he fullfills a need in our squad.
I don't get the he's Chelsea's cast off. No one said that about Makelele when he left Real Madrid to join Chelsea. And how many of us would love the Barcelona and Arsenal cast off Alexis Sanchez?
Magic was a big player for Chelsea in winning the league under Jose, and he has done a fine job under Conte. But the systems used by Jose and Conte are very different. Matic's main weakness is his lack of mobility, that was mostly covered by Kante last season. Conte's system with three centre backs needs more mobility in midfield and has less of a need for a midfielder to sit in front of the defence to cover them. Therefore Matic's key skills are less needed and his weaknesses more of an issue.
That is why Chelsea are prepared to let him leave.
Anyone we sign from outside the league runs a risk of not adapting to the nature of the EPL or English culture. Sir Alex always preferred to sign proven players from within the EPL. Out of all the DM's we have been linked with Matic and Dier are the only ones with EPL experience. As much as I like Dier, Matic is the better player.
22 Jun 2017 14:19:33
Ken hit the nail on the head there with the low risk comment.
Although Matic may not be as youthful as some and may have already peaked - he is very low risk because he knows the prem (big hurdle for a lot of new players) and he knows Jose.
22 Jun 2017 14:49:22
We need to be catching Chelsea, not taking players they are happy to offload. I have the same feelings about Willian.
Good players, but they are not going to lift us enough, big money transfers, big wages, therefore assured first team starters if we do sign them and really both have dropped off significantly in recent time.
We need to be looking at the level above Matic, especially as he has been off colour for quite some time now. Unnecessary and expensive gamble.
22 Jun 2017 14:52:42
Shappy - Sanchez is not an Arsenal cast off and everyone knew Makele was class, Madrid just have a a history of signing too many top class players for the same position - which means now and again you can pick one up for a decent price. (NOT MORATA, definitely NOT MORATA) .
Bakayoko is who we should be going for if we are building for the future. Failing that go back for Vidal if we want somebody to energise the midfield. A midfield of Herrera, Pogba and Vidal would be phenomenal.
22 Jun 2017 15:30:10
Beast,
I think the Vidal ship sailed along time ago. Personally I'd prefer to sign someone younger as he will cost a bomb.
We should have tried to sign him a few years ago. A top player.
22 Jun 2017 16:28:01
Matic is a proven winner he has not been off colour at all, beast he is 28. Perhaps jose rates him higher than bakayoko.
22 Jun 2017 16:47:00
Was Matic not involved with the Mourinho / Chelsea implosion? Was Matic not made the fall guy in it? Mourinho / Matic relationship is not 100%. Not sure you want to bring that into the dressing room.
22 Jun 2017 16:51:28
Reading the s*n again red dub?
22 Jun 2017 17:12:34
I remember one of the eds posts/ replies re- Fabinho and his defensive abilities: it could be a square peg / round hole situation as we need a dm.
Matic might not be the galactico but he'll hit the ground running and does his job really well: also reckon the fee might be favourable/ value for money.
22 Jun 2017 17:49:22
Beast, how do you know Bakayoko will be a success in England, he has 18 months of playing well under his belt in Ligue 1. There are no guarantees he'll do well at Chelsea.
As I have stated Chelsea are prepared to offload Matic not because they don't rate him, but because his specific skill set isn't what the manager believes he wants/ needs.
22 Jun 2017 18:35:13
No guarantees of course. I just like him and think he will be a great signing, short and long term. I know a lot more about Matic like most of us, why would we sign a player no longer needed by a rival that has been performing below their best for a while? It would be like signing Fernando from City.
I get it that he is proven in the league, but countless players arrive and do well without being proven in the league. Don't get me wrong he will improve us a bit still, but not enough and I'd rather roll the dice on somebody I prefer. Matic is a roll of the dice as well, he could very easily be a Schneiderlin or Schweiny.
I wouldn't be too bothered about signing him, much better out there now and most importantly if Chelsea don't want him then neither should we.
22 Jun 2017 18:35:44
We don't need that skill-set either.
22 Jun 2017 19:27:50
Beast, I think we definitely do need that skill set.
Herrera simply has too much to do in midfield and a player like Matic would allow Herrera to channel his energy in more offensive work, and Pogba needs someone reliable behind him so he can effect the game in the final third, and because he can't track back to save his life.
Whether it's Matic or not we definitely need someone who breaks up play and gives the ball to a team mate quickly.
22 Jun 2017 20:06:05
We don't need a slow sitter breaking up play, we need another like Herrera imo in an ideal world. Read the game, energy, good on the ball, tackles, all rounder. We have 5 men marking 1 attacker most games, rarely do we need an extra man sitting deep.
We have Fellani and Carrick to do that if we have to, but we would be much better spending our money on a Vidal type rather than a Matic type imo.
Just not bothered about Matic, be another 7/ 10 player - too many of them.
22 Jun 2017 20:27:48
What does beast need to do to get a top management job? If his name was mejor he'd have won a champions league by now.
22 Jun 2017 20:27:59
beats
not like you to criticize anything we do:) how many times have you watched bakayouko? just curious and wonder if you ever noticed he is a poor passer and loses the ball a lot. someone should pull up some stats as i don't know where to find it.
22 Jun 2017 21:16:00
Beast, it's a team game. You don't want a several people doing the same job. We have Herrera as someone to buzz around and busy in the middle, we have Pogba as that midfielder who can step out of midfield and join the attack, what we need is someone sitting deeper dictating play and shielding the defence. Someone who will allow our fullbacks to push forward a bit more.
Matic does that, he might not be the player to score you the winning goal, but he is the keystone of the side that allows everyone else to play to their potential.
22 Jun 2017 23:11:49
Beast, Jose feels we need someone with that skill set. Ultimately it's down to him who we go for.
I think Matic would make an excellent signing, he was awesome for Chelsea in Jose's first season back and one of the key reasons behind them winning the league. Unfortunately he along with nearly everyone else struggled in Jose's second season. A lot of that was to do with burn out and bring under prepared. The lack of fitness of the squad highlighted Matic's lack of mobility and pace. He got slated and lost a little confidence. Toward the end of the season he started to play better again. This season he has played extremely well again and helped Chelsea to the title again.
Conte would ideally like someone more mobile to play alongside Kante as he has extra cover for the defence by having three centre backs.
Bakayoko suits what Conte wants better than Matic.
We on the other hand have Herrera and Pogba who both like to roam and have more freedom. So in order to allow them that we need someone who's happy to sit in the middle and not go galavanting about the pitch and leave big hopes behind him. Matic is more suited to that.
As a side note I have high hopes for TFM in that midfield role, so signing someone who is in their peak and will be able to show a youngster what is expected but not be around for 5+ years blocking their path would be ideal. Matic also ticks that box.
22 Jun 2017 23:32:07
I have a feeling we're getting both. That would mean those two, Pogba, Captain Herrara and Carrick into three. With injuries and games that looks good in there - fellahin I to leave, Carrick to leave next year with tfm or tuanzebe taking his place in the squad.