The only place to be

So many times when Mata was playing over the last couple of seasons our team looked like a defence and attack with very few joins between the two. Now we're much more compact and rather than playing as a back 6 and a front 4, it's a solid unit of 10 players all working together. That's why it's a misnomer to talk about Oscar tracking back because more than anything it's the pressing that the whole team does that he's integral too. Every player has to do their job otherwise there are gaps for the opposition to exploit and whenever Mata has played gaps just appear (Newcastle away was the worst one). Then when we're in possession he just seems slower than everyone else. There's no dynamism in his play which could be down to not playing but having said that he's never been a Willian or Hazard type with the ball at his feet. Honestly, if he wasn't already one of our players then I don't think anyone would think his style would suit us. I think we'd benefit more from a more conventional left-footed, right winger like Angel Di Maria or even Hulk.

He does pass well, he does create and he does score. Not at the rate that Mata did but then Mata had a totally free role under Benitez which is why we looked pretty poor at times. What has happened is that Hazard has a greater impact on the games now. Maybe he wouldn't have that if Mata was playing also, but Oscar is needed at the moment. Maybe Mata can adapt his game to suit this style but if he can't then maybe you and your friends at the cafe will get a new player to watch. Ultimately he just looks slow and less dynamic than the other options.

Were you following Wigan's matches when they were in the old second division then?

Sorry, but kids who aren't technically gifted don't hold down Premier League starting spots at the age of 17.

Why? When Barca's game is dependent on every member of the team pressing, they are lauded and rightly so. Why on Earth should this aspect of our game not be celebrated? Again, why? How is it not sustainable - it's a football tactic not a fucking rainforest. In fact isn't tactical stability something we've been looking for for years? Isn't that part of Jose's remit? Why on Earth can't all our age group teams adopt similar tactics in order to ease the progression of young players into the first team? Oscar isn't used purely for his defensive qualities. Don't forget that he's still a young player. He's not the finished article yet and is still growing, but he's clearly improving with time.

Luke Shaw is the English left-back we've been linked with. We actually went to the trouble of colour coding them so there's no confusion, although if you see a white one with a dodgy barnet then that's actually Baines.

You must know different fans to me because Ashley Cole's decline has been noticeable to most people who follow this club for a while now. It's why there's such a groundswell of support for the signing of Shaw. I'm sure you do see yourself as those things, but the very fact that you think you're unburdened by bias is rather hilarious. Not to burst your little bubble but we all have ingrained biases, and I also think that every member here posts honestly. It's interesting that what you view as 'realistic' is what others view as negative.

Mata plays in passes better than anyone. But Jose's focus is clearly on more than who can play in pretty passes otherwise Josh would probably be a fixture too. Pro Mata? So are we about to start printing Team Mata and Team Oscar shirts? Sorry, the only shirt I need is the Chelsea one. BTW, you have to admit that not fitting into a system is a pretty fucking good argument, especially when that system seems to be getting results. I'm sure he could push for a move but I can't see him going to a bigger club than us. Why move Oscar to the right wing when we have Willian there? It's almost like there's a desperation to play Mata no matter what it does to the structure of the team. He's a great guy and was POTY two seasons in a row but football is about what is best NOW. You can't live off past glories. And he was taken off in the 50th minute against Southampton and thank fuck. People like to talk about his reaction to the subbing and that glosses over the fact that we looked shit with him on the pitch and Oscar came on and had a stormer. Jose won't....and he's better than you. Also hasn't played since he was poor against Southampton. But I hope he gets a start against Stoke next week, on the right-wing. He's too good a player to give up on and having a leftie on the right could give us a new dimension.

It's a cheap shot but Oscar isn't just being selected to create chances. He gives us creativity in other ways, like forcing the opposition to turn the ball over with his pressing. Of all Mata's many skills, this isn't one and that's why he isn't playing at the moment. It's not a personal vendetta, it's not a conspiracy and it doesn't seem to be affecting the team.

I wonder if one day I might get to the stage where I moan about how we beat Manchester United at home. He put Mikel on to sure things up and replace Oscar. He put Matic on to give him his debut. This idea that he treats Mata disgracefully is just so annoying. I like Juan but the amount of shit that is being spouted because of his current situation is pathetic. If we weren't winning games, I'd understand. If Oscar was under-performing on a consistent basis I might understand. If Mata fit the system without question (like Schurrle does, whose absence is a bit weird) then I'd understand. But right now I simply don't get it. Think you need to go and watch our games from the start of the season. But he racked up more than a few MOTM trophies and scored key goals against Fulham and Hull.

I think you missed that start of the season. Oscar was the main guy up until October and now Hazard is really hitting form.

Chelsea FC, not Mata FC. Jose could have him cleaning the giant video screens for all I care because Jose's job is to win matches...and guess what. :blue scalf: :blue scalf: Wins? Exactly. Could always be the making of Mata to turn him into a dynamic, pressing, hard-working effective member of the squad. Unlikely and that's fine because we can flog him and buy someone who fits the system. But the system has to be king, not just for Oscar, not just for the team but so that every age-group side is working towards the same thing.

His preferred role? What about Mourinho's preferred role for him? Oscar has carried this team for so much of the season and the amount of shit he gets is pathetic, even when we're winning matches and Oscar works his bollocks off. Calling him complacent is absolutely fucking ridiculous.

Had a poor game but still works better in that system than Mata.

Wow. Back to headless chicken mode. Felt for certain he was going to get sent off and had a period in the second half where he just hoofed the ball away, which was great when we were probably looking to control the game and kill it off. Also looked like he lost his man in the build-up to the goal but thankfully we've signed Matic. I did think he looked the business against Hull and Liverpool but today he just seemed to be playing without an ounce of intelligence. The guy is a Bugatti being driven by a moron....which actually is about 90% of Bugattis.

Think he did one thing when he came on which was intercept the ball and pass it forward quickly. Already he's more important than Mikel.

Fantastic performance today. Still don't like the fact that he was bought in but he did a job today and we'll need him to continue doing that with Torres out. Maybe he's finally shaking the rust off.

That was the most toothless, sad, pathetic United team I've ever seen. I've seen us beat them 5-0 (Jody Morris scored against them), I've seen them us play them after we won the title and there was nothing to play for, and I've seen them be poor against us and still get something from the game. I've never seen them be average. It's the complete opposite of what we have with Mourinho. You look at the dugout and there's a reason that you're NEVER out of a game and you feel like everything will be ok. United fans must've had that with Fergie for years, but with Moyes there's none of that. He looks lost and clueless. You look on the pitch too and there's none of their totemic figures that you'd expect. Rooney and RVP being out doesn't help but there's just no-one there you look at and worry about. It's a really fucking weird thing. Right now, United are just another Premier League club.

The kid just seems to score wherever he goes. Could be a real dark horse to actually make it at this club.

Ashley Cole has received plenty of criticism both on here and in the stands. Not sure who you think is being blinded by his 'glittering reputation'. Again, not sure which people you're talking about here. Walcott is very much removed from the player he once was and most football supporters I know recognise that. I think the only people who get labelled trolls are trolls. I think the only thing you've been labelled as is extremely negative. You seem to moan about a lot of things, but that doesn't make you a troll. Everything just seems to have a negative spin to it be it Ake's inclusion in the first team squad or wins away to Hull. He had a decent game up against Miyaichi for most of the game, but he was hardly spectacular. Essien looked pretty good in that game too from what I recall. People are always quick to label it a disgrace or unfair when a player doesn't get selected, but he has no divine right to be picked. He's made 200 first-team appearances in his career and that's a big enough sample size for the club to judge what type of future he has. I've never really seen any supporters rave over him. He's a good player and I don't know why people feel the need to suggest he's any more than that.

We've still got Lukaku, Courtois, a couple of Hazards and at least 3 Musondas (maybe more, who knows?). You'll not be short of countrymen to see make it here I hope. The problem is that if you ask footballers anything then there's a high likelihood they'll say something stupid. It's called the Sturridge effect. Kev had chances here and he never impressed which is a shame. Maybe the stage was too big for him and there's no shame in it. Just don't say silly things about not understanding why you were dropped and next time you get a chance at a big club be in the best possible shape before the season starts.

So he didn't say he didn't understand why he got dropped after the United game? Jose seems to have got him to work harder to the point where he lost unnecessary fat, despite us having lots of cakes in Cobham. Does a professional footballer deserve much credit for not eating cakes? Either way, he knuckled down and Jose apparently wanted him to stay but De Bruyne asked to leave. That's fair enough. He either recognised that he wasn't good enough or didn't have the attitude needed to succeed here. We made a profit and I hope one day he finds out why he got dropped after United. I really do.

After Bucharest. One could ask why he was 3kg heavier going into the season? And he asks why he was dropped after the United game - because you did fuck all in that match mate. Then you got 90 minutes against Swindon and guess what....you were shit in that one too. Azpi wasn't. Azpi took his chance and now he's playing week in and week out. So there you go. You got a chance to impress against a League One side in a Chelsea shirt and you didn't take it. That's more than 99% of all professional footballers will ever get. Sounds harsh but why is he spouting this stuff now?

Football careers are about momentum. Bertrand's career was stalled by injuries a bit like Romeu's. He now gets a chance to start moving forward again in his career, maybe playing his way back into our first-team or more likely putting himself in the shop window for a move in the summer.

Rodriguez is 3 years older than Shaw and barely has more top league experience than him. For Shaw to be not just holding his own but also impressing in the Premier League when he was just 17 is a remarkable achievement. He has all the tools to get better too which is why the price is so high.