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Nemanja Matic

JayB

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2011
6,652
26,046
From what I am hearing he wants an established specialist in that department.
I'm all for us going for an established player rather than an up-and-comer at this position but I'm not at all convinced that Matic is the right signing.

There's a massive difference between "established" and "past it," and reading through United supporters' comments on Matic they paint a picture much closer to the latter than the former. I went trawling through the United subreddit the other day and their fans are describing him in much the same way as we are Dier -- lumbering, lost a yard of pace, easy to play around, highly susceptible to a press, seems to have lost his passing touch, etc. It's grim reading for a player on the wrong side of 30 for whom all of the aforementioned are much likelier to be signs of general decline than of a temporary downturn in form.

It's such an important position that I can understand not wanting to bring in a player who would take two or three seasons to fully develop, but there surely must be better options available on the market. I'd much rather take Allan (who has reportedly been transfer listed as a part of the current dust-up at Napoli) or even Wilmar Barrios, who would surely be available. An experienced pro at the peak of his powers who would buy us a bit of time to blood Skipp or alternatively line up a long-term successor in future transfer windows rather than someone whose decline has already begun and whose performance levels have dropped off a cliff.

If Mourinho does make Matic a priority I'll hope he proves me wrong, but there's a lot to doubt about this player IMO.
 

Nick-TopSpursMan

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2005
4,000
18,942
We need mobility and energy at DM, not a bloke who can't move.

This would be a disaster and wouldn't complement Ndombele at all.
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
I'm all for us going for an established player rather than an up-and-comer at this position but I'm not at all convinced that Matic is the right signing.

There's a massive difference between "established" and "past it," and reading through United supporters' comments on Matic they paint a picture much closer to the latter than the former. I went trawling through the United subreddit the other day and their fans are describing him in much the same way as we are Dier -- lumbering, lost a yard of pace, easy to play around, highly susceptible to a press, seems to have lost his passing touch, etc. It's grim reading for a player on the wrong side of 30 for whom all of the aforementioned are much likelier to be signs of general decline than of a temporary downturn in form.

It's such an important position that I can understand not wanting to bring in a player who would take two or three seasons to fully develop, but there surely must be better options available on the market. I'd much rather take Allan (who has reportedly been transfer listed as a part of the current dust-up at Napoli) or even Wilmar Barrios, who would surely be available. An experienced pro at the peak of his powers who would buy us a bit of time to blood Skipp or alternatively line up a long-term successor in future transfer windows rather than someone whose decline has already begun and whose performance levels have dropped off a cliff.

If Mourinho does make Matic a priority I'll hope he proves me wrong, but there's a lot to doubt about this player IMO.

Listened to a pre-game pod and the Utd guests said that they would be happy for Utd to pay us to take Matic.
 

Mackan110

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2019
353
587
I hope we don't go for him. He is so slow and injurious etc. I get it we need some experience and someone with the winning mentality but I would prefer someone else.
 

SpursSince1980

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2011
4,732
14,442
Well, if the idea is for Matic to be in this role for the rest of the season, I'm okay with that, as long as we have a longer-term specialist come in during the summer. Matic would likely be their backup or Dier.

I think the latter knows his career is at a critical crossroads. The next few months are make or break time for his future. Be it with Tottenham. Be it with England. Be it as a CDM. Or as a CB.

As of right now, he's not remotely close to the player he was two or three years ago. And even then, he was limited.

I respect Jose for kicking the tires and giving him a chance to prove himself. But I believe he'll come to the same conclusion we all have in due time. Hence, having a Matic in the wings won't the worse thing in the world for the remainder of the season. Just as long at UTD don't try to bend us over the table.

Long term... we may need more than one CDM.

Also, this is all assuming that Jose will never change the way his team plays again. EG: He'll always stick with this sorta, 3(Verts, Sanchez, Toby)-1(Aurier)-2 (Dier, NDombele)-1(Dele)-3(Son, Harry, Moura).

Based on that, he will need two CBs as back up. Another RB, Another CDM (at least), another CM, another Dele-type (unless that's supposed to be Lo Celso or Lamela), and two more attackers (one backup for Harry, one backup for Sonny/Moura).

Regardless, I think Matic would be more of a pragmatic buy, based on filling a gap until the end of season.
 

HildoSpur

Likes Erik Lamela, deal with it.
Oct 1, 2005
8,958
28,085
Matic is finished at this level - I would be against it even as a short term move. What I am all for though is us getting a proper DM in - we would really benefit from that but not Matic please.
 

bryanabutler

SC Supporter
Jul 15, 2007
1,342
583
Matic is finished at this level - I would be against it even as a short term move. What I am all for though is us getting a proper DM in - we would really benefit from that but not Matic please.
Boubakary Soumare, or the player i would love Edvardo Camavinga or both
 

Johnny J

Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
Aug 18, 2012
18,124
47,897
We've got enough slow and/or knackered defensive midfielders. Time to splash the January cash on someone younger and more mobile.
 

King of the Lane

Well-Known Member
Dec 3, 2010
4,099
23,566
Trix said that we will be buying and the names are already in the papers, especially the Sun seems to be on the money. So far, reports are now saying no to Fernandes, Dias and Matic so god knows who we are targeting.

The other links are to Depay but I'm sure one of our ITK's just laughed in response to his links a few months ago.

Who the hell are we targeting then lol?
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
Matic is finished at this level - I would be against it even as a short term move. What I am all for though is us getting a proper DM in - we would really benefit from that but not Matic please.

But that won't happen in January. I doubt we'll bring anyone in at all this window.
 

midoNdefoe

the member formerly and technically still known as
Mar 9, 2005
3,107
3,166
No one expecting much then. Someone young and mobile with a proven winners pedigree, crunching in the tackle, top technique, and a range of passing for under £30m...

I’m fully up for this Modric/Pirlo/makelele hybrid player. Not sure they exist though.

Maybe come back to reality, Matic or no one is most likely...
 

bceej

Well-Known Member
Mar 1, 2013
2,444
3,191
Trix said that we will be buying and the names are already in the papers, especially the Sun seems to be on the money. So far, reports are now saying no to Fernandes, Dias and Matic so god knows who we are targeting.

The other links are to Depay but I'm sure one of our ITK's just laughed in response to his links a few months ago.

Who the hell are we targeting then lol?

Nathan Ferguson and Merih Demiral both mentioned recently. Reported interest in Dzeko and Ben Godfrey too.
 

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
I was reading a thread on RedCafe about Jose's signings at Utd and to a man they think Matic is completely shot and has been a shell of a footballer following an initial 3 month purple patch.

Even if Jose wants experienced heads there must be better, cheaper options than Matic who don't add to our legion of immobile DMs.

Do. Not. Want.
 

Ray Ray

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2018
548
2,240
Carrick, busquets, pirlo, xavi, Barry, Fernandinho, Jorginho, Casemiro, veratti, de Rossi, Mourinho hell even Rodri and Frenkie De Jong aren't that quick.

There are plenty of valid reasons to not buy Matic, but some of the best holding midfielders past and present are slow as shit, but they don't need to be quick as their positioning and tactical awareness make up for it.

Not saying I want him here, but I could understand why we would need someone of that ilk as Sissoko, Winks, N'Dombele, and Dier all get caught out of position. No harm in having a player like that teach our younger stars the importance of positional awareness.
 
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