oman43

I see what you mean, but only in comparison with our genius midfielders (Hazard / Willian). He is not in the team for the same purpose as they are. He is still fairly young and can improve, people treat him like one of the old, experienced players in the team.

Fair points. Your giving Matic a lot of responsibility (building the team on him in a way) considering we haven't seen a lot of him since his return!!!??? (He has looked the real deal don't get me wrong.) You talk of a young team building for the future, well ramires is 26, hardly incapable of learning/adapting? Like I have said on other threads, you need a combination of qualities in a team, hard workers/ goal scorers / flashy players. Ramires gives the team what JM wants. He'll never be the best player in the team, doesn't mean he isn't useful!

We obviously have different views, look at my favourite player lol. But that isn't a bad thing, its the point of these forums. I see Matic and Rammy as different players to be honest, you seem to think now Matic has come Ramires' vulnerabilities are shown. Well OK I agree to some extent but look at it in a different light. What Ramires can do which Matic can't? Run box to box for 90 or even 120 minutes, score goals (yes we obviously havent had time to see Matic) etc. Why after literally ONE game is everyone criticising Ramires? we lost not because of him, but for many reasons. Don't be rash in your judgement.

Unbelievable athlete you got right, that has significant benefits in a football match! You make out he literally cannot receive a ball. Lets not forget this player can play (his goal against, oh yer Barcelona, which undoubtedly made our Champo League success possible? his beautiful Brazil style goal? Why not integrate both him and Matic. Also in a team you need balance. Ramires is your work horse, leave the step overs to Hazard and Willian. The last thing you want is identical players in the mid!!! Don't be hasty.

What is it that Ramires does/ does not do which you don't like? And who would be preferred to do a better job? Do not underestimate Ramires' contribution not only since he has being at CFC but particularly this season. Look at the amount of minutes he has played. He is essential.

Of course not. He won't be saying that to the players will he? JM is brilliant in these situations. He'll say one thing to the media, complete different story to the players. It takes the pressure off them but more importantly puts pressure on other teams, particularly Man City. (Look at what him and Pellegrini in the media). Why shouldn't this team challenge for the title? Yes we are young and are building, but look at the talent and money spent. We are in this race, JM is protecting the club in case we come up short. He's a genius.

In line with my previous post. I agree with almost all of your ratings, particularly your view on Oscar. Just thinking of the alternates for that central role (not to start, Oscar is still the one JM is building the team around, but perhaps to bring on). Without Mata he is the only true option in that position. He does need to be more consistent.

Incidents like this happen, it shows the players are up for it and genuinely care (not suggesting you said otherwise). Cech was our captain tonight, so was right to confront him, but yes with JT on the pitch it would have played out differently.

Couldn't agree more, it was quite obvious in that second half. But at the same time I though JM left his subs late, got his tactics wrong (sat back too much and invited pressure too early). Also in terms of the players, I thought they lost their usual composure (Iva for instance, when was the last time we saw anything like that at CFC? not that I mind that that kind of behaviour). I aren't going against JM, becuase on so many occasions he gets it right and I praise him. Not tonight for me though. But look, we drew, still 2 points clear, even if city win tomorrow we are only one point behind, not the end of the world. WBA have took 1 point off a few of the big teams this season, now we are added to the list. Game done, look forward.

Everything coming out of Chelsea is that we will. The ramires interview on the website for example. But JM up to now has decided to be happy with a point away from home and try and beat them at home, which in the case of Man City we did. So rather disappointedly I think we will err on the side of caution. What JM has done is attempt to take the pressure off the players, we shall see what tactics he deploys but with our team we will always be attacking to some extent.

  Not many. But that was not my point. I agreed with Reddish-Blue that fans really do appreciate seeing talented youngsters. I also think fans are more likely to be patient with a home-grown talent than say a bought youth player.   

Because Chelsea have a lot of young talent coming through which are not able to break into the first XI, are we actually reaping the financial rewards of this talent? Southampton produce good talent and make good money on them. Do we do the same, or do we solely see our academy as searching for that "messi-like" or JT player and if they don't show up, bring in the next lot? 

      Look at Lewis Baker's reception when he came on against Derby, it was brilliant!

Its a World Cup Year! he wants to go to the world cup just like every other player? whats so bad about that!?

Why don't you want Rooney?

One thing all this does prove is that Jose must truly be here to stay. I know Jose has made that clear in endless amounts of interviews but with recent events it shows the club and Roman in particular are also 100% behind him. JM is doing it his way and I trust him on that, but now that he explicitly started a transformation period the club have to let him finish it, which will take years, years which he better be given!

I am part of the minority which don't him to leave, dont get me wrong. He deserves a BIG thankyou. But realistic it isn't happening. He is rumoured to be having a medical as we speak with the deal to be announced tomorrow so ...

He will not play. He didn't even train with the squad today! Remember the Hazard situation, he missed a training session and he was left out. Mata hasnt been getting in the team anyway. Oh and there is the small matter that by Sunday he probably wont even have a contract with Chelsea!!! A bid has been made for Mata. If chelsea accept, which they most likely will, he is going to Man Utd.

Exactly. Its safe to say Juan is going, just his contract/medical to do now.

Sky sports are reporting it and their sources are extremely good. I can't think of a time they have reported anything on their news channel which has simply been made up.

Erm .... http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9128536/transfer-news-juan-mata-misses-training-as-manchester-united-transfer-talk-intensifies

He didn't train today. Can only see this going one way. Selling to Man Utd as well, it could have been anyone else! Mata needs to play as its a world cup year, I'll have nothing against him if he leaves.

Really good points being brought up, particularly about the strikers having to create. Ramires has played so many minutes this year, a point I think a lot of people have not noticed. I think rammy adds a lot to the team and he is my favorite player but people need to realise that there are other options apart from a straight Mata/Oscar switch and by this I mean Oscar playing deeper and a system in which the two can play.

I agree that he won't leave until the summer at least. When you say a back-up striker do you think its not impossible to keep Torres, Lukaku and bring in a big signing and get rid of this notion of a back-up? I think people on this forum think they has to be some hierarchy. Well yes they should be some but it is possible to have 2 or even 3 world class strikers in the ranks, there does not have to be one shit one if that makes sense.

I didnt actually see it, I will try and find it on the internet. About the Luiz striker thing I remember this season at Newcastle away Jose sent Ivanovic up near the end to try win flick on and just be a presence in general, what with Torres going off as well. He has always been one for stuff like that. On the Sky Sports commentary Neville actually said that Jones is a CB outright, not a CDM. With Luiz he is unquestionably better in the CDM role than Jones. Its a great option for us to have, even now that Matic has arrived.