Juan Mata

[Dion 2,476]

It's really true that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Whilst browsing Redcafe I found people who rate Oscar a lot higher than Kagawa and very close to Mata. They think Hazard will definitely be at the bare minimum a player of Ribery's and Robben's caliber, if not Messi/Ronaldo level. They're truly scared of Costa, Hazard, Oscar, Schürrle, Willian, Fabregas and Matic. And they also think we'll win the league comfortably, with a few games to spare

Relevant:

"It just hit me, and I don't know why I'm late to the party here...but Chelsea are going to dominate this season aren't they?

They've improved their team brilliantly this summer."

-

"Don't think they'll 'walk' it but I think they'll win, and pretty comfortably, with like a couple of games to spare.

I think having Matic completely settled alongside Fabregas in midfield, with Hazard, Oscar and Schürrle in front of them and a competent CF (I don't rate Diego Costa that highly, but I think he'll be fine for them with the formation they play, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Drogba still doing a job when called upon) makes them a really strong unit. Cahill/Terry is a strong partnership, not the best in European football but very solid, their fullbacks are good and they've got a top keeper, and Mourinho will be extremely focused.

I think last year, there was a bit of unrest with all the Mata stuff during the first half and José seeming less motivated in the second part of the season, and yet they still fared well. I think this season they'll be even more competitive."

-

"It was only preseason, yes, but it doesn't look as though Costa is going to flop and struggle to adapt to his new team like the vast majority thought does it? Everyone saw that he had the physique and skill set to fit the PL like a glove but people are/were still wondering if he'd keep up his scoring form.

I've seen highlights of his preseason and he got 4 goals and 2 assists and looks like he's been playing with their team for years. Already looks totally settled.

Hazard was the most creative player in the league last season statistically I believe and now with Fabregas, a LB who actually gets forward, and Willian and Schürrle with a seasons experience under their belts their attack should be frightening and scoring goals against parked buses shouldn't be a problem."

:eyebrows: :eyebrows:

ps: a bit off-topic, I'm sorry.

[Stats 7,142]

No need to be frustrated to have to compare Mata-Kagawa to Torres-Costa, now THAT is ludicrous. IMO it's not as 'simple as that' to say Mata is the better player by a clear cut. By no means is Mata an average player but I think the members here were just alluding to the fact that he is poor defensively and doesn't offer much when he's not on the ball.

No-one is saying he isn't a quality player.

But he has glaring holes in his game (defensively and workrate-wise) which led to him being sold by us, and now United fans are starting to realise the same thing.

People need to realise that whilst he might be a magician with the ball, footballers spend most of their time out of possession and what they do then is just as important as what they do when they do have it.

I am not defending Mata's flaws. But I just simply don't agree that Kagawa is better that is all. Korea has basically mocked Mata because of his performance today. They were missing tons of players and they need to integrate into the new system. Even if people don't necessarily think Mata is better than Kagawa by miles, I don't agree with anyone who can believe Kagawa is better.

I am definitely agreeing with his flaws. If you ask him to defend it limits his attacking game and he tires out. But when used effectively he is a quality player. When RVP returns and United have a more balanced team there is going to be so much different views. But it is like Jekyll and Hyde on here. We wait for one player to perform and some will salute him, stating this is what we missed etc. Then one bad game, all of a sudden: "this is why he was sold", "does not influence the game" etc....

But yes I agree with both of your comments about his defensive side but I don't agree with people making judgments after their first game of the season. First game of last season, City lost 3-2 to Cardiff and Silva was largely ineffective. But how good was he as the games went on and they won the league. It happens all over the forum. Not just the Mata thread. People make knee-jerk reactions rather than realising it is a 38 game season and we are at game 1.

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

"why dont you stick to your asian football you fucking clown? Every Asian player in europe isnt the second coming of christ."

For starters Korea is Korean. Korea is a small part of Asia. To insinuate that Korea is a fanboy of Asian footballers and Asian football in general is quite ignorant.

Does Korea watch the Israeli League? Does he overrate Asian players like Arda Turan and Henrik Mkhitaryan?

so @Stats, is also racist for liking my post?

[Spike 12,049]

so @Stats, is also racist for liking my post?

Nice sidestep of the issue. Divert the attention to something or someone else.

This is off topic and this shall not be discussed any further in this topic.

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

Nice sidestep of the issue. Divert the attention to something or someone else.

This is off topic and this shall not be discussed any further in this topic.

Then pm me the answer because i would like to know.

[Stats 7,142]

so @Stats, is also racist for liking my post?

TBH. I ignored the first part of that comment as I do believe it sounded rude. I am sure you did not mean to be racist at all. Can come across as racist to others but as the mods have said don't take it any further, they are doing their jobs. But just leave it as you have been advised mate.

I liked your post because of this comment: "Not every player Asian player in Europe isn't the second coming of christ" which made me laugh and I also seem to think he overrates a lot of them. Like Ki for example

[Korea 734]

TBH. I ignored the first part of that comment as I do believe it sounded rude. I am sure you did not mean to be racist at all. Can come across as racist to others but as the mods have said don't take it any further, they are doing their jobs. But just leave it as you have been advised mate. I

I liked your post because of this comment: "Not every player Asian player in Europe isn't the second coming of christ" which made me laugh and I also seem to think he overrates a lot of them. Like Ki for example

I like how its a lot of them.

When I mentioned 2....

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

I like how its a lot of them.

When I mentioned 2....

You have praised Ji Dong Won on many occasions, who is a terrible striker.

[Styles 9,790]

Ki is quality, he would absolutely be a decent player for Chelsea. Technically he is very, very good.

[Korea 734]

How long has Mata been there? 6 months or so? By the end of this season or even Christmas we will see whose stats look better ok? Deal?

Yea, just likw reus was on dortmund when they won the titles.

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

TBH. I ignored the first part of that comment as I do believe it sounded rude. I am sure you did not mean to be racist at all. Can come across as racist to others but as the mods have said don't take it any further, they are doing their jobs. But just leave it as you have been advised mate.

I liked your post because of this comment: "Not every player Asian player in Europe isn't the second coming of christ" which made me laugh and I also seem to think he overrates a lot of them. Like Ki for example

Sorry for mentioning you, I just cant understand how what I said can be racist. Anyway lets just all move on and forget all about this mess...

[Rambo 1,729]

Ki is quality, he would absolutely be a decent player for Chelsea. Technically he is very, very good.

Agreed. His race is irrelevant.

[Korea 734]

You have praised Ji Dong Won on many occasions, who is a terrible striker.

Ji dong won to BVB. Last season, people laughed at the idea on the Sunderland board and thought it was korean made bs...

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25779113

Ki Seung Yeung is still not getting recalled by Landrup, even though they are one game away from regulation with their whole midfield injured (along with playing their CBs as CM).....

Landrup sure does take personal grudges to full extent...

I sure did praise him many times

[Rambo 1,729]

Sorry for mentioning you, I just cant understand how what I said can be racist. Anyway lets just all move on and forget all about this mess...

It sounded racist because you made the assumption Korea chose Kagawa over Mata because of his nationality. By telling him to "stick to your Asian football" makes you sound ignorant and dismissive.

[Dion 2,476]

Agreed. His race is irrelevant.

I really don't like when someone throws the word "race" to describe a human being. Because it is the sort of thinking that brings racism - the separation of people in one group or another, this is specially stupid when every person is so similar to one another. It should be avoided - especially the usage of the word race, on account of every barbaric thing that has been done in the name of superiority of one "race" upon another.

In Brazil people will usually try to avoid categorizing others by race nowadays. The term ethnicity or similar would be more palatable.