bigkesh:

If your point is for me to prove to you that Fabregas is more composed and intelligent with the ball than Matic.. ....
.Then let me start by proving to you that we are on Nairaland and your moniker is Ibime

Stop talking absolute nonsense. The point is not about intelligence, the point is Fabregas is often unable to protect his ball unlike Matic. Fabregas is not a man you can trust with the ball with midfielders breathing on him, Matic is. I can show you several occasions where Fabregas was shaded off the ball leading to opposition goals and chances. This is why Barca could never trust him in Xavi role and found all manner of utility positions including false nine to keep him far away from his own goal.

Hotheads have been ranting, Matic does nothing, give Fabregas his shirt, until Fabregas was asked to do the job that Matic does, we started seeing the below.

We even had one mugu asking what a DM did yesterday in a match Chelsea conceded no shots on goal bar a bogus penalty. Tell that mugu his job is simply not to get bullied and dominated like Fabregas. Go and lick your wounds.

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/sport/football/775828/Chelsea-player-ratings-West-Ham-United-sportgalleries/amp

3 sides to a story:

Your side. Their side. The Truth.

Eruditor:
https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/sport/football/775828/Chelsea-player-ratings-West-Ham-United-sportgalleries/amp

3 sides to a story:

Your side. Their side. The Truth.

Sorry, the only truth we recognise is Whoscored. Show me the worst Chelsea player on the pitch.

Ibime:


Sorry, the only truth we recognise is Whoscored. Show me the worst Chelsea player on the pitch.

Another one: http://www.skysports.com/football/west-ham-vs-chelsea/356604

According to your image, Kante was bad in that game but was he? Analytics don't always tell the full story. You of all people should know this.

Eruditor:
What is this Fabregas slander? Physically dominated against West Ham bawo? The match Costa kept losing the ball? The same one West Ham kept hoofing the ball past the midfield?

The bad pass to Fabregas is the one he should have controlled well or used his body to cause a systemic foul? A foul that would have warranted a second yellow (as he had gotten one first half for doing the same thing).

Sorry, fouling is only the 2nd option. In the first place, he should never have been dispossessed. In that situation, a midfielder should easily throw his leg across the player breathing on him, stick his nyash out, and there is no way he would be dispossessed if he "full ground". In Naija that's where we use the terminology "that midfielder dey ground" ie hes got his body position, his core strength and his centre of balance right to ride pressure from behind.

Unfortunately Fabregas has a dangerous habit of turning over possession under physical pressure, too dangerous for me to feel comfortable with him playing that deep. That's why I prefer him in AM where his runs and finishing are 2nd to none. He did it several times last season leading to dangerous situations at our backline. Conte spotted that and removed him from the pivot where such actions are dangerous, and rightly so. Even 2 years ago in our victorious season, I particularly recalled this one that led to Schalke equaliser in UCL.

This is why when he was asked if he can replicate the Pirlo role for Conte in the summer, he said he can't. Not because he can't replicate Pirlos long passes, but because he can't ensure he won't get dispossessed in dangerous areas of the pitch unlike Pirlo.

This was the one that led to Schalke goal for example. Midfielder should be riding that sort of pressure from behind easily.


[img]http:///media/3-19-2017/83Mydg.gif[/img]

bigkesh:

Why not

His upstairs is loaded like a duplex....

Hope it ll be loaded like storey building nxt season so he wont get dumped out of Europe as usual

Danhumprey:
Lol.... the way the man shouts, the way he talks, the wideness of his mouth can conveniently accommodate the football.


Chai! very mad man.

but he's a good coach, though. is he one of the best? that's debatable. he's tendency to choke in Europe is awful. next season will be a good time to really rate him.

Lol. I thought i had seen it all with Simeone and Klopp. But baba Conte's own is on another level

Ibime:


And what happened when Cesc was given shirt against a physical midfield in West Ham? He showed why he is not to be trusted in the physical games, he was physically dominated and even dashed West Ham a goal. Next big match against Manure, Matic was back in.

All the Fabremoaners should go and lick their wounds. They screamed themselves hoarse, shouting upandan and catching heart attack in the most stress free season we have had as Chelsea fans since 2005. End of the day, we are still here and Matic is still preferred.

Go and lick your wounds.

Make me understand you please, are you insinuating Matic is very good for this team?

Only fellas who hardly play football would see nothing wrong in picking Cesc over Matic in a pivot system.

I've stated it in the time past, that no matter how horrendous Matic's passes, runs and shots are, he still qualifies to start in a DM position ahead of Fab, and this isn't b'cos his name is Nemanja Matic, but because he's a natural defensive midfielder whilst Cesc is not.

It's a grave risk entrusting the work of a DM in the hands of someone who doesn't have any business with the defensive side of football. Forget what the stats are saying about Cesc completing 1000km, 1000passes etc, truth remains, he can't bully an opposition player off the ball, he can't throw in that late lunge to win a ball, he can't get dirty. Interestingly, Matic have been doing all these for the past 10yrs.

I am yet to see a security guard who keeps the financial records of an organisation.

Cesc would be wondering what strain of weed y'all have been smoking if he gets to hear that he's good for a DM spot ahead of Matic.

spartacus11:
Pep Guardiola admits Man City will be a bigger test of his managerial credentials than Bayern Munich or Barcelona


hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Let us just hope Raumdeuter will acknowledge this and realise what we've been saying all these while about the difference between coaching Barca/ Bayern and Man city in the toughest league in the world.

Ibime:


Sorry, fouling is only the 2nd option. In the first place, he should never have been dispossessed. In that situation, a midfielder should easily throw his leg across the player breathing on him, stick his nyash out, and there is no way he would be dispossessed if he "full ground". In Naija that's where we use the terminology "that midfielder dey ground" ie hes got his body position, his core strength and his centre of balance right to ride pressure from behind.

Unfortunately Fabregas has a dangerous habit of turning over possession under physical pressure, too dangerous for me to feel comfortable with him playing that deep. That's why I prefer him in AM where his runs and finishing are 2nd to none. He did it several times last season leading to dangerous situations at our backline. Conte spotted that and removed him from the pivot where such actions are dangerous, and rightly so. Even 2 years ago in our victorious season, I particularly recalled this one that led to Schalke equaliser in UCL.

This is why when he was asked if he can replicate the Pirlo role for Conte in the summer, he said he can't. Not because he can't replicate Pirlos long passes, but because he can't ensure he won't get dispossessed in dangerous areas of the pitch unlike Pirlo.

This was the one that led to Schalke goal for example. Midfielder should be riding that sort of pressure from behind easily.

I can't argue with this because it makes sense however, the West Ham game is not a worthy example of a situation where Fabregas was dispossessed or dominated in midfield and that's the position I offered/am offering.

The pass from Azpi was too heavy and behind Fabregas who was out-muscled by a stronger Andy Carroll (who would have out-muscled Matic or Xavi in the same situation) freeing a fresher Andre Ayew to win the ball, run and pass the ball to Lanzini who was being marked by Matic at the time. If I am to borrow the line of your argument, then Matic should have been physically dominant and quick enough to nudge Lanzini off his stride or foul him and take a yellow for the team- thus preventing the goal.

It can work that way in slow motion or hindsight but not in real time.

Sure, Fab has his lapses but so does Matic. End off.

Chelseafan1:


Make me understand you please, are you insinuating Matic is very good for this team?

Matic haven't been top class this season, we all have to admit that but he isn't bad either.

Kante's inclination to go for the ball and hack opposition players down, have seen Matic's overall contribution take a back step. His game is hanging somewhere in-between 'good' and 'bad', and you can't really blame him for that, someone is willing to do the work he [Matic] is known for, all he can do is to play second best. Kante arrival is a curse in disguise for him.

Instead of clamouring for Cesc to take his place, y'all should be clamouring for a new CM, one who has struck a good balance between being defensive and creative.

It's not just Fabregas.

Ibime:


Stop talking absolute nonsense. The point is not about intelligence, the point is Fabregas is often unable to protect his ball unlike Matic. Fabregas is not a man you can trust with the ball with midfielders breathing on him, Matic is. I can show you several occasions where Fabregas was shaded off the ball leading to opposition goals and chances. This is why Barca could never trust him in Xavi role and found all manner of utility positions including false nine to keep him far away from his own goal.

Hotheads have been ranting, Matic does nothing, give Fabregas his shirt, until Fabregas was asked to do the job that Matic does, we started seeing the below.

We even had one mugu asking what a DM did yesterday in a match Chelsea conceded no shots on goal bar a bogus penalty. Tell that mugu his job is simply not to get bullied and dominated like Fabregas. Go and lick your wounds.

When your midfield Pair is winning MOTM and you are rated lowest next to the unimpresseive Costa, of course you did something right.

Kante has covered a lot of Matic's excesses, for how long will he keep saving the tall mumu?

Ibime:


Stop talking absolute nonsense. The point is not about intelligence, the point is Fabregas is often unable to protect his ball unlike Matic. Fabregas is not a man you can trust with the ball with midfielders breathing on him, Matic is. I can show you several occasions where Fabregas was shaded off the ball leading to opposition goals and chances. This is why Bar
a could never trust him in Xavi role and found all manner of utility positions including false nine to keep him far away from his own goal.

Hotheads have been ranting, Matic does nothing, give Fabregas his shirt, until Fabregas was asked to do the job that Matic does, we started seeing the below.

We even had one mugu asking what a DM did yesterday in a match Chelsea conceded no shots on goal bar a bogus penalty. Tell that mugu his job is simply not to get bullied and dominated like Fabregas. Go and lick your wounds.

What the Bleep is this?
Fabregas was asked to do what Matic did?why should Fabregas be asked to do what Matic does, whatever that is.. ..Ronaldo should be asked to do whatever Matic does and let's see
Fabregas should bring his own play into our game ,why not ask Matic to do what Fabregas does and let's see

Don't even try to bring Barca into this. .Fabregas didn't play in the midfield often because of Xavi and Iniesta, every time any of them was absent Fabregas steps into the midfield effortlessly
You are reading too much into what you think, the same Barca you claim didn't use Fabregas as midfielder is using Rakitic, Suarez and Gomes in the midfield so don't try to tell us Barca tried to keep Fabregas away from his goal, Xavi kept him away from that position


If Matic's job is just to be forming a robot on Low Battery in the midfield, I reckon Zouma can do a better job. .....
A DM that is not playing out of defence, winning tackles, driving ball forward, intercepting or passing, is that one a DM?

By the way Matic doesn't shield Nada,don't just show us instances where Fabregas was dispossessed under pressure, I can bring out Xavi's error if i dig deep.....You even had to go back to the UCL game in 300BC to prove a point...So Fabregas gets dispossessed under pressure 2-3 times are season and he can't shield #Wehdone sir

Give us clips showing Matic shielding the ball under pressure

Eruditor:


I can't argue with this because it makes sense however, the West Ham game is not a worthy example of a situation where Fabregas was dispossessed or dominated in midfield and that's the position I offered/am offering.

The pass from Azpi was too heavy and behind Fabregas who was out-muscled by a stronger Andy Carroll (who would have out-muscled Matic or Xavi in the same situation)

No he wouldn't. That ball got to Fabregas first. Xavi and Matic wouldn't have lost that ball. If the ball gets to you first and there is a man pressuring you from behind, there is no excuse for losing the ball. All you do is put your body in between the man and he either has to foul you or bounce off you. Fabregas did neither, and that is only one of umpteen occasions that has happened.

Griffon:


Matic haven't been top class this season, we all have to admit that but he isn't bad either.

Kante's inclination to go for the ball and hack opposition players down, have seen Matic's overall contribution take a back step. His game is hanging somewhere in-between 'good' and 'bad', and you can't really blame him for that, someone is willing to do the work he [Matic] is known for, all he can do is to play second best. Kante arrival is a curse in disguise for him.

Instead of clamouring for Cesc to take his place, y'all should be clamouring for a new CM, one who has struck a good balance between being defensive and creative.

It's not just Fabregas.

Good, since Kante is ready to do the job of both himself and that of his midfield Pair and has been doing it perfectly well with little or nothing to contribute from Matic when we all know how creative Fabregas can be for the side with his vision and knack for defense-splitting passes, shouldn't we rather have Fabregas who has something to offer offensively than Matic who is a dullard in that regard?


I don't know if you are getting my point on this issue.

Kante can defend, run around, hack down opposition players thereby limiting or let me say relieving both Matic and Fab of defensive duties, and we have the 'god of passes' wasting away on the bench when we all know he is one creative force the team has and his passes can be very useful in counter attacks.


Our Title winning season under Mou, have you forgotten the number of passes and assists Costa got from Fabregas and converted?

Matic was good in shielding the ball prior last season..

He could handle pressure when he is put under it.

But the Matic we saw Yesterday can't shield anything again o. He made silly forward passes a quite number of times.

I don't know what he is battling with. His confidence can't be compared to that of 2014-2015.

Will pick Matic of 2014-2015 over Fabregas any day anytime.

But picking this con artist here now named Matic over Fabregas?? Nah.

Griffon:


Matic haven't been top class this season, we all have to admit that but he isn't bad either.

Kante's inclination to go for the ball and hack opposition players down, have seen Matic's overall contribution take a back step. His game is hanging somewhere in-between 'good' and 'bad', and you can't really blame him for that, someone is willing to do the work he [Matic] is known for, all he can do is to play second best. Kante arrival is a curse in disguise for him.

Instead of clamouring for Cesc to take his place, y'all should be clamouring for a new CM, one who has struck a good balance between being defensive and creative.

It's not just Fabregas.

What am I reading for goodness sake?

Why didn't Essien relax when Ballack arrived?
Messi should have stop scoring when Suarez and Neymar showed
We all saw drinkwater last season, he also played alongside Kante and he did his job. ...He wasn't between good and bad

Will FIFA complain if Matic starts winning tackles like Kante? This is the same Matic we saw last season

That excuse doesn't work at all

Eruditor:


I can't argue with this because it makes sense however, the West Ham game is not a worthy example of a situation where Fabregas was dispossessed or dominated in midfield and that's the position I offered/am offering.

The pass from Azpi was too heavy and behind Fabregas who was out-muscled by a stronger Andy Carroll (who would have out-muscled Matic or Xavi in the same situation) freeing a fresher Andre Ayew to win the ball, run and pass the ball to Lanzini who was being marked by Matic at the time. If I am to borrow the line of your argument, then Matic should have been physically dominant and quick enough to nudge Lanzini off his stride or foul him and take a yellow for the team- thus preventing the goal.

It can work that way in slow motion or hindsight but not in real time.

Sure, Fab has his lapses but so does Matic. End off.

I think in that wesrham game lanzini was already in the 18 when that pass got to him.

Are you trying to tell us that matic could have gone hard on him and give off a penalty and probably pick a red? ?

lordfalcao:
I think in that wesrham game lanzini was already in the 18 when that pass got to him.

Are you trying to tell us that matic could have gone hard on him and give off a penalty and probably pick a red? ?

If it is fair game to expect Fabregas to build castles in the sky why not Matic?

Griffon:
Only fellas who hardly play football would see nothing wrong in picking Cesc over Matic in a pivot system.

I've stated it in the time past, that no matter how horrendous Matic's passes, runs and shots are, he still qualifies to start in a DM position ahead of Fab, and this isn't b'cos his name is Nemanja Matic, but because he's a natural defensive midfielder whilst Cesc is not.

It's a grave risk entrusting the work of a DM in the hands of someone who doesn't have any business with the defensive side of football. Forget what the stats are saying about Cesc completing 1000km, 1000passes etc, truth remains, he can't bully an opposition player off the ball, he can't throw in that late lunge to win a ball, he can't get dirty. Interestingly, Matic have been doing all these for the past 10yrs.

I am yet to see a security guard who keeps the financial records of an organisation.

Cesc would be wondering what strain of weed y'all have been smoking if he gets to hear that he's good for a DM spot ahead of Matic.

What position did he play against City, the same City we won this season.?

bigkesh:


What the Bleep is this?
Fabregas was asked to do what Matic did?why should Fabregas be asked to do what Matic does, whatever that is.. ..Ronaldo should be asked to do whatever Matic does and let's see
Fabregas should bring his own play into our game ,why not ask Matic to do what Fabregas does and let's see

Don't even try to bring Barca into this. .Fabregas didn't play in the midfield often because of Xavi and Iniesta, every time any of them was absent Fabregas steps into the midfield effortlessly
You are reading too much into what you think, the same Barca you claim didn't use Fabregas as midfielder is using Rakitic, Suarez and Gomes in the midfield so don't try to tell us Barca tried to keep Fabregas away from his goal, Xavi kept him away from that position


If Matic's job is just to be forming a robot on Low Battery in the midfield, I reckon Zouma can do a better job. .....
A DM that is not playing out of defence, winning tackles, driving ball forward, intercepting or passing, is that one a DM?

By the way Matic doesn't shield Nada,don't just show us instances where Fabregas was dispossessed under pressure, I can bring out Xavi's error if i dig deep.....You even had to go back to the UCL game in 300BC to prove a point...So Fabregas gets dispossessed under pressure 2-3 times are season and he can't shield #Wehdone sir

Give us clips showing Matic shielding the ball under pressure

Sorry you argue nonsense.

1. The central midfielder in 3-4-3 main role is to keep it tight. Fabregas is asked to do what that role requires. Chelsea win anyway with or without what Fabregas brings in terms of creativity. Fabregas cannot walk into Gabi's position at Atletico Madrid and say he is bringing his own flavour to Gabi's role, nor can he walk into Wanyamas position and say he is bringing his own flavour. What those guys are doing in their roles is already successful for their respective clubs. Don't be like the mugu that will ask what Wanyama did in the game because they saw no assist from him (nor even tackles). That team is set up to win 1-0 or 2-0 with the 3 forwards and wingbacks providing the attacking impetus just like Chelsea. All Wanyamas job is to keep it solid.

2. Matic shields the ball effortlessly. In 30+ games, you can't show us when Matic failed to shield the ball like Fabregas at West Ham. Shielding the ball under pressure is part and parcel of Matic midfield play and he does it without mistake. I don't need to show you where Matic shield the ball, any YouTube compilation will do that. You need to show me where Matic failed to shield the ball. . . . duh.


Fabregas failed in that task against West Ham. After all the noise, he failed to take the spot from Matic. We are still here, Matic is still starting, and Chelsea is still winning like we have been doing all season with Matic playing. Go and drink Lordfalcaos otapiapia.

Eruditor:


If it is fair game to expect Fabregas to build castles in the sky why not Matic?

one thing you guys failed to understand is that in conte's title race, he had said it he needs to keep the balance between attack and defence.. That is why we are playing two DM. A position that is not fabregas favorites. Spurs are second best in the league are playing two DM not better than matic.

Bimffo:
Matic was good in shielding the ball prior last season..

He could handle pressure when he is put under it.

But the Matic we saw Yesterday can't shield anything again o. He made silly forward passes a quite number of times.

I don't know what he is battling with. His confidence can't be compared to that of 2014-2015.

Will pick Matic of 2014-2015 over Fabregas any day anytime.

But picking this con artist here now named Matic over Fabregas?? Nah.

Of course, I will also pick Matic of 2014-2015 over Fabregas any day anytime, not this mugu that his foolishness has been exposed cause we now have Kante beside him, how did he fair last season b4 Kante came?

Chelseafan1:


Of course, I will also pick Matic of 2014-2015 over Fabregas any day anytime, not this mugu that his foolishness has been exposed cause we now have Kante beside him, how did he fair last season b4 Kante came?

How did Fabregas fair last season before Kante came?

Every team needs two solid DM/CM. The coming of Kante is the help that we asked for for our depleted midfield over the last 4 years. You would be extremely foolish to think one is enough. Matic only now has what other midfielders take for granted, what Dembele has in Wanyama, what Gabi has in Augusto Fernandez etc.

You would be fool to think a squad only need one. Matic struggled because he was carrying Fabregas. While Kante may be better suited to carrying Fabregas, that is based on the assumption that Fabregas must play regardless. The evidence however, is Fabregas doesn't need to start to guarantee potentially our best league season ever. All we need him to do is come on late in games if we still need a breakthrough at that stage (which we often don't). That is his role which he is doing well. Accept it or drink otapiapia.

Conte doesn't prefer Matic to Fabregas because the former is better, he himself admits to having a tough dicision picking either of them.


http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/antonio-conte-admits-chelsea-selection-dilemma-over-cesc-fabregas-flair-vs-nemanja-matic-force-a3492906.html

Ibime:


No he wouldn't. That ball got to Fabregas first. Xavi and Matic wouldn't have lost that ball. If the ball gets to you first and there is a man pressuring you from behind, there is no excuse for losing the ball. All you do is put your body in between the man and he either has to foul you or bounce off you. Fabregas did neither, and that is only one of umpteen occasions that has happened.

I just rewatched it. Besides virtually all the blogs attributed the mistake to Azpi. There is only so much you can do with a bad pass. The advantage was not to Fab but Andy Carroll.

Ibime:


How did Fabregas fair last season before Kante came?

Every team needs two solid DM/CM. The coming of Kante is the help that we asked for for our depleted midfield over the last 4 years. You would be extremely foolish to think one is enough. Matic only now has what other midfielders take for granted, what Dembele has in Wanyama, what Gabi has in Augusto Fernandez etc.

You would be fool to think a squad only need one. Matic struggled because he was carrying Fabregas. While Kante may be better suited to carrying Fabregas, that is based on the assumption that Fabregas must play regardless. The evidence however, is Fabregas doesn't need to start to guarantee potentially our best league season ever. All we need him to do is come on late in games if we still need a breakthrough at that stage (which we often don't). That is his role which he is doing well. Accept it or drink otapiapia.

Matic is average, he has had only one good season with us, the others he has been shiit, Fabregas has proven himself in Arsenal, Barca and Chelsea, one of the best in the game. There is a reason he was dubbed 'Fabrepass'. Matic is average, Kante wouldn't struggle carrying Fabregas.

Except your Matic improves, we are not going far in Europe with him but of course, Kante would still try his best to keep carrying him along.

Barca has Busquets as the DM, the other midfielders(Xavi and Iniesta offer more offensively for the team than defensively and they have been successful)


Matic isn't Chelsea's standard, watch him get relegated to the bench once the coach lands a better midfield Pair for Kante, Matic is just a carry - along this season.


Agree or die. .

bigkesh:


What the Bleep is this?
Fabregas was asked to do what Matic did?why should Fabregas be asked to do what Matic does, whatever that is.. ..Ronaldo should be asked to do whatever Matic does and let's see
Fabregas should bring his own play into our game ,why not ask Matic to do what Fabregas does and let's see

Don't even try to bring Barca into this. .Fabregas didn't play in the midfield often because of Xavi and Iniesta, every time any of them was absent Fabregas steps into the midfield effortlessly
You are reading too much into what you think, the same Barca you claim didn't use Fabregas as midfielder is using Rakitic, Suarez and Gomes in the midfield so don't try to tell us Barca tried to keep Fabregas away from his goal, Xavi kept him away from that position


If Matic's job is just to be forming a robot on Low Battery in the midfield, I reckon Zouma can do a better job. .....
A DM that is not playing out of defence, winning tackles, driving ball forward, intercepting or passing, is that one a DM?

By the way Matic doesn't shield Nada,don't just show us instances where Fabregas was dispossessed under pressure, I can bring out Xavi's error if i dig deep.....You even had to go back to the UCL game in 300BC to prove a point...So Fabregas gets dispossessed under pressure 2-3 times are season and he can't shield #Wehdone sir

Give us clips showing Matic shielding the ball under pressure

I don't get involved in this argument cos I always take the middle ground. However, I think I should this time. The problem with your argument is that you are criticising Matic whilst deliberately ignoring the clear reason why Fabregas should not be selected.

You cannot claim Fab is not there to do what Matic does, when Fab has been left out of the team more times than Matic has. This is not a 3-5-2. It's a 3-4-3. This means that whilst solidity is built on the wings and at the back, there are only two players left in the middle and that middle has to be tight.

Therefore, to claim that Fab is not selected to form a tight "two" in the 3-4-3 midfield is being dishonest. And this is exactly why Matic has always been selected as the preferred player to form the tight "two". Matic does not need to be fantastic to be tight. In fact, the way Matic plays sets him up for this role. And Fabregas cannot touch this, even in his greatest form. And yes, this fact is evidenced by our position on the table.


We could create another topic to discuss Fabregas's potential output in attacking play. Let's not claim however, that because of this output, there are no defensive consequences. Especially in a 3-4-3. This is exactly where Ibime uses the phrase "Intellectual dishonesty"

Chelseafan1:
Conte doesn't prefer Matic to Fabregas because the former is better, he himself admits to having a tough dicision picking either of them.


http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/antonio-conte-admits-chelsea-selection-dilemma-over-cesc-fabregas-flair-vs-nemanja-matic-force-a3492906.html

It's clearly not a tough decision. Matic has been selected more times.

bigkesh:

Don't even try to bring Barca into this. .Fabregas didn't play in the midfield often because of Xavi and Iniesta, every time any of them was absent Fabregas steps into the midfield effortlessly

And he did so well, Barca sold him just when Xavi was about retiring.

"While it’s hard to put Barcelona’s fall from grace entirely on Fàbregas, it is, however, easy to see why he is among those who have received the most criticism. Out of all Barcelona’s midfielders, Fàbregas is the one who is dispossessed most times per game."

http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/112186/love-story-gone-wrong-why-cesc-fabregas-never-gained-camp-nous-affection/

Frame your story along the lines of Fabregas playing AM. Your attempt to shoehorn him into the midfield two will not work. The current midfield two is already leading the league by 10 points regardless of how crap you think Matic is.

bigkesh:

What am I reading for goodness sake?

Why didn't Essien relax when Ballack arrived?
Messi should have stop scoring when Suarez and Neymar showed
We all saw drinkwater last season, he also played alongside Kante and he did his job. ...He wasn't between good and bad

Will FIFA complain if Matic starts winning tackles like Kante? This is the same Matic we saw last season

That excuse doesn't work at all

Why would Essien relax when it's glaring clear even to Cobhams Asuquo that Ballack isn't the sort of CM that runs around the pitch? Ballack's arrival gave Essien reasons to even work harder. So save me that damned analogy 'cos it doesn't hold water in this discourse.

What has goalscoring got to do with the fact that Kante has an inclination to win the ball back than any of his teammates?

Last season, Drinkwater in 35 games was able to post 70% tackle success, this season, Matic is already posting 74% in 27 games yet the Serb is uber-useless but Drinkwater is not?

You need to start seeing beyond your nose, it's a problem for you.