Juan Mata

[Tomo 21,751]

Where did i say that i want Jose to leave because he doesn't play Mata? I am one of those who believe that Mata should play in our starting eleven but i also agree that Jose is the best manager for our club, at least for now. I just wanted to add that it is wrong to put the manager before the club, not only the players.

I didn't mean you (sorry should have made that clear in the last post).

[didierforever 7,349]

i agree with selling mata for the right price deal. but i would wait for the right time and that is summer. the season is LOOOONNNNGGGG. not even one-third of the league games are done, we have (hopefully) about 10 more cup games to play and are yet to even officially qualify from the CL group. so lets wait. trust jose to do the right thing (and by the looks of it, he has been doing the right thing), and then make a call at the end of the season.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

i agree with selling mata for the right price deal. but i would wait for the right time and that is summer. the season is LOOOONNNNGGGG. not even one-third of the league games are done, we have (hopefully) about 10 more cup games to play and are yet to even officially qualify from the CL group. so lets wait. trust jose to do the right thing (and by the looks of it, he has been doing the right thing), and then make a call at the end of the season.

Agree with that...there are still so many ways Mata's situation can pan out.

[Ze Mario 638]

I honestly don't know what 'fans' like you actually want. We put in a performance that we can all be proud of yet you're moaning about your favourite player not getting a run out.

You're so disconnected with this club that I don't know why you bother.

calling other chelsea's fans like that is a mistake i think. mata have been chelsea POTY for 2 years and of course there'll be reactions like that. but do they put the players above the club? i dont think so. i was sheva's fan, joe cole's fan, but until now im still chelsea fans. its fair if everyone have their own fav players.

and the situation is getiing uglier when mou put lampard instead mata in last match, when he put ramires and mikel behind him (despite lampard still did a lot of tackle)

and personally atm, oscar did a better job than mata in 10s positition

[bushman 2,043]

Trust Jose, I read. We all do, looking forward to his project. Meanwhile, Mata is just about packed on his way out in January. LOL.

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

Got to say it looks increasingly likely that Mata will be sold in January...

[Barbara 15,149]

In my opinion fact remains that when Mata received the chances he did in October (more than Azpilicueta at the time had) he didn't capitalize them and Oscar just kept proving to be worth of them, so it's a combination of Oscar and Mata himself playing him out of the team. The Mata Gate is a tale. First he got injured and missed a considerable part of pre-season (as he had already lost some of it because of Confederations Cup). He was behind others physically while Oscar was growing with each match he played for us. Mata finally recovered and struggled a little in September to find his foot, but at the end of the month he had a chance against Swindon. Then he played 45 minutes in the following match (Spurs), he started against Steua and Norwich the following week, then there was international break and the first match back he started once again (ahead of Oscar) against Cardiff.

It means he played in five consecutive matches for us, 4 of which starting and he should have capitalized them, but he failed. No matter how many excuses some of us are willing to give him (lack of matches, adapting to the defensive demands, lack of trust from Mourinho, lack of rhythm, etc), it doesn't change the fact he played himself out of the team. Willian was in a very similar position and while he's also in the bench right now, I feel he made better use of his chances than Mata did.

I want Mata in the team as much as the next person and in a 4-3-3 Oscar doesn't even need to leave the team to make that happen, but he needs to earn his way back into the team. Two years as POTY, assists and goals from the last two seasons shouldn't play him into the team, his current performances should.

Whoever complains that other players also didn't turn up in some matches or even made mistakes and still played continuously should keep in mind the alternatives to those players and their contributions to the team. When Hazard is played every single match at the start of the season, his replacements don't bring the impact Oscar does. The same with Lampard and even ivanovic (bc no matter how great Azpili is, and he is, he doesn't bring as much impact as Oscar has been bringing) . Oscar had 2-3 bad matches (one of which Mata started, and the other he played a few minutes), that was the moment for Mata to displace him. He didn't do anything that could possibly convince Mourinho that he should dropped the arguably best player for us this season to play Mata. Maybe another manager would have insisted with Mata instead of Hazard for example, but I'm not sure many would have. When your team is struggling and points are being dropped, bench the player in the best form in the team doesn't seem wise. And any manager with brains know Mazacar is a risk. It could be amazing or it could be a disaster, given the exposition in our MD when the three of them play and how Oscar is sort of sacrificed, it's no surprise it's been barely featured this season.

[bushman 2,043]

In my opinion fact remains that when Mata received the chances he did in October (more than Azpilicueta at the time had) he didn't capitalize them and Oscar just kept proving to be worth of them, so it's a combination of Oscar and Mata himself playing him out of the team. The Mata Gate is a tale. First he got injured and missed a considerable part of pre-season (as he had already lost some of it because of Confederations Cup). He was behind others physically while Oscar was growing with each match he played for us. Mata finally recovered and struggled a little in September to find his foot, but at the end of the month he had a chance against Swindon. Then he played 45 minutes in the following match (Spurs), he started against Steua and Norwich the following week, then there was international break and the first match back he started once again (ahead of Oscar) against Cardiff.

It means he played in five consecutive matches for us, 4 of which starting and he should have capitalized them, but he failed. No matter how many excuses some of us are willing to give him (lack of matches, adapting to the defensive demands, lack of trust from Mourinho, lack of rhythm, etc), it doesn't change the fact he played himself out of the team. Willian was in a very similar position and while he's also in the bench right now, I feel he made better use of his chances than Mata did.

I want Mata in the team as much as the next person and in a 4-3-3 Oscar doesn't even need to leave the team to make that happen, but he needs to earn his way back into the team. Two years as POTY, assists and goals from the last two seasons shouldn't play him into the team, his current performances should.

Whoever complains that other players also didn't turn up in some matches or even made mistakes and still played continuously should keep in mind the alternatives to those players and their contributions to the team. When Hazard is played every single match at the start of the season, his replacements don't bring the impact Oscar does. The same with Lampard and even ivanovic (bc no matter how great Azpili is, and he is, he doesn't bring as much impact as Oscar has been bringing) . Oscar had 2-3 bad matches (one of which Mata started, and the other he played a few minutes), that was the moment for Mata to displace him. He didn't do anything that could possibly convince Mourinho that he should dropped the arguably best player for us this season to play Mata. Maybe another manager would have insisted with Mata instead of Hazard for example, but I'm not sure many would have. When your team is struggling and points are being dropped, bench the player in the best form in the team doesn't seem wise. And any manager with brains know Mazacar is a risk. It could be amazing or it could be a disaster, given the exposition in our MD when the three of them play and how Oscar is sort of sacrificed, it's no surprise it's been barely featured this season.

Not quite true. When Mata came, he was not ready, injured he was. Jose decided to apply pressure on him to play more defensively. Mata is not, never was good defensively. When his skills were not used, then he was benched & is still benched.

Therefore, Mata should say bye-bye Jose, I want out in January. He wants to play football & not sit around & watch others. It´s simple as that. I hope, you won´t object over my posting being too short for you.

[Ze Mario 638]

In my opinion fact remains that when Mata received the chances he did in October (more than Azpilicueta at the time had) he didn't capitalize them and Oscar just kept proving to be worth of them, so it's a combination of Oscar and Mata himself playing him out of the team. The Mata Gate is a tale. First he got injured and missed a considerable part of pre-season (as he had already lost some of it because of Confederations Cup). He was behind others physically while Oscar was growing with each match he played for us. Mata finally recovered and struggled a little in September to find his foot, but at the end of the month he had a chance against Swindon. Then he played 45 minutes in the following match (Spurs), he started against Steua and Norwich the following week, then there was international break and the first match back he started once again (ahead of Oscar) against Cardiff.

It means he played in five consecutive matches for us, 4 of which starting and he should have capitalized them, but he failed. No matter how many excuses some of us are willing to give him (lack of matches, adapting to the defensive demands, lack of trust from Mourinho, lack of rhythm, etc), it doesn't change the fact he played himself out of the team. Willian was in a very similar position and while he's also in the bench right now, I feel he made better use of his chances than Mata did.

I want Mata in the team as much as the next person and in a 4-3-3 Oscar doesn't even need to leave the team to make that happen, but he needs to earn his way back into the team. Two years as POTY, assists and goals from the last two seasons shouldn't play him into the team, his current performances should.

Whoever complains that other players also didn't turn up in some matches or even made mistakes and still played continuously should keep in mind the alternatives to those players and their contributions to the team. When Hazard is played every single match at the start of the season, his replacements don't bring the impact Oscar does. The same with Lampard and even ivanovic (bc no matter how great Azpili is, and he is, he doesn't bring as much impact as Oscar has been bringing) . Oscar had 2-3 bad matches (one of which Mata started, and the other he played a few minutes), that was the moment for Mata to displace him. He didn't do anything that could possibly convince Mourinho that he should dropped the arguably best player for us this season to play Mata. Maybe another manager would have insisted with Mata instead of Hazard for example, but I'm not sure many would have. When your team is struggling and points are being dropped, bench the player in the best form in the team doesn't seem wise. And any manager with brains know Mazacar is a risk. It could be amazing or it could be a disaster, given the exposition in our MD when the three of them play and how Oscar is sort of sacrificed, it's no surprise it's been barely featured this season.

mata often placed as wide midfielder when he had his chance. i remembered he bagged a goal when he was placed in his fav position against arsenal.

cant imagine how confusing for jose to have these two. its like having aguero, baloteli, tevez, and dzeko for blue eastland last year. phew

[Mouri_Matic 560]

mata often placed as wide midfielder when he had his chance. i remembered he bagged a goal when he was placed in his fav position against arsenal.

cant imagine how confusing for jose to have these two. its like having aguero, baloteli, tevez, and dzeko for blue eastland last year. phew

One of the disadvantage of having too many quality players. This is why teams like MU under Ferguson, Juventus atm, PSG essentially have the best team around. Not because their squad is the best but because they have world class players and don't have many players to compete with, making them more happy and perform better. While in the some case it might results in some player turning arrogant, it is worth it most of the time.

[lionsden 4,689]

It's really not that simple.

With the way Oscar's been performing this season it would be very hard to justify him losing his place in the team too so no matter who Mourinho plays in the number ten position he will make the wrong choice in some people's eyes, depending on which of the two they fancy. Last season they both played at the same time but anyone with a working pair of eyes could see that forcing Oscar out wide made him much less influential and then again Mata playing on the right wing doesn't sound that good an idea to me either after the arrivals of Willian and Schürrle who are both much better all-round wingers than Mata is. Mata is a great playmaker if he gets a free role without much defensive responsibilities but with the limited selection of central midfielders we currently have that really isn't possible if the plan is to remain solid at the back so at least for now Oscar has been preferred and rightly so because the Brazilian hasn't put a foot wrong all season.

Football is a team game and in the end of the day it's the team's result that matters most so if we keep winning matches with the players Mourinho selects to play people shouldn't complain too much.

We must have different definition of the roles of a playmaker and I disagree that oscar hasn't put a foot wring this season. in fact it's a false statement as just 12 days ago before the int'l break after 2 inept performances against Newcastle and W'brom,he was one of the players fairly singled out for criticism. for a playmaker, he has barely created any quality chances and looked generally devoid of ideas in the attacking third.

With all of Oscar's "work ethic" this season, he still remains a far (and I emphasize the word far) inferior playmaker and footballer to mata. if mourinho is so obsessed with work ethic he should save some money, sell all the technical players in the squad and recruit some workhorses from the English lower league and french ligue 2. some players in those league have ridiculous engine and work ethic since the technical aspect of football is so overrated and hold little significance.

Scrap that I have a better idea, Jose should lure Mo farah and Haile Selassie. Their stamina is highly proven and would put themselves about on the pitch.

[Korea 734]

We must have different definition of the roles of a playmaker and I disagree that oscar hasn't put a foot wring this season. in fact it's a false statement as just 12 days ago before the int'l break after 2 inept performances against Newcastle and W'brom,he was one of the players fairly singled out for criticism. for a playmaker, he has barely created any quality chances and looked generally devoid of ideas in the attacking third.

With all of Oscar's "work ethic" this season, he still remains a far (and I emphasize the word far) inferior playmaker and footballer to mata. if mourinho is so obsessed with work ethic he should save some money, sell all the technical players in the squad and recruit some workhorses from the English lower league and french ligue 2. some players in those league have ridiculous engine and work ethic since the technical aspect of football is so overrated and hold little significance.

Scrap that I have a better idea, Jose should lure Mo farah and Haile Selassie. Their stamina is highly proven and would put themselves about on the pitch.

This is funny. Mata was the primary "playmaker" for Spain in the olympics and guess what happened to spain.

Mata was the primary playmaker for Chelsea the past 2 seasons and we got 6th and 3rd in a water down EPL.

This season, the EPL is probably as a whole strongest Ive seen and we are fighting for top place again.

It's funny cause Jose had Ozil, a player that wasnt know for his defensive contribution, yet played him as much as any player on RM.

Maybe it's the fact that Mata isnt as good as Chelsea fans brand him out to be.

Look at RDM, guess who he played as the ten.

Look at Del Bosque, Mata isnt never going to be in their 11.

Only one that favored Mata was the Spainard that favored Torres as well.

And Guess what. Guess who our favorite manager AVB wanted as his primary signing for Tottenham.

I find it crazy how people cant see the potential in Oscar as a playmaker... But than again, its probably the same players that thought Neymar would flop as well.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Not quite true. When Mata came, he was not ready, injured he was. Jose decided to apply pressure on him to play more defensively. Mata is not, never was good defensively. When his skills were not used, then he was benched & is still benched.

Therefore, Mata should say bye-bye Jose, I want out in January. He wants to play football & not sit around & watch others. It´s simple as that. I hope, you won´t object over my posting being too short for you.

Grammar by Yoda you learned. Just kiddin. I agree with the conent of your post. Has to be a combination of Mata actually not being that good offensively, Oscar emerging and Mata not providing the necessary defensive prowess.

[FabHazard 655]

[DDA 9,928]

Not quite true. When Mata came, he was not ready, injured he was. Jose decided to apply pressure on him to play more defensively. Mata is not, never was good defensively. When his skills were not used, then he was benched & is still benched.

Therefore, Mata should say bye-bye Jose, I want out in January. He wants to play football & not sit around & watch others. It´s simple as that. I hope, you won´t object over my posting being too short for you.

Are you Master Yoda in disguise???