GodZola

Not good enough to win the game that's for sure but 11v11 we were the only ones that was going to win this game, Foy has a history about us and that is so transparently evident it is shocking that some of you lot have not commented on his previous but he had 3 other officials that were simply atrocious. Now I've made it clear many times when we sold Mata that we would rely too much on Hazard and it is becoming obvious that when Hazard doesn't get in the game we are shire - but never mind we have always got Oscar?!!!!

JT is certainly not blameless but he was expecting Cech to just pluck the ball from 'inside his 6 yard box' not stop half way through commiting himself? Jose has rightly been bemoaning and criticising our poor inefficiency in front of goal yet we have been making mistakes like this frequently this season and nothing is said? That goal completely changed the complexity of the game, we went from a comfortable win to hanging on, unnecessary pressure caused by our own players. At the moment we are just about getting away with these errors but they are bound to prove costly if we don't improve.

The first thing he did was give the ball away when he came on, which obviously stuck in people's minds, I cannot fathom why members believe he had a good half an hour because he performed like he always has and that is with mediocrity - let's be honest he was joined by a number of our players in that second half. Been discussing his flaws for over 3 years (which is far too long!) and now we have Matic members can finally see the light!!! Hopefully he will get a move in the summer which will benefit him and the club - then we can all stop wasting our time posting on this thread........

Courtois should of been brought back this season let alone next but the club deserve many plaudits for the way they have handled his future - giving him CL experience and making sure he goes to the WC, not sure where this rubbish is being written about him dictating cus he has 2 years left on his contract, if the club tell him to come back and fight for number 1, then he has no choice, however I don't see anything but a win-win when he returns. I don't see why big Pete has to leave anyway, I understand he is too good to be on the bench but so was Cudicini, Petr loves the club, this country and his family are settled, I'm pretty sure José would want them both here next season to slug it out and that can only be of a huge benefit for our club. There won't be too much upheaval with the back line, Cole will go, Luke Shaw will come in, Zouma won't be first choice, RB is the only question but Jose seems to like Bran, but good competition for all at the back. An understanding is not just built in games but a lot of work will be done on the training pitch so I don't see this as a problem, its likely that we will have the same defence bar Shaw, Courtois is a confident lad and has the ability to match it, I'm sure he will be giving those defenders a right rollicking if they aren't performing, as I said last season age is no factor - young or old, if you are good enough then you are ready and this boy is more than ready!

I never expected us to win it this season so the fact we are still in with a very good shout is very much a welcome surprise especially when you consider our inconsistent form before Xmas. My belief was that who ever finishes above City will win the league and I don't see any reason to change that, however if we are still in the hunt after the Arsenal game then looking at our remaining fixtures after playing them, we will have a massive chance. One thing for certain and that is if José was City's manager they would be 10 points clear by now, my heart says us my head says otherwise, I've been known to be wrong! :-) Contrary to what's been written I'd very much prefer we stay in the the CL, we found out 2 years ago anything can happen, having a good run will give the younger players the confidence to go on and win the PL, we have a young squad and there is no way with José at the helm and giving the players that bit extra with a psychological edge they will suffer with fatigue, playing regularly builds momentum especially in confidence, the mind and body are also sharper - bring it on I say!

My apologies, drinking doesn't help after a poor defeat like that - puts one on edge!Sorry fella.

Well as Zola was such an ordinary footballer and way before so many members time on here I thought I must be respectful and think small, perhaps they all will 'like me' and I can boast about my reputation and give it 'large' about oneupmanship! Or is it because I never played the game to any level and just dream about Zola and God, instead of wet dreams about Zilla and the lord almighty, I need help to decide, can you or anybody in their infinite wisdom help me decide - I'm really struggling, there is so many on here that have such superior football knowledge I bow to their intellect!

Ummmm, midfield in luiz & Matic that clearly had City in trouble, so he plays Mikel that is as mobile as a tree, instead of a back 4 of Cole, Cahill, Bran, Dave then brings on salah at CF instead of Torres & taking off Mikel or in fact changing things when we are losing - like why the fuck do we need 2 holding midfielders on the pitch when we are 1 nil down? I am Jose's biggest fan but today left me scrathing my head?Looks like to me he has no interest in winning the FA cup and is prioritising the PL......

Shocking in every sense, I feel sorry for our fans that spent good money to witness that abomination, team selection, substitions were not Jose of any way shape or form, those that were selected didn't perform to anywhere near their ability. This performance does not represent what we are trying to achieve in the long term - truly baffling? For me it's almost like José had no interest in winning this game......

Each to their own regarding where he should play, I prefer he plays in midfield because he possesses all the attributes that I feel we have lacked as a team since Ballack left, additionally I love his attitude - some on here slated him after his performance against Man U, a little over exuberant yes but he simply bullied the life out of their midfield, he might come across as the 'happy go lucky cheeky chappie' but underneath all that there is an unbelievable steely determination to win and that is something you simply cannot teach.I'm not going in to his abilities in midfield - done that before but I will just say that Jose is selecting him in there for the big games and that says it all, contrary to what has been said he doesn't need Matic to make him look good, he has produced some fantastic performances without him, however it would be very ignorant of me to say that Matic didn't assist his performance against City, I thought they complimented each other brilliantly and a key ingredient to us winning that game. Now there has been a lot posted on here about him being sold etc, however what these peeps don't understand is that if David is sold we will have to replace a CB and a DM too, how much would that cost us? I've always said he is a footballer not just a defender, his versatility is a massive bonus too and another string to his bow which many do not give him enough credit for, José had Essien to do this job first time around so I think he likes this in David and something he will use to his advantage as the season goes on, unfortunately despite his successful and encouraging performances as a DM I don't think José will play him enough in there. I don't agree with you Barb's that we need someone else for that position but I'm happy to be proved wrong.........I just hope he is not sold in the summer.

Its been said that City have the best squad and we have the best manager, well José is the best without question and are squad looked stronger tonight too, how many of those Pep lovers still believe he should be our manager ahead of 'one of us'? I wonder......

Some of us have maintained his future is in midfield, José trust's him in all the big games says it all...... Magnificent performance, him and Matic were simply superb, Toure barely got a kick.

Cundy was talking to Belague (about what you quoted) on the show at the time and he put Belague in his place.I know that Jose has said he wanted to keep Mata but he is hardly going to say anything different knowing he is getting shot of a fans favourite and to a rival, he won't risk alienating himself anymore from the fans. As i said it has become patently obvious that Jose doesn't feel Juan is the right player for the evolution of his squad, what Cundy said just reinforced what most believed anyway.

Imagine what their feelings/posts will be if he starts producing for Scum U?!

Yes there is logic in your post but as I say its to Man U & it is a massive gamble, we could quite easy wait til the summer and sell him to a foreign club not withstanding the fact that injuries could get him back in the side and things on the pitch can change for him.Without going over old ground nothing has been proved yet, I think its short sighted of people to think we will be a success without him, we have only just recently hit a run of form that is showing consistency, before members on here were asking for José's head & we couldn't buy a clean sheet! I fully understand why he is being sold but that doesn't mean I agree with it. By the way many fans are not happy now and it could get worse in year or so's time.

Fight for his place? What place? Oh the one that's permanently sat on a bench! You didn't read my post properly did you? Read the bit about what Cundy has to say, Juan was never going to get a run in his favoured position under José - unfortunately. Whether this backfires on José or not he will still get my support the very same as Juan will when he returns in the awful red scum shirt, he deserves an ovation, do you really think he would leave if he was playing regularly?

If we take the bones out of all this we are left with one common denominator and that is why the fook are we selling to Scum U? Cundy said last night on talksport that he had genuine info back in the summer that Jose didn't fancy Mata, so my question is why did we not sell him to PSG when they offered us 40m back then? As for Juan, i can't believe there are members on here throwing shit at him already without knowing his side of the story, not only that it has become transparent that Jose didn't rate Juan so his lack of time on the pitch was fundamental in his decision to leave being its world cup year too, unfortunately you simply cannot argue with his reasoning to leave. There is no doubt he will get an ovation from the Chelsea faithful on his return. I cannot get my head round this transfer and it represents a massive gamble by José, however he has an uncanny knack of proving me wrong although I think this one is on a knife edge. Great managers don't let sentimentality get in the way of their judgement so we can expect some more pain in the next year or so - Cech prob the most difficult decision. Hazard now becomes absolutely pivotal for us IMHO, for me he has all the attributes to become the best player on the planet so i hope he fulfils his potential - this will at least help ease some of the pain of losing such a brilliant talent and a gentleman that is Mata.

The very same as your mob when Rooney signs for us............ Utd fans are morphing into Liverpool fans now always harping on about their history cus that's what you lot are now my friend!

In terms of selection right now Mata is indeed 4th choice - fair comment, when we are looking a little deeper and look into talent only Hazard comes close and as I've already said god forbid he gets injured if juan is sold, however when the other 2 can create 227 chances in 2 seasons I will put them in the same bracket, albeit good players they are that have high energy and can press blah blah blah, sooner or later we will rue the day Mata is sold.

There is only way this transfer will happen and that is if Rooney is coming our way, don't listen to the bollocks that it ain't happening - wait til the summer when its announced that he is signing for us, one year left on his contract, won't sign another deal, Utd won't risk letting him go for nothing when he would walk from Manchester to sign for us , Jose won't permit this to happen other than a swap deal of some description, after all he wouldn't even let Ba go to Arsenal which tells you everything about this situation. For all the would be football managers on here who believe we are better off without Juan, I challenge you all to come on here the end of next season - will see whether that call was a good one or not....... As Juan, 227 chances created in his first 2 seasons.....simply majestic a pocket genius and one of the few players that are worth going to pay to watch. Can't stand Utd but I wish him well all the same. God forbid anything happens to the wonderful talent that we have in Hazard because the other attacking midfieders have talent but nowhere near that of him or Mata.

No, my answer is to change the way we play against the multitude and increasing sides that we play home and away that are sitting back and waiting for a counter attack or set peice to get a result. It may have slipped past many minds cus of recent performances but we have been disappointing for most of the season, agreed and I've said as much before things are taking shape - I along with a few like minded and patient individuals have repeatedly been steadfast about Jose, I have always had 100% faith in him which included the shaky times before Xmas and my belief in him want differ if we encounter another rocky patch, much cant be said about others who like to voice or change their opinion dependent on how well or poor we are playing. You and others may well be right that Mata just won't function in this team or José's plans going forward, I however feel it's premature to come to that conclusion, my belief is that we will need Mata long before the season is out. I get it about selling him to fund area's elsewhere but what happens if we get injuries or loss of form to key players in his position? To counter that if we had a striker in form where Mata can get his teeth into then we would be scoring regularly and much doesn't/wouldn't need to change, you still have a unit that we will work hard for the end result and if that means benching Mata after a period of time so be it.

I will answer your question later, it's all academic though as to where I would play Mata, José selects the players that he feels will get a result and that team will change dependant on the opposition, the fact he has used 27 player's this season tells you that he isn't afraid to use all the tools at his disposal but will also chop and change when he deems fit and this is the first point I was trying to make in that the masses on here who are quick to hang Mata out to dry can only look one way, they don't deviate left or right but state things that are foremost in their minds - that being the current form of the 3 amigo's but then seem to have short term memories as the team has been largely inconsistent this season, we are currently going through a purple patch (long may that continue) but that is also down to solid foundations that are allowing our offensive players to perform which was certainly not happening pre Liverpool, let's give some credit to the defensive unit too not just our 'now' in form high energy attackers who lets be honest have not been on it consistently, however I cannot disagree with you that at present Mata is 3rd choice.To drum home my point about about the blinkered, José has been receiving a few well many 'pelters' on here pre Liverpool, all of a sudden we are playing well getting results in the process and hey lets play these players forever and a world class player is no longer good enough cus he doesn't fit in this system this team bollocks, they say Mata slows down the play but so does Mikel but José is selecting him - you do the maths?! This may surprise you but for the short term I would continue to use the same players, they have hit a run of form - if it ain't broke don't fix it, nonetheless things change very quickly in football and I will be intrigued into which team José selects for the upcoming Manchester games. Think it's already been said that Mata needs to follow Dave's example and get his head down and work hard thus proving the doubters wrong. Now onto Juan and to answer your question, I have never understood why we play with 4 defenders and 1 or 2 DM when playing at home against most teams in the PL that just come and park the bus, I would operate a 3-4-1-2 system with Mata as the '1' with Oscar playing as an unorthodox striker and with Hazard plus Willian/Shirley operating the flanks in the four. This system isn't designed to 'shoehorn' Mata but to get us creating chances, playing exciting stuff and getting the opposition to come out after we hopefully score! Away fixtures would be slightly different but many sides are going defensive against us so Mata would start for me too, I wouldn't play this system or play Mata every week but tweak personnel and formation to suit. One thing I will add is that if we had a striker in form like Suarez, Juan would have an outlet for his creative genius and we wouldn't be discussing his departure or whether he fits in or not. As I say it's very much immaterial as José wont play my way but I look forward to the coming months especially to see how things develop.

It is incredulous that so many opinions are being based on 3 players (Hazard, Oscar, Willian) that all of a sudden have clicked into gear (albeit more like a few half's of football) yet now they are suddenly ready to put a world class player in Mata on the scrapheap?! It wasn't that long ago member's on this forum were questioning Jose's ability in the transfer market because we acquired Willian when we already had Hazard, De Bruyne, Shirley etc to cover those positions, also to add to that Jose amongst some of the players were being slated for some of the poor results and performances previous to the last 4/5 games, just before this decent run we went out to Sunderland and the detractors were out in full! I don't remember reading too many posts asking for the introduction of these 3 players beforehand, think some have short memories......... There is no doubt and I'm not pig ignorant to see that we have looked a far more composed side recently with some brilliant individual and collective performances, however the reason we have improved is not just because of the high pressing energy from our attack it is also based on solid defensive displays where we look more like the miserly José Chelsea of old and I include Mikel in that and many know I'm no fan of his. Without question the recent performances bode well for the rest of the season but let's not go overboard with the praise because we can just as well fall on our arse with the same 3 players and that's why those writing off Mata or believe he should be sold to fund x, y or z are iincredibly naive imho, he still has a major role to play for us this season. One last thing to add to the arguments above is that we have a far superior manager and squad this season to last, I said it before our bench now looks more like quality rather than having to turn to players like Benayoun, Turnbull etc and no offense to those players but it helps when you can turn to a few notches above that level when things aren't going great - how many teams would love to have Juan on their bench!

I mentioned David Luiz earlier on and it should be underlined that he had a fine game in midfield against Liverpool. His pass helped set up a goal and he was a dominating presence throughout. He has had a period out injured, so to come in for 90 minutes of midfield graft at this level and intensity was asking a lot, but he certainly didn't let anyone down. There was a great pass to Samuel Eto'o in the second half in the 'inside-right channel' that nearly put him through and it is just great to see him in there with his quality when needed. An extract from Pat Nevin's latest report, hope Jose is taking note! Fair play fella, think you are not alone in your original opinion, i concur that i would play Rami alongside him mainly due to his endless energy but I would interchange with Mata and Oscar depending on who we play. Unfortunately I cannot see jose playing him there unless his hand is forced.

Jose won't mind Mata showing some frustration in fact he would prefer his players to be pissed off when they are taken off as opposed to being jovial in the dug-out after getting the hook, however Juan should show his disgust away from the cameras. As for his current predicament I concur that he has to knuckle down and prove to Jose that he can make it in this team and make himself un-droppable, the problem for him is that he is not being given enough playing time to get any sort of consistency in his game, the same goes for our strikers and we only have to look at JT's performances this season to recognize this. I don't agree that he doesn't fit our system either, we will play different systems & personnel will change to suit which team we are playing, he is not as adaptable as Hazard or Oscar but he is far better in his natural position, I believe that he would be a success playing more regularly and as what you lot call it now as a number 10. I actually think that Mata coming out showing some aggression will work in our favour because I can see him having a private chat with Jose were things will ironed out and perhaps Juan will now get angry and start producing and playing like the world class player we all know he is. Nonetheless I've always said I will trust Jose's judgement & if he is sold then so be it and I'm a big fan of Mata, although I can see him coming back to haunt us, there is barely a side in the world that wouldn't want Mata. One last point to add is that if he is sold (I sincerely hope he is not) then the same people on here who state he cannot make it here will be crying out for his creativity when we hit a dodgy patch, the one thing that sets him apart from most pro's is his ability to create chances, his assists in the previous 2 seasons back that up - be careful what you wish for.........