Juan Mata

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

To those who doubted Mata.

According to Mirror:

" The brilliant Spaniard was instrumental for the Blues & was in the mood to show the " Special One" he should be the man at SB.

Mata´s superb pass released Torres in the 27th minute but the striker was denied by keeper. "

Two minutes later, Mata was again involved & Torres tapped in the rebound.

All for you expert who thought Mata was shit, last night.

Did the mirror mention the dangerous free kicks he gave away?

[Jase 43,479]

Did the mirror mention the dangerous free kicks he gave away?

Think only 1 of those fouls was close to our penalty box and the rest were further away from the area. So, I wouldn't necessarily classify them as dangerous free kicks.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Did the mirror mention the dangerous free kicks he gave away?

When you ask attackers to defend, you live with the consequence. Like the penalties Drogba was giving away during our CL run lol.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Think only 1 of those fouls was close to our penalty box and the rest were further away from the area. So, I wouldn't necessarily classify them as dangerous free kicks.

I'd classify all of them as needless free kicks.

[Jase 43,479]

I'd classify all of them as needless free kicks.

Or one could argue with some of them being tactical fouls to stop Swindon's momentum. In the past, we have seen Mata hardly putting in any challenge to break up opponents' attacks when they build from deep or from his No.10 area and we ended up coming under pressure too easily.

It maybe needless in your eyes but for someone who is not the best defensively, it should not be surprising if and when some fouls are given away like that. Mata is obviously still rough around the edges and will take time before his defensive work and challenges get up to scratch.

[bushman 2,043]

Did the mirror mention the dangerous free kicks he gave away?

Dangerous ? Please look it up in the dictionary, what it means.

[didierforever 7,349]

Did the mirror mention the dangerous free kicks he gave away?

you mean when he came deep and broke off swindon's momentum... and probably the exact thing that jose wants him to do... seems legit that he gets called on for conceding 2 FKs (despite us keeping a clean sheet) rather than look at his whole performance and the effort that he put in last night.

[bushman 2,043]

you mean when he came deep and broke off swindon's momentum... and probably the exact thing that jose wants him to do... seems legit that he gets called on for conceding 2 FKs (despite us keeping a clean sheet) rather than look at his whole performance and the effort that he put in last night.

To look at his overall effort, are you kidding, folks in here to be fair ?

The Belgium gang, promote Belgium players, the Brazilian mom wants to dance samba with Oscar....& the show must go on.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

It really isn't ridiculous, one player is playing so much better than the other and thus is starting. Mata has failed to perform from the start of the season and find himself in a position where he has to prove himself in order to regain his place, that's only natural. Sentimental reasons can't cloud our judgement. We really can't afford to give Mata a run of games because we need Oscar in that number ten role to get results.

It isn't about sentimentality, it's about giving your best player a chance to succeed and help the team. Does anyone think that if Mata got consistent playing time, he wouldn't go back to the player we all know he is? And part of what irks me is this idea that Mata has to earn his playing time and after a poor performance, he doesn't deserve to start. Hazard has been bad almost all season and hasn't lost his place. Oscar has three very poor games in a row and kept starting. No player can hit their form starting 3 times in 5 weeks in different positions and with different teammates. Players have to earn their starting spots if you give them a chance to succeed. The "they have to earn it" for proven players is an appealing soundbite, but it's mostly bullshit because the manager decides who he wants to "earn it". Right now, Mourinho has decided that Eto'o, Oscar, and Hazard have the right to earn their places up front. I don't care who you are, but usage is an enormous part of results. If you rarely play them, it's you ensuring that they won't succeed. If you get a lot of chances, you have a very good chance at producing. That doesn't mean Chelsea have to be built around Mata, but by sidelining him, we are are making our most (and really only very) creative player as ineffective as possible.

[bushman 2,043]

Who is talking about sentiment here ?

Mata is, was & most likely will be the best among all Chelsea players.

This issue here has been a peculiar one, in my view.

I´d say, it has got a lot to do with Jose power trip, than anything else.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Who is talking about sentiment here ?

Mata is, was & most likely will be the best among all Chelsea players.

This issue here has been a peculiar one, in my view.

I´d say, it has got a lot to do with Jose power trip, than anything else.

So we are fucked. Cos Mata is no where near the quality a title-winning team's best player should be.

[happy_juan 64]

So we are fucked. Cos Mata is no where near the quality a title-winning team's best player should be.

Thanl God we have got you to judge that.

[bushman 2,043]

So we are fucked. Cos Mata is no where near the quality a title-winning team's best player should be.

Did I say that ?

Mata is treated like crap. Instead of being slowly introduced into the team after his injury, he is benched.

[Azpinator 2,325]

I really hope that this doesn't turn into Robben 2.0.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

It isn't about sentimentality, it's about giving your best player a chance to succeed and help the team. Does anyone think that if Mata got consistent playing time, he wouldn't go back to the player we all know he is? And part of what irks me is this idea that Mata has to earn his playing time and after a poor performance, he doesn't deserve to start. Hazard has been bad almost all season and hasn't lost his place. Oscar has three very poor games in a row and kept starting. No player can hit their form starting 3 times in 5 weeks in different positions and with different teammates. Players have to earn their starting spots if you give them a chance to succeed. The "they have to earn it" for proven players is an appealing soundbite, but it's mostly bullshit because the manager decides who he wants to "earn it". Right now, Mourinho has decided that Eto'o, Oscar, and Hazard have the right to earn their places up front. I don't care who you are, but usage is an enormous part of results. If you rarely play them, it's you ensuring that they won't succeed. If you get a lot of chances, you have a very good chance at producing. That doesn't mean Chelsea have to be built around Mata, but by sidelining him, we are are making our most (and really only very) creative player as ineffective as possible.

I think a lot of people have major doubts that Mata can still be our best player in this current system no matter how many games he gets. Obviously he is lacking some form now and will improve but he can't, imo, go back to being the center of our game right now.

Hazard is at a different level to our other wingers so you can always bet, even when he's off form, that he can make the difference. On the other hand, Mata is not the best for his position, atm, and therefor has to "earn his starts". And when did Oscar have three consecutive very poor games?! He's been undoubtedly our best player so far this season. He's miles ahead of Mata and won't be displaced from being first choice unless Mata comes up with some big performances.

And I can't understand how you could say that he is not getting the chances to earn his place. We've played 7 matches so far this season and he's started 3 of them and came off the bench in another 2. Some players had not been on the pitch till yesterday! Mata's been given a fair amount of chances, he's just not taking them. And the changing teammates is not really a good excuse. He was playing against Swindon yesterday who were actually attacking us and leaving spaces behind them instead of parking the bus and he was still unable to perform up to the standards.

I love Juan, not just as a footballer, but as a genuinely nice and smart guy, but his performances so far do not merit him starting in bigger games.