Juan Mata

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Sulked like a baby? He wasn't in the squad for like the first 4 or maybe 5 league games but he stayed worked hard, fought to get into the squad and did. How is that sulking? He probably had chances to leave in the summer after Jose made it clear Oscar was his number 10. Lets be honest who wouldn't of wanted Mata after his last 2 years at Chelsea at that time? Only a handful of clubs wouldn't like Real, Barca and perhaps Bayern due to the players they already had but sure he couldn't wait to jump ship at the first opportunity he had which is why he left in January not in the summer when it was made clear he wasn't first choice after the Hull game and then the signing of Willian to play ON THE RIGHT WHERE MATA WAS TOLD HE WOULD BE PLAYING BY JOSE.

Exposed like a fraud? The lack of respect for a player who was great here is really frightening. Sure he didn't fit under Jose exactly well but still if anyone can't say he carried us for basically 2 years before hand then they need a long look at themselves.

A coward? If your a coward for wanting to move somewhere to play regularly then sure hes a coward, Salah's a coward, Schurrle's a coward, Lukaku's a coward, Ashley Cole's a coward, Lampard's a coward, David Luiz is a coward, Demba Ba is a coward... anyone who has left us to play regularly since 1905 is a coward then going by your logic.

He sulked like a baby when he got taken off at Southampton, it was absolutley pathetic! and the ironic thing was i saw him on Chelsea TV being interviewed that same season, where he praised his friend Azpilicueta for working so hard in training while he was always on the bench for the first 2 months of the season, and looked impossible for him to break into the 1st team ahead of Cole and Ivanovic, but Azpi worked his socks offf and got his chance and took it! Mata saw that happen in front of him, yet instead of following Azpi's example he sulked like a baby instead

And No he was never going to leave in the summer, not before he kicked a ball for Mourinho, every player wants to work with Jose, and Mata was coming off 2 great seasons at the club, Jose would have told him that he would get chances to play and prove himself (which he did), but he didnt once take his chance in the team under Mourinho, January was his first oppourtunity to leave and he couldnt wait to jump ship. Pathetic.

He is a fruad, and why should i show him respect because he is an ex player who proved to have no back-bone? why do ex players deserve respect when even our current players dont get respect from fans, go to the Willian, Oscar, Mikel, Cahill, and Ivanovic threads and tell people in there to show current Chelsea player some respect, but guess what even if you did no one would listen to you. Mata doesnt deserve respect in my eyes for the way he acted in his last season. Truly pathetic.

and yes he is a coward, not for your bizarre reason, when did i say players are cowards for leaving???

[Madmax 9,219]

To be honest when you look at what is happening to Mata now, you have to go back and really appreciate Benitez because it was really, really difficult to finish 3rd with a front 4 of Torres (beyond shit), Hazard (great but new), Oscar (good but new), Mata (great but limited); a pivot of Ramires and a Lampard chasing the goals record and a back 4 that featured too little Terry and too much Luiz.

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

how well do you all think Juan Mata would be doing in this team right now. Mata Loves CFC more than MUFC he was forced to go to MUFC.

[Tomo 21,751]

To be honest when you look at what is happening to Mata now, you have to go back and really appreciate Benitez because it was really, really difficult to finish 3rd with a front 4 of Torres (beyond shit), Hazard (great but new), Oscar (good but new), Mata (great but limited); a pivot of Ramires and a Lampard chasing the goals record and a back 4 that featured too little Terry and too much Luiz.

That's not to mention the back log of fixtures due to Europa and going far in the FA, we didn't have a great first Xl never mind bench and he managed to juggle the squad really well and got us what we were aiming for that season.

All things considered he did a very good job under the circumstances, do I like him? not particularly (have more respect for him than before mind where I couldn't stand the sight if him), did I want him full time instead of Mous return? hell no but he fulfilled his requirements for us (top 3 main aim trophy bonus) and deserves credit for that.

[Tomo 21,751]

how well do you all think Juan Mata would be doing in this team right now. Mata Loves CFC more than MUFC he was forced to go to MUFC.

Mata and Cesc in the same team?

Not even Brendan Rodgers is that defensively naive, any half astute manager would target our midfield, they would get the main AM to distract Matic (like Eriksen did on new years day) and overload on Cesc and Juan.

[Muzchap 8,966]

He sulked like a baby when he got taken off at Southampton, it was absolutley pathetic! and the ironic thing was i saw him on Chelsea TV being interviewed that same season, where he praised his friend Azpilicueta for working so hard in training while he was always on the bench for the first 2 months of the season, and looked impossible for him to break into the 1st team ahead of Cole and Ivanovic, but Azpi worked his socks offf and got his chance and took it! Mata saw that happen in front of him, yet instead of following Azpi's example he sulked like a baby instead

And No he was never going to leave in the summer, not before he kicked a ball for Mourinho, every player wants to work with Jose, and Mata was coming off 2 great seasons at the club, Jose would have told him that he would get chances to play and prove himself (which he did), but he didnt once take his chance in the team under Mourinho, January was his first oppourtunity to leave and he couldnt wait to jump ship. Pathetic.

He is a fruad, and why should i show him respect because he is an ex player who proved to have no back-bone? why do ex players deserve respect when even our current players dont get respect from fans, go to the Willian, Oscar, Mikel, Cahill, and Ivanovic threads and tell people in there to show current Chelsea player some respect, but guess what even if you did no one would listen to you. Mata doesnt deserve respect in my eyes for the way he acted in his last season. Truly pathetic.

and yes he is a coward, not for your bizarre reason, when did i say players are cowards for leaving???

Dude you are embarrassing yourself - this was a two times player of the year...

Agree with you 100% on current players though

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Dude you are embarrassing yourself - this was a two times player of the year...

Agree with you 100% on current players though

yes 2 times player of the year, with the team built around him, while playing for the worst Chelsea squad during the Abramovich era. Nothing speacial really. When he had a better team around, and everything wasnt going through him he got exposed.

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

20 goals and 36 assists in a season really isn't 'anything special' to you?

[Jase 43,479]

[Barbara 15,149]

Sulked like a baby? He wasn't in the squad for like the first 4 or maybe 5 league games but he stayed worked hard, fought to get into the squad and did. How is that sulking? He probably had chances to leave in the summer after Jose made it clear Oscar was his number 10. Lets be honest who wouldn't of wanted Mata after his last 2 years at Chelsea at that time? Only a handful of clubs wouldn't like Real, Barca and perhaps Bayern due to the players they already had but sure he couldn't wait to jump ship at the first opportunity he had which is why he left in January not in the summer when it was made clear he wasn't first choice after the Hull game and then the signing of Willian to play ON THE RIGHT WHERE MATA WAS TOLD HE WOULD BE PLAYING BY JOSE.

Exposed like a fraud? The lack of respect for a player who was great here is really frightening. Sure he didn't fit under Jose exactly well but still if anyone can't say he carried us for basically 2 years before hand then they need a long look at themselves.

A coward? If your a coward for wanting to move somewhere to play regularly then sure hes a coward, Salah's a coward, Schurrle's a coward, Lukaku's a coward, Ashley Cole's a coward, Lampard's a coward, David Luiz is a coward, Demba Ba is a coward... anyone who has left us to play regularly since 1905 is a coward then going by your logic.

Your memory fails you.

He was injured during the last part of the pre-season and that's why he hasn't played in the first few games - because he was recovering. Hardly something to complain about.

Anyone with the slightest tactical awareness wouldn't want Mata in their team in England (which means a few managers would want him) because he's not suitable for the style of the league and the style most teams adopt. Maybe he'd find a spot at Arsenal, but with the players they have for AM, not likely.

Yes, he was CHELSEA's (not the EPL) player of the year for two years in a row, in a system that protected HIM and exposed the TEAM. Mind you, we finished 3rd - 14 points behind and 6th in those two brilliant years of Mata here because that's what comes with the package. For him to shine, he needs a team built around him. He's slow, small and weak, so the risk of giving him a free role is considerable in any league, but in England suicidal. He doesn't track back - not because he's lazy, but because he doesn't have the tools (physically or technically), he doesn't hold up the ball well - he's very quick in his thinking and he has one of the best visions in the sport currently, but with the ball on his feet, he can't hold up because he's easily dispossessed by a physical opponent and his slowness also expose the zone in the pitch he's carrying the ball. That's the thing, Mata isn't one for carrying the ball, he's one for a pass, for set-pieces and for quick 1-2's. A possession based team doesn't suit him, a counter-attack based team doesn't suit him. Few systems suit him and even less if he's not the main man with tons of freedom and a team built around him.

I'm not saying he's useless, horrible, an atrocity. I'm just saying he doesn't fit modern football much and he's more suitable to leagues/teams that haven't evolved to that yet. as most teams have been evolving to this modern style of attackers defending, defenders attacking, high press at all areas in the pitch, more athletically and physically strong players, pace, stamina and whats not - less and less he'll have a chance to really shine in a big team. all big teams to a lesser or higher degree have been adapting to those things. There are few exceptions, all of which already have better options for their attack than him. It's sad, but imo, not even up to debate that the best years of his career are behind him and he was only able to shine as much as he did here at the cost of exposing our whole midfield. Which showed in our league results while he was here.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

20 goals and 36 assists in a season really isn't 'anything special' to you?

no Mata was simply the best of a pretty average bunch of players.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

are you one of those people who calls others trolls because they have a different opinion to you?