Barbara

allow me to correct you on a bit - or disagree. Ronaldo is such an all-around attacking player that it isn't the system that is built around him, but he simply bosses the system, whatever system that may be because he simply doesn't have an attack weakness. Pace, power, strength, technical ability, dribble, head skill, set-piece skill, physicality, and everything else (attacking wise) I can think and Ronaldo has it. Barcelona are the ones who made their system dependable on Messi as once he got injured they weren't able to keep it up whereas RM don't build a system around Ronaldo, he simply steps in and makes it his system (literally, as he's selfish as heck and I'm a fan and supporter of his selfishness because he's earned that right). But it's not a Ronaldo-oriented system, as they adapt very quickly to different tactical systems. Ronaldo is just so good attacking that he simply takes ownership of the ball and rocks it. Messi is more dependable on a system that favors his attributes (and covers his weaknesses), although I personally believe Messi is more talented than Ronaldo. Messi is all born gift whereas Ronaldo is all hard work imo. Barça learned how to depend on Messi's incredible gift and made up a system that capitalizes it, but they forgot that the system should work without him as well because that is one of his weaknesses, especially compared to Cris - he's becoming a bit prone to injuries whereas Cris seems to be made of steel.

You didn't read the whole thing though. Mourinho sort of implied Mata left because he couldn't deal with not being first choice and threw a maybe after saying he didn't make him stronger. I think the veiled message below is that Mata didn't like the position of having to fight for his position and therefore left - and where José says maybe it made him stronger, he may believe the opposite actually. So he first admits he didn't make Mata a stronger player, then he says MAYBE Mata is now a stronger player because of what happened - which makes no sense. How can a spell in the bench make a player better if said player chooses to leave to play wherever he's likely to have more play time? Is only me or there's no way there's any reasoning if Mata chose to leave at the end of the day? I can imagine a player becoming stronger if he faces the challenge and overcomes it, not gives up a few months later. I think the message between the lines is very clear. Those two sentences seem very purposefully constructed by Jose - as is everything he says. I think he believes Mata left because he wasn't comfortable having to fight for the position (which is different from trying imo). I guess Mourinho feels that when Mata realized it wouldn't be easy, he just gave up - which may or may not happened and not me or you or anyone else but Mata (or people close to him) can deny or confirm. I will never say Mata didn't try, because it was clear for me he's tried hard when he was in the pitch. I personally think he's left because he didn't want to fight once he realized how big of a fight that would be. Even then I don't blame him because I feel that may have been a lost battle for him anyway, so why bother especially in a WC year? In another note: I really feel sorry for him if that's why he went there. I don't know if he's delusional or hopeless, but how can someone hope to be EPL champ going to a team that could take a little while to be rebuilt and that has a manager who thought Mata had more goals than assists in the past two years (Moyes is really clueless) and who I'm not sure knows how to use a player like him. In another article (or maybe was the same) Mata said that once he heard Moyes was interested on him his reaction was 'wow'. I really feel sorry for Mata because he definitely deserved better. I think he really believes those things, but poor thing, he is in for a big disappointment... Even if United do sign as many guys as they're yelling at the top of their lungs they will, I'm not sure Moyes can do anything with them. How long and how many VERY expensive signings did it take for Mancini do well in the EPL? And even then that was won a hair distance ahead of ManUtd

Mourinho after the match. That's the kind of thing I really appreciate in a player. When they stay after training sessions to try to improve personal skills. I had no idea Oscar does it. He's mentioned in the interview, but I was under the impression he meant free-kicks, but Mourinho makes is sound like he's trying to improve different (specific) aspects of his game. Hats off, kiddo. on a different note for BBC 5 Live:

I have an account there too (the same name) and under 10 posts... and I had no idea that was how they talked about our players, not only Oscar. I've resisted the temptation of answering them. Such limited views of the game and why is it so hard for people to understand he's 22!!!!!!!! Mata was nowhere near where Oscar is in his development curve when he was 22... nowhere near being the #10 in Spain (oh wait, he still isn't at age 25), nowhere near being #10 to a club as big as Chelsea, he didn't have as much responsibility (still doesn't at age 25) to help the team in all areas, and a lot of stuff. People get easily spoiled by wonder boys such as Messi and Hazard. That's not the rule, that's the exception, almost no 22yo is already incredible, but you can see the potential, you can see the skills, you can imagine how high their ceiling is... the vision in that forum is immediate, limited, biased and with all honesty, bitter, because their golden boy wears a different number. I'm just relieved to know those people (here, there, on Twitter, on tumblr and whatever else) aren't the majority at the Bridge. Not sure if on purpose or not, but instead of hearing chants for Mata in the 10th minutes, they were chanting Mourinho. You could see a couple of signs about Mata, but I've seen more about Mourinho's birthday. The support that actually goes to the stadium isn't criticizing Mourinho - which I think it's important. The fans going to the matches aren't putting unnecessary pressure on Oscar. I laughed out loud when one of the members in that forum said that if Oscar doesn't start performing like Mata, he'll be the first to ask him to be benched. LOL FOREVER, my friend, you may as well start a petition because as far as I know who benches players is Mourinho, not fans. They spoke so much shit. Oscar's passing is erratic at points, I agree, but saying he loses the ball 50% of time he has it (summing incomplete passes and dispossession) is not only ridiculous but also a lie. Saying he has no skills and class is as much ridiculous. Seriously, I don't get how people can criticize their own player to that extent unless said player is really bad. You may not like Oscar's profile, you may prefer a different kind of player, but to say he's shit, has no class, no skill, no vision, loses 50% of balls he touches and all the BS they spouted, is ridiculous. The joke is on them though (and whoever agrees). Mourinho and Brazil NT's manager disagree with them... and they don't seem inclined to change their instances at all. But it was a good laugh mixed with a bit of anger a good reminder to never come back there

didn't you watch his entire post match interview (it's in the match's thread). Almost fluent He's got beyond the 'I'm happy' stage - although he did say he was happy a couple of times Now this ain't for the weak heart. Especially the smile in the end. Oscar thanking the fans for the support and also celebrating 1M likes on Facebook. Beware, it's teddy bear-ish to the extreme https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=631720310198098

I sip the guys' drinks (my friends, that is), lol, I don't order them myself. Rapha, you smartypants, you know what I mean. Either is made in Champagne or I don't like it

I didn't start drinking. I'm just trying things out, but none of them really won me over (somehow I think it tastes badly). Alcohol isn't something I like at all. Tried a lot of things and the only I liked was Keep Cooler (or something along the lines). And French champagne. But thanks for helping my initiation process!

my eyes!!!!!!! #girlhere It's such a pleasure to have José here. I wish him to be at the top of his game for a long - as a birthday wish. And for him to spend all that long time here, with us, where he belongs. The post match interview for Chelsea TV was all kind of wonders.

who makes up with fist-bumps? You don't know the first thing about socializing, Chou

I laughed so loud here with this pic, B. It's made out of win,

I'm sorry too. But it's all gone (literally), forgiven and forgotten. For my part there was plenty of shit, to which I also apologize. Chou Chou are you sure you don't want to group hug with us?

I'm happy we don't fight anymore too. Let's hug and make up. We should group hug with @CHOULO19, as I'm positive he's happy too, hahahahahaha

I don't see him further than a squad member, so for now I think he'll make it. Also I don't think there are clubs that interested on him (as they were on Kev) and he's been used fairly more than Kev, but I wouldn't be surprised if he left. Still better than Moses and Marin by far... but also inferior to Willian imo. I guess it may depend on how well Salah will settle or not. We need to rotate Oscar and Eden and in matches we're in control in the scoreline we need to spare them some final minutes because they've been playing too much and we don't want to burn them out.

I agree in theory, but then he's exactly the kind of player Mou loves: lots of pace, strong and impeccable work-rate, things Kevin didn't exactly excel. But I don't rate him higher than Kev one sec. It was just another Mata case with Kev, he didn't fit (although it was in theory easier for him to adapt to the system than Mata). So I expect Schurrle to stay despite not being better than Kev (imo)

He indeed is one of us I love the way he speaks about our players as if he was one of us here

That's how you answer to a tough draw edit: @Jim, shouldn't I only have to post the link to the tweet to have it embedded? What did I do wrong? edit: then it worked, nvm

the only comfort of playing City: City's next six matches are Spurs (a), Chelsea (h), Norwich (a), Sunderland (h), Chelsea (h), and Barcelona (h).

The scoreline doesn't tell the story of this match. What a joy (except for our finishing that is, although we were unlucky with two balls in the post). That was a great performance from our attacking players, but also an immense debut by Matic. Playing just a few minutes against ManUtd wouldn't do it for him, ofc, but he was flawless there. Oscar and Hazard were on fire and I particularly want to highlight Oscar's character in the response from the Mata transfer. A lot of people will look at him as the guy who's displaced Mata from the team (which is only partially true, it was more the system than Oscar) and they'll demand from him to up his level in the attack to justify Mata leaving the team. I said it in the Mata thread (I guess, or maybe it was Oscar's), but this is the boy who at age 21 took Brazil's #10 shirt and position and controlled our midfield - especially in the Confed's Cup. This boy is mature beyond his years and he doesn't walk away from challenges, but face them as a man. I'm really happy with his response and I think maybe now he'll play even better without the pressure and the responsibility of benching Mata in the process. I think he'll play more carefree and he won't even acknowledge the pressure. Hazard was incredible, as usual. His easiness to pass by as many defenders as if it was a cake walk is astonishing. I do hope we give him a new contract soon and pay him a ridiculous wage. I don't want him to be even tempted to leave and I'm thankful we have Thorgan. Somehow I think he'd love to play by his brother's side in a few years, as he seems absolutely proud of him. Sign Killian already, Roman, just to make sure we give him enough reasons to stay edit: and we were fucked in the draw. City at the Etihad... FML

where's oscar for the free-kick?

With Ramires playing almost by Eto'o's side? Unless Oscar is in the midfield...

I will never understand Mourinho's insistence in playing Ramires as RW especially with the options we have for the position. NEVER (it doesn't look like a 4-3-3 imo)

Ramires? Why not Wills?

Taking a moment to imagine Matic + Will/Oscar/Eddie. Schürrle is doing just fine, but only imagining our best lineup now is making me come undone.

Oscar is killing it... what a response from him

yeah, we should probably net another couple of goals here because nobody wants a repeat of the EPL match... We've been on fire though, I'm optimist about it