Should Mata play vs Barca

[bluephoenix 1,131]

Next match RDM will be put to test once again on his team selection.

I would certainly like to see Sturridge play ... yes we need to play Mata in Camp Nou we can't sit and defend for 90 mins ... take the lead,sit and defend ... barca will sure score a goal or two and we go through in away goal difference

[Swedish House Mafia 508]

Should food fill up our stomach?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I'd play:

Cech

Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Cole

Mikel - Essien

Ramires - Lampard - Malouda

Drogba

In a predominantly 4-5-1 system. Ramires and Malouda are our most athletic wing players, and Malouda's defensive discipline and understanding with Cole is very, very good.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I suggested this in the pre-match thread, and the game yesterday convinced me even more of it. We need to bench Mata against Barca. He couldn't defend and Xavi and Busquets got past him as if he weren't there. Yes he is our best chance at producing anything, but it's not like we will have the possession to creat much. I'd play Essien instead of him.

Cech

Iva-Cahil-JT-Cole

Essien-Lamps-Mikel-Rambo

Meireles

Drogba

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I'd play:

Cech

Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Cole

Mikel - Essien

Ramires - Lampard - Malouda

Drogba

In a predominantly 4-5-1 system. Ramires and Malouda are our most athletic wing players, and Malouda's defensive discipline and understanding with Cole is very, very good.

That looks good on paper, but Mikel and Lamps have been brilliant together the last few matches and have developed some good understanding with each other, I wouldn't break up their relationship at holding midfield.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

If you draw the midfield five up as:

Ramires - Lampard - Mikel - Essien - Malouda

You'd see I'm breaking up no partnerships at all

[capriccioso 2,545]

Let's go back to EURO 08 and play 4-1-4-1:

1.

2.,26.,24.,3.

12.

7.,8.,16.,21.

11.

[Badboy 1,526]

I don't want to see Mata play against Barca at the Nou Camp because we're not going to have a lot of possession. Mata is effective against the 90% of teams we need to break down, Barcelona are part of that 10% who will not give the ball away cheaply and on the rare occasion they do we need to take full advantage on the counter attack.

[Jase 43,479]

Don't think he should be playing next week. The game plan in which we are gonna use against Barcelona doesn't suit him one bit and we may need more attacking threats from the right than just the left like last night.

[didierforever 7,349]

mata had 9 touches in the whole game. 9!!!!! xavi had 137 and you can bet all your money that mata wont get many more at nou camp too. he is a creator and has that normal urge of going ahead which wont work. i say shield iva for the final. play essien insted of mata on the right to take some presure of iva so that he does not get a yellow and miss the final. whoever we play in the final will habe ronaldo or ribery on the right and i dont wanna see bosingwa try to defend against them.

cech

iva cahill terry cole

essien mikel lamps ramires

raul

drogba

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

I wouldn't if we are to play the same way as last night, it doesn't suit his game

[Jype 6,398]

Mata only touched the ball nine times yesterday so he's not really that effective when defending deep against Barca. I'd bench him and If Barca get a goal or two then think about bringing him in because we have to score but if the plan is to keep the game at 0-0 as long as possible with occasional counter-attacks then there's no point starting Mata.

Sturridge defended admirably against Valencia on December when we used similar tactics to yesterday's match so if he played with such mentality next week I would give him a start as he could be crucial to our counter-attacks along with Ramires and Drogba.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I can understand the opinion why he shouldn't, Barca's marking tactics mixed with hint of fatigue almost nullifies his presence.

That being said Mata has the ability to create something out of nothing. He showed it against Tottenham where he was fairly ghosting until that little chip put in to play Ramires through on goal. It's something he's got in his locker and he has a willingness to backtrack. All of this added up means Mata should definitely be on the pitch when it comes down to the Nou Camp.

[Kojo 4,676]

Not at all

Cech

Ivanovic-Cahill-Terry-Cole

Mikel-Lampard

Ramires-Mata-Sturridge

Drogba

Barcelona will expect us to defend and sit deep again, we can't do it again.

Our advantage: Barca didn't get an away goal, and we are 1-0 up.

Best one is, is no away goal for Barca, we need the quality upfront to score, if we score once against Barca, then we have a huge advantage. Score another goal... we are pretty much in the final imo, but don't write Barca off like that. Because we still need to defend really well. We need to attack more than we did in the last match, because Barca will expect us to park the bus.

[Thor 2,690]

Why fix something if it isn't broken is the expression I'll stick with here. Why change anything? The possession was 75-25 in favour of them. Not like it's going to be 95-5 at Camp Nou. We stopped them from scoring, we can do it again with the same team.

Mata should indeed play. He's one of our better players at holding the ball up and maintaining possession. Another reason I was shocked to see Kalou on instead of Malouda or Sturridge. Sturridge is fantastic at creating and keeping the ball. He could be important in this next fixture as a substitute.