Matic deal looks like it is near enough done, annoying because CM along with CB is where Chelsea need to strengthen the most. Lets hope he isn't as good as people say or doesn't settle in too quickly!

Well he wasn't one of the names that anyone here listed back when we were after a centre mid in the summer, I'm hoping that means something.

He's a big bastard of a player and he's decent on the ball albeit very one footed. There are better DMs out there though such as Luiz Gustavo and I'm not even sure if he's an upgrade on Mikel. The new Javi Garcia? There are obvious similarities between the two.

JazzG wrote:

Matic deal looks like it is near enough done, annoying because CM along with CB is where Chelsea need to strengthen the most. Lets hope he isn't as good as people say or doesn't settle in too quickly!

chelsea's biggest problem is up front. giroud is better than all their strikers and that says a lot...

Kel Varnsen wrote:

chelsea's biggest problem is up front. giroud is better than all their strikers and that says a lot...

True they do need another striker but as they have a few players in that position they can rotate and between them they'll chip in. Also they have goals in midfield from Hazard, Oscar & Lampard.

when he was at out local club, people were going to matches just because of him, it was obvious he had talent but lol, i could never imagine he will be worth that much one day..

he is big, strong and technically very sound, apparently he really upped his game playing at benfica and is ready for the biggest stage

Flamini on a free is better.

Matic is quality. Moutinho/Marchisio level. People will be quickly surprised by how good he is, like Fernandinho.

Benfica got the most out of that deal, conned Chelsea because they wanted do settle the Luiz deal quick, and now selling Matic back for an outrageous fee. Unfortunately those fees are nothing to Chelsea though.

The Rodrigo deal is weirder. How are they selling someone with an average goalscoring record in an average league for 35m to Zenit? Ridiculous

Gunner89 wrote:

Think he'll be off to Bayern next summer when Robben's contract expires. He's 30 in a few days. 31 and a half next summer and keeps getting injured. He'll start to lose his pace soon which is a major part of his game more so than Ribery's. Ribery too will be 32 next year in April but reckon they will keep him on as he rejected real in his prime and is now an icon there. No easy feat to replace robben though. 81 goals in 140 is a super return.

Yes, because he rejected Bayern to go to Dortmund, because he is a die-hard Dortmund boy who grew up there. Make sense to do a complete u-turn to go to Bayern instead of other clubs in europe.

If we want him and he decides to go further than Dortmund, we will get him. He has mentioned it clearly we are his first choice outside of Dortmund.

Matic is a lot better than Moutinho and Marchisio IMO Much different player to either of those anyway.

Segway wrote:

He's a big bastard of a player and he's decent on the ball albeit very one footed. There are better DMs out there though such as Luiz Gustavo and I'm not even sure if he's an upgrade on Mikel. The new Javi Garcia? There are obvious similarities between the two.

Matic is decent on the ball?! Decent?! When have you seen him play? He's one of the more elegant midfielders around, shades of Redondo in his game.

Matic's talent will be totally wasted at a club like Chelsea. Think Pellegrini could take him to the next level, he's really a very, very talented player. I like to watch Benfica from time to time and he's got that languid style that is really easy on the eye. I'm a big fan, be gutted to see him leave Benfica for doped scum.

Liverpool have had a €12million bid for Yann M’Vila rejected (L'Equipe)

I used to be obsessed with him. Saw him make his debut for Rennes and that day I thought he would become an elite centre mid. He's a bit fucked in the head but if he sorts himself out he can still make himself a top player. Would have been a great understudy and eventual replacement for Arteta.

Volante wrote:
Segway wrote:

He's a big bastard of a player and he's decent on the ball albeit very one footed. There are better DMs out there though such as Luiz Gustavo and I'm not even sure if he's an upgrade on Mikel. The new Javi Garcia? There are obvious similarities between the two.

Matic is decent on the ball?! Decent?! When have you seen him play? He's one of the more elegant midfielders around, shades of Redondo in his game.

Watched a fair bit of him in Europa League games the last couple of seasons. He looks clumsy and his passing is inconsistent but physically he's top and he's a good tackler. Nothing like Redondo, can't comprehend why you'd even make that comparison.

Big step up in the premiership too. He could turn out to be the next nzonzi or Capoue

Segway wrote:

Watched a fair bit of him in Europa League games the last couple of seasons. He looks clumsy and his passing is inconsistent but physically he's top and he's a good tackler. Nothing like Redondo, can't comprehend why you'd even make that comparison.

Tall, elegant left footed centre mid that carries the ball very well. Not as good as Redondo defensively but there are similarities.

He's not clumsy:

Fulham have had a bid for Ravel Morrison turned down. Meulensteen says Morrison wants to join.

how sweet it must be to have money to burn. so david luiz basically cost chelsea 49m euros.

Pogba to PSG rumors gathering pace. Verratti the other way?