Shane

Do these things usually start later then expected or whats the story?

Yay, the every transfer window Hulk rumour! This thread is soooo 2012

Good decision by Jose if true. The press would be asking him about all sorts today.

Someone who can hug the touchline and play with chalk on their boots is exactly what we need. Gives us a more direct approach. Good impact player, with great potential, for £11m. Thats a good deal for any club to be fair.

We've relied on Mata really on the last few seasons. In a way, we relied on Mata as much as Liverpool did Suarez and Bale to Spurs. Where would we have been last season without Juan Mata? Not in third spot anyway. Probably fifth. Wouldn't have won the Europe League last season either. But Jose comes in and fixes all that. We're a well oiled machine. Jose deserves enormous credit for doing this. We're challenging on all fronts now, Looking like we can win the league, FA Cup and really challenge for the Champions League, which I have no doubt we will be for challenging next season and beyond. Juan has fallen out of favour. Why? He doesn't fit Jose's system. He isn't changing his game to adapt and to be honest he's probably right not too, But unfortunately for us that will mean his departure. I will still love watching Juan, as I do every player who plays the game with such beauty, Its a shame, but Chelsea F.C comes first in this instance, and so does Jose's philosophy. £35-40m pounds for a player who sits on our bench week in, week out? For Jose, who must have his mind made up that Mata won't fit into his plans, Is a no brainier. Will I miss Mata? Yes, of course I will. Does it feel good to have Jose back, Calling the transfer shots, having some balls and making us a superpower again? Of course I do. Unbeaten against the top teams, and challenging for honours. This is the Chelsea I missed. This is Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, that won back to back titles and was robbed of a Champions League, when Juan Mata was merely a kid. The name of the front is more important then the name on the back. Thanks for the memories Juan, but we were Chelsea before you and we'll be Chelsea after you. In Jose we trust.

Please let us pull the plug, PSG and Monaco, what the fuck are you at! Monaco, Falcao just got injured, You need a new star, sign Juan!

Shouldn't this deal be done by now? Moyes sturrring over the line with another transfer. What an amateur

There was a Chelsea before Mata and there'll be a Chelsea after him

No problems with this whatsoever, After scoring a hat-trick against those Manc cunts, he can go anywhere for all I care. Whatever happens in the rest of the season, We will always remember his hat-trick against United and smile.

To make it better, Moyes has guaranteed a European competition this year. Even if he has to write that song himself!!

I suggest people take a long hard look at whether they are Chelsea fans or Juan Mata fans here. Fair enough if you want a player to play, I want him to play too, But criticizing Mourinho, a man who has lead this team to beat City, Liverpool, Arsenal and United this season is clearly not justified with his results.

We played 6 and won 4 in our Champions League group. Hardly struggling. League Cup? Do we really count the League Cup as a priority? I haven't seen anyone trashing Mata, and saying he's a poor player, In fact, My first post here was stating that I'd start to question Jose if he didn't start at the weekend. Anyone can see we've been a far better side this season. The league is far tougher to win then last season, and we're already 7 points better off then we were at this stage last season. Last year was embarrassing for the club, i.e That embarrassing Super Cup defeat to Athletico off all teams, Rafa coming in, The Club World Cup and some of the dismal league displays we put in.

He looks like the fucking grim reaper at every game he goes too. Standing over Moyes like that, I bet Moyes fucking hates it. Oh, and that 'The Chosen One' banner at Old Trafford is the funniest thing i've seen in awhile. Fergie should have waited for a year, then let Big Phil Scolari take over after the World Cup, He'd bring in Deco, and everything would be alright.

Good to see Fergie showing everyone how many League games Mourinho has lost at Stamford Bridge!

Jesus christ, I'm not insulting your family. Is Mata your brother or something? Calm down, We're all Chelsea fans having a discussion. Because in the #10 role, Its important to have a huge attacking influence, but also to keep the team balanced and link the midfield and attack well. You have to be an outlet and collect the ball off the midfielders and distribute it. Oscar does this better the Juan, Mata is brilliant at cutting inside, playing a pass or getting into a goalscoring opportunity and finishing it. Oscar is the one who is able to sit if he needs too, But also able to dominate a game. It's my opinion, and I accept everyone won't agree with it, You should do the same, Just because you believe in something doesn't make it the gospel for everything else. No, they don't. Toure/Busquets sit deep, Xavi in front, and just a little infront of Xavi, not in the #10 role, Is Iniesta. Barcelona play with Messi in a false nine, which wouldn't give a number 10 much room or space to operate at all. If Barcelona played like you say they do, or even Spain, its Just a 4-2-3-1 then isn't it?

Yes. Iniesta is a central midfielder, he always has been, and probably always will be. I never called Silva a right winger, I said he plays on the right wing for his club, But hey, What would Martino and Pellegrini know? How do you make these assumptions about players playing in the #10 role, When in fact, they never play there?

Iniesta plays in a centre midfield partnership with Xavi and Silva plays on the left wing for Man City. Hardly number 10's now are they?

I can't see Mata going to United, which is good for us because we'll still have Mata, they won't, and Moyes will keep playing Rooney in the role that he doesn't want and he'll want out in the summer. If Mata was to be sold in the summer, I'd accept it, But not to any other Premiership team, unless its with United with Rooney going the other way. I still think the Willian transfer was Roman saying fuck you to AVB, But it looks to be a very good piece of business. Lets hope the Matic deal turns out the same way.

Because he can create chances, Score goals and equally adapt into a centre midfield role when the two are under pressure. I feel he can dictate a game better then Juan can, and gives us control in possesion. Mata has usually played as a narrow winger for us as well, Usually, not just under Jose, when Oscar and Mata have been on the pitch together, Oscar has been in the #10 role.

Chill out abit mate. I would question whether its for his style of play or just a dislike on Jose's part if Juan doesn't get 90 minutes at the weekend, Because if he doesn't get 90 minutes at the weekend, When is he going to get his chance? He was taken off against Southampton after 53 minutes. He hasn't featured in the 3 games we've played since, Which included an FA Cup tie against Championship opposition. I'd also like to see Juan as I feel Oscar didn't play that well against United. Didn't contribute to any of our goals and missed a chance himself. I feel this is the time to bring Juan back into the side as it will also serve to Oscar that his place isn't guaranteed week in, week out. It's nothing to do with Mata being one of my favorite players, Because I believe Oscar on form is better in the #10 role then Juan, But I do believe that Mata has a bigger part to play in the club then Jose is giving him right now. I'm loving Mourinho being back, and like you I fucking hate the glory hunters and whinging little bitches when we don't win 4-0, But its just strange to see a player of Mata's quality have such a small role to play this season, when, if giving the chance, he can be one of our outstanding performers like he has done in the past two seasons.

Needs to get 90 minutes at the weekend. Without a doubt. Will start to question Jose if he doesn't.

Just signed up a new team aswell, Haven't played it since the first few seasons.

Would be a great signing. Young, Chelsea fan, Perfect replacement for Ashley Cole aswell and he's English. A signing that could play in our team for the next 12 years. Make it happen Chels!

Eto'o will get the headlines but I was very impressed with Willian and Gary Cahill today. Willian must have covered every blade of grass on the pitch twice, and Cahill was very solid at the back and is a real danger at Set Pieces.

Haha, imagine if someone told us last season that Samuel Eto'o would be scoring a hatrick for Chelsea against United, leaving us 2 points behind Arsenal at the top and United in 7th.