An interesting read: http://jamieadams3.wordpress.com http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2014/1/24/5341846/juan-mata-analysis http://theweststandobserver.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/mataphysics-of-a-relationship/
After reading the first one (a few times) I now understand a lot more as to why Jose did what he did. So lets hope his plan works. This football management lark is a lot more complicated than I realised
you can only have 11 players on the pitch and your manager prefers one near world class player (hazard) over another near world class (mata) who doesn't want to sit on the bench. So he was sold for £37m ... he will probably do really well at united but that doesn't mean it was wrong to sell him. Only if hazard and chelsea flop will it be wrong and that aint ever going to happen
Well, these sure are interesting and complex rationals. I had to read them 3 or 4 times to make sense of them, and a thought occurred to me. And the writers of these articles are who ????? We're not talking about sending a man into Space here, just kicking a ball into a net !!! If a team can't accommodate one fabulous attacking, scoring and setting up player, who's job is not to defend anyway, then surely something doesn't add up. Juan Mata will win you more matches than he will lose you. End of. There has to be another reason he was sold, and only Jose knows.
LOL that was a bit different as they were only Under 11's and 10's, bit different handling the big boys though
They may not be big name journalists but all the articles are well researched. Fans opinions are valid too. Many chelsea fans on forums, myself included, feared that mata would not be a Mou player because he would slow down transitions. We were kind of right ...but not really. And these pieces illustrate why, very well in my humble opinion It is his lack of pace and mobility compared to Oscar has counted against him. Also, you've watched Jose sides for a decade now. Is he known for 'accommodating' players. Very rarely
Jose has a certain style he likes to implement, and his huge trophy haul in the last 10 years is proof of how successful it is. Plus his record points totals in England and Spain, record number of goals in Spain, Treble with Inter etc. If a player doesnt conform, they are gone....it was exactly the same with Robben during Mourinhos first tenure. The Robben deal was sewn up by Ranieiri before Jose arrived. Now its not to say Robben and Mata arent great players, but they wont work in a team playing the way Mourinho likes to play, so they gotta go. Its not just a case of "He's a great player so he must be able to fit in", thats you living up to the Pensioner part of your name CP. Mourinho is far more tactical than that, which is why his teams win, even when they dont necessarily have "the best" players, they have the "best" team. To add: Its similar to SAF at United, even during the treble winning season, how many of Uniteds players were the "best" in the world in their positions? Beckham maybe? Schmeichel? thats about it. In their 2008 squad, only probably Ronaldo. But they had the best team, so they were victorious. To add more, I can understand completely why mata was sold, what I cannot understand and am having a hard time dealing with, is why he was sold to Man Utd?! Surely there would have been many takers for the guy?
Only read the first one though was a great insight beyond the obvious 'assist and goals' stats that people drag out. Does make me worry about Oscar getting injured though!! If you take the last 2 seasons, Mata's stats were amazing individually but we struggled in the league. That's obviously not all due to Mata's weakness in defending from the front but all these little elements add up to the whole picture at top level sport. It's this level of analysis that separates us mere armchair fans and the guys like Jose who get paid millions. If any other manager had of sold Mata I'd be seriously questioning it, but with Jose I think in the long term it'll be seen as a good move. Mata will look good on paper for United and will have eye catching moments but like the article alludes to, that entire front line and midfield will need reshaping to accommodate United's main 4 forward players and will probably cost a lot more than the money they paid for Mata. Their central midfield is nowhere near mobile enough to cover Mata and Janujaz lack of defensive abilities against the best sides.
Top article. Only read the first one. Always had a feeling it was to do with Mata's lack of physical power but the whole article sums it up.
i still can not believe they sold him to man u, it has taken the gloss of beating them the other week and the enjoyment this season has so far been, watching moyes and man u get beat every other game
Well, he never had much trouble accommodating Lampard, Terry, Cole and Cech, but I do take your point. Whatever happened to his theory that we need 2 players for every position ??? Who do you think he has in mind as "Oscar II" ? Not Matic, even though he looks a very decent player , got a bit of power about him as well as good skills.
I personally think there was more to it than just tactics. AVB bought Mata, and he also bought Lukaku, 2 players who despite being the best in there position at Chelsea where forced out of the club. Mourinho despises AVB, so has decided to persecute the players he bought in. Mata was also very close to Benitez, with them both being Spanish, and Benitez selecting his sides with Mata as the focal point. Mourinho and Benitez have never seen eye to eye either, so the fact Mata was so fond of Benitez can't have gone down to well with Mourinho. Mourinho from day 1 has barely given Mata a chance to prove he can track back aswell as attack, in the same way he did Hazard. So there is no proof that Mata wouldn't fit into his system, as he was never given a run in the side to prove he could
Can't you just accept that we sold you a bench warmer for £37m? Also, Do you seriously think lukaku is the best striker in chelsea? His hold up play is terrible, passing is average and he doesn't work enough of the ball.
