Has Rodgers found the ideal role for Marek?

Its almost 2 years since Steve Coppell paid over a million pounds for Czech midfielder Marek Matejovsky, and despite many saying he is the best players at the club he has yet to find his role in the Royals midfield – until now perhaps.


Often considered a luxury player by the always ‘glass half empty’ Steve Coppell, he tried to deploy him in an attacking role in the centre, in the hole behind the striker and sometimes even out wide. Before the Leicester game, Rodgers had used him sparingly to say the least and even when he did get a run out, he was deployed on the right of the now extinct (hopefully) midfield diamond.


He is a man that splits opinion among the Royals faithful, many claiming he is the best player in the world whilst the other half think he is the greatest player their never was, and his rumoured qualities have never been seen by anyone other than those watching hand picked you tube clips!


However he now seems to have found a place in the heart of the action in a deep lying midfield role, shooting down suggestions that your holding midfielder has to be someone who is not afraid to put his foot in and make a tackle.


I’m the first to admit that upon hearing the line up for the Leicester game, I had no idea how that midfield would work and I certainly didn’t expect to Matejovsky sitting infront of the back 4.


However in the last few games we have seen his passing abilty come to the fore and his cross for Rasiak’s winning goal was pure class, on Saturday against Blackpool.


Playing in that role, he looks like a slightly lesser version of Pirlo or Iniesta who are world class ‘holding’ midfielders who aren’t known for their tackling ability but more their ability to control a game.


Rodgers may well have found the answer to the lonstanding question of where to play Marek and could well see his side rise up the table as a result.