SinineUltra

He couldn't perform a dorsal flexion, let alone put the weight of his body on it - the medic and Howard had to carry him off the field. Let's hope nothing too serious as Traore is lurking for a spot in the starting line-up.

Can you make it 10 PL and 11 championship? Is it doable?

Inch perfect free kick

Great first half, Hazard has been on fire. Wonder if the fans in the stands will sing for Mourinho in the 51st minute?

Fair play, didn't mean to stir up anything just genuinely was trying to see this from others' perspective. I guess I'm being a bit too rational and practical here.

Are you ashamed of Mata?

Why do people suddenly need to remove names from shirts? I mean he had an amazing 2,5 years at this club and helped us to achieve great things. He was part of CFC and now he is gone, but nothing can nullify his contribution at the time. I've still got Joe Cole 10 shirt from the double winning 2009/2010 year, never in my mind to even start scratching it off.

Mata was a likeable lad - can you blame them? Show some empathy or better yet, if it bothers you so much, tune out of the forum for a few days.

Didn't know where to post this as The Pub seems to be a thread for less formal matters. Opportunity the rover has been on Mars for 10 years now, what a great achievement.

Interesting to see how this turns out for this Crouch-like player. Straight from Russian league to a good EPL club - hopefully it won't affect Lukaku a great deal.

I can meet you on this. Fans should get behind the manager and the team, but then again not blindly. I could understand the people, who were against Scolari, RDM, Benitez etc for their whole tenure as much as I understand people raising their doubts over Mourinho's current decision. Doesn't make them less of a fan in my eyes as long as they don't go to extremes with it. In time, Mourinho will win them over once again but it won't happen over-night.

Where did this Mourinho hate come in? People objecting selling Mata to a rival doesn't mean they are distancing them from the club, the manager. If you had look at the Mourinho thread, you'd see how many of the 'pro-Mata fake fans' would strongly be against any sort of chanting, demonstration regarding the sell even if it happened. Read less conspiracy theories, live a sane life. As for the Mourinho becoming the new SAF in terms of power, time will tell. Too early to say as not even a season has passed. The true colors of our board,owner's tolerance will be shown when we underachieve, because you really get to know someone in time of trouble.

Great way to twist words of others. It is not about selling Mata, it is about selling it to ManUtd for 10mil more from the sum we could get in the summer. It's not like Mata's suitors would vanish in the summer, if anything there will be loads more.This approach of -supposedly- getting 37mil out of this is the only way to benefit the club and ergo the ones supporting this are the only real CLUB fans is ridiculous. Very one dimensional, comfortable and lazy way to see things. I hope I don't have to spell it our for you why not selling Mata to Utd is really not about Mata but actually for the well-being of the club?

You're right about that. Though, same applies to everyone on the list - numbers become smaller but the proportions and order stays roughly the same.

Seems like a speed demon, amazing how blazing fast he is. Through videos and games against Chelsea he tended to overhit his passes or misplace them, but nothing he can't improve as he is still a young lad. Can't wait to see him in action.

was it like 3 penalties scored out of 10? Not to be off topic - mata

Comedy penalty shoot out.

TermX, is it you?

Howcome you are so sure that Mata's request was to be only transferred to Manchester United Football Club and not on a loan/sold to another club that would be good for everyone?

To be a true blue, your nationality has to be just right.

There's a difference between 12 full 90 minute games and game-time worth of 12 game. Figuratively speaking, he is getting blue balled every game without having the chance to work his 'magic'.

Regarding this hierarchy of club>manager>player - who's interests are really protected with not selling Mata to a rival for seasons (plural) to come? Chelsea Football Club's. Who's interest are we protecting when we do sell? Well, in all fairness, Mata's and Mourinho's. I can't see any positive from this deal unless we buy a player from the transaction money we ought to receive.

Don't point out flaws of others, you'll be banned for trolling.

Depends on perspective. I don't think it will impact us as much as letting Mata go will. This isn't even about Mata leaving, this is about selling to the wrong affiliate at a wrong time while weakening our own squad. Candy money, nothing more.

Frankly it irritates me how you take the liberty to dismiss Mata and call him a squad player on every opportunity like it would soften the blow. We sold KdB who played for roughly 400 minutes for us this season, Mata has played 1100 (more than 12 full 90' games). I think he has an important role to play for us in 2013/14. Oscar can't play every game and he is the only real 100% sub for him. Moreover, if this is about game time, I'm sure the club can respect Juan's wishes in another manner - by a loan deal to France,Italy,Spain with an option to buy. Problem solved. Now selling to a direct rival, who are in contention for UCL, different cups and CL spots for 2014/15 season does not make sense. Indirectly he would affect ManUtd's progress in current season's CL and cup games by rotation. If you add up sum for progression in cups, qualifying and making it past group stages in next year's CL then ManU have broken even by paying over the market price and we are left with long faces. And whats this talk about not weakening our squad? We are losing DEPTH. I call it a major factor in hindering our quality of play.