Juan Mata

[happy_juan 64]

You at least work your bollocks off on the pitch like Oscar does every game.

I like Mata. I like how he's a lovely bloke and at times he's looked Zola-esque but I can't remember a player so lazy in defence and so easily swatted off the ball. The other five AMs are dynamic, strong individuals so maybe he no longer fits what this team is trying to do.

Your argument would hold weight if the other 5 AMs were running riot with their "dynamism" and "strength".

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

I really feel sorry for the boy, our best player in the last two seasons, pushed onto the arena in a Gladiator battle without a shield and a sword.

He does not seem to fit the pressing system Mourinho wants, which was a bit similar to what Spain tried agaiinst Brazil in the Confeds Cup.

I can't help but think Mourinho is reluctant to play Mata in his best position because the team already has to cover for Lampard's lost legs in the pivot, therefore having to cover for Mata in the attacking position as well would leave us with a mountain to climb, especially versus top oppositions.

We badly missed Ramires' unique change of pace and stamina yesterday.

[meetdoscar 335]

He has to fight for his place, willian, oscar and schurrle are really tough contenders and from what i saw yesterday willian and oscar seem to be in the starting eleven while mata recovers form from the bench, hazard might soon be benched for KDB as well i think. Interesting series of events yet to unfold.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

and yet people have no problem with hazard playing 90 minutes in every match.

Hazard needs to see the bench too, but lets not act like he has not been better than Mata this season so far.

1 good month > 1 good and 1 great year? Really?

You play the player on FORM

Mata has played 144 minutes for us this season so far which is nowhere near enough playing time to judge a player. During this short time on the pitch he has played with 5 different attacking players. Do you expect a player that missed pre-season and was not fully fit in the Villa game to do well instantly?

As someone already said (in the Basel thread IIRC), Mata's the one that his teammates can focus on and make them play better. And that's something we desperately need atm.

No, I dont expect them to do well instantly. I do however expect them to be on the bench until they are in a position to play well. Lets be honest Mata has not shown anything near enough to have warranted being placed on the pitch last night. In fact, I think he was only subbed in to please the fans because it was a terrible tactic choice. Even worse was that when he came on he moved Oscar to the wings, which effectively unleashed their entire side on us. That was the match right there.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Like Amels has mentioned, how do you even expect Mata to force out Oscar if he only plays a game here, a game there? Oscar has been in decent form because he's been playing more regularly and had the situation been the reverse, Oscar too would be struggling for form and getting any rhythm to his performance.

By working hard and playing HIS game when he gets a chance. Super subs are able to force themselves into sides all the time, and Mata has tons more quality than plenty of them. He should be able to force himself into a side without just getting minutes on his name alone.

[didierforever 7,349]

Hazard needs to see the bench too, but lets not act like he has not been better than Mata this season so far.

You play the player on FORM

No, I dont expect them to do well instantly. I do however expect them to be on the bench until they are in a position to play well. Lets be honest Mata has not shown anything near enough to have warranted being placed on the pitch last night. In fact, I think he was only subbed in to please the fans because it was a terrible tactic choice. Even worse was that when he came on he moved Oscar to the wings, which effectively unleashed their entire side on us. That was the match right there.

how has hazard been better than mata?

6 matches - 1 goal and that was a blunder by manuel. other than that, got owned to valencia/jones in the united match, got owned by naismith/coleman in the everton match and yesterday was simply pathetic.

as for mata, our everton performance was more than just a cautionary tale. even though we were losing 1-0 till the 55th minute, we had created a buckload of chances. as soon as he was taken off, we dint create a single oppurtunity to score a goal for the last 30 odd minutes.not just that, we lost any and all control of the match. last night, we were so toothless in the attack that it was pathetic sometimes. we had a lot a of possession but absolutely no penetration.

mata is a must for this team. he is our heart and soul in the attack. every1 plays better when he is on the pitch (especially hazard).

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

how has hazard been better than mata?

6 matches - 1 goal and that was a blunder by manuel. other than that, got owned to valencia/jones in the united match, got owned by naismith/coleman in the everton match and yesterday was simply pathetic.

as for mata, our everton performance was more than just a cautionary tale. even though we were losing 1-0 till the 55th minute, we had created a buckload of chances. as soon as he was taken off, we dint create a single oppurtunity to score a goal for the last 30 odd minutes.not just that, we lost any and all control of the match. last night, we were so toothless in the attack that it was pathetic sometimes. we had a lot a of possession but absolutely no penetration.

mata is a must for this team. he is our heart and soul in the attack. every1 plays better when he is on the pitch (especially hazard).

Hes been a hard worker and complete player. He tirelessly works hard for the squad, and still manages to look dangerous in attack. That first goal in the Aston Villa game was all him too. He also made the key pass to set up the first goal vs Hull. He has been plenty dangerous. Last night was a team who came to play counter attacking football and remained very narrow. The 1 nil scoreline would have been perfect enough, and bringing Mata on to grind out a victory was a terrible tactic choice.

[didierforever 7,349]

Hes been a hard worker and complete player. He tirelessly works hard for the squad, and still manages to look dangerous in attack. That first goal in the Aston Villa game was all him too. He also made the key pass to set up the first goal vs Hull. He has been plenty dangerous. Last night was a team who came to play counter attacking football and remained very narrow. The 1 nil scoreline would have been perfect enough, and bringing Mata on to grind out a victory was a terrible tactic choice.

oh please... dont start with this complete player thing. hazard had lost the ball 10-15 times individually in each of everton and basel game and most of the time he just did a torres (lying on the floor and waving your hands at the ref). infact during the everton match, hazard got so frustrated by his lack of involvement that after getting dis-possessed AGAIN by naismith, he fouled naismith right at the edge of the box, got a yellow card and baines almost scored.

the aston villa goal was LUCKY and if u want to give the credit to any1, then it should be oscar who played hazard thru. for the hull first goal, all he did was pass the ball to a totally free kdb at the edge of the box, if that is counted as a key pass, then his standards have been lowered than i checked the last time.

i agree that bringing on mata was a poor decision, but my point is, mata should still be a starter.

[polo 18]

Hazard has been better than Mata but it's not difficult . But all the players except Oscar are not at their level and with the money that they earn , please do your job correctly

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

oh please... dont start with this complete player thing. hazard had lost the ball 10-15 times individually in each of everton and basel game and most of the time he just did a torres (lying on the floor and waving your hands at the ref). infact during the everton match, hazard got so frustrated by his lack of involvement that after getting dis-possessed AGAIN by naismith, he fouled naismith right at the edge of the box, got a yellow card and baines almost scored.

the aston villa goal was LUCKY and if u want to give the credit to any1, then it should be oscar who played hazard thru. for the hull first goal, all he did was pass the ball to a totally free kdb at the edge of the box, if that is counted as a key pass, then his standards have been lowered than i checked the last time.

i agree that bringing on mata was a poor decision, but my point is, mata should still be a starter.

We can feel that balanced workrates are rubbish, but the results are there to see. It was Hazard in the box busting a lung up and down the pitch last night. Where was our sub, the one we brought on while defending 3 points, when they waltzed into our box?

It says a lot when Hazard and Oscar went on international duty, got injured, and still walked back into the starting lineup when they got back. Mourinho has placed a premium on balanced hard work.

[didierforever 7,349]

We can feel that balanced workrates are rubbish, but the results are there to see. It was Hazard in the box busting a lung up and down the pitch last night. Where was our sub, the one we brought on while defending 3 points, when they waltzed into our box?

It says a lot when Hazard and Oscar went on international duty, got injured, and still walked back into the starting lineup when they got back. Mourinho has placed a premium on balanced hard work.

We can feel that balanced workrates are rubbish, but the results are there to see. It was Hazard in the box busting a lung up and down the pitch last night. Where was our sub, the one we brought on while defending 3 points, when they waltzed into our box?

It says a lot when Hazard and Oscar went on international duty, got injured, and still walked back into the starting lineup when they got back. Mourinho has placed a premium on balanced hard work.

bustling a lung? seriously. salah could have put basel on the scoresheet twice in the first half itself. cole was getting his ass kicked (in both the everton and yesterday match) with absolutely no help from hazard.

our best player on the pitch had to play either deep or shifted to the wing because hazard wanted to play central, even neville commented on that part during the match.

hazard waltzed into the team and look what has happened because of playing an injured hazard ahead of better deserving players.

[happy_juan 64]

By working hard and playing HIS game when he gets a chance. Super subs are able to force themselves into sides all the time, and Mata has tons more quality than plenty of them. He should be able to force himself into a side without just getting minutes on his name alone.

That is just rubbish tbh. Different players have different styles. Being a very good super sub is not everyone's cup of tea. Different players have diff style, hernandez at ManU for ex is a very good super sub but hopeless when he starts most of the times.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

I think we have to try Oscar in the pivot with mata as the attacking midfielder and see how that goes.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

I think we have to try Oscar in the pivot with mata as the attacking midfielder and see how that goes.

NO NO NO NO NO. OSCAR WILL NEVER EVER EVER EVER play in that pivot role unless we are down to 10 man against Barca/Bayern. Mata will have to fight for his place or be sold. Oscar shouldn't be scarified.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

bustling a lung? seriously. salah could have put basel on the scoresheet twice in the first half itself. cole was getting his ass kicked (in both the everton and yesterday match) with absolutely no help from hazard.

our best player on the pitch had to play either deep or shifted to the wing because hazard wanted to play central, even neville commented on that part during the match.

hazard waltzed into the team and look what has happened because of playing an injured hazard ahead of better deserving players.

Salah was too fast for both of them. He tried to help but he was useless at it, that we can agree on. He was everywhere on the pitch though until he visibly got tired in the second half.

We're at least 2 points worse in the league if Hazard isnt there though.

That is just rubbish tbh. Different players have different styles. Being a very good super sub is not everyone's cup of tea. Different players have diff style, hernandez at ManU for ex is a very good super sub but hopeless when he starts most of the times.

How about just being a good sub then?

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

Oscars best performances came from 'the pivot'

[didierforever 7,349]

Salah was too fast for both of them. He tried to help but he was useless at it, that we can agree on. He was everywhere on the pitch though until he visibly got tired in the second half.

We're at least 2 points worse in the league if Hazard isnt there though.

How about just being a good sub then?

how are we 2 points worse? because hazard played a ball into the box which led to an own goal? maybe we would be 4 points ahead if we had someone who performed better against united and everton.

anyways this is a mata-thread. and i for one have no qualms that mata is our starter. he gives us that extra bit of control and way more creativity.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Considering the way he gave the ball away for what eventually led to their winner the bench might be the best place for him.

Was it him or Oscar that gave the ball away?