It seems the stumbling block is the fact it is United, for which I agree is a stupid bit of business. Here's hoping PSG come and nab him...
The point is , simply that "tracking " back is all well and good , but it sure as hell isn't the be all and end all. Mata has been absolutely shafted because of Dogma and nothing else. Would Iniesta, Messi, Neymar all get sold by Jose because they don't defend enough?? Like hell they would. Is Mata is going because he's too popular with fans??
Some more perspective. Mata, key (best) player of a squad fighting to qualify for the champions league. Gets frozen out of a squad fighting for the title. Sold to become the key player in another squad fighting for the champions league..... Couldn't ask for a nicer chap, and a great credit to Chelsea, so obvious sick in the stomach feelings and negative reactions are understandable, especially as not only are we selling to United, they are also too far up their own self important ar*e to reciprocate with Rooney. But in the cold sober light of day, i) his unhappiness on the bench is an uneccessary tension ii) he **deserves our respect** for his wishes to play more to get into the Spanish WC squad iii) the way Mourinho wants to play has been, and is being, proven to be successful, and Mata is not central to that iv) the 40m can be put towards someone who can complete our squad (eg Falcao). I.e In the cold sober light of day, its an ok call. My only gripe being that I would prefer if we sold for say 30 mill to Atletico or PSG - what's 10mill to Roman for a bit of pride?
What I don't understand is, why we are so happy to sell him to them? Why haven't we stalled on it until the last day to squeeze as much money as we can out of them? Personally, I wouldn't sell him to them for less than £45m. My message to them would be "Any deal for Mata would have to be in the region of £40m and you're not the only interested party." Then on the final day, "Mata is available to whoever is first to make a £45m bid - take it or leave it." If they say no thanks then we keep him and they miss out. The season still has a very long way to go and I wouldn't see Mata not playing at all or only very little. We're still in three competitions and a big squad is needed. Regardless of the system a player of Mata's calibre would still have a lot to offer us and show why he should go to Brazil (who Spain will always be taking). Then in the summer we can sit down and see where we go from there.
You think because you sell us a bench warmer we should sell you a first team fixture? if you had asked last week you could have had Anderson but you missed out there
By that logic, if our benchwarmer is your new messiah, Rooney would just end up another benchwarmer. So probably just as well you can't see the light of day for the fluff on your crack. As for Anderson, by extension of the same logic, we didnt bid for him because there are no vacancies currently in the Cobham boot room
Could you sell us your home match against Fulham? Should be three points for us really and would really help having an extra game to play in the title race.
Apparently we're in for Basel's Mohammed Salah, a 21 year old Egyptian international winger. He's one of Liverpool's targets who they were rather hopeful of signing this month.
So would you rather we were two points off the top with the players tracking back, or dowin in 5/6/7 worrying about whether we'll get CL football but are playing a bit prettier? Mata is very good, but you cannot compare him with Messi, Neymar etc
Really, really disappointing business from Chelsea here. Firstly, Mata is and has been a fantastic face of Chelsea in the way he has conducted and played throughout his time. Quite rightly you're double player of the year and well on course to becoming a club legend. Secondly for the team, you have lost a gem, Mata does things with the ball that Oscar, Willian and even Hazard can only dream of. The reason you've needed everyone tracking back is because Maureen is such a negative bitch. If he'd spent the Summer doing what he was meant to which was sorting out the Defensive Midfield and not persisting with the Donkey (soon to have a stand named after him!) Mikkel there wouldn't be so much pressure on your defence! Oh and by the way, sorry to say I told you so but Luiz is OK at DM isn't he? Thirdly and the worse of all - How could you sell to Man Utd for just cash???? Could understand if this was a pawn in a deal to get Rooney but it's highly unlikely. You've simply provided them with a very strong lifeline, that may well come back to haunt you - They were dead and buried - No CL next year, they're best players would leave and Moyes at the helm - What in the Hell have you done???? You utter, utter bastards. You have become Arsenal, even Tottenham don't sell their top players to rivals. Stupid, stupid, stupid - May Maureen take you to Hell in that handcart!!!!
Stupid, stupid comment and shows you know FA about football. Mata is a magician and with any modicum of reasonable management can be incorporated into ANY team in the World. That Chelsea were struggling in the League the last 2 seasons was not due to Mata you stupid, stupid imbecile. Stick to watching the superior talent of Lambert. Mata is a better player than Neymar - And Maureen wouldn't want Neymar either, he'd prefer Schurlle.
We are 2 points off the top because we have a great squad in a year when only City has a better one. We have improved only marginally from last year, mainly in defence, which is to Joses credit. Had he used the attacking talent at their natural games instead of them playing total crap for 4 or 5 games, we might well be top. No one knows. What we do know is that Mata was a colossally better player before Jose. First it was Luiz that copped Joses flak, then Luiz and Mata, then only Mata. Is that because the fans don't love Luiz as they do Mata?? There is an argument that historically Jose marginalises fans favourites wherever he goes. Ballotelli at Milan, the goalie at Real, Mata at Chelsea. Coincidence?? Jealousy?? Ego?? I haven't a clue. But it is a mystery why of all the established players, Mata is being singled out, don't you think ?? And selling to Utd?? And for only 37 mill?? Curioser and curioser. IF it actually happens !!
Jose is very egotistical, but is he that bad that he would rather the popular players get sold to make sure he is the only one in the limelight? I'm not so sure. Mata is popular, but there are some legends playing for us still, Terry, Lampard etc and Jose is fine with them. I do agree that £37m is not enough, especially to another EPL team. Should have made Man U sweat and at leat come back with £45m, or if £37m was the price make sure he went abroad. Cannot see the logic in selling him to a team that could be a rival next year. Mata and Januzaj next year could be a very creative duo for them.
Sorry CP but I think there is a lot of bollox in here! We are competing for the league for the first time since 2010 with largely the same squad, the main reason is Jose. We are not as fluid or good to watch as City yet but we aren't winning every game 1-0 either. When Jose let players off the lead a bit we conceded 7 goals in a week against Sunderland and Stoke. Every top side starts with a solid defence and work forwards and that's what he's doing. For every Mata that has struggled under Jose we have Terry, Oscar, Hazard etc who have improved this year. As for marginalising fan favourites, not buying that. He's brought back Terry, got Lamps a new deal etc. Disappointed we sold Mata but Jose is not stupid, there will be a long term reason which will probably become clearer once summer transfers start.
Also wondering whether there has been an agreement re: Rooney for the summer. United may not have wanted to do the swap this window as it would have negated the positive impact of Mata and been a PR disaster. But if they know he wont sign a new deal, they'll probably have to sell in the summer anyway so may have used that as part of the deal to secure Mata now. United get a top player to kick start their season and a player to use in games v our rivals and we get Jose's long term target in a few months time? It would explain the relative ease in which we've seemingly let them have Mata and the relatively reasonable fee involved. Weirdly, I have renewed hope for the Rooney deal now or at least another top class forward. Otherwise it makes no sense for us to give Mata to United so easily.
