The Skipper

Good luck Kenneth.

I think he's dropped some hints that he wants to make 2 "clinical" signings - I'm assuming that's at the ST & CM positions, which is correct - it's what we need the most. If we get the right players in those positions the foundations can be set for years. We can then start looking for a new LB and CB to replace Ashley and John.

Balotelli and Lukaku both have the potential to be world class, the former is nearly there IMO he just needs to sort a few things out, there would be no need for a WC striker. Have Balotelli as number 1 and Lukaku as the number 2 and a decent 3rd choice striker and it's a significant improvement over our strikeforce now (well anything is really but still).

That's fair enough, but I'm not trying to reason that we should build our team around Mata. If anyone we should build our team around, it's Hazard, but he isn't at that stage in his career yet (consistently performing 9/10 in matches i.e. Messi, Ronaldo, Ribery etc. which I know he can reach if he carries on progressing). Right now it's more important for us to create the foundations of a great team which is what we're doing, and Mata hasn't performed for whatever reason (because Oscar is having a great season and because whilst he is being played, he's 90% being played in a position that diminishes his strengths massively - out wide right as an inside forward) so justifiably, he isn't our main player this season. Whilst I agree with the rest of your post, this is where we disagree to a certain extent - again as I said before, it's very unfair to basically blame Juan for us not being a very competitive side back then when there were other factors affecting our team i.e. managerial instability - AVB with his clueless self (Mata used to play wide left under him actually where he was still decent), Di Matteo and his inexperience, Rafa being appointed mid season... We had no solid system back then, every manager was basically building short term wise. Rafa was the only manager out of the three who managed to get a decent system going on towards the end of his time here - our team wasn't building for the future like we are now and we didn't have the squad depth we have now, and as I said in my earlier post players like Hazard & Oscar were not as matured as they are now - so obviously our team wasn't challenging back then but it certainly wasn't solely because we had a system that allowed Juan to do his thing without worrying too much about the defensive side of the game. I believe he does not have to be our main guy for him to perform, but for me the main reason why he's not performing as much this season is simply because he's barely played in his best role, the number 10 role, and that's the difference between him, Ozil and Sneijder. Ozil and Sneijder are a shell of the players they are when they play out wide too (especially the former) so it's understandable to me why Mata is not producing his best form this year. You're right in saying that the "not a Mourinho player" excuse is poor, I agree with you, but you also have to understand that he isn't playing as a number 10 this season and that is exactly why he hasn't showcased his greatness often - he still wouldn't produce the same amount of stats as he did when he indeed was the main guy but his general game and stats would still be respectable if he was played as the side's number 10 more often than not which is not happening. I can at least understand though why Mourinho is playing him out wide most of the time but I don't agree with him - yeah it (sort of) masks the amount of defensive work he has to do but it negates his attacking play too much. He isn't as athletic as Hazard or Willian or Schurrle or even Oscar (who's better out wide than Mata by far IMO) so in my opinion it's useless. I understand that Mata leaves the spaces in between the pivot and himself too open but he's if he's working hard out wide I personally think it'd be better if he worked hard in the middle to close that gap. To get the best out of him it'd be better if he was flanked by any of the former 3 (preferably Hazard and Willian as I believe their link up play could be outstanding with a confident on form Mata in the middle) whilst having an anchorman like Mikel who will add defensive solidity whilst protecting the back four due to there being more spaces for the opposition to play in, especially in the middle of the park. Willian's and Hazard's work rate will also again add defensive solidity to the side thus making it a bit more balanced than having Mata out wide. If we were to play Mata this is how I think we should set up the team, providing Mata works hard in the middle as well as that's the only way it'd work whilst getting the best out of him. Now I'm not advocating that this is how we should play or whatever because I like the Hazard - Oscar - Willian trio; my point is that if we are to play Mata that this is how we should play him if we want him to start having great games again whilst not being detrimental to the team as a whole as he'd also have defensive responsibility. Instead of him putting the effort in out wide it'd be better if that was done through the middle. It could work well against certain sides (especially those that sit deep). That's how I roughly feel about it any way. PS - sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes, I'm quite sleepy!

I'd just stick Oscar on him tbh. Everything goes through him and due to his lack of speed Oscar could just shut him down thus shutting down Hull's whole system.

Why can't we have Mario and Romelu? Balotelli/Lukaku/X sounds decent to me as well.

Exactly, you're saying it yourself... So how has he failed when he hasn't even been given a chance? Failure is someone like Torres.

That is indeed true, but some people are trying to reason that we didn't challenge for the PL over the last 2 seasons because we built the team around our then most influential player (Mata), when that's not true. There are many, many other factors which affected our performances in the past two seasons but people are trying to use the fact that we built the team around Juan as the reason why we didn't really succeed in those two seasons which just isn't true IMO. Yes, the team is playing better now but it isn't solely because the side isn't built with Mata as its number 10, there are many other factors i.e. finally having a solid manager who has a long term plan, players maturing (Hazard & Oscar), brilliant squad depth, more balance in the AM strata (Hazard and Willian on each flank instead if Mazacar) etc. I agree that Mata shouldn't be starting right now because players are outperforming him, but I don't like and disagree with how people are trying to attribute our failures in the PL over the past two seasons to Juan being our main man. It just isn't true.

Exactly.

Probably the player I'd love to sign the most for our pivot. Proper modern CM.

Lukaku has failed at CFC?

Lol, this was a joy to read.

Whilst playing a lot better too. We're finally becoming a consistent team.

Would love if you could get a similar skin for the forums Jim. It looks great.

To me, the way Jose is reacting to all of this tells me that some have completely over exaggerated this. Surely if Mata tried to threaten his superiority Jose wouldn't be speaking like this.

Most people knew that, I think some were just hoping that we could come in and turn his head that's all. Don't know what's so laughable about that.

Odds really mean nothing. I wish people would stop using it as an indicator that something is more likely. Harry Redknapp was once odds on to become our manager.

25m is fair. I'd take that, and use it to invest towards a striker or midfielder.

Been saying this since day one.

That's your interpretation of it. My interpretation is that he was frustrated that he couldn't influence the game.

That would be a superb short term signing for them.

This guy was so good at youth level, technically above almost everyone, even most players in our senior squad back then. He just hasn't developed at all which is a real shame. Doesn't seem to have that drive. Wish him well with his career wherever he goes.

One moment of frustration shown and suddenly Mata is undermining the manager. Suddenly, Mata is an absolute villain. People are using this one tiny moment to completely forget how professional he's been before that. I'm not excusing what he did, but honestly, have none of you ever shown frustration when things aren't going your way? The overreaction on here is ridiculous. You lot sound like the media.

If he sorts his head out he'd be a superb signing, I think AC wouldn't overprice him either. Don't forget he *can* play out wide and as a second striker too, so next season him and Lukaku could also play together in a few games or when we're going 2 up.

The fact that people think his performance was outstanding astonishes me. We really need a proper striker. His end product was horrible and that to me means his performance was just average Outstanding would be him putting away a few of the chances he didn't take.