07 Mar 2020 18:10:32
Can't find the article on sky sports but before Christmas when Lindeloff Maguire and Matic played together we had 2 clean sheets in 2 games . since Christmas it's something like 9 in 12, so in 14 games when them 3 played together we've kept 11 clean sheets which is great.

What's not great is the stats when Matic isn't playing we seem to concede w lot more and far less clean sheets.

Matic > Mctominay.

1.) 07 Mar 2020
07 Mar 2020 19:26:16
Yes we get it Wilbot, you're actually Nemanja Matic and you want a new contract as Inter aren't interested anymore 😂.

2.) 07 Mar 2020
07 Mar 2020 19:40:03
I think we get it, you don’t like mctominay.

3.) 07 Mar 2020
07 Mar 2020 21:21:59
Wilbot must be the only fan who genuinely dislikes mctominay. He is by no means world class but is a tidy player.

4.) 07 Mar 2020
07 Mar 2020 22:49:16
Hes a Darren Fletcher type. Useful but not as good as Carrick or Scholes. But these days we don't have a Carrick or Scholes.

5.) 07 Mar 2020
07 Mar 2020 23:05:45
Or maybe Matic doesn’t fancy a move to Northern Italy right now.

6.) 07 Mar 2020
07 Mar 2020 23:57:30
or maybe we do not have the money to do things other clubs dream aout anymore. debt gone up scouse and city overtaking us in rich league.

{Ed002's Note - Money is not an issue.}

7.) 08 Mar 2020
08 Mar 2020 08:12:25
I like Mctominay but he's not what people are saying he is.

Stats prove were better when we've got Matic in the team and we concede far less than when Mctominay is starting.

8.) 08 Mar 2020
08 Mar 2020 11:57:50
Wilbot, what are people saying he is?

When he got injured he was our most on form midfielder? True or false?

He has been consistently our best midfielder over the last 18 months? true or false?

I haven't seen anyone claiming him to be the second coming of Robson, Scholes or Keane. Or even that he has the ability of Carrick. What I've seen is people say he is always fully committed, plays with heart and has been our most in form midfielder over the last 18 months. He has been likened to Butt and Fletcher. That should tell you something.

He was a big miss for us while out injured, and he is a huge boost now he is back fit and able to play.

McTominay is more mobile than Matic, works harder and covers more ground. Over the last 18 months he has also broken up play more effectively. Where Matic beats McTominay is in passing range and he has a higher technical level.

Yet, Matic is probably in the best form of his United career right now. He was solid in his first 4 months, then tired after Christmas in his first season with his form tailing off. Which is pretty much in line with his last couple of season at Chelsea. In his second season his form started to decline in November. Leading many to wonder if he had the legs to play a whole season in the EPL anymore if he can't hack the pace up until Christmas.
This season he started off in poor form, regularly picked up injuries and generally struggled to play until Christmas. However, since January he has been top class again, excellent form and arguably his best form in a United shirt.

Now is that because he has hardly played in the first four months, so what we are seeing now is what would normally be his start of the season form which generally has been good.
Or has he not got the offers he was expecting from abroad and is now working hard in order to get a new deal with us?

The fact of the matter is that in his 2 and half years here he hasn't been able to maintain this level of form for more than 3-4 months at a time. That is why many suggest his legs are gone. He doesn't seem to have the fitness to play at this level twice a week for 9 months at a time.

Personally I think Matic still has something to give, but as a squad player rather than a first choice midfielder. Someone who can play once a week or even every other week, come in for those games where you need a little experience. However, at 31 Matic needs to decide if that is something he is happy with.
The occasional remark to the press about not being able to rely on young players, and the fact that he has actively pursued a move away while he wasn't in the starting line up suggests he isn't ready to accept a squad role just yet. I wouldn't be against activating the one year extension in his contract. However, next season really should be the last year he has at our club.

Nothing against him, he moved here, worked hard, has helped us and been a solid if unspectacular player. I would wish him the best when he leaves. But he will never be one of those players that in years to come you'll go all dewy eyed over remember him in a United shirt.

9.) 08 Mar 2020
08 Mar 2020 15:33:48
Just to be clear Wilbot. Stats do not prove anything. They can be used to make any argument.

When we beat city, we played mctominay and fred in a two shielding with lingard pressing from 10 and rashford, martial and james playing high and wide upfront. We looked pretty good that day and certainly did not miss matic.

Matic is a good player. He can be slow on the ball. He can be slow to cover. He can drop too deep, which I think is because he is worried about his recovery pace. BUT he does read the game well and sometimes his slow steadiness in midfield brings a composure to the whole team. His passing is okay, I don't subscribe to this view that his passing is far ahead of McTominay.

If Pogba comes back in a motivated mood (big if) then could Matic holding be a good balance with Pogba and Fernandes playing ahead? A sort of 4.1.4.1 formation? Maybe, but I would prefer that role to have the pace to get out and cover marauding fullbacks. Like Kante for example.

10.) 08 Mar 2020
08 Mar 2020 15:51:22
Dodgy, Matic looks better currently because Fred covers enough ground for the two of them, while Bruno also drops deeper and helps out. So there is plenty of legs. In a 4141 system I think Matic's lack of mobility would be exposed and he would look terrible.

He needs at least one other body close to him to cover the ground he can't.

11.) 08 Mar 2020
08 Mar 2020 18:39:35
He played pretty well today, got out and triggered the press a few times. Dipped his toes in the opposition's box. More of that please Matic!

12.) 08 Mar 2020
08 Mar 2020 18:43:55
None of use can just give matic credit use are all stuck up Mctominays bottom.