Juan Mata

[Milan 17,955]

Speaking of THAT night, one of my favorite moment then...

More like this, when he fell on the pitch and started crying. Remember the SkySports documentary when he was interviewed and described this? Always brings tears to my eyes

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

Just to give a laugh at a much needed time:

[bluesman2610 1,415]

Looking at replacing Juan in terms of assists will be our biggest challenge but when looking at the number I think we should be ok with 2-3 of the former amigos picking up the difference:

1st season with Chelsea

JM: 13 goals 20 assists (11-12)

OE: 12 goals 12 assists (12-13)

EH: 13 goals 24 assists (12-13)

2nd season with Chelsea

JM: 19 goals 35 assists (12-13)

OE: 8 goals 7 assists (13-14) so far

EH: 11 goals 8 assists (13-14) so far

Juan will definitely be missed in terms of his creativity but as far as I have seen this season Hazard has show more than enough that he can keep a high standard of creativity not to mention Oscar, Willian adding to it as well.. We are sitting in third and now have a team starting to click and that is without Mata in the lineup.. United will be getting a great player no doubt but we have more than a couple players capable of picking up the slack if not exceeding what Mata did for us last year.. So while we are sad about him leaving let us look to the future cause its not as dark as it seems and is looking brighter every year :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

[Azpinator 2,325]

His contribution to Chelsea FC is ineffable, not only his performances but his presence and character on and off the pitch.

9.29pm: Mata’s corner is swung over from the right, Drogba times his run at the near post to the split second and thumps a header into the roof of the net. Bayern’s players sink to their knees in frustration. The final is going to extra time.

We all know what followed, adios Mata.

[Laylabelle 9,534]

He doesnt look like he'll suit red...urgh just because its them!!Hope this aint the start of their turn around and all that crap

[Jay17 35]

The only positive I see is Utd having to play either Mata or Rooney out of position because of their formation and that'll just make one of them unhappy

[Korea 734]

United fans think now they're getting Vidal, Cavani and Gundogan....

these guys...

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

Wow.Can someone call a waaaaambulance for Wenger and Pellegrini please?! Jeepers!

[Jase 43,479]

Pellegrini joins Wenger in criticising Chelsea for selling Mata to United

Even though Pellegrini complained, at least his points made much more sense. Wenger is just complaining on the transfer in isolation and for the sake of it.

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Yeah the headlines blow the article out a bit..just asked for his opinion and gave it

[laeth 527]

This is a strange feeling...

[milka 3,390]

goodbye , we CFC continue to win the title

Mata continue to Liga Europa

[Superblue 6,372]

I will really miss him, he is a fantastic player but having time to think about it Jose could be spot on with this.

In the last 15 years or so, the frenetic pace of the Premier League has seen the most successful teams play with pace, power and directness. (I think of United who have always used wingers, Arsenal with Overmars and then Henry, us with Robben and Duff and now City) Teams that have played a more possession based style have not really enjoyed success. Arsenal are the best example of this in the last decade and we have been very similar over the last couple of seasons. When it comes off, the football looks superb, but it's perhaps no coincidence we've also been very inconsistent in recent seasons and struggled to challenge.

I think Jose understands the style required for success in the Premier League and as a result is building a new, younger team to suit. Mata doesn't fit this (nor De Bruyne) compared to the likes of Willian and Hazard. It will actually be interesting to see how United fit Mata into their team. To get the output we have from him, he must be the central figure in the team. So with that in mind when he, RVP and Rooney are all fit, how does Moyes utilise them. Mata's acquisition for United may actually cause more questions than answers.

I think if the same situation arose at Inter Milan, Jose would have incorporated Mata and built the team around him, similar to Sneijder. In a league where the pace is much slower and more tactical for unlocking a defence.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

I remember jumping for joy out of my seat. Sweet, sweet strike.

[zolayes 14,489]

I will really miss him, he is a fantastic player but having time to think about it Jose could be spot on with this.

In the last 15 years or so, the frenetic pace of the Premier League has seen the most successful teams play with pace, power and directness. (I think of United who have always used wingers, Arsenal with Overmars and then Henry, us with Robben and Duff and now City) Teams that have played a more possession based style have not really enjoyed success. Arsenal are the best example of this in the last decade and we have been very similar over the last couple of seasons. When it comes off, the football looks superb, but it's perhaps no coincidence we've also been very inconsistent in recent seasons and struggled to challenge.

I think Jose understands the style required for success in the Premier League and as a result is building a new, younger team to suit. Mata doesn't fit this (nor De Bruyne) compared to the likes of Willian and Hazard. It will actually be interesting to see how United fit Mata into their team. To get the output we have from him, he must be the central figure in the team. So with that in mind when he, RVP and Rooney are all fit, how does Moyes utilise them. Mata's acquisition for United may actually cause more questions than answers.

I think if the same situation arose at Inter Milan, Jose would have incorporated Mata and built the team around him, similar to Sneijder. In a league where the pace is much slower and more tactical for unlocking a defence.

One of the best posts on this thread , Logical ,, well reasoned and balanced without the extremes being shown in many posts . I AM SAD that Mata is leaving . I

just hope things work out well for us and for him ,,,but NOT for Manure