Juan Mata

[Jase 43,479]

His lack of match fitness is probably the main reason why he was rather quiet tonight in regards to his performance. However, he looks rather isolated and ineffective playing out wide on the RW. And judging by Mourinho's comments so far, seems that he wants Mata to play at RW and mainly favors Oscar as the No.10 at CAM. Getting paranoid I think but if it continues to be like this, then I do worry about Mata's future under Mourinho.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Many people here praise the creativity of our midfielders, but so far they failed to deliver to our strikers. Torres, Drogba, Ba, Sturridge and Lukaku look rather invisible...Should our team play on striker (like ManU), our strikers would be much more effective. More balls to them, more touches, more chances, more goals. Conversation ratio would get better and better. Sure, Torres is special case and Drogba was rather old, but there is no excuse for Ba who was on fire when he joined us, Danny who is scoring regulary for Lpool or Lukaku who made 17 goals last year, but I feel he wont get close to that number this season. Our team play in midfield with ''everyone can score'' is great, but our main striker is very isolated in such game. Rooney would include regulary in such play and wouldnt be as invisible, but his goal count wouldnt be that high I feel. 10 Rooney, 10 Mata, 10 Hazard, 5 Oscar, 5 Ramires,...our goals would be very split. If we play on one player (Hazard or striker) instead of everyone can be striker, our main striker (or Hazard) would have goal tally of 20+. So we will either get Rooney type who will get involved with midfield or powerful world class striker who will score on every 2 chance he gets (very unlikely). Or our striker will be basicaly useless...wish we had Rvp in all honesty. that would be one uber beast team...or a player who can decide match on his own. Mazacar rely on each other too much and when one of three is missing, Torres/Ba fucks whole attack up...

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Not match fit at all but has lamps to blame to for his poor performance as he was taking up most of the space he likes to work in

[Jase 43,479]

Not match fit at all but has lamps to blame to for his poor performance as he was taking up most of the space he likes to work in

Err, what?! Mata spent most of the night playing out wide. Started at RW, moved to CAM momentarily and then played at LW for the second half. He didn't even clash with the space that Lampard operates at!

[Tomo 21,741]

Many people here praise the creativity of our midfielders, but so far they failed to deliver to our strikers. Torres, Drogba, Ba, Sturridge and Lukaku look rather invisible...Should our team play on striker (like ManU), our strikers would be much more effective. More balls to them, more touches, more chances, more goals. Conversation ratio would get better and better. Sure, Torres is special case and Drogba was rather old, but there is no excuse for Ba who was on fire when he joined us, Danny who is scoring regulary for Lpool or Lukaku who made 17 goals last year, but I feel he wont get close to that number this season. Our team play in midfield with ''everyone can score'' is great, but our main striker is very isolated in such game. Rooney would include regulary in such play and wouldnt be as invisible, but his goal count wouldnt be that high I feel. 10 Rooney, 10 Mata, 10 Hazard, 5 Oscar, 5 Ramires,...our goals would be very split. If we play on one player (Hazard or striker) instead of everyone can be striker, our main striker (or Hazard) would have goal tally of 20+. So we will either get Rooney type who will get involved with midfield or powerful world class striker who will score on every 2 chance he gets (very unlikely). Or our striker will be basicaly useless...wish we had Rvp in all honesty. that would be one uber beast team...or a player who can decide match on his own. Mazacar rely on each other too much and when one of three is missing, Torres/Ba fucks whole attack up...

The reason Ba lost form is because he kept getting rotated for blondie, he actually started pretty well despite his lack of goals, tailed off a bit in the end (the FA cup goals against the Mancs aside). If he goes somewhere where he is number 1 and given a run of games (what he should have got last season) he will score goals.

Sturridge wasn't scoring because he was never playing, when he did play he got chances and usually scuffed them and as or Torres, he is just a shocking footballer, nothing more needs to be said.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

The reason Ba lost form is because he kept getting rotated for blondie, he actually started pretty well despite his lack of goals, tailed off a bit in the end (the FA cup goals against the Mancs aside). If he goes somewhere where he is number 1 and given a run of games (what he should have got last season) he will score goals.

Sturridge wasn't scoring because he was never playing, when he did play he got chances and usually scuffed them and as or Torres, he is just a shocking footballer, nothing more needs to be said.

Torres at fault once again. Wow.

Embarassing post.

[Tomo 21,741]

Torres at fault once again. Wow.

Embarassing post.

oh please, we spent £100m on him (contract and transfer) and repay's us with embarrassing performances while at the same time keeping better forwards on the bench (first Sturridge, then Ba now Lukaku).

Funny how you and the rest of the Torres allegiance weren't around when Kalou was getting stick

[Mouri_Matic 560]

I don't think he will start next Monday against MU, Kevin probably will be in place of him.

[TrippingStep 336]

His lack of match fitness is probably the main reason why he was rather quiet tonight in regards to his performance. However, he looks rather isolated and ineffective playing out wide on the RW. And judging by Mourinho's comments so far, seems that he wants Mata to play at RW and mainly favors Oscar as the No.10 at CAM. Getting paranoid I think but if it continues to be like this, then I do worry about Mata's future under Mourinho.

Under Di Matteo, he was not exceptionnal either playing at right wing, he was also playing deeper, passing the ball more like a cm against the "good" teams, dropping quite deep to escape his marker.

He was very good when we could create space for him and playing more like a 9 1/2 under Benitez where the team would work to move the opposition to a side to create space to the other side where there would be runs from behind.

Azpi was very good to work like right midfielder in the build-up and the back four in general was better in the beginning of the build-up, more methodical in our way of playing to exploit the holes that would come when the oppositon would not move in the right way from a side.

[bleed_blue 136]

The reason Ba lost form is because he kept getting rotated for blondie, he actually started pretty well despite his lack of goals, tailed off a bit in the end (the FA cup goals against the Mancs aside). If he goes somewhere where he is number 1 and given a run of games (what he should have got last season) he will score goals.

Sturridge wasn't scoring because he was never playing, when he did play he got chances and usually scuffed them and as or Torres, he is just a shocking footballer, nothing more needs to be said.

What?

Demba ba's knee problems mean he cant play more than 1 game a week. Last season, due to our busy schedule, he was getting that one game every week. Operating at his peak capacity. Where do you get this theory that he was not getting regular game time.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

It seems that the season has still not started for Mata. Between him, Ba and Lampard yesterday, we might as well have been playing with 8 men..

[Term-X 7,891]

Oscar is the better option as our CAM under Mourinho, Mata is pretty ineffective out wide too, which raises concerns. Sentimentality aside, we should want what's best for the side. Long season ahead, so we'll see how things unfold. Still though..

Styles prophesied it.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

If he wont play big role under Mou, he will leave I think...and he is too good to let him go, as footballer and person.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

I wouldn't worry at all. He was not match fit hence the sharpness was not there. He'll get back in the starting lineup soon enough.

[DanishBlue 426]

He should work as a RW he did it before.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Oscar is the better option as our CAM under Mourinho, Mata is pretty ineffective out wide too, which raises concerns. Sentimentality aside, we should want what's best for the side. Long season ahead, so we'll see how things unfold. Still though..

Styles prophesied it.

60 minutes. You're making quite some conclusions based on 60 minutes of football. Our style under Mourinho has barely changed from our what our style was Under Benitez and that's why we're still struggling against teams that sit deep and pack the center.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Why the fuck are we not confirming that contract extension I do not know?? His been our best player the last 2 years and for that he deserves another year at least at CFC

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

I just puked thinking of him playing for Man U