Juan Mata

[Justin_3d 1,140]

He was assessing nothing. He was just surrounded by a bunch of incapable negotiators. And he couldn't tell the truth, couldn't he ?

You think so?

Cause I remember he did not wanted to get nobody till he came back from the Asia tour.

[Peace. 4,352]

You think so?

Cause I remember he did not wanted to get nobody till he came back from the Asia tour.

Yes, I do think so. First off, André Villas-Boas isn't the type of guy saying to journos whether he'll buy someone or not, or who he'll buy. Then, take a look at the list of players we were - more or less - officialy in for : Alexis Sanchez ; Pastore ; Lucas Modric ; Pereira ; and maybe Falcao and Moutinho. First thing you'll notice, is that we were in for a lot of players (furthermore the right kind of players), although we ended without any of them. Alexis did only want to go to Barcelona, so you can say we weren't lucky for this one. For Pastore, okay Paris did offer more money than us, but how comes our negotiators didn't beat an average club from an average league ? For Modric, the board had waited until the final day of the mercato to make this £40 millions offer. Why in hell did they wait so long ? Had they had formulated the offer sooner, we could have been able to add a few millions, and more importantly, Tottenham's board would have had the time to think about these 40 millions pound. That is a hell of a money. It was most likely that they would have refused it out of pride. But, if they would have had the time to think about it, they might have changed their mind, seeing the lots of players they could have bought. And as for Perreira, Porto didn't want to negotiate and the buy-out clause was to high. To sum-up, the reason why we didn't buy anough players is a mix between badly handled negotiation with a bit of bad luck, not because of André.

[Melanicus 5,208]

Juan about his life in London.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Best buy since 2006, when we got Ballack.

He seems to enjoy life in London, but I hope he will get someone to play with. Modric or other creative midfielder.

Mata, Torres, Romeu, Azpilicueta

[Hysteria 159]

I think he actually likes London.

[Wilson 358]

He is such a talent. I think we forget he's only 23 and just arrived in the Premier League! The lad has not even peaked yet, wow! Just imagine how great he is gonna be!

[capriccioso 2,545]

I think he'll be very, very good in future, just not in the same class as Ronaldo-Messi and their successors.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Better than David Silva

[Wilson 358]

Better than David Silva

Not yet but he has the ability to be better.

[Marvin123 530]

i agree he is going to be an absolute beast in the prem, he could do with a midfielder to compliment him very well,as yaya does with silva, xabi alonso would be the perfect man, we need to find a very similar player!

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

We should just raid Valencia for his teammate, Ever Banega.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

We should just raid Valencia for his teammate, Ever Banega.

I wanted us to sign him when Tottenham rejected our bid for Modric. Class player.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Not yet but he has the ability to be better.

3 years younger and in first season, he scored more goals and almost same assists as silva in second season. I agree overall, he might not yet be on level of silva on consistancy basis. but look how good team silva has and than compare to mata. and yet in statistics, mata is better.

I think the guy has good scoring ability and could overtake lampard role eventualy. put him along modric and hazard and we are beast!

[francozola 2,040]

David Silva is still the better overall player right now, but look at how disastrous his form has been these last 4 months or so. Terrible. And our tired Juan still manages to churn out decent to good performances and contribute in either goals/assists.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Let's not also forget that a player, especially a playmaker, is only as good as his team. Yes silva is an inteligent world-class player, but he is able to make the passes that prove he is so because his teammates offer great movement and runs off the ball. Mata isn't as lucky.

[francozola 2,040]

Agreed. Even one creative midfielder would make such a difference. Someone who he could play off, who was on the same wavelength as him etc. Instead he has to deal with the likes of Kalou and co. Our midfielders and strikers aren't able to "support" him at all.

[Melanicus 5,208]

As for the Valencia players... Piatti has huge potential in front of him.

[Badboy 1,526]

He's played wayyy too much this season, he'll be too knackered to go to the Euro's.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Even he would be in squad, he wont play much I guess. Unles he will replace Villa , it could be possible. Yes he will be tired and maybe spain wont count on him much. But this would be great oportunity for him to actualy get in 1st eleven and become regular. In spain that is hell of achievement.

Good luck Mata.

Btw I really hope he wont play much against spurs, I wan him ready for barca clash.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

David Silva is still the better overall player right now, but look at how disastrous his form has been these last 4 months or so. Terrible. And our tired Juan still manages to churn out decent to good performances and contribute in either goals/assists.

That's because he too has Ashley Cole syndrome - Mancini's overplayed him a lot in the last 2 seasons, so it does make sense he'll be on bad form in these closing stages. My worry is Mata's going down a similar road, he's been very muted in the last few weeks. Factoring in the opposition, obvious, tactics of out marking him plus the general fatigue he's picked up does make sense.