Sir Mikel OBE

I actually think Mata would be better suited as a striker in a 4-4-2 formation. He is the more creative option, but as the total player in the 10 role I see Oscar as the better option.

If he feels he is too good to fight for a spot then he needs to be gone. This is Chelsea. NO ONE is guaranteed a spot just off of name alone.

If Oscar was in the same position as Mata people wouldnt be advocating benching Mata in place of him either. When you are in a poor patch, and we are, you have to play the players on form to get out of it. By playing Mata we will more than likely have to bench our only in form attacking player. Its a gamble.

Backup brigade. If Drogba can prove his worth and take a spot after being benched when we bought Torres than Mata can do the same. No minutes off of name.

Salah was too fast for both of them. He tried to help but he was useless at it, that we can agree on. He was everywhere on the pitch though until he visibly got tired in the second half. We're at least 2 points worse in the league if Hazard isnt there though. How about just being a good sub then?

And we were playing a lot better back then than we are now if we are going to be really honest.

We can feel that balanced workrates are rubbish, but the results are there to see. It was Hazard in the box busting a lung up and down the pitch last night. Where was our sub, the one we brought on while defending 3 points, when they waltzed into our box? It says a lot when Hazard and Oscar went on international duty, got injured, and still walked back into the starting lineup when they got back. Mourinho has placed a premium on balanced hard work.

Considering subbing him on pretty much unleashed them on us the better question should be: "Why Mata last night?"

Hes been a hard worker and complete player. He tirelessly works hard for the squad, and still manages to look dangerous in attack. That first goal in the Aston Villa game was all him too. He also made the key pass to set up the first goal vs Hull. He has been plenty dangerous. Last night was a team who came to play counter attacking football and remained very narrow. The 1 nil scoreline would have been perfect enough, and bringing Mata on to grind out a victory was a terrible tactic choice.

The lineup was perfect. He fucked up subbing the one guy keeping their fullbacks modest(Willian) and it cost us the game. The starting lineup was more than good enough to get the result.

By working hard and playing HIS game when he gets a chance. Super subs are able to force themselves into sides all the time, and Mata has tons more quality than plenty of them. He should be able to force himself into a side without just getting minutes on his name alone.

Hazard needs to see the bench too, but lets not act like he has not been better than Mata this season so far. You play the player on FORM No, I dont expect them to do well instantly. I do however expect them to be on the bench until they are in a position to play well. Lets be honest Mata has not shown anything near enough to have warranted being placed on the pitch last night. In fact, I think he was only subbed in to please the fans because it was a terrible tactic choice. Even worse was that when he came on he moved Oscar to the wings, which effectively unleashed their entire side on us. That was the match right there.

We've been abysmal with Oscar out of the starting XI in favor of Mata though. In fact, I'd say we have been at our best with Oscar and KDB out there(Hull and large portions of the Munich game). I think Mata will have to force Oscar out. No minutes on name alone.

You'd drop our best attacking player so far?

Wilian was the only thing stopping their fullbacks from putting the sword to us. Look at what happened when he left.

Dont worry the Mata fan club will find a way to blame Mikel, or the weather, for his faults.

If he cant be trusted this weekend against Fulham at home then he should go. Cole needs a rest badly.

Any other player playing the way he has wouldnt have got on the pitch tonight.

First attacking name on the sheet now.

I dont get the thought pattern Jose had when he removed Willian for Mata. I mean, seriously? Then he placed our most dangerous attacker on the wing, where he was shown not to do well on the wings for like the first 15 min. We lost the game there because he was the only thing keeping them modest on the wings. Hazard needs to meet the bench this weekend.

This is the danger of people getting minutes based on name alone. There is no reason he should have played tonight, especially not to push Oscar on the wings.

Taking Willian off was a poor poor poor move.

Mikel is actually a good move. Since Mata is in the middle and Oscar is on the wings we need a defensive force in the middle now.

They are taking it to us now.

I knew when Willian went off we were in trouble. Game got stretched.