[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

He was good again today. Glad his form is returning somewhat. He's good when he's got a runner like Fred next to him. It means he can sit and play more of a Carrick-like role. His passing was solid today. Sprayed a few great balls out wide.

 

[GDaly95]

The opposition offered no threat whatsoever. None.

Wheel him out against poor opposition twice a month or so and of course he'll look like a baller.

Nothing against him, but let the man go, get the best fee possible for him and replace him with someone you and dynamic.

 

[Marcelinho87]

Play him in games where he won't be relentlessly pressed and we still have a good DM here.

 

[jackal&hyde]

Play him in games where he won't be relentlessly pressed and we still have a good DM here.

Yep. He was overplayed last season i think. If we manage him correctly he seems to still have something to offer.

 

[Bwuk]

Norwich offered nothing. In games like this he’s still the best option from deep to pass the ball bar Pogba.

 

[Icemav]

Very good. Helped to control and recycle play and keep the attacks coming and coming. Maybe a very good option against teams that sit deep where hard to counter.

He is very well rested and experienced. Good news for us.

 

[Tarrou]

playing him twice a week is a recipe for disaster i think, but what choice do we have now?

 

[Ace of Spades]

Aginst teams that do not press, he is good. Still think we need better players than him.

 

[Andycoleno9]

He was mainly wrongly used by Ole. Matic is not a player who can play in every system especially now when his legs are gone. But in 433 as classic dmc he is very useful. Can pass, can shield the ball and there he protects back line. In 4231 he is not good at all. Same thing was with Carrick. His best season for me was when he played dmc. In midfield two, slow players are fecked

 

[Adam-Utd]

He was mainly wrongly used by Ole. Matic is not a player who can play in every system especially now when his legs are gone. But in 433 as classic dmc he is very useful. Can pass, can shield the ball and there he protects back line. In 4231 he is not good at all. Same thing was with Carrick. His best season for me was when he played dmc. In midfield two, slow players are fecked

We aren't playing any differently, he just looks fitter at the moment. I think he's been playing through some injuries and trying to pretend he's OK - clearly he wasn't.

He's had some time off and healed, and now he's running more like you'd expect. Before he was almost hobbling around like he had a bad foot/leg and couldn't sprint.

Perhaps the threat of him being out of contract has made him work harder for the shop window, either way his future isn't here eventually (as long as we replace him properly)

 

[Tarrou]

we're actually one Matic injury away (or Fred, but he seems less injury prone at least) from being completely and utterly fecked

 

[Thiagoal]

Him and McT are the most important players in our squad at present! A team that doesn’t include either is woefully short of presence and stature in the middle of the field and gets terribly overrun!

If Matić leaves then its essential we buy a player of similar ilk

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

He was mainly wrongly used by Ole. Matic is not a player who can play in every system especially now when his legs are gone. But in 433 as classic dmc he is very useful. Can pass, can shield the ball and there he protects back line. In 4231 he is not good at all. Same thing was with Carrick. His best season for me was when he played dmc. In midfield two, slow players are fecked

Aye he's been decent since he's been brought back into the fold in that formation, and I think it's unfair to say he can only play against no-hopers such as Norwich at OT. Good against Burnley for me and transformative against an admittedly more conservative City side in the second half does not indicate a player who is utterly finished, the trouble is as you say he offers nothing outside of playing at the base of a midfield three. His legs, which are only going to get worse, and his lack of positional versatility mean he's on borrowed time here but he's at least managed to prove he can be useful this season, which I and many others had believed was beyond him.

 

[Icemav]

Aye he's been decent since he's been brought back into the fold in that formation, and I think it's unfair to say he can only play against no-hopers such as Norwich at OT. Good against Burnley for me and transformative against an admittedly more conservative City side in the second half does not indicate a player who is utterly finished, the trouble is as you say he offers nothing outside of playing at the base of a midfield three. His legs, which are only going to get worse, and his lack of positional versatility mean he's on borrowed time here but he's at least managed to prove he can be useful this season, which I and many others had believed was beyond him.

He could always be useful against teams sitting deep especially as our attackers are on fire. Not good on the counter though. Another issue is that our managers have been running him into the ground when he is not a guy who should be playing every week.

Good news he is fit and ready again.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

He could always be useful against teams sitting deep especially as our attackers are on fire. Not good on the counter though. Another issue is that our managers have been running him into the ground when he is not a guy who should be playing every week.

Good news he is fit and ready again.

Yeah, the conditions needed for him to play well seem to be getting more and more refined so he clearly is not a player we can rely on for even the near future but as far the as the rest of this season goes he has an important role to play, which is fair enough considering I thought he was done.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

We're just so much more balanced with him in the side. Said it before, will say it again, needlessly alienated for too long.

 

[caid]

I think he slows our play to a crawl and we should be desperate to get him back out of the team tbh.

 

[Unlikely lad]

Thought he was terrible in the first half

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

It's no surprise that we are starting to get clean sheets with him in the side. He had a couple poor moments though.

 

[FootyGirl88]

Hes been good since hes come back into the team.

 

[Kag]

We're just so much more balanced with him in the side. Said it before, will say it again, needlessly alienated for too long.

Yep. I’ve thought that, too. He has his issues but he’s something of a necessary evil for the time being.

 

[Based Adnan]

He slows down our play moving forward but we get compensated for that with defensive stability. Double edged sword really.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I think he slows our play to a crawl and we should be desperate to get him back out of the team tbh.

My lord.

 

[caid]

It's no surprise that we are starting to get clean sheets with him in the side. He had a couple poor moments though.

Fair, its what he does with the ball that drives me up the wall.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Slows down our play is such a lazy comment. There were plenty of fast, fired balls from him when passes were on.

 

[ivaldo]

Played some nice passes, but as usual, players just waltz past him. How many times was he robbed of the ball today? Horrendous attribute to have as a defensive midfielder. That and his uncanny ability to literally Soto our own attacks while taken half a dozen touches of his own. Can't wait for McTominay to come back in all honesty.

 

[bosnian_red]

Much improved this season now that he is being rotated. Once McTominay is back he probably won't play as much, but it's also needless to run McTominay into the ground when we have a perfectly capable defensive mid here (for however long is left with him). Quite simply, if McTominay is out, then Matic has to play. Proved why yet again. We're hopeless in midfield without either of them, but at least can be solid and organized with him in.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Played some nice passes, but as usual, players just waltz past him. How many times was he robbed of the ball today? Horrendous attribute to have as a defensive midfielder. Can't wait for McTominay to come back in all honesty.

Because our defensive record was good with McTom and Fred?

 

[caid]

Slows down our play is such a lazy comment. There were plenty of fast, fired balls from him when passes were on.

and dozens of times he took 5+ touches, a couple of 180 turns and then played it back to Lindelof

 

[ivaldo]

Slows down our play is such a lazy comment. There were plenty of fast, fired balls from him when passes were on.

And significantly more unnecessary touches and delayed passes.

 

[ivaldo]

Because our defensive record was good with McTom and Fred?

Oh so Matic is the sole reason is he? Or are you refuting that he was robbed of the ball several times?

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

and dozens of times he took 5+ touches, a couple of 180 turns and then played it back to Lindelof

We call that move "the Maguire."

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

And significantly more unnecessary touches and delayed passes.

Give me that over the frenzied football before he came back that couldn't get us a clean sheet to save our lives.

 

[Zoo]

Been pleased with him since coming back into the team.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I thought he was good yet again.

Really pleasantly surprised with him.

 

[Based Adnan]

Slows down our play is such a lazy comment. There were plenty of fast, fired balls from him when passes were on.

A few nice passes in between the lines don't make up for the numerous times he takes several needless touches on the ball before releasing it

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Oh so Matic is the sole reason is he?

One of, just by being an actual DM who does slow it down at times. Our attackers are frenzied enough, McTom partnered with Fred just adds to that.

 

[ChaddyP]

Did well, but I really wish he would stop fecking about with the ball when hes on it and just pass it as quickly as possible to the attacking players. When he diddles with it he either loses possession or passes it awkwardly to one of ours

 

[thepolice123]

Bar Pogba, he is our only midfielder who has composure and intelligence on the ball. We control games better with him in the team.

 

[sammsky1]

good again