bababoom

Not true, he got one last season vs Chelsea, 2-2, Puncheon the scorer.

To be honest A.Cole was never the best crosser, he did attempt (unlike now), but Shaw has a good cross on him, pace, power, height, the kid has everything.

He's also got a sweet left foot.

Mourinho on Hazard - "Does he have the capacity to reach the level of a Messi or Cristiano? Now I say yes, because his evolution is great. He has time to become a great, great player and arrive where they are – he's 23, and Cristiano is 28, Messi 26.. so there is space for further evolution, and there's a great ambition in him"

Way too much, City making a mockery of FFP.

Dan Lavene (Chelsea Writer for the Fulham Chronicle) wrote this Article today, thought it was pretty good. www.footballscores.com/superblog/no-laughing-mata-for-sellers-chelsea/ No Laughing Mata for sellers Chelsea Tears were shed as, after six months of speculation, Chelsea finally parted company with Juan Mata. But why did Jose Mourinho oversee the sale of Chelsea's most popular player of the last two years? Mata had served Chelsea very well at a time when the club had quite different aspirations within its grasp – whether or not the ownership will care to admit it. In the two full seasons in which he coasted to the title of Player Of The Year at the club, Blues came 6th and 3rd in the Premier League. Which is not to say cup competitions did not make it one of the most glorious periods in the club’s history – with Mata delivering the two most garlanded assists of that period. But in those two years, Chelsea managed an average of just under 70 league points a season; whereas in Mourinho’s first spell at the club, the average was just under 90. On form so far, Chelsea are heading for 85 this season – almost entirely without Mata. Mata suited very well a series of managers of frankly limited tactical ability: who were able to set up their teams for him, and tell him to go out and do his thing. By giving him freedom, the rewards were sublime to see – even if Chelsea underwent their least consistent spell of the last decade. All of which is why he is the perfect buy right now for United. But we all know Mourinho’s Chelsea is one of greater Premier League aspirations than that of Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo or Rafael Benitez. Or, indeed, the Manchester United of David Moyes. Mourinho expects a far more drilled formation and performance, where no player is allowed the luxury of brilliance over teamwork. And, like it or not, results say Mourinho is right. We can never know for real how Mourinho would have dealt with a player like Gianfranco Zola, the player to whom Mata is most frequently – and, probably, most accurately – compared. But, on the one occasion in which the two Blues legends were forced together into the same match, the Sardinian (by then aged 38) was used as a 63rd minute sub by the Portuguese. It was clear from the off that Mata did not have the attributes Mourinho most desires. He doesn’t have the pace that the very best clubs in Europe expect of a forward player; he doesn’t have the height or bulk Mourinho believes is mandatory for top performers in the Premier League. Just look at the buys he has made to improve the side: the hulking great giant Nemanja Matic; the cheetah-like Mohamed Salah. Mata was never going to be either of those players. Just like Zola, Mata is more than just a footballer. They broke the mould when they made him: a cultured, stylish, intelligent man; who behaved less like the brash, spoilt footballers of now, than like the person most of us would secretly like to be. That, as much as his brilliance on the pitch, is why his departure from Chelsea has caused so much dismay. Mata will do well at United – I’m sure of that. But I’m also sure that, however hard it is to take, Chelsea will do better without him than they managed in the two years he was a mainstay of the team.

haha rightly so tbh.

Sturridge still so selfish... Now subbed for Moses.

Fucking hell, Southampton should of took their chances... Yeaaahhh Lallanaaa

Anyone got a stream for the united game?

I remember, you used to always mention Benitez , you don't do that anymore, does this mean you like what Jose's doing now? For United, once Rooney and RVP come back Mata will be put out on the right,... having Mata - Rooney - Januzaj sounds mouth watering (for united fans) but it'll leave them vulnerable, once they lose the ball it'll be so easy to hit them on the counter.

Would this injury have any long term issues? like losing a yard of pace, more frequent injuries etc

I was watching the Jose documentary, and he seemed to be doing so well at Madrid, they won the league in record style... fast forward a year Jose fell out with most of the squad, the Spanish press and many of the fans.. what actually happened in his last season for Real? I know many Managers fail at Madrid, with all that player power and politics.

Would could of been, it's a shame... would of been an iconic stadium.

ChelsTransferGossip‏@ChelsTransfer #CFC regard Courtois as potentially the best goalkeeper in the world and would be extremely reluctant to lose him permanently (Telegraph) How the hell do you embed Twitter posts?

First two seasons he was out of this world, shame about injuries but i wish him all the best. With Moruinho we're building a new Chelsea, its exciting times. A new era.

Isn't he more of an attacking midfielder? not really sure we need him.

Why isn't he signing a new deal? One thing is that he shoots an awful lot, same can be said for Lampard though, especially in him prime.

Cahill and Terry have been immense, not sure why you would drop Cahill tbh...

Simon Peach ‏@SimonPeach3m Right, let's get this cleared up: @LukeShaw3 has no intention of leaving #SaintsFC this month & the club are not willing to sell him.

What do you want him to say? he's a United player now, he's saying all the right things. At least he's not slagging us off, like a few players in the past. You're so bitter it's hilarious.. how did he act like a child? He wanted to play more, United offered a big sum of money and seeing as he didn't fit in Jose's system it was a no-brainer. It was right for all parties involved. 'Jose wasnt falling over himself to make it the 'Mata show' He wasn't offered no.7, it's most likely being groomed for Januzaj. He didn't say that at all... Shocking how some fans have already turned on Mata... sad. I personally wish him all the best.

I still think he would of featured in some games, maybe as a sub or in cup games, like Pogba did.

Watching that video he sounds like a really nice guy, cant wait to see him play for us.

The way he pressed in the midfield was fucking great, in the first half there was a stage where Stoke couldn't get out of their own half, our whole team was pressing high like crazy, Matic was a big part of that. Lampard also played further up the pitch, which is a plus, but i honestly cant wait for Matic-Ramires... it's going to be unbelievable. I think we're going to see the team pressing higher and more frequently, with the inclusion of Matic it seems like we can do it without being exposed. This is why Jose didn't fancy Mata, forget that not tracking back bullshit (which the pundits still say by the way..), Mata can track back, but he struggles to press high up the pitch. It's all about that high pressing, Willian/Schurrle/Salah , Hazard and Oscar can do that. Watch this Mourinho post Fulham Interview, this is what he wants. (Minute 3:25) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ51HzMSz4Q

Read the first few pages of the Kakuta thread, HE'S GOING TO BE OUR MESSI....