Joel Matip

[El Rojo]

Hard to believe that some people thought Skrtel was a top defender.

 

He was very good for a number of seasons. Not world class or anything, but pretty solid. I'd still trust him to do a job more than I would Sakho.

[VladimirIlyich]

Van Dijk or Sule for me, to partner Matip.

 

Lovren has done a lot better lately though, apart from the obvious mistake yesterday. And it will be interesting to see how good Joe Gomez gets, and how quickly, as he could go to the top of the class himself. He was fast and had an old head on his shoulders when he made the breakthrough, and during his time out injured he has obviously been on the weights and added strength.

Gomez could be a shoe in at left back? Learn his trade there before the extra responsibility at centre back. Worked well for Carra,Markus Babbel was comfortable in both positions and even John Scales did a good job in a crisis too.

[Carvalho Diablo]

Thought Gomez was poor at left back. All right foot, wouldn't put a cross in.

[bonesman]

Matip will go on to be the best in the league in his position.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

[TheHowieLama]

U wot M8?

[Jairzinho]

Matip will go on to be the best in the league in his position.

 

Agreed, Barcelona will buy him in January.

[aRdja]

Next weekend, against Ighalo and Deeney will be the real test for him I reckon. They destroyed Sktel and Sakho last season.. hoping he will fare a lot better.

Flying colours.

[Captain]

He was fucking boss today.

[Jairzinho]

It would appear that we have signed one of the top ten centre backs in the world.

 

On a free.

[Frankenhooker]

He looks like he's played in this league forever. Calm as fuck and a really good defender. Not bad for nowt.

[mgw100]

You could see Deeney trying to 'bully' him early doors and got fuck all. Matip owned him, especially for the first hour when there was a game to win.

[Sweeney287]

Loved the dribble in the first half around their penalty area... That's our centre back!

[aRdja]

I tried to catch Schalke's games a few times last season to scope him out.. I found it quite difficult at the time to form an opinion as he never really seemed troubled. Now I can see that it was a sign of his quality,

[stringvest]

It would appear that we have signed one of the top ten centre backs in the world.

 

On a free.

 

 

Is that not a little premature?  I'd like to see the evidence of a couple of seasons before jumping on that particular sunshine coach.  He does look good though.  

[Grinch]

This lad will only get better, Imagine how good he'll look when we've bought a decent centre back to play alongside him.

[Jairzinho]

Is that not a little premature?  I'd like to see the evidence of a couple of seasons before jumping on that particular sunshine coach.  He does look good though.  

 

He was playing football before he joined us.

[The Golden Eel]

Still can't believe he's just turned 25... I know he's been a regular since he was in his teens but fuck me, he plays like a veteran. Could conceivably have another 8 or seasons in him at this type of level

[stringvest]

He was playing football before he joined us.

 

 

I'd heard that, but I didn't see him before he joined us, so I'd like to enjoy watching his performances for a few seasons before making a judgement.  It's looking promising, but it wasn't hard to improve on Skrtel, god bless him. 

[Frankenhooker]

Definitely him and one other.

[G Richards]

In talks about extending his contract and "very happy at Liverpool".

Very good signing. Excellent business. You would have to think we'll sign another central defender when Sakho goes, whether we sign them in January or summer. The question at that point will be whether it will be a decent back up ala Klavan, or a really good player to probably usurp Lovren and form a partnership with Matip. My money is on Niklas Sule, as we were sniffing around him in summer.

 

As for Matip, great pace, great reading of the game, great composure, has an eye for a pass and is also much stronger than he looks, considering his slim frame. Keep it going lad, keep it going.

[Jairzinho]

I'd heard that, but I didn't see him before he joined us, so I'd like to enjoy watching his performances for a few seasons before making a judgement.  It's looking promising, but it wasn't hard to improve on Skrtel, god bless him. 

 

That's fair enough. Other people did though, and I don't think they were all necessarily on the short bus.

 

He's clearly fucking good. Not convinced we've got his long term centre back partner at the club at the moment though.

[stringvest]

That's fair enough. Other people did though, and I don't think they were all necessarily on the short bus.

 

He's clearly fucking good. Not convinced we've got his long term centre back partner at the club at the moment though.

 

 

we are some way off being perfect, but what we have might get us up there. If we finish top 3, we should be able to bring in the right players to improve us in key positions. 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

He was a good player for Schalke and he is good for us. We still haven't seen the best of him either. 

[mouse1989]

He was a good player for Schalke and he is good for us. We still haven't seen the best of him either.

This

 

It was funny seeing 'German expertise' saying Schalke upgraded by signing Naldo as a replacement