09 Feb 2017 20:34:15
Ed's and other posters,

What do you think of Matip's recent form?

I did not watch the first half of the season and the last few games I did, I see Matip as ordinary whereas the forum is full of praise for him as if he is our saviour defender.

Is it because he is just above Lovren, Klavan and those type?

Since the benchmark is itself ordinary, he is just above them and no special?

or

It is because he is returning from injury and not 100% back to his best?

Cheers.

{Ed025's Note - a bit slow for me sami..i have seen milk turn quicker.. :)

1.) 09 Feb 2017
09 Feb 2017 22:44:33
You know i scanned the eds comment first and automatically assumed he was talking about can, how horrible am i. don't agree about matip btw, had a few issues with getting back to fitness following ankle problems but he is no doubt quality. He just needs to regain form.

2.) 09 Feb 2017
09 Feb 2017 23:40:57
He's back from 5/ 6 weeks out. He's a top top centre back. Calm, dominant in the air, great feet, yeah a slightly slow turner, but can gallop at a fair rate of knots. See how he almost blocked hulls second goal despite the forwards head start? An besides, pace never hampered big sam or carra. Once he settles I think it could be a great bit of business.

3.) 09 Feb 2017
09 Feb 2017 23:40:57
He's back from 5/ 6 weeks out. He's a top top centre back. Calm, dominant in the air, great feet, yeah a slightly slow turner, but can gallop at a fair rate of knots. See how he almost blocked hulls second goal despite the forwards head start? An besides, pace never hampered big sam or carra. Once he settles I think it could be a great bit of business.

4.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 00:03:52
Yes just back from injury and reads the game, he doesn't need pace as he reads the game so well.

{Ed002's Note - Ideal, a centre back who cannot run after the opposition.}

5.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 01:03:31
There's 20 million reasons why Matip is preferable to Lovren and SaKho
I think he is quality who has improved our defence when present and fully fit. He needs a quality partner along side him and someone behind them who knows when to twist and when to stick and doesn't leak uncertainty that seeps through the side.

It's not Matip that's the problem it's what's left of Brendans boys (who always show great Character)

{Ed002's Note - Coutinho and Firmino you mean?}

6.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 01:32:35
how many glasses of wine tonight 002?

7.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 02:21:16
Sahko would have been a great partner for matip.

{Ed002's Note - Klopp doesn't want him - it is done.}

8.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 04:12:02
In defence Ed in defence.

{Ed002's Note - I am too slow and will give away penalties.}

9.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 08:01:42
Why would you "run after the opposition" when you already have the ball 😎.

10.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 09:37:52
Matip is a quality defender but he's not the sort of player who can do it all, and we won't be able to get a real and fair indication of how good he is until he's partnered with another CB who at the very least is competent more often than not.

11.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 10:13:49
Sami Hypia, Tony Adams, Vidic, all top CB's who didn't need pace. Play him alongside another capable centreback He'll be fine, Lovren need to stop doing a krtel and dropping deep without warning.

12.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 11:10:19
I think he's been solid, has decent pace, good passing and mostly good in the air. The problem is we don't have a settled partnership and we often leave our CBs very exposed. Most strikers isolated 1-1 with any CB will fancy their chances yet we do that to ours frequently.

Close your eyes and think of alderweireld and I bet you picture him in an organised defence. Think of Matip and you probably picture him one-on-one with a striker and no-one near him to support.

13.) 10 Feb 2017
10 Feb 2017 13:35:28
He was the best CB in the PL before his injury, period IMO. He's taking time to get back but he is more than capable as he shut out Kane, Costa (mostly at the bridge), Vardy, several other. The prob is that he doesn't have a capable partner to help him get better. That should be The priority for next season's transfer window.