darrus

We're playing fine the last couple of matches, but more importantly we're achieving results, and even more importantly -we're doing it even playing badly. We have AMs that are versatile and not fixed to a position and therefore have more variety in attack, and even with our striker problems we can rely on AMs to score. Oscar and Hazard both can play in the center and on the side, both have their share of goal sand assists this season while helping to cover pivot problems at the same time. So we are getting things done - and recently we are getting things done well. I'm not even surprised that you've missed the point. Yes, now we have a team that is still being built but already has the outline and this team produces results. Last year's system allowed Mata to produce stats by himself but was not enough for a team to challenge for the top spot. This season no matter who plays #10 - in some matches it is Oscar, in some it is Hazard - we get better results overall. That's a work of 11 players and the manager.

Yes, but the team was 10 points off the top and out of the title run by Christmas. Go figure.

If we were talking about individual sports than this opinion could be justified. But we're talking about football players, and a team sport - and here individual stats mean much less than the team's performance. So the one who makes team as a whole play well is the better player, if we use logic. Though with Mata's stats this season - 1 assist and 0 goals in 13 league matches - I'm not sure what this argument is about anyway. Or should places in the team be granted for past achievements? If so, Pele would still be playing for Brazil.

Both are bad except for brief moments when they are good. But damn I so hope Torres sorts it out - am I the last one who doesn't lose hope? The guy is trying, he can outrun any defender, he tries everything and it still doesn't go in. Sad.

Absolutely! He's calm, collected and brings confidence to the defense. Great to know we have a decent back-up.

Voted Mikel. Because. Oscar + Hazard = magic.

Really want Nando to score now.

That's Torrs x2. Damn, I really feel sorry for the guy.

That's Torres...

Oscar you beauty!

He scores when he wants ))

Since he was praising English football at every opportunity since he left England it was kind of predictable he will continue doing so at his return.

Agreed with almost everything though it should be mentioned that Mourinho did in the past bench players for disciplinary reasons. The same Ramos watched 2 matches from the tribunes after telling Mourinho's assistant along the lines of "f**k off, you are nobody here", and Baia had a month long ban with a fill-blown disciplinary trial - but the point still is, the offences were grave and an example had to be made for every other player. As for Mata's case, I'm not sure Mourinho even knew what he was commenting about. I don't know how much time passes between the match and press-conference? He had to talk to reporters straight after the match, he went down to the dressing room, talked to Oscar, talked to players, went to the press - he probably didn't even see Mata's reaction, then got asked about it, probably thought "wtf?!" and gave a rather noncommital answer. And sure while Mata's reaction was unnesessary to put it mildly, it was probably heat of the moment and was settled quickly. And I am certain that was it. No need to create internal conflicts out of (hopefully) once in a lifetime outburst. I very much doubt Mata will be sold, especially as KdB seems to be on his way out.

This is what always does my head in. Marginalized? Treated badly? So are we assuming outright that a manager - any manager - in his right mind is going to risk results and team performance just to treat badly a player he supposedly doesn't like? Or selecting the best team that brings results means marginalizing other players? Demanding a player to improve his game and show that he can bring needed quality to the team equals treating that player badly? I feel we'll soon get to the point when Global warming will be at fault for Mata's being out of form this season.

That's a good point as we have only one photo of him walking past Mourinho and no video - and, I assume, no reports from those who were close - journalists and such? Certainly Mourinho didn't make a big deal out of it so either he's being lenient or there was no disrespect shown. For all we know he could have been furious about Torres' inability to score (something along the lines "I'm doing all I can and this *** can't hit a barn door from 2 metres distance and everyone will say again that I am useless as assistant just because he can't use any assists I make") or anything else, really. But he does it on the first day of transfer window, under the cameras, after being subbed in a match he did nothing in and it looks like a demonstrative action, so it's hard to aprove. Especially after a good game that becomes overshadowed by all this hoopla. If he wanted to show that he is fed up and wants out there was no need, 'cos nobody is holding him here chained . If he didn't think - well, then he's more stupid than I thought. In yesterday's match the only person he can be really angry with is himself. And really I would have liked to know his opinion on his whole situation.

People conveniently forget that for half the season already Mata hasn't set the world alight with his play. He's played a lot of matches, he's played on the right, he's played in his position - can you name one match when he influenced the result with his play, especially when we were doing badly? Oscar got some important goals, Hazard pulled us out of trouble a couple of times, Willian at least twice helped turn things around, even Schurrle had some decisive action. For Mata the only really good game he had was maybe against Arsenal in LC, and in that match we were cruising. Some argue that he is playing out of position - not always, he's played #10 this season. Yesterday Oscar wan't playing his position too, he played on the left (well, they interchanged a lot, I distinctly remember him on the right minute or so before his goal, but nominally he was left, Willian right and Hazard center) and managed to do well. Not to mention Azpi who made himself an indisputable starter on "wrong" position. In yesterday's match the difference was obvious not because Oscar and Willian scored and made a result, that's not the point. The second they came on the tempo of our play increased dramatically, and at that speed every fault of Soton's defence became glaring. That was what is needed to make a result. Mata is a good player based on past results, but so far this season he's failed to demonstrate it. I've read on tumblr that Mourinho purposefully makes him play with crap players just so he will look bad - maybe that is the reason? Or maybe Mata just doesn't do enough. It's not that he didn't have chances to show he is the best AM in our squad and should be playing every game. But the main point is - it's impossible to build a whole teamplay around one player even if he is Messi (and Mata is not Messi, btw). It takes injury or streak of bad form to lose everything if you're relying on just one player. On the other hand, if there is a system in place and there are players who can adapt and cover at least two positions, you are pretty safe in most cases, no matter what happens with individuals. Maybe Mata will be able to find a club that is going to build everything around him, but it certainly won't be a top club with big ambitions. I'm starting to understand why Real let him go instead of making him a starter. He is a very talented player, but his play has defects, and either he overcomes them or team should adapt to them.

I just gave you 3 examples of Jose's dealings with others - after a lot worse things than Mata's show today. And there are more, from Materazzi to Carvalho. So by past examples his behavior alone isn't enough to get him in trouble. His underperformance on the other hand is a real reason for problems.

That would be probably the main narrative now when Mata is starting the games on the benck. But the reality is - under Mourinho Ramos played despite repeated acts of direct disobedience, Coentrao played even after his misbehaviors, heck, Vitor Baia got away with a good selection of insults and attempt at physical agression towards Jose. So I very much doubt that throwing a bit of hissy fit will be the reason Mata gets benched. Not good enough contribution to the team's play will be.

Yess!!!

This is so not funny...

With the opportunities we create how are we still 0-0? And Torres misses another one.

God almighty, are we going to start scoring or not?

We're just asking for trouble with our defending and finishing combined.

I don't like that we're not careful enough in defence. And I don't like that their keeper is playing so well.

Torres, Torres...