Juan Mata

[The Skipper 20,593]

Mata has played a lot recently but can anyone seriously say he's been playing or has been allowed to play as a true number 10?

He's been out wide for most of it as well. Versus Stoke when it was him, Schurrle and Hazard it was Schurrle playing at number 10 as a shadow striker and Mourinho had Mata playing on the right wing as an inside forward which is what he's been playing as for the majority of this season. He isn't close to as effective there as he is when given the freedom to be the organiser in attack.

I honestly can't believe a player who scored 20 goals and got 30+ assists last season is being marginalised like this, especially when the system we have going on right now isn't as effective either.

Oscar at number 10 with the responsibility he's given would work a lot better if we had attacking fullbacks and a decent distributor in the pivot but we don't have the latter and Mourinho refuses to implement the former.

The fact that we have great creative players like Mata, KDB, Hazard, Willian and Oscar that are not producing enough assists or goals (bar Oscar for the latter) shows that there's something wrong with the system we're implementing right about now and that's understandable given that we've only had Jose for the last 5/6 months but there aren't any signs of progression just yet which is exactly what's worrying me atm.

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

The problem at Chelsea is that we are not a selling club and have never looked to benefit from sales of players,especially consistent performing ones.

There were times when we could have sold Essien for a large sum but chose not to because we believed in him and thought he'll get back to his normal self.Unfortunately that did not happen.

Now I am not comparing Mata to Essien but the situation now is that we have the players to replace Mata.Also Mata isn't playing his preferred position,he's been forced to adapt but that really is not a problem this season because he wants to prove to his manager that he can improve and be a better all round player but what will happen next season.Will Mata still be comfortable with this kind of role and knowing that he isn't the best at that this kind of adapted role,does it really make sense playing him for the whole team in general?

Mata is a class player and is worth the 30m+ PSG are offering, but whats more important is that the Spaniard enjoys his football and gets to play every week. We all love Mata here,he's a gentleman and loves the club a lot but if we really look at this whole situation,a move to PSG or some other top club is the best decision for both parties.

I know its sad but we have to accept the facts and deal with it.

[Mustafa 885]

Throwback to when Mata ran the show at Chelsea

[Sheva. 5,373]

Just play him every home game vs the 'lower sides'. Criminal he did not get an assist today with the passes to Eto'o, and the dangerous corners.

[Milan 17,878]

He created several good chances, either for Eto'o or for Hazard. If we had a decent striker, Juan would be praised for his assists.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Just magical at times. My MOTM.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

He was immense I think his our only natural playmaker which is why we should keep him, he is really differnt from all the other trio but in a special kind of way.

[Mustafa 885]

Just play him every home game vs the 'lower sides'. Criminal he did not get an assist today with the passes to Eto'o, and the dangerous corners.

So that means he'll play only 10 games throughout the season.... Sad isn't it

[The Skipper 20,593]

Should've had a couple of assists yesterday, decent game from Juan.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Hate to see him leave when he is still at his prime. Sad he is not getting the deserved recognition from Mourinho.

[Mustafa 885]

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Will be dropped for the Liverpool game because he doesn't track back enough and isn't suited to the parking midfield plan.

[Tomo 21,736]

Unlike the Torres fanboyism (which quite frankly has me banging my head against a brick wall) i can understand why Chelsea fans are so defensive with Mata and to be honest don't really blame them.

We were just off the back off an dreadful season in 10/11 and a frustrating transfer window up until the end of August, all off a sudden we finally get that creative midfielder we have been fantasizing about to the point of obsession and he really did stand out like a star in a stale, stagnant Chelsea team that have hit father time. Then go further into the season (for example, Naples), our club was in such a mess it actually got the point where Mata was the only shining light in a dark, dark tunnel, literally the only aspect of our club at the time we could talk about without cringing, let alone brag about.

Mata was our hope, the one player that was on form and we could enjoy watching during a horrible run of form and the club in a crisis, Mata was their to make everything that little bit less painful, like a young child's mum when the child is poorly, or your best friend when you are on a job on the other side off the world, living in a tent with complete strangers (apart from your best friend), getting 4 hours sleep only every night and waking up to Porridge.

I will always love and be grateful to him for single handedly getting me through most of that season, and the sentimental part of me is a little bit sad we are unlikely to see him in that sort of form under Mourinho, but my happiness that we had a great player on top form like Mata back then, that feeling was overpowered with the sadness of the state the club was in on a whole, just like now my sentimental sadness that Mata is looking a shadow of what he was back then, is overpowered by the fact i am really happy we are still in the title race and look to be making an effort to sort out problem position's in January.

To cut a long story short, i will always love Mata, but club comes before anyone.

[mac.bo 48]

Will be dropped for the Liverpool game because he doesn't track back enough and isn't suited to the parking midfield plan.

I think he tracks back enough for our most creative player,if we had better/more cm/dm then we could have better turnover of the ball/possesion and give all of our am more ball in the last 1/3 of the pitch to do what they do best !

[yuvala 2,167]

Will be dropped for the Liverpool game because he doesn't track back enough and isn't suited to the parking midfield plan.

guess u were right

[Mouri_Matic 560]

guess u were right

It is just so easy to predict Mou these days

[Rom2013 446]

He doesn´'t play this games because he doesn't play defensively as well as Oscar, and only one of them will play in our best starting eleven.

[The only place to be 11,313]

So you have a player who is worth maybe £40 million but you don't have as first-choice in your big games. You have needs in other areas....what do you do?