different level

So Frankie has 4 goals in the EPL so far and he needs 6 more to continue his run of consecutive seasons with at least 10 goals to eleven.

To be honest I've only watched him in the 4 matches against us so I only have a general idea of his playing style. He looks fast so I guess he'll be a cover for the wingers, but he can also play a more central role. Good for squad depth in the short term, but what happens when all the attacking midfielders return from their loan spells in the summer? He needs to impress instantly if he wants to stick around longer as the competition is very strong.

Something tells me after EVERYTHING that's happened we're still not done doing business this window. But what exactly would we be after? We finally got a good DM and our striker situation looks to be addressed in the summer.

LOL. You can't be serious. We clearly can't pass a transfer window without another Hulk rumour, can we?

Mr tap in? No, thanks.

Now I'm reading some old posts in his blog, not sure why. Doesn't make me feel any better

Well, he's easily the best, most technically gifted and creative player in our squad now. Before this transfer window it was a close call.

Thanks for everything, Bison. That move just suits my emotional meltdown with another player who's done so much for us in the past leaving. I can't believe he's faded so young even before entering his thirties, but that's what injuries can do to a player sometimes. I'll always remember some of his cracking goals. Good luck wrapping up your career, mate.

I feel so naive for thinking Mata and Jose are going to work it out, that it was some kind of test for Juan and in the end he'll improve as a player and he'll be our most important player again...that we'll have our happy ending, but look where it all went. He's on verge of joining manure and about to have his Chelsea legacy wiped out just like that. It's especially painful for fans like me who he's won over right after his first game in the blue shirt. I was sure he's going to become a Chelsea legend and why not, he's the only player to be named POTY in his only two full seasons in the club. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I'm not going to blame him or Jose for what's happened, I'll just try to move on and thank him for all the great moments, for the time when it looked like he was our only creative spark in front of goal, for his great contribution in the last two years when we had the greatest night in the history of the club, when we won the FA cup and the Europa League. I'll never forget his great goals like the brace against Spurs, his winner against manure at OT, his brilliants free kicks and set piece taking and all the great passes and through balls. His character was everything you'd want from a football player, such a modest, down to earth, likeable guy. I've always enjoyed reading his blog, but I'll probably unfollow him on facebook as I wouldn't be able to watch him getting attached to his new club and referring to them as "us". In the last two years he's grown so much on me, he was extremely high on my super favourites list just behind the greatest legends of the club that are Lamps and JT so I guess this deserves to be up there next to the moments when it was painful to be a Chelsea fan. But in the end he's decided that's the best for his career and while I'd never support him joining United I'm gonna have to accept it. So if that was his wish, so be it. So, adios, mi amigo. In my heart there'll always be JUAN Mata. The Chelsea one.

To be honest it'd still be devastating even if he doesn't join United. Just hate the idea of him not being a Blue anymore.

Most of the people already bidding their farewell to Mata. Not sure if I should do the same thing now or wait for the official news, because as long as it's not announced I can still have my hopes that he'll somehow stay.

Yeah, but you can't deny the trend. Still a bad timing for him to join us, most of the fans are going to be upset by Mata leaving and they're going to take their frustration on him.

But in that case we'll have 6 players for 3 attacking midfield positions again and that already proved to be too much.

Nothing against the dude, but do we have to buy everyone who scores a couple of goals against us? Welcome, Salah.

There would be no reason to buy Salah if Mata wasn't leaving

The worst part is his Chelsea legacy will forever be tainted after putting the disgusting red shirt.

If we sell Mata this winter, not only to United but in general, he has every right to hate our guts after everything he did for the club in the past two seasons.

Maybe it's not completely media BS, but until it's made official it's just a rumour and I refuse to believe it. You know, I'm still waiting to see Hulk, Cavani and Rooney posing with our shirt...

He's still around as far as I can see, so get a hold of yourselves.

Also...

It's always great to beat United, but to kick them while they're down and completely demolish what's left of their title campaign is priceless. Not to mention the fact that we won 3 important points which didn't let City or Arsenal build a gap.

Well, I guess 6 ambitious players fighting for 3 starting positions proved to be too many. It sucks for Kevin, but as the other 5 are better and with Jose's preference to occasionally play Ramires on the right wing over him makes it logical to offer his talents someplace else.

You are entitled to your opinion and I don't have a problem with that I didn't want to turn this into a Sturridge debate as I've had a few in the past and pretty much everything has been said. Just pointed out that IMO you could find some similarities between him and Ba in their time here. On the Sturridge topic - you can make whatever you like of his unfulfilled past and hypothetical future with Chelsea. Oh, hey, scouser. How have you been?