Jase

I don't know if people are being selective on Mata and seemingly chosen to focus more on his weaknesses rather than positives. Yes, there is no doubt that Mata's main weaknesses now are his tame physical strength and poor defensive work off the ball BUT these are aspects that he can still improve on, yet I can't understand why the way people have been talking is as if he can't do that. It's not like he has some attitude problem and shown that he can't be helped anymore! Additionally, the thought of some people saying the form Mata shown us last season was his best and he can never get better feels somewhat hilarious. Last season might arguably be his best season ever in his career but is that the best he can offer? No. What he has shown is his astonishing consistency in producing quality assists and attacking play in the final third but there is still more to his locker in that attacking play aspect. What Mata did for us last season was great especially when you consider we can't even retain possession to save our lives and constantly retreated to defend first and when he did get on the back, we saw how great it can be. Imagine if we can fix our midfield problems, keep the ball like 80% of the time in match especially against the lesser sides and be more aggressive on the ball, what can kind of crazy damage can Mata do on the opposition working with the likes of Hazard, Schurrle, Oscar, KDB etc? You have people banging about how Mourinho's return will improve this player, improve that player but when it comes to somebody like Mata, it's suddenly all negative thinking and having thought he won't get any better than what he has shown so far. Hilarious. And seriously, I don't know if people have been well and truly spoilt by watching too much of Hazard or players like him who is flashy on the ball, has the flicks and tricks that has caused some people to seemingly devalue Mata all of a sudden and this is a similar situation with Oscar. Granted Mata may not be like Hazard when he's on the ball, the ability to run at pace with the ball at oppositions' players, dribble past people etc but there seem to be an issue of people not appreciating the brilliance in simplicity sometimes.

Would like to know it in numbers rather than percentages as it can be a little bit deceiving. And surprised to see Baines is not there.

The Question: Can Juan Mata Be Chelsea’s Mesut Ozil Next Season?

No. We did not sign those players only to play in 4-2-3-1 but to be able to play various formations as Mourinho has indicated that with the signing of Schurrle. What we've basically got now is a squad that is versatile and adaptable to play in more than 1 formation and right now, we can't tell what is Jose preferred formation but we will certainly switch between a few throughout the season. Seems rather silly to say we will be returning to 4-3-3 at some point because it fits Ramires, Lampard, KDB, MvG, Mikel etc. Can agree with the former two but KDB, MvG and Mikel?! We don't even know how KDB and MvG have fitted in yet and you just jumped the gun saying they work best in 4-3-3. Similar case for Mikel. He might not have had the best time playing in a 4-2-3-1 so far but it might help him if he were to actually play beside a reliable and solid midfielder in the pivot. Not denying that Mata has his weaknesses defensively and off the ball (which he can definitely work on) but there is so much more to the issue of him going missing against Bayern, City, Juventus etc...

It doesn't matter. Looks in place...

Merged with De Rossi's thread. Don't need for a separate one if you are basically just discussing the same thing (unless you write an article).

If you are tired of waiting, you could always go search it yourself on Youtube. Not everybody is free 24/7 to search, find and be able to share it here. And we don't even know when would other fans upload it on Youtube anyway.

It was a sarcastic reply to Strike's post...

Jose Mourinho wants Didier Drogba to return to Chelsea after striker visits training ground Not sure how true is that but please, hope it doesn't happen at all! Time to move on from the past into the future with the current set of new players and Drogba left the club in the best way possible.

http://www.chelseafc.com/pre-season-article/article/3235930/title/all-about-us Gotta like that quote.

http://hereisthecity.com/2013/07/12/ld-the-andre-schurrle-problem-chelsea-didnt-see-coming/ According to what looks like a BS story from Bild, Schurrle is already suffering from homesickness...

If anything, that looks swollen from this picture.

That reminded me of this...

United drawing 0-0 with Singha All-Stars at HT. Getting outplayed apparently against those Thai lots.

Mata, Oscar, Luiz, Torres, Azpilicueta, Mikel all not included in our Asia tour squad. Clearest indication that they will be leaving Chelsea this summer...

Come to think of it, am surprised that no one threw a question or two about Cavani to Mourinho in the press conference yesterday. Would have been interesting to hear what he had to say on our supposed interest on Cavani, despite that he's going to PSG.

Yesterday's Blues News report... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJfzzcS6Ls

http://youtu.be/9INNbV0IDzc

If only it is that simple... In brainwashing people with GIFs that is... Apologies. The way you put that message made me thought you were asking if it's about love.

Think a fair bit turned out for Piazon's unveiling at Malaga last season too IIRC.

Not a surprise and a good decision by him too to stay at Southampton and continue to develop. If we really want him, we will get him in the future. We were never gonna get him this summer.

It's a normal thing in Spain for fans to just turn up and see the unveiling of a new player acquired.

Romeu being presented to the Valencia fans... And...

That'll teach him to stop acting so cool every time!