Juan Mata

[Tomo 21,733]

Just a vid of how good Juan is to all those who already jumped on Oscars bandwagon. Kid is good, but not near Mata. Juan is a victim of Mou defensive tactics, he playd superbly under three different managers and is probably our most creative player along Lamps in last decade.

Its ridiculous that fans simply not value our players if they dont perform well and jump on bandwagon as soon they do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwTEV0-F2zU

This isn't an attack on you, but it seems we can't like one player without supposedly not liking another. its like that with Schurrle and De Bruyne now it's the same with Mata and Oscar, it's getting ridiculous.

[Jase 43,479]

This isn't an attack on you, but it seems we can't like one player without supposedly not liking another. its like that with Schurrle and De Bruyne now it's the same with Mata and Oscar, it's getting ridiculous.

And Mikel + Lampard, Azpilicueta + Ivanovic, Torres + Eto'o and the list goes on.....

But that's not to say those who prefer one over the other are exactly wrong..

[Korea 734]

And Mikel + Lampard, Azpilicueta + Ivanovic, Torres + Eto'o and the list goes on.....

This is what happens when the board plays fifa and buys too many players...

Can you imagine next season when the other loanees come back in addition to a signing or 2 in the winter/summer...

It's going to keep occuring if the board keeps stockpiling "assets."

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Being creative and getting assists are two different things.....

I Guess Cristiano ronaldo and Ashely Young are creative as a passer too.

Once they get 100 assists in PL, I can easy say they are creative. To make soo many assists, you need vision and that is part of creativity.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

This isn't an attack on you, but it seems we can't like one player without supposedly not liking another. its like that with Schurrle and De Bruyne now it's the same with Mata and Oscar, it's getting ridiculous.

Its ok, but its often that people forget that we actualy have top players already. Should Mata thing go on, we will sell him and he will shine at other club (much like Ozil case; but real isnt doing better without him). And then we all will be pissed same like with Sturridge,...

[Korea 734]

Once they get 100 assists in PL, I can easy say they are creative. To make soo many assists, you need vision and that is part of creativity.

Or you could just have corner kick/free kick duties...

[Barbara 15,149]

I have to agree... saying Mata is our most creative player along with Lampard detracts from Mata more than compliments him imo. It's a laughable statement, sorry. Lamps is a lot of things, and I love him. Creative isn't what I'd associate with him at all.

As for @Tomo's comment, I get what he means. It seems around here now if I say I love Eto'o it automatically means I hate Torres, if I say I love Schürrle, it means I'm taking a jab on Kevin. The Mata x Oscar thing I blame on that stupid article and the subsequent discussion - that at some points reminded more a of a war between two rivals clubs rather than two players fighting for the same position. Ever since then it's hard to have a discussion about Mata that doesn't involve Oscar and a discussion about Oscar that doesn't involve Mata.

I pointed out problems I had with a team built around Mata because of the liabilities it offers but it was simply because I was defending Mourinho's choice to demand from Mata the same he demands from everyone else. I had little to do with Oscar, although it does a bit, as Oscar offers a completely different package that meets Mourinho's demands better - which still allows both to be in the team btw, after all they were both at the team last season.

That said, it doesn't diminish Mata... he just has to adapt, and he's adapting. Currently the problem I have with Juan is not about what's Mourinho is demanding from him, but why he's been struggling so much to play a high level match for us - attacking and creatively wise. His finishing against Cardiff was dreadful, he's yet to be as creative (effectively) as he was last season and if someone says that's because of his commitment with defensive responsibilities I have two things to say: 1) Hazard and Schürrle then should have the same issue and they don't; 2) then it's a limitation to Mata as a player because Ozil, Iniesta, Isco, Ribery, Rooney and the list goes on and on and on all can execute their defensive tasks without detracting their offensive contributions. If they're good pressing, tackling, intercepting it's another story, because at least they're committed to try. Learning how to defend isn't easy because it requires many things such as good read, good vision, timing, precision, etc... but all those guys accept their responsibilities with the team and the tactics regardless of how good or bad they're defending. Bottom line is accepting their responsibilities defending didn't stop them from continuing to do their thing attacking. All that said, I don't think it's his defensive obligations that are preventing him from shining offensively (although they're not helping his case either and may be collaborating a little bit, but I don't see them as the main reason)

I still think we overplayed him last season, that the injury in the pre-season wasn't the only consequence of it. There may be some longer lasting effects and consequently he may take a while to be really 100% fit. Which is all more reason for us not to overload him again. his body may still be feeling the after effects of going years with reduced vacation, playing nearly every fixture for his club and combining that with a few NT matches. It's also common in high level sports that when the body doesn't answer as it used to, that an athlete also develops confidence issues on minor or major scales.

The same way I've been waiting for Hazard to gain form, and he has now had, I'll be waiting for Mata. I just wish we knew exactly what's holding him back as all we can do is theorize.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Or you could just have corner kick/free kick duties...

He created over 400 goal chances since 2008, more than any other player in PL. I guess we had a lot of corner kicks and free kicks then

[Korea 734]

He created over 400 goal chances since 2008, more than any other player in PL. I guess we had a lot of corner kicks and free kicks then

Sry brah, Lampard aint creative...

It is what it is...

[The Skipper 20,593]

Creatively, SFL isn't bad, he can see that pass now and again... But it isn't one of his main qualities. Above average I'd say he is when it comes to his creativity.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Juan is a victim of Mou defensive tactics,

Alert the police, a crime has been committed!

This is football, and Jose is paid to do what's best for the team. He doesn't have to, actually scratch that, he should not make any decisions just because they suit and certain player unless they happen to be in the best interest in the team. I'm not at all saying that what suits Mata is mutually excplusive with the team's best interest, I'm not even talking about Mata specifically, but the team that the manager picks, and the system that he chooses and the philosophy that he tries to implement is always what matters the most, not individual players.

[meetdoscar 335]

We've looked strong with and without him this season. The squad is far stronger than last year and with a better manager too. He has his quota to contribute just like any other player but with serious competition. Wish him luck.

[Barbara 15,149]

We've looked strong with and without him this season. The squad is far stronger than last year and with a better manager too. He has his quota to contribute just like any other player but with serious competition. Wish him luck.

that's the important thing. Barcelona looked very poor without Messi last season and this season although Neymar helped, they looked nothing special. That's one of the biggest problems of being so dependent on a player, no matter who they are. If they miss matches for whatever reason, you're left much more weakened - and Barcelona even has one advantage. Most those players play together for years now, and they're all very good. Still when Messi doesn't play you can't compare. We also struggled last year without Mata - either the matches he didn't play or the matches he disappeared. It's good not to depend on one single player.

We also played well without Oscar recently, and without Hazard, so I think we're in the right path.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

WOW!!! whoever thinks Lampard isn't creative clearly doesn't watch him very often! Lampard plays some very clever and outstanding passes all the time, he has been doing it for years!!! his passing is very underrated imo! he has played quite a few great passes this season already! most recently his pass to Hazard against Cardiff for Hazards 2nd goal, that was a quality and very clever pass that was weighted perfectly for Hazard to run onto.

I wonder what Drogba would say if someone told him Lampard isn't creative!

[Barbara 15,149]

I think he has his moments, but I don't think he's genuinely creative, but yeah he's has created nice assists throughout his career, but normally they aren't all that much creative per say, and the really creative ones are far and apart imo. I'd say he's got a good reading and play simply and objectively.

Mata is something completely different imo. he makes the play you don't see it coming, he thought about the play even before he ball arrived on his feet. He's something else, so compared to Mata Lamps isn't creative at all. Standing on his own, I think he can be once in a while, but it isn't a trace to his style. He is very objective and reads well the game - hence many assists in his career. That's more about being effective and objective imo rather than being creative. If my teammate is ahead of me, in a good position to score and I give him the obvious pass, it's me capitalizing, not necessarily being creative. I guess it's hard for me to explain what I mean.

[Stats 7,060]

If we are talking about creativity, Lamps is not the sort of player who will dribble through like Silva, Ozil and Mata and do an exquisite through ball but if people think that his vision and creativity in terms of passing is average then they need to look again. His range of passing is excellent. Has been the key in many games. Chelsea 6-0 Man City... the pass he done for Drogba was one of the best you will see and only a few players with technical skills can pull of stuff like that. I can't mention all of them but there are so many games where he has pulled of brilliant passes. So those who think most of his assist are all due to set pieces are completely wrong.

Remember the game in the FA Cup against Arsenal where Drogba scored the winner at Wembley. The vision he had to pull of that long pass for Drogba was magnificent. Oh yeah, Malouda's equalizer as well. Who done that brilliant ball for him? Lamps, was the decisive factor that game. His vision is excellent and as I said he has one of the best passing range I have seen in football.

[The Mak 4,459]

I wonder what Drogba would say if someone told him Lampard isn't creative!

Let's be honest with ourselves here: Lampard's job was to lump it to Drogba.

Now sometimes it would look like an amazing pass, but more often than not it wouldn't come off or it would just land near Drogba and he would do the rest. It's more of a testament to Drogba unbelievable ability at being the lone striker than Lampard's passing..

[jonaaibosk 191]

Let's be honest with ourselves here: Lampard's job was to lump it to Drogba.

Now sometimes it would look like an amazing pass, but more often than not it wouldn't come off or it would just land near Drogba and he would do the rest. It's more of a compliment to Drogba unbelievable ability at being the lone striker than Lampard's passing..

Harsh