Juan Mata

[Sheva. 5,373]

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.

But that's no fun.

Did you or did you not criticize Rafa for bad games and results last season? it's normal, even though Mourinho is a legend, he isn't too big to be criticized when his team don't perform.

[edetarod 2,155]

can't blame him if he wants to leave

[Tomo 21,751]

But that's no fun.

Did you or did you not criticize Rafa for bad games and results last season? it's normal, even though Mourinho is a legend, he isn't too big to be criticized when his team don't perform.

Criticism is fine, but there is quite evidently numerous people on here with personally driven agenda's (that is not aimed at you just to be clear).

[The only place to be 11,313]

But that's no fun.

Did you or did you not criticize Rafa for bad games and results last season? it's normal, even though Mourinho is a legend, he isn't too big to be criticized when his team don't perform.

Yes, but Rafa was a cunt and I have a very clear anti-cunt policy.

[Severinb 309]

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.

Why should we leave we can say bad things about mous choices without beeing plastic or shit. Its about what jose is doing a the moment not what he did before. And if you loose against a bad team from a bad league and the coach does not give the best player we have for the last 2 seasons a couple of minutes. We can start asking questions and the love for whatever jose does on this forum is just next level what if benitez had done this would love to read u r comments then! I love jose too but the players he has been choosing have not been playing good enough.

Sorry if I attacked you mate i just had to say this hate the reaktion!

[Tomo 21,751]

What i don't get is last time (under Mou) Ricardo Carvalho was in and out of the team a bit like Mata is now, but i never saw the bile and crap given to Mourinho about that.

Why is that? because Carvalho was just as good a defender as Mata is midfielder.

[Severinb 309]

Mata would have chainged this game and I can not understand not giving him a couple of minutes on the pitch. Dont know where all your trust in him has gone this is just a joke. He has one of the best assist stats and he can do the same job "defending" like hazard!

[Sheva. 5,373]

Criticism is fine, but there is quite evidently numerous people on here with personally driven agenda's (that is not aimed at you just to be clear).

Yeah i know, but for the most part Mourinho deserves some of the criticism i have seen leveled at him.

Yes, but Rafa was a cunt and I have a very clear anti-cunt policy.

fair enough. But Rafa if anything was working under harsher conditions than Mou, no one wanted him, his team were getting booed at home, and he didn't have the kind of depth we currently do.

Not to mention people on here created "Rafa out" thread before his first game i think. At least it hasn't come to that for Mourinho

[Barbara 15,149]

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.

too bad I didn't remember that when I defended Mourinho not playing him today. Isn't it clear it would have been suicide especially when they dominated us so completely in the first half as it was? That's the problem, people see only the benefit and ignore the price that comes with it. With Mata in the midfield today I'm positive Basel wouldhave dominated us even farther. This was never the match for Mata, NEVER, but I do understand people begging him to start more often. I want to see him more often, but tonight's wasn't the match for that at all.

[Tomo 21,751]

This time last year we were as good as out of the Champions League and just slipped out of the title race.

This time two years ago we well out of the title race and got done at home by Liverpool twice in a week.

But hey atleast Mata was playing every week.

Thankgod for that hey.

[Sheva. 5,373]

too bad I didn't remember that when I defended Mourinho not playing him today. Isn't it clear it would have been suicide especially when they dominated us so completely in the first half as it was? That's the problem, people see only the benefit and ignore the price that comes with it. With Mata in the midfield today I'm positive Basel wouldhave dominated us even farther. This was never the match for Mata, NEVER, but I do understand people begging him to start more often. I want to see him more often, but tonight's wasn't the match for that at all.

City, Bayern not games for Mata. Not an average team like Basel.

[Barbara 15,149]

City, Bayern not games for Mata. Not an average team like Basel.

I'd agree beforehand, but watching the match and seeing how their AMs were ripping us apart, I think he would have made it worse. In theory it would be a match for him based on how superior we are, but when you see Stocker and Salah having a party with our midfield, I think it would have been worse... Also I don't believe he isn't fit for big matches, I guess it depends on how the other team plays. Whoever plays possession football (as long as it doesn't come with pace) fits Mata, but fast attacking players, teams playing wide, but starting the plays from the middle don't fit him imo. Maybe he would have been more useful in the attack, but I feel like he would detract even more us defensively. Also, let's be honest, Zidane himself couldn't save that team today. We were awful through and through and only one man in the middle wouldn't have solved our problems If anything we'd be burning him gratuitously.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Maybe this result may change Jose's mind about Mata...from the recent lineups and substitutions it almost looks like he has developed a phobia of seeing Juan in the playing 11.

I didn't see this match, but when I heard about the 4-3-3 lineup the first thing I wondered was why Oscar was being tossed out on the wing, when Mata can do a better job than him over there. Oscar plays better in a central role, and it would have made more sense to play Mata on the wing especially on the right hand side..

With Ramires and Ivanovic to provide cover, there would have been minimal risk to the defensive setup.

[The_Flash 1,144]

I can't understand what mata has done to Jose from player of the year to cant get a game. i couldn't believe he didnt get on at all tonight.

[OneMoSalah 8,884]

If Jose keeps faith with Oscar after that dire performance then I don't know. Mata should play against Southampton, be it as a #10 or a right winger or whatever, he needs to feature. We didn't create much tonight, Mata can unlock teams, he needs to play...