Joel Matip

[Guest Pistonbroke]

This

 

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

 

Just bitter that Matip left on a free and to a different league. 

[Megadrive Man]

Considering Man City have spent over £100 million on the likes of Stones, Mangala and Otamendi, we have got an absolute steal here!

 

The only downside is that we are really going to miss him when he goes to The African cup of nations. 

[mouse1989]

Considering Man City have spent over £100 million on the likes of Stones, Mangala and Otamendi, we have got an absolute steal here!

 

The only downside is that we are really going to miss him when he goes to The African cup of nations.

He fell out with their manager. It's likely that he will turn down the chance to play for them

[Frankenhooker]

Considering Man City have spent over £100 million on the likes of Stones, Mangala and Otamendi, we have got an absolute steal here!

 

The only downside is that we are really going to miss him when he goes to The African cup of nations.

He isn't going mate.

[Hades]

He is like Shadowfax on the pitch when galloping forward. So calm, intelligent and strong. Surprised he's not Italian.

 

In case you can't tell, I really like him.

[El Rojo]

We've yet to lose a league game with this guy. Maybe we never will again.

[Ne Moe Imya]

Looks like the most important player in the league right now.

 

Coutinho out, and our attack still created enough to score 3.  Matip out and Lovren went absolutely to pieces.  Just shocking to concede 4 to them, they are awful!

[El Rojo]

No Matip, no party.

[Paco]

no word of why he wasn't in any photos for training this week. I tweeted James Pearce to ask if there was any news from presser. when I didn't see a story later that night I assumed he was ok. surprised there wasn't more made of his potential absence.

 

fuck we found out today.

[Ne Moe Imya]

Nicked this off twitter, says it all:

 

With Matip - 11 games, conceded 9 goals - DWWWWDWWWDW

Without Matip - 3 games, conceded 9 goals - WLL

[Tj hooker]

Nicked this off twitter, says it all:

 

With Matip - 11 games, conceded 9 goals - DWWWWDWWWDW

Without Matip - 3 games, conceded 9 goals - WLL

In a fucking nutshell

[Guest Alex_K]

One man central defence. Lovren entertaining the new Skrtel role: shithouse central defender whose inadequacies are hidden when the team is riding a wave of confidence & there's a better man besides them. Alongside a second whippet-quick Mane-like winger, a true partner for Matip is the big addition this squad needs.

[TheDrowningMan]

Need him back as soon as possible if the entire season isn't to collapse. It's inevitable that top clubs will be looking to turn his head next summer if we spend yet another season away from Europe's elite.

[Ne Moe Imya]

One man central defence. Lovren entertaining the new Skrtel role: shithouse central defender whose inadequacies are hidden when the team is riding a wave of confidence & there's a better man besides them. Alongside a second whippet-quick Mane-like winger, a true partner for Matip is the big addition this squad needs.

 

Remember when City offered us 25m for Skrtel?  It was after that "brilliant" season he had, I'm pretty sure it was the one season that Agger was healthy all season and Skrtel looked great.

 

Lovren is like that.  We need to sell now, sharpish, before too many people get a look at this game and realise where his level is and stop giving him credit for the man next to him.  We could probably get our 20m back, maybe more, in January.  

[Paco]

goes back to what I once said. do managers and coaches know how to coach defending at this level or are they relying on a player to come in and do it all for them?

[Guest Alex_K]

If that is what you said then no, it really doesnt.

 

We play a high line. That makes us sensational. The con to that is we need some great individuals in the defence. Matip is great. The other center backs we have on the books are an assortment of clowns and dogs.

[Joey8FrogsLegs]

Ideally we should have 3 top class CBs, and a couple of more decent ones to cover.

 

We now have 1 top class, and that's about it.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Matip reads the game well, Lovren doesn't and Lucas is OK at it but gets caught in mo mans land way to often without the pace to cut out the danger. Matip also looks comfortable on the ball and is always looking for it by making space for himself, thisgives the midfielders and the keeper choices. 

 

Basically Matip is the glue to why we have been defending well/better this season. 

[stringvest]

I think Lovren is ok, he was always going to struggle with Lucas alongside when we're under pressure.  Lucas was caught out of position on numerous occasions, as he always is when playing CB.  Sometimes we get away with it, sometimes we don't.  Lucas isn't really a CB, and he can't be expected to pick it up after a few games.  

 

I said before the game, that while I was nervous about Lucas starting, but if we kept hold of the ball, as we have done when he's played there before, then we minimise the risk.  Today, Bournemouth came out and overwhelmed our midfield in the second half, and the CBs were repeatedly exposed.  

[Hades]

Class act and one of the three most important players on the team alongside Mané and Firmino.

[Dave D]

Jury still out on Matip?

 

Or is he just being hindered by the chaos around him?

[magicrat]

Jury still out on Matip?

 

Or is he just being hindered by the chaos around him?

 

He is the proverbial one-eyed man in the land of the blind

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

Definitely hindered by those around him.

[INTORRESTING]

He is nothing special, we need a new back 5 and he doesnt get saved imo.

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

He is a very good player playing with shite at the back currently, room for improvement but a good player. Watched him loads in Germany in a settled side.