Juan Mata

[bushman 2,043]

Thing is last year we mostly played ok teams, this time we have already played Everton, MU, City and even Arsenal in the cup. So considering the opposition quality, that is a better return on the face of it.

Also the more I think about it, I am quite confused. Should we really care about players if the team is winning anyway or still scoring goals?

Will it make much of a difference if Mikel was banging them in instead of Eto'o, Torres. Would we have him playing CAM instead of Mata right now if that is the case? I think we probably should and would.

OK teams, better teams, top teams, the same amount of points is the result. I agree I like Chelsea better this year or I am too old to remember.

As you say, whoever scores, even Cech may start, I do not care, just pop them in baby. LOL.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

he's a box to box midfielder. that's what he is.

I must have missed all these lovely, out of the ordinary passes and chances he's being creating since joining us.

I'd rather say he's a play-maker with box-to-box attributes.

Box-to-Box midfielfder??? No way

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Hope he leaves in January. Any other manager and the reaction to him getting dropped would be different.

Fucking disgrace.

[yuvala 2,167]

Wow.. couldn't even get 1 minute today. I hope we sell him in January, doesn't deserve this.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

It isn't oscar keeping him out of the starting XI so folks can stop mentioning oscar as reason for mata not getting in.

You can't fit a square peg in a round hole.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

It isn't oscar keeping him out of the starting XI so folks can stop mentioning oscar as reason for mata not getting in.

You can't fit a square peg in a round hole.

Just stop.

He's by far the best player on this team and he can't get a single minute. Only Mourinho would get away with his ridiculous treatment of Mata.

There's no way a 35 year old Lampard is better than Mata in the #10 spot.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Just stop.

He's by far the best player on this team and he can't get a single minute. Only Mourinho would get away with his ridiculous treatment of Mata.

There's no way a 35 year old Lampard is better than Mata in the #10 spot.

You're right, but that isn't going to change anything.

Lampard won't be benched.

[Korea 734]

You're right, but that isn't going to change anything.

Lampard won't be benched.

This is exactly why I didnt want Chelsea to resign Lampard.

No way was he going to be a "squad player."

If anything, Oscar should be playing his spot in the 4-3-3 and putting either Hazard/Schurrle on.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

You're right, but that isn't going to change anything.

Lampard won't be benched.

Lampard and Ivanovic are the unbenchables(if that is a word).

[Rapkun 668]

We're looking so much better without this Mata guy on the pitch. We truely are..

[The only place to be 11,313]

Nice to see that it only takes one game to go from praising Mourinho on Saturday to slating him tonight.

If Mata leaves, some of you should probably go with him.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Nice to see that it only takes one game to go from praising Mourinho on Saturday to slating him tonight.

If Mata leaves, some of you should probably go with him.

What do you want? people praising the manager when we play bad football and can't beat a team like Basel?

If we play well, he deserves credit. If we don't and he makes the wrong decisions, he gets the stick he deserves.

It's the life of any manager, don't know why some are always crying about it.

[chelseathebest 150]

Why this guy can't even get a minute is beyond me. It's ridiculous.

[The only place to be 11,313]

What do you want? people praising the manager when we play bad football and can't beat a team like Basel?

If we play well, he deserves credit. If we don't and he makes the wrong decisions, he gets the stick he deserves.

It's the life of any manager, don't know why some are always crying about it.

Most supporters just learn to take the rough with the smooth sometimes. You don't become a great team overnight and sometimes you're going to put in a stinker.

The trick is to realise that you're in this for the long haul and one match is just that - one match in thousands.

Perspective dear.

[Tomo 21,751]

Mata is a great player, but the problem's in the team go well beyond whether he plays of not, seems to be forgotten he came against Basle at Stamford Bridge when we were 1-0 up and we lost 2-1.