Juan Mata

[haranr 485]

When all said and done, Jose wants a high pressing game, as great a player as Mata unquestionably is, he isn't going to scrap his plan to accommodate one player just because he was our best player when we finished 6th and scrapped 3rd.

Jose decided he doesn't like Mata's style of game and since then Mata has worked hard and started pressing just like Hazard, Schurrle, Oscar and Willian do. Mata is getting minutes but Mourinho needs to understand he was wrong to pick Oscar over him. Deep inside he knows Mata should start.

[Korea 734]

Jose decided he doesn't like Mata's style of game and since then Mata has worked hard and started pressing just like Hazard, Schurrle, Oscar and Willian do. Mata is getting minutes but Mourinho needs to understand he was wrong to pick Oscar over him. Deep inside he knows Mata should start.

Mata is slowly getting phased out from the squad. He was never wrong to pick Oscar over Mata, because that is what RDM is essentially did as well in the Champs League.

Deep down inside, Jose knows that he should of sold Mata and reinvest the funds towards a stud CM. However, with the amount of potential backlash he would receive, he is slowly phasing him out, so the dropping of Mata becomes less and less severe...

[remains of the day 564]

When all said and done, Jose wants a high pressing game, as great a player as Mata unquestionably is, he isn't going to scrap his plan to accommodate one player just because he was our best player when we finished 6th and scrapped 3rd.

I find it very strange when people use our league position in the past two years as some sort of basis to undermine the contribution Mata made in those years. I don't think people realize just how much more it takes and how much more effort it requires to be the best player in an under performing team. If Mata can perform as he did when the rest of the team was subpar at times then what makes folks think that he's not capable of raising his game to an even higher standard?

[The only place to be 11,313]

I find it very strange when people use our league position in the past two years as some sort of basis to undermine the contribution Mata made in those years. I don't think people realize just how much more it takes and how much more effort it requires to be the best player in an under performing team. If Mata can perform as he did when the rest of the team was subpar at times then what makes folks think that he's not capable of raising his game to an even higher standard?

I think the point is whether or not Mata's inclusion in the team makes us a better or worse team.

What I personally like about Oscar is that he knits the team together well, linking defence and attack and also contributing at both ends too. When Mata was in the team at points last season, the gap between the midfield and the attack seemed massive at times and it also seemed to grow when we played Newcastle this season.

Yes he was fantastic over the past couple of years and had great stats, but did the freedom afforded him to amass those goals and assists actually make us weaker as a team?

[Tomo 21,751]

I find it very strange when people use our league position in the past two years as some sort of basis to undermine the contribution Mata made in those years. I don't think people realize just how much more it takes and how much more effort it requires to be the best player in an under performing team. If Mata can perform as he did when the rest of the team was subpar at times then what makes folks think that he's not capable of raising his game to an even higher standard?

im not undermining him and especially not his contributions in the last two years. But that alone shouldn't get him a free pass into the team regardless. It seems supporters never know what they want, a CFC supporting mate i have has spent the half a decade moaning about the player power at the club and now wants Mata to be played out of respect, you can't make it up.

[Tomo 21,751]

I think the point is whether or not Mata's inclusion in the team makes us a better or worse team.

What I personally like about Oscar is that he knits the team together well, linking defence and attack and also contributing at both ends too. When Mata was in the team at points last season, the gap between the midfield and the attack seemed massive at times and it also seemed to grow when we played Newcastle this season.

Yes he was fantastic over the past couple of years and had great stats, but did the freedom afforded him to amass those goals and assists actually make us weaker as a team?

What do you think you are doing putting the club before an individual? that is not the way forums operate.

[remains of the day 564]

im not undermining him and especially not his contributions in the last two years.

Well when you infer that Jose shouldn't "accommodate" (whatever that means) Mata a player who you claim was "only the best player in a team that finished 3rd and 6th" then yeah dude that kind of falls into the definition of undermining the contributions of a player so how about you save that 'face palm' for when it's actually needed?

But that alone shouldn't get him a free pass into the team regardless.

Oh you mean the free pass that Hazard and Oscar are seemingly awarded with despite putting in poor performances? Please, let's not pretend that Jose doesn't have his favourites who are continuously afforded with ample opportunities regardless of their form.

[Tomo 21,751]

Well when you infer that Jose shouldn't "accommodate" (whatever that means) Mata a player who you claim was "only the best player in a team that finished 3rd and 6th" then yeah dude that kind of falls into the definition of undermining the contributions of a player so about you save that 'face palm' for when it's actually needed?

Oh you mean the free pass that Hazard and Oscar are seemingly awarded with despite putting in poor performances? Please, let's not pretend that Jose doesn't have his favourites who are continuously afforded with ample opportunities regardless of their form.

I didn't say only tho? the point im trying to make is being the best player in a unbalanced and stagnant team and being the best player when we are looking to win the title is two different things.

Mata has been great these past two season's, but this Chelsea Jose wants to create is completely different to the 'cup team' he has played in before, high pressure and a mentality to win every week, not win 8-0 then lose to QPR not long after.

Oscar has played well up to a couple of games ago, Hazard hasn't been great but is still our chief creator of chances (2 a game isn't it?).

Plus Mata started 5 out of 7 games until the Newcastle game, the only two he didn't were Schalke and City (i wouldn't have started Mata against City even last season, that team have always been a thorn in his side, like what Arsenal were to Zola).

Can Mata adapt fully and be a part of the Chelsea machine that is consistently getting results? i have faith in him that he can, i love Mata, but i love the club more.

[Sheva. 5,373]

What I personally like about Oscar is that he knits the team together well, linking defence and attack and also contributing at both ends too. When Mata was in the team at points last season, the gap between the midfield and the attack seemed massive at times and it also seemed to grow when we played Newcastle this season.

Because Rafa played him pretty much as a 2nd striker. No other top CAM in the world has to deal with bullshit about defensive production like Mata has to, because they all play for top teams who give them license to do their business in attack, and have good players in the pivot to protect the defence.

Chelsea though consistently play a 35 year old in there. Totally Mata's fault.

[Tomo 21,751]

Because Rafa played him pretty much as a 2nd striker. No other top CAM in the world has to deal with bullshit about defensive production like Mata has to, because they all play for top teams who give them license to do their business in attack, and have good players in the pivot to protect the defence.

Chelsea though consistently play a 35 year old in there. Totally Mata's fault.

In teams that apply high pressure, every single player has to do there bit, even Messi in Barca does.

The pivot bit is a fair point, but even when that's sorted, Mata or whoever plays AM will have to do their bit in the pressing game.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Because Rafa played him pretty much as a 2nd striker. No other top CAM in the world has to deal with bullshit about defensive production like Mata has to, because they all play for top teams who give them license to do their business in attack, and have good players in the pivot to protect the defence.

Chelsea though consistently play a 35 year old in there. Totally Mata's fault.

Then Mata should most definitely join one of these top clubs who won't ask him to defend. Here at Chelsea there seems to be a desire for players to put a shift in defensively - the same actually happens at clubs like Dortmund, Barca and Bayern who look for their players to work as a unit....so where's that leave Mata? PSG?

Notice though I didn't just say it was about 'defensive production' but knitting the team together. I still think Oscar does that better than Mata and it's what I liked about him when we first signed him.

[Sheva. 5,373]

In teams that apply high pressure, every single player has to do there bit, even Messi in Barca does.

The pivot bit is a fair point, but even when that's sorted, Mata or whoever plays AM will have to do their bit in the pressing game.

Then Mata should most definitely join one of these top clubs who won't ask him to defend. Here at Chelsea there seems to be a desire for players to put a shift in defensively - the same actually happens at clubs like Dortmund, Barca and Bayern who look for their players to work as a unit....so where's that leave Mata? PSG?

Notice though I didn't just say it was about 'defensive production' but knitting the team together. I still think Oscar does that better than Mata and it's what I liked about him when we first signed him.

We haven't applied high pressure since the Bayern game, we sit deep and wait to counter, totally different.

Mata when he has played has tracked his man, and made tackles, interceptions etc, but it doesn't seem to be good enough for some, who want him to defend like a DM.

And for the point about "knitting the team together" what good is it exactly, if our attack has still been sub-par all season?

Back to my original point, a CAM should have the freedom to focus more in attack than defending. It's the case with Silva and Ozil if we look at just PL players at comparable teams. Doesn't mean they don't help out, but it's not a measuring point like it is here.

[Korea 734]

We haven't applied high pressure since the Bayern game, we sit deep and wait to counter, totally different.

Mata when he has played has tracked his man, and made tackles, interceptions etc, but it doesn't seem to be good enough for some, who want him to defend like a DM.

And for the point about "knitting the team together" what good is it if our attack has still been sub-par all season?

Our team attack last season was subpar as well.

MAta doesn't track his man well, whenever Mata plays with Oscar, Oscar always switches with Mata and takes care of his role on the wings for him.

If anyone that really improved in the defensive department its Hazard.

Then Mata should most definitely join one of these top clubs who won't ask him to defend. Here at Chelsea there seems to be a desire for players to put a shift in defensively - the same actually happens at clubs like Dortmund, Barca and Bayern who look for their players to work as a unit....so where's that leave Mata? PSG?

Notice though I didn't just say it was about 'defensive production' but knitting the team together. I still think Oscar does that better than Mata and it's what I liked about him when we first signed him.

PSG dont need Mata. They already have a better 10 than him there.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Our team attack last season was subpar as well.

MAta doesn't track his man well, whenever Mata plays with Oscar, Oscar always switches with Mata and takes care of his role on the wings for him.

If anyone that really improved in the defensive department its Hazard.

I would argue our attack has been much worse this season. And last season we played with no width which everyone all of sudden hates now.

We played some great football at the start under RDM, and eventually did for Rafa also. We did struggle sometimes, but not for a long stretch like has been the case so far.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Mata when he has played has tracked his man, and made tackles, interceptions etc, but it doesn't seem to be good enough for some, who want him to defend like a DM.

Has he?