Mata ... Available ..... Really ?

[AdamoTheGreat]

Fresh rumours re-emerging that both Arsenal and Tottenham will be looking to sign him in January. I really do not understand how this is happening.

 

[sam-caddick]

I have highlighted some key comments.

I think we should be all over this come January, otherwise PSG, Atletico, Arsenal, Spurs or maybe United will get him.

I don't see where Barca or Real would fit him in.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ta-leading-role-at-Chelsea.html#disqus_thread

Chelsea fans have been perplexed by Mourinho’s sporadic use of the Spaniard so far this season. After Wednesday night’s defeat to Basle in the Champions League and last weekend’s loss at Everton, some fans circulated on the internet a short statement of dissatisfaction with team selection. It had a simple message: “Juan Mata: for the pitch, not the bench.”

Mourinho made it clear yesterday that he would not be responding to their tactical nudge any time soon. The Chelsea manager said there were “issues” between him and Mata and hinted the player, who wants to play in the ‘No 10’ role, would not command a regular place in the team unless he was prepared to adapt to a wider position with more defensive duties.

“The way I’m reading the situation and the reasons why, in this moment, he’s not playing so much, are things I can speak about with him but not with you,” he said. “These are football issues.” But the manager said enough to suggest those football issues appear to be about positioning.

“One thing is to play with Ramires and Oscar in the side, them closing each side, and Mata as a No 10 behind a striker, clever assists and clever passes, fantastic actions because he has great talent,” said the manager.

“Another thing is to adapt to the way we want to play. In this moment, Oscar is my No 10 and, if somebody tells me that Oscar is not Chelsea’s best player since the beginning of the season, I’d have to disagree.” Asked if that suggested that Mata and Oscar could no longer play in the same side – as they frequently did last season under his predecessor Rafael Benítez – Mourinho was unequivocal.

“They can, when he adapts to it. But I’m not ready to play Oscar following full-backs, as he was before, I want to build with Oscar as my No 10. I want the other two players, from the side, to adapt to that reality and learn how to do things they were not ready to do before.”

It was a stark message which does not augur well for the peace of mind of the player, or his devotees in the Stamford Bridge stands. Mata’s many admirers, including Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham, will have taken eager note of Mourinho’s comments; in World Cup year this is not a player whose ambitions are likely to be satisfied with a season as a bit-part.

This determination to mould a team around Oscar – and oblige others such as Mata to alter their game accordingly – however, is characteristic of Mourinho’s approach this season: he has not come back to Chelsea to keep things as they were. Dismissive of the style of play under his predecessor (“playing a centre back in midfield, a low block, long balls to a lonely striker”) Mourinho insisted he was engaged in a process of rapid evolution.

“The reality is we want to play a certain style. Not what you are seeing now. We have to look better than that. If you sit there deep in a low block, with no spaces, you can be there three hours. I went with Inter to Barcelona and, for 60 minutes, we played with 10 men and if we needed to be there longer we’d have played for another 60 minutes. I don’t want my team to play like that.” Which is, presumably, no more than the fundamental condition of his employment; after all, the owner has long demonstrated how much he craves an attacking team, generally by sacking any manager who does not deliver one.

“We all agree,” Mourinho said to the proposition that his new-found enthusiasm for the expansive game is driven by the demands of Roman Abramovich. “We had one meeting, and in that meeting we had, not an agreement, but we were all convinced this was the way we want to do it. It’s not my way, a specific way, it’s a way of adapting to the quality of the players. We don’t want to play the same way as we did before. The profile of the players is completely different. We don’t want to be reactive. We want to be proactive, and to educate the players in this direction. The players are open for some, and not so open for others because it’s more difficult.” It was, however, a process that would not happen overnight.

“It’s about changing mentality. It takes a bit of time. But not five, six, seven years. I promise. You don’t have to wait so long.” But in the meantime, there may be setbacks. Though he was certain that what happened last week – with Chelsea suffering successive defeats – was no more than temporary inconvenience.

“Crisis of what? Syria?” he said. “Ah, Chelsea. No, for me, no problems, no crisis. For me, two bad results.” Indeed, he insisted what was unfolding at the training ground at Cobham – and soon to be realised on the pitch at Stamford Bridge – was a “beautiful project”. Though it is a project whose beauty, it seems, does not currently encompass Mata.

 

[LoveCity]

Not even on the bench for Chelsea - are we monitoring him or do we consider this part of the team complete? Stylistically, he'd be really good for us. Mourinho prefers a different type of player.

 

[FantasyIreland]

I'd love him here but for me he just adds competition to Silva,Jovetic and even Nasri,not to mention the likes of Lopes......

We need a 'real' left winger to compliment Navas and enable a true 442 when required.

In reality,in order to accommodate Mata and keep the peace,we'd need to sell first.

 

[dref619]

I'd love him here but for me he just adds competition to Silva,Jovetic and even Nasri,not to mention the likes of Lopes......

We need a 'real' left winger to compliment Navas and enable a true 442 when required.

In reality,in order to accommodate Mata and keep the peace,we'd need to sell first.

I don't think that'd be too much of a problem . I'd sack Nasri off in a heartbeat to bring mata in

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Mourinho's Project? http://www.deliaonline.com/how-to-cook/eggs/how-to-make-an-omelette.html

 

[Gareth Barry Manilow]

Mourinho's Project? http://www.deliaonline.com/how-to-cook/eggs/how-to-make-an-omelette.html

Haha!

I don't think we, really, have a chance of getting him, I can only see Chelsea letting him go to a team from abroad.

 

[sam-caddick]

Mourinho's Project? http://www.deliaonline.com/how-to-cook/eggs/how-to-make-an-omelette.html

Haha!

I don't think we, really, have a chance of getting him, I can only see Chelsea letting him go to a team from abroad.

It's interesting because I don't see anyone in Italy affording him bar maybe Juventus, but for me they looks happy with having Tevez as their number ten, Real and in particularly Barca don't have much room for him, Real are more likely but they need a striker to go head to head with Benzema if anything, PSG maybe?? Atletico I can't see affording him, maybe a loan? I don't see Dortmund forking out the money and Bayern are full up in terms of midfielders.

It leaves Arsenal, Spurs, United, Liverpool or us in my opinion.

I hope we go for him as I can see our Spanish influence catching his eye over everyone else.

He is going to cost 35m at least.

 

[Blue Haze]

If we advance in CL, take the money and buy Mata in Jan. Sell Nasri.

He is one of those next level players who rarely get sold.

 

[NoahCity]

If he becomes available, get him and sell Nasri. He is amongst the best AMs in the world. 20 goals and 35 assists says it all.