The only place to be

Glenn Hoddle saying he's never really rated him, plays too square, doesn't get it forward enough. Is Phil Driver Glenn?

Tactics are much more fluid and complex than that. Always funny seeing the hysterical reactions on Twitter to Mata not playing.

I'm getting your point, but I simply disagree with what would've been better for both our club and Lukaku's development.

I don't know if anyone was, but that's not the point I'm arguing so I'm not sure why you're bringing it up.

His stats of 12 goals and 12 assists in the league last season were fantastic, but he was also a little streaky at times. Don't get me wrong, I think he was great for us in that time but I can also remember occasions when he'd be anonymous and the link between the pivot and the attack simply wasn't there.

He wasn't actually that consistent. In fact his stats were rather inconsistent at times, but the reason he was player of the year is because he was the spark of magic at times when we were broadly speaking, shit. Personally I think you can win cups relying on moments of magic from someone like Mata, but leagues are won by teams and I'd rather build the best Chelsea team than the best team that somehow shoehorns Mata into it.

Actually if you want to compare us to last season then did you want to mention that 5 days ago it was the one-year anniversary of Robbie's sacking? That team was nowhere near as solid as this year's team in my opinion. Yes we're not perfect but we're at least improving. But like I said, I can't really see the point in arguing when I'm enjoying this team. I know that some people aren't happy that their favourites aren't playing or that we aren't playing with such reckless abandon as we were but the problem with relying on a moment of magic is that it doesn't always turn up for you. That's when you need guts, grit and determination to pull you through.

No-one is forgetting that. What a lot of people forget is just how bad we looked at times last season and how Mata disappeared in games. Only at this club could a guy set the world alight like Oscar has and people still bitch about their favourite not getting game time.

Actually statistically they do have rather similar output...or is that too obvious a metric device? The major difference is that Oscar is 22 and Iniesta is 29, but I'm a believer in supporting young players and not judging them too harshly. I know that's not quite de rigueur amongst modern supporters, but it's just my way. Also Iniesta plays in the best team to have ever played the game (probably) and does it in a wildly uneven league. Now you want stats? Mata's stats over the last two seasons were tremendous and Oscar won't come close to them, but I believe we're a much better side with him in it because he ties the different units together better. Mata is right now probably the better playmaker, but I'm more focussed on how the team performs. I don't know if he's the focal point of the attack, but he's certainly the one who sets the tempo for the team and I'd say in that regard he's made the players around him much better. I don't know if he's made Hazard a better player, but he put him clean through on goal at least 3 times and Hazard failed to control it twice (West Brom and West Ham) and struck the other at the keeper (can't remember off the top of my head who that was against). I'm not sure exactly what else he can do in that regard. That's a real shame. Anyway, no point arguing over semantics. Oscar's doing the business and we're looking strong.

The simple fact is that many people think he could've done that here. He might not have gotten 90 minutes every week, but he's not getting that at Everton and no striker gets that anywhere. As for them being possession-based, that's only true against weaker sides. They're flat-track bullies in that regard and when they come up against half-decent opposition they tend not to be quite so fervent in their philosophy, which makes me wonder what good this loan will actually do him. At Chelsea he would've spent everyday training with some of the best players in the world whilst learning from one of the best coaches in the world, whilst getting playing time that would've benefitted him and also us. But I suppose there's much to be learnt from the former manager of Wigan and Ross Barkley....plus fuck all that cheering for a player who might make the odd mistake.

I've seen those same playmakers (although they're wildly different types of playmakers - Scholes would probably be considered a deep-lying playmaker nowadays in the mould of Alonso or Schweinsteiger, whilst someone like Rui Costa was much more advanced) and more an I'd not hesitate in calling Oscar a playmaker. In fact if you're going to throw Iniesta in there then I don't see why you're disagreeing about Oscar. In terms of the way they play the game and their production on the pitch, they're very similar. You may want something different in a playmaker, but I don't know if we'd be a better team if went with what you wanted. I enjoyed watching Mata play over the last couple of years but I prefer seeing us play as a team rather than a collection of talented individuals. Oscar is the epitome of a team player. He makes the guy next to him a better player and he works his bollocks off for the team. I think that's invaluable, and apparently Jose does too.

I think you're being fairly absurd with this contention that Oscar isn't a playmaker. He's a young man who has been given a lot of responsibility this season and he hasn't shirked it - in fact he's stepped up when other players haven't and carried the team at times. The fact that he can put in a decent shift shouldn't detract from his abilities to bring other players into the game.

Yes he's starting. Can't find any links. https://twitter.com/chelseayouth

You seem to be confused. People don't blame Mata for that season, but they recognise there might be a connection between the tactics that brought Mata good stats and us having poor seasons in the league. Often the attack and defence were like complete strangers and we very rarely looked like a proper team. We'd have to hope for moments of inspiration from one of our attackers whereas now we're actually looking like 11 players pulling in the same direction. Oscar has been key to that in my opinion because he knits the team together so well. He might not be the playmaker some people want but he might just be the playmaker we need.

If we're talking about Zidane then you have to recognise the physicality of his game and out of our two playmakers, Oscar far more closely resembles that type of skill set than Mata in my opinion. I think you're portraying Oscar has simply being a workhorse when he's quite simply one of the best passers of a ball that we have in our team. He might not be making that final pass as consistently as Mata but he's remarkable at bringing other players into the game and he's also added goals to his game. Ultimately it comes down to who makes us a better team. At the moment it's Oscar. I see people moaning about his lack of an end product and it reminds me of some of the criticism directed at Ronaldo in his first 100 games at United. But United had the will and the support of the fans to stick with a young player with amazing potential - it would be nice if our fans did the same.

Haile Selassie was the ruler of Ethiopia - Haile Gebreslassie was an Ethiopian long-distance runner. Despite that it's still the most accurate point in your post in my opinion. Oscar sets the tempo for our team and in a fantastic link-up man, bringing other players into the game. In fact against both West Brom and West Ham he played in Eden Hazard with two fantastic balls through that Eden failed to control on both occasions. Against Newcastle he was on the wing and Mata had a fairly uneventful game, mainly because he seemed to be 20 metres away from the pivot at all times.

Actually he won 5 aerial duels.

Here's a door Feel free to use it.

I honestly don't know what 'fans' like you actually want. We put in a performance that we can all be proud of yet you're moaning about your favourite player not getting a run out. You're so disconnected with this club that I don't know why you bother. He might be the best playmaker and most technically gifted player (I'd probably say Hazard was) but it's about what makes us a better team. At the end of the day it's about getting those 3 points and I actually think Oscar makes us a better team at the moment. Spot on.

Hey. Lampard led the midfield in tackles and was constantly putting pressure on the West Ham players....so, um what are you talking about? Did you watch the match?

Except you're completely wrong about that. Lampard put in more tackles than any other midfielder yesterday, and didn't have Ramires and Mikel holding behind him. You're agenda against Lampard is laughable - you even have to lie about what people see on the pitch with their own eyes. Maybe you should try watching the match rather than racing to jump online to criticise players. This is why I stuck you on ignore. You offer nothing that actually pertains to the reality of football matches or players' performances.

Fucking predictable. Fucking United cunts.

Fucking Cunts. That is a fucking red card all fucking day long. You can't kick players for fucks sake.

AVB looks like he's about to cry. I give him two Phil Jones faces.