Styles

Quality. The balance and agility he showed to set up Oscar when he hit the post was insane. It was done in one movement. His footwork is amazing.

Your friend sounds like some of the guys in the Mata thread.

Gone for good. Good luck Essien. Amazing athlete before the injuries, he was a bull.

He really is! You know he will give it 100%. Really looking forward to his debut.

Solid performance and easy to see why he will be an important player.

Some of his passes we're amazing and he deserved at least 3 assists.

But he doesn't have any skill

Looking at that video the overriding thought is that if we ever get a technical striker that can consistently play a good give and go Hazard he will score a lot of goals.

What a lovely message from a classy guy. Mata :tophat:

Good to see his recovery is going well. Anybody else think he will go on loan next year? I suspect that he will only because of what Romeu said in the summer before he left for Valencia: Obviously every players situation isn't the same and Mouinho might not have rated Oriol in the same way he does MVG.

Of course you can but don't be surprised when people call you up on some of the stuff you're saying. He did try, and in some games he tried so hard he was knackered by halftime (Southampton away). Mata realised he is physically incapable of playing the way Mourinho wants, he hasn't played a single minute for the last three weeks. He can fight until he end of the season, next year and up to 2020 if he wants but he will never be the athlete Jose requires for his system. This offer was too good to turn down for both the club and the player.

Leave it out mate. No need for the animosity. Seeing the kind of guy Mata is I expect him to make some nice comments about the both Chelsea and the supporters once his deal goes through.

True, but Van Persie seems to have become injury prone again so Rooney as a 9 with Mata beind looks likely for the rest of the season. Long-term it'll be interesting to see where/how he plays. Crazy transfer for both sides.

So it's true. Tough break, sad to see a quality player leave. Thank you and good luck.

But but but he doesn't have the brain or skills to play AM, he should play CB because all he does is tackle

Because Mata hasn't created 200+ CLEAR goalscoring opportunities which is what those stats imply. I'm trying to figure exactly how that number has been calculated and I can only imagine set-piece takers have an advantage.

I think the players who are first choice set-piece takers have grossly exaggerated numbers.

Maybe we should sign him to replace Mata.

Yeah I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one mate.

And that's what needs to be clarified. Are we really supposed to believe Chris Brunt has created 139 goalscoring opportunities?

Chances created can mean passing the ball to a player who takes a shot from 50 yards. There is NO WAY Mata or Silva have created 200+ clear goalscoring opportunities. Those numbers are grossly exaggerated and laughable if properly scrutinised.

So it turns out just asking how many open-play assists Mata has contributed means you're downplaying his genius and everything he has done for club. It's almost as if some people have gone over the top regarding Mata's playmaking ability and he isn't the super-duper creative genius they desperately want you to believe. Maybe Oscar should start taking corners to get them numbers up.

Big Mo in the houuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse! That pace :worship2: :worship2: :worship2: :worship2:

Yeah, it's long flight to Manchester. Hope Mata took a book with him.