[Robbie Boy]

He wasn't great at all tonight and I don't think he was particularly good on Saturday either. His games will certainly have to be managed next season.

 

[Solius]

Signs a contract and then has a pretty pants game. Hopefully don’t have a Willian on our hands.

 

[TheReligion]

I thought he was fine tonight to be honest. Not great but not poor. Not sure what everyone else saw.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

He wasn’t as good as he has been since the restart but was still decent, didn’t play badly. Think it was good he got subbed of at 60mins give him more time to recover for the Southampton game which we’ll need him at his best.

 

[SAFMUTD]

His performances are starting to diminish, is natural having played so many minutes. Thats why its vital we get another CDM in the next window, he's solid when fresh but as soon as his fitness is not at 100% his performances drop considerably.

 

[The Cat]

He's been the same for 18 months - give him a rest now and then and he's fine. I would coach Scott to play the position specifically for that reason - he can go back in 2 years if he wants

 

[ExoduS]

I don't think Matic was great but far from bad. On Saturday he had few shockers but today he was pretty solid. Some lost duels today but couple were borderline fouls.

 

[Vernon Philander]

Didnt have a bad game, like some are suggesting. We'll need him if we're to get the coveted CL spot

 

[SambaBoy]

Looked a bit tired. Taken him off early was the right decision and hopefully he will be back to his best against Southampton, wasn't a performance to worry about either way.

 

[Ace of Spades]

His games need to be manged. He plays well when he has good rest, but looks sluggish anytime that he is overplayed.

 

[Godfather]

His games need to be manged. He plays well when he has good rest, but looks sluggish anytime that he is overplayed.

This. Looked a bit tired sadly. Fred can step in though.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Probably does need a rest as that 2 games were signs of the old magic we know and love is returning. I knew as soon as DeGea played him that ball he was going to lose possesion. Sure we conceded from a very similar situation earlier in the season.

I do think at times there were some moments where he showed his quality but physically it just didn’t seem there. Played some cracking passes mind and he is good at knowing where to plug gaps. Quite like him stepping in to CB positions

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Villa surprisingly (or not since I don't watch them a lot) press very high and hard today. High block.

And as we know, Matic is no longer that good vs high-press teams.
He also lost battle of strengths when he hold-the-ball deep in our half which Villa countered quickly. Twice?
Used to be that good and had monstrous strength when holding the ball.

Poor game today.

Villa clearly targeting him and Pogba high up their line in the first half. It works. Thankfully their finishing is bad.

 

[Adam-Utd]

His weakness is when people get close to him and he hasn't got the quick feet or acceleration to ride the press.

I'm not a fan of when he drops off deep and acts as the last man, he's much better when he stays higher up IMO.

 

[Tincanalley]

Matic was excellent yesterday - again. He is a vital part of the deadly trio that was a big factor in dominating their midfield. Right to take him off, too. He was on a yellow and probably needed the rest. Delighted to see him get a contract extension. In his own way, he is as vital as Bruno. But having all three clicking means we have a frighteningly strong midfield for the first time in ages. Was kind of touching seeing McTominay trying to play like him after he came on, and not making a bad fist of it. Indeed it's almost like you can feel the influence of the B-P-M axis even when they (or some of them) are off the field; the other players have a kind of role model now for transitions, when to stick, when to twist, the long Pogba ball to the full back etc etc. Matic was a superb buy. He is a leader. Harry is a leader. Bruno is a leader. That's just about the right balance of leaders to have. I have been critical of Ole in here - I'll admit that he might know a bit more about the game than I have given him credit for. I know he didn't buy Matic, but he is using him excellently. I think some credit too, maybe due to the influence of M. Carrick on the sidelines.

 

[AltiUn]

Lack of depth in his position is showing, he looked absolutely knackered tonight. Think we're going to have to risk resting him against Palace or else he'll be essentially running on empty for the rest of the season.

 

[spiriticon]

That pass back to De Gea in the 98th minute was criminal.

WRONG WAY BRO

 

[ivaldo]

3rd poor game in a row.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Think it’s showing if you can get after Bissaka, Lindelof and Maguire they’ll eventually brick it and put a ball in to Matic who is pretty easy to get at when he’s facing his own goal. Easy to force a mistake out of him and Unfortunatly doesn’t have it in him to recover.

 

[11101]

Lindelof and Maguire should be given a cattle prod to zap him every time he drops into the back line to collect the ball. Go forward and give us angles...

 

[el3mel]

He was poor. Said after previous match he should have been rested today.

 

[Ace of Spades]

He was poor, looks like moving in slow motion against these aggressive pressing teams.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Another poor game. No issue with him as a squad player but he's not good enough or fit enough to be a consistent starter. I think Partey would be a huge upgrade and he seems attainable.

 

[Robbie Boy]

He was poor, looks like moving in slow motion against these aggressive pressing teams.

He struggles massively when pressed. Even against Bournemouth, he looked really poor the few times they managed to press.

 

[ivaldo]

Lindelof and Maguire should be given a cattle prod to zap him every time he drops into the back line to collect the ball. Go forward and give us angles...

It infuriates me to see him occupy other players space to get the ball, while simultaneously removing himself as an option for our defenders.

 

[Red00012]

Why was he acting as a 3rd centre back today ?

 

[Adnan]

Not good enough against teams who press high. Then you have a few more players behind him who have the same problem hence we couldn't advance play which gave Soton a real grip on the game.

We don't even have one DM who is capable against teams who press high.

 

[edcunited1878]

He wasn't as bad as people are claiming. He was winning a lot of 2nd and 3rd balls in midfield when it was really scrappy in there. Pogba was a let down and was rightly subbed of pretty early. Didn't have a problem by passing the midfield with long balls, but winning those 2nd and 3rd balls today wasn't that bad. He's going to hit a wall on Thursday as that's too quick of a turnaround for him to be effective enough I think against CP. McTominay or Fred or both might have to play from the beginning.

Fred and/or McTominay should be able to hold their own and then some against CP's central midfield.

 

[Toddler]

Nothing new here, Matic struggles massively when he is pressed hard. Slow that he is. Wasnt our worst player though today.

 

[Cassidy]

Hope people see why we need a new DM today

 

[Red00012]

If you study him which opposition do ,you know if you press him he will usually either lose the ball or just hoof up the line

 

[Red00012]

Hope people see why we need a new DM today

Still don’t get the 3 year contract .

 

[Master Yoda]

Not a bad game at all, won alot of challenges but I agree that Matic, actualy everyone is slowing down since we dont have proper players to rest our main squad. Once again, the game was in our favour when the subs came on, but unlike other games, it wasnt 3-0 so the subs and with 10 men we had plenty of chances to bottle it. On the positive side, we are still 16 games undefeated if Im correct?

 

[RooneyLegend]

Get in a new holding mid. When they were pressing he pretty much moved from his position.

 

[MikeKing]

Not good enough against teams who press high. Then you have a few more players behind him who have the same problem hence we couldn't advance play which gave Soton a real grip on the game.

We don't even have one DM who is capable against teams who press high.

Romeu is just that. It's a lot of things that he is not, but he is just that. Not that I would like us to get him, because his general level is not very high but I can't really think of many great CM's that also have that awareness and finesse to them.

 

[Bastian]

He's a top player. He just can't play two games a week.

 

[Adnan]

Romeu is just that. It's a lot of things that he is not, but he is just that. Not that I would like us to get him, because his general level is not very high but I can't really think of many great CM's that also have that awareness and finesse to them.

Romeu is better than Matic against the press and that will be our issue against teams who are adept at pressing high. We don't have a defensive midfielder of the requisite quality to enforce the press or resist it which will see us play like a underdog against quality teams in a deep block. I would even try Fosu Mensah as a pure destroyer next season if we don't address the role in the transfer window.

 

[MikeKing]

Romeu is better than Matic against the press and that will be our issue against teams who are adept at pressing high. We don't have a defensive midfielder of the requisite quality to enforce the press or resist it which will see us play like a underdog against quality teams in a deep block. I would even try Fosu Mensah as a pure destroyer next season if we don't address the role in the transfer window.

We definitely need another DM. I think Matic is pretty good at resisting the press, but his legs is gone and in our setup he has to cover for other players too which happen to not be very press-resistant. I don't think Fosu Mensah is an answer, but in terms of going for another combination of skills to be the solution when there is lack of options of a direct placement, I'm open for it. Someone like Ndidi perhaps who offers a bit of both, or Partey. We need some type of specialist DM either way, that has a very high level, if we are to partner him Pogba.

 

[Adnan]

We definitely need another DM. I think Matic is pretty good at resisting the press, but his legs is gone and in our setup he has to cover for other players too which happen to not be very press-resistant. I don't think Fosu Mensah is an answer, but in terms of going for another combination of skills to be the solution when there is lack of options of a direct placement, I'm open for it. Someone like Ndidi perhaps who offers a bit of both, or Partey. We need some type of specialist DM either way, that has a very high level, if we are to partner him Pogba.

Someone with a high level of defensive nous is required IMO. Someone that is also very mobile to play the role in the system/style Ole is trying to implement. Konrad Laimer from RBL is another player who could be a option IMO and is exceptional in Nagelsmann's systematic rotations to provide defensive balance and enforce the wolf pack press.

Fosu Mensah isn't my ideal choice but i'd try him over Matic in a either or scenario because he has the physical capability to cover Bruno and Pogba in a high risk approach in defensive transition. Matic just can't do that and we'll end up dropping deep and playing counter attack.

 

[MikeKing]

Someone with a high level of defensive nous is required IMO. Someone that is also very mobile to play the role in the system/style Ole is trying to implement. Konrad Laimer from RBL is another player who could be a option IMO and is exceptional in Nagelsmann's systematic rotations to provide defensive balance and enforce the wolf pack press.

Fosu Mensah isn't my ideal choice but i'd try him over Matic in a either or scenario because he has the physical capability to cover Bruno and Pogba in a high risk approach in defensive transition. Matic just can't do that and we'll end up dropping deep and playing counter attack.

I agree. Something has to change in our approach to this. I'm even for dropping Pogba or Bruno against tougher opponents if need be, but Matic seems to be the most logical one to replace. I really like the look of Camavinga. Despite his age he looks like a player that would compliment Pogba and Bruno, stylistically.