Nemanja Matic image 31

Nemanja Matic Serbia flag

2017-18 Performances


View full 2017-18 profile

6.2 Season Average Rating
Appearances
49
Goals
2
Assists
4
Yellow cards
6
Status
Not open for further replies.

TypeR

Full Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2013
Messages
454
Location
The Little Red Dot
Is it just me who thought he was at fault for the first goal? He should have been ready for the cutback amd closer to the scorer. And if Mata loses possession he should as DM be there to sweep up for him.
I noticed the same. In fact as the DM he probably should have tracked the runner that Mata lost, whom even Lindelof was pointing for someone to track. But everyone got drawn to the ball instead.
 

roonster09

Hercule Poirot of the scouting world
Scout
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
36,818
Is it just me who thought he was at fault for the first goal? He should have been ready for the cutback amd closer to the scorer. And if Mata loses possession he should as DM be there to sweep up for him.
Not really, Mata came deep and lost possession, it doesn't make any sense for Matic to stay just next to him or behind Mata as we pushed higher up and looking to break down defensive team.

Check the sequence of play, Matic and Herrera were deepest midfielder, then Mata comes deep, it makes sense for Matic to stay ahead of Mata to receive pass. Look at Matic positioning, it was spot on. Matic can't predict that Mata will fail to control simple pass.
 
Last edited:

Bulldogg

Full Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2017
Messages
100
Location
Melbourne
Is it just me who thought he was at fault for the first goal? He should have been ready for the cutback amd closer to the scorer. And if Mata loses possession he should as DM be there to sweep up for him.
Your reaching trying to fault Matic for the goal, Mata made the decision to get the ball that deep and fuk'd it up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Varun

Varun

Moderator
Staff
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
46,782
Location
Mumbai
He is doing the job of 2 players since Pogba's injury.
Pretty much. Herrera's lack of cojones has been pissing me off more than the poor performances itself. He wants absolutely nothing to do with any responsibility in making us move forward. Just lays it off to the next man every single time. As a result, it's down to Matic to feed the front 4 from the middle which is not his forte to put it mildly.
 

prtk0811

New Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
7,854
He was not at fault for both the goals, But his passing with the ball could be qestioned in this game as we only scored 1 goal against newly promoted side.
 

prtk0811

New Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
7,854
Pretty much. Herrera's lack of cojones has been pissing me off more than the poor performances itself. He wants absolutely nothing to do with any responsibility in making us move forward. Just lays it off to the next man every single time. As a result, it's down to Matic to feed the front 4 from the middle which is not his forte to put it mildly.
When you are playing a 4231 with a cam its the cam's job to link up with the attack mainly,You cant exect herrera to play like fabregas in posession.

LAck of balance in a 4231 is a real problem with wingers so deep when they recive the ball , there is no penetration from their side so they cant even feed lukaku or be goal options themselves, as a result lukaku gets isolated and the no 10 is left with to much to do without support. Its almost like a 451 in and out of posession.
 

Varun

Moderator
Staff
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
46,782
Location
Mumbai
When you are playing a 4231 with a cam its the cam's job to link up with the attack mainly,You cant exect herrera to play like fabregas in posession.

LAck of balance in a 4231 is a real problem with wingers so deep when they recive the ball , there is no penetration from their side so they cant even feed lukaku or be goal options themselves, as a result lukaku gets isolated and the no 10 is left with to much to do without support. Its almost like a 451 in and out of posession.
Not at all, especially when we're playing a team camped in their own half. I'm not talking about Herrera feeding the striker directly either but to say he can't do much more than continously passing it to the 2 CBs and Matic is just wrong. He wasn't even looking to pass it to the wide men in space, always chose the nearest guy and passed the buck(and the ball).
 

OohAahMartial

Full Member
Joined
May 16, 2016
Messages
3,164
Location
Back in the UK
Not really, Mata came deep and lost possession, it doesn't make any sense for Matic to stay just next to him or behind Mata as we pushed higher up and looking to break down defensive team.

Check the sequence of play, Matic and Herrera were deepest midfielder, then Mata comes deep, it makes sense for Matic to stay ahead of Mata to receive pass. Look at Matic positioning, it was spot on. Matic can't predict that Mata will fail to control simple pass.
He and the goalscorer were running but Matic overran and ended up marking no one and leaving the cutback open. He was the closest player but not close enough. Cutbacks are the DM's responsibility.
 

roonster09

Hercule Poirot of the scouting world
Scout
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
36,818
He and the goalscorer were running but Matic overran and ended up marking no one and leaving the cutback open. He was the closest player but not close enough. Cutbacks are the DM's responsibility.
It's not a neat build up play to mark the runners, it was counter attack and first instinct is to reach the box and block the space. It's harsh to blame anyone except Mata for first goal.
 

OohAahMartial

Full Member
Joined
May 16, 2016
Messages
3,164
Location
Back in the UK
It's not a neat build up play to mark the runners, it was counter attack and first instinct is to reach the box and block the space. It's harsh to blame anyone except Mata for first goal.
Not even Lindelof? Was a collective mistake from what I saw. I think if Jones was still on neither of the goals would have happened. Although Jones would have injured himself trying to prevent them. Thought Matic was ok overall but he could definitely have done better for the goal.
 

roonster09

Hercule Poirot of the scouting world
Scout
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
36,818
Not even Lindelof? Was a collective mistake from what I saw. I think if Jones was still on neither of the goals would have happened. Although Jones would have injured himself trying to prevent them. Thought Matic was ok overall but he could definitely have done better for the goal.
There is nothing much Lindelof could have done, commit early and there was a good chance it would have been 1 vs 3.

It's on Mata and no one else, losing possession in that area when all our players except 1 or 2 behind was a terrible mistake. Then players just ran back to make up the numbers in the box, it would take near impossible concentration levels and decision making to mark players in such short time. It was not even cut back, it's rebound from De Gea's save.
 

prtk0811

New Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
7,854
Not at all, especially when we're playing a team camped in their own half. I'm not talking about Herrera feeding the striker directly either but to say he can't do much more than continously passing it to the 2 CBs and Matic is just wrong. He wasn't even looking to pass it to the wide men in space, always chose the nearest guy and passed the buck(and the ball).
Well , He's not known for his passing since lvg days. He is a mechanical passer. WHen the tempo slows down he stops feeding penetrating balls. Opposition sides cut passing lanes and he just makes no effort to beat that. Herrera passes better when the tempo of circulation is faster and there is better space and movement in front of him. He is not that confident on the ball. Lvg's Mechanical passing coaching had a big influence on him.

When the opposition is camped in their own half and you loose the ball in forward areas , you need 2 men in the centre to stop the counter attacking overload and therefore he is instructed not to join the attacking areas.

This total system and first team becomes unbalanced. BAll circulation, Positioning , players strenghts in the system is not a complete match as a unit.
 

Classnordic

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
293
Well , He's not known for his passing since lvg days. He is a mechanical passer. WHen the tempo slows down he stops feeding penetrating balls. Opposition sides cut passing lanes and he just makes no effort to beat that. Herrera passes better when the tempo of circulation is faster and there is better space and movement in front of him. He is not that confident on the ball. Lvg's Mechanical passing coaching had a big influence on him.

When the opposition is camped in their own half and you loose the ball in forward areas , you need 2 men in the centre to stop the counter attacking overload and therefore he is instructed not to join the attacking areas.

This total system and first team becomes unbalanced. BAll circulation, Positioning , players strenghts in the system is not a complete match as a unit.
Only him right? The issue with Herrera is that he is not good enough, despite trying to play like a terrier, something he is not.
 

D2Z

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jul 1, 2016
Messages
529
Location
Milton
Supports
Undercover "Chelsea fan" ;)
Herrera is better then Kante lads.

Any takers? No?

Didn't think so.
 

prtk0811

New Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
7,854
Only him right? The issue with Herrera is that he is not good enough, despite trying to play like a terrier, something he is not.
Only him because pogba and matic never played under him. Fellani still passes safe only to the nearest player like he did under lvg.

I am not against passing safe, but you got to have intelligence of when to do it and when take risks and pass more vertical in offensive positions.

That's why I used the word mechanical on Herrera because he does not use much of the brain.
 

MThomas

New Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2004
Messages
16,718
Location
Figo: In Spain we called Benitez 'píldora para dor
I have no idea how Matic got such decent ratings from the match against Huddersfield, he was an absolute pile of garbage out there. Slow in possession, when players had the ball with an opponent in their back he barely made an attempt at moving into position where he could receive the ball again, static as feck. 3 dodgy performances in a row (Liverpool, Besiktas and Huddersfield).
 

breakout67

Full Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2017
Messages
9,050
Supports
Man City
No chance you can blame Matic for the first goal. Mata was the deepest midfielder, lost the ball and even then Matic busted more of a gut to get back and defend.
 

MyOnlySolskjaer

Creator of Player Performance threads
Joined
Nov 27, 2014
Messages
26,992
Location
Player Performance Threads
I have no idea how Matic got such decent ratings from the match against Huddersfield, he was an absolute pile of garbage out there. Slow in possession, when players had the ball with an opponent in their back he barely made an attempt at moving into position where he could receive the ball again, static as feck. 3 dodgy performances in a row (Liverpool, Besiktas and Huddersfield).
He was poor and all the criticism seems to have gone to Herrera instead for some reason. Herrera was bad too but Matic seems to be getting off a lot lighter.
 

Escobar

Shameless Musketeer
Joined
Jun 8, 2004
Messages
30,240
Location
La-La-Land
He was poor and all the criticism seems to have gone to Herrera instead for some reason. Herrera was bad too but Matic seems to be getting off a lot lighter.
Herrera was poor in every single game so far, so there is no leeway for him. Matic had brilliant games this season
 

IrishRedDevil

Full Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2016
Messages
12,317
Location
N.Ireland

MyOnlySolskjaer

Creator of Player Performance threads
Joined
Nov 27, 2014
Messages
26,992
Location
Player Performance Threads

Pogue Mahone

The caf's Camus.
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
134,254
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons

Pogue Mahone

The caf's Camus.
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
134,254
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
I have no idea how Matic got such decent ratings from the match against Huddersfield, he was an absolute pile of garbage out there. Slow in possession, when players had the ball with an opponent in their back he barely made an attempt at moving into position where he could receive the ball again, static as feck. 3 dodgy performances in a row (Liverpool, Besiktas and Huddersfield).
:yawn:

So fecking boring the way some posters have certain players they’re itching to rag on and at the slightest hint of a dip in performance levels they crucify said player, making the performance sound miles worse than it was and drag a load of previous performances into the discussion; making them seem worse too. Has to be one of the worst things about football threads on here.

Here’s a thought. He got decent ratings because he was a lot better than you’re giving him credit for?
 

MThomas

New Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2004
Messages
16,718
Location
Figo: In Spain we called Benitez 'píldora para dor
Can't fault him for the goal
:yawn:

So fecking boring the way some posters have certain players they’re itching to rag on and at the slightest hint of a dip in performance levels they crucify said player, making the performance sound miles worse than it was and drag a load of previous performances into the discussion; making them seem worse too. Has to be one of the worst things about football threads on here.

Here’s a thought. He got decent ratings because he was a lot better than you’re giving him credit for?
Itching ? overall he's been a great signing
 

Pogue Mahone

The caf's Camus.
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
134,254
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
Can't fault him for the goal


Itching ? overall he's been a great signing
Well the way you’re wildly exaggerating how bad he was against Huddersfield gives the impression of someone who’s just dying to put the boot in. At worst he faded towards the end. Up until that point he was carrying our midfield almost single-handedly. As usual.
 

MThomas

New Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2004
Messages
16,718
Location
Figo: In Spain we called Benitez 'píldora para dor
Well the way you’re wildly exaggerating how bad he was against Huddersfield gives the impression of someone who’s just dying to put the boot in. At worst he faded towards the end. Up until that point he was carrying our midfield almost single-handedly. As usual.
Maybe you are just exaggerating how he was carrying the midfield ?
 

Chaky_Best

Supports 'a joke of a club'.
Joined
Nov 26, 2013
Messages
3,020
Location
Vegeta's Planet
He didn t had a correct pre season and is starting to tire a little bit IMO. He runs too much and not in an efficient way.

Probably because of Pogba s injury but also his form.

He needs to rest a bit now. Hope that Pogba and Carrick can come back asap
 

el3mel

New Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Messages
43,736
Location
Egypt
He was poor in this game but IMO, if you're asking him to be the main creator force in the midfield you're doing something wrong. His role is the set back and build the attack from behind, not to go forward and slam through balls and assists. The absence of Pogba and Fellaini is starting to hurt him as well.
 

midnightmare

Full Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2015
Messages
1,228
Location
Midian
Maybe you are just exaggerating how he was carrying the midfield ?
To be fair, given how Herrera has been playing Matic is having to cover a lot more ground and do a lot more. He looked “poor” only when trying to do the things that Herrera wasn’t - moving the ball forward (and giving it away at times). That’s something outside his remit (and strengths) and is something Pogba, and now Herrera, are supposed to do.
 

Sammyjunn

New Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2013
Messages
10,299
Location
In Smalling's pocket (as every other person)
To be fair, given how Herrera has been playing Matic is having to cover a lot more ground and do a lot more. He looked “poor” only when trying to do the things that Herrera wasn’t - moving the ball forward (and giving it away at times). That’s something outside his remit (and strengths) and is something Pogba, and now Herrera, are supposed to do.
Indeed, things like knowing that when you have the ball an opponent can come from behind to nick it away, dont pass the ball right into the feet of a player of the opposing team, dont try fancy moves in your own box and just clearing the ball are things that Pogba or Herrera have to do for Matic. Similarly to Mourinho explicitly giving instructions to Shaw where to stand, where to run during the match.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.