comment by TCWrighty (U6489)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by JNR (U10993)
posted 25 seconds ago
I don't even think it's about tactics anymore. Mata simply isn't playing as well as Hazard, Oscar or Willian.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. Not that he actually did anything wrong on the pitch today in particular. He's just not involved as he was, and these 3 are in great form. There's no shame in that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ofcourse, they've played more. Hes rusty

Another Suarez goal against a bottom half side

Mata has played more than Willian this season I think

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Only double win situation with Mata at the minute if he was to be sold, is if we can get 1/2 players in on those funds in this window. Either that or he stays and hopefully kicks on from what we know he can do.

The New Years parade is on and the announcer just pointed out the youth soccer association who were walking along the street kicking balls and said "soccer, the fastest growing sport in the world" like it's this new thing. Why can't we just say America when we obviously mean it??

At least Mata cares.

Now, that was a great overall performance. A little bit edgy in the middle section, but a collective team performance, that possibly is our best of the season.

Also, so used am I to crap away performances against mid ranking teams, particularly after big wins, (see our past three seasons for further details) that I am glad for a wonderful footballing performance.

That said I am going to dispel a few myths that will either be created or bolstered by today's events....concerning Juan Mata.

It is easy to say Jose made the right call subbing him off....perhaps.

The evidence for that I assume is

1) it went from 0-0 to 0-3 in that time

2) Willian and Oscar scored.

3) There was a perceived increase in intensity.

I think some of those points are credible. In fact, they all are.

However, it doesnt prove Mata is the fault in our team, or that the substitut9ons sparked the win.

Personally I thought we started the game incredibly well, and aside from the fact we didn't score, I would say the best passages of play by us were in the first 15 minutes. With Mata on the pitch.

Moreover, our performance didn't improve with Willian and Oscar's inclusion, albeit they played very well (Oscar particularly), but when we scored the first goal.

The first goal is, in my opinion, what ignited the performance and the win.

THAT SAID...

I am going to have to re-consider my position on Mata. Something I supposedly was never going to do due to my perceived intransigence.

Well, I did feel the need to dispel the nonsense myths. However, I am going to have a ponder over whether Mata is the right man for the way Jose is trying to play, which actually from a footballing perspective, was very good today.

It is also clear he has no confidence in him, and what needs to be done in the best interests of the club will be what I support.

You may not agree with me, but I hope you fellow blues don't go as far to slag off Mata and tarnish what he achieved, even if you agree with the decisions Jose has made. Something, which I, am re-considering my previous position on

comment by Bluee ... npe77 (U1328)
posted 7 seconds ago
Now, that was a great overall performance. A little bit edgy in the middle section, but a collective team performance, that possibly is our best of the season.

Also, so used am I to crap away performances against mid ranking teams, particularly after big wins, (see our past three seasons for further details) that I am glad for a wonderful footballing performance.

That said I am going to dispel a few myths that will either be created or bolstered by today's events....concerning Juan Mata.

It is easy to say Jose made the right call subbing him off....perhaps.

The evidence for that I assume is

1) it went from 0-0 to 0-3 in that time

2) Willian and Oscar scored.

3) There was a perceived increase in intensity.

I think some of those points are credible. In fact, they all are.

However, it doesnt prove Mata is the fault in our team, or that the substitut9ons sparked the win.

Personally I thought we started the game incredibly well, and aside from the fact we didn't score, I would say the best passages of play by us were in the first 15 minutes. With Mata on the pitch.

Moreover, our performance didn't improve with Willian and Oscar's inclusion, albeit they played very well (Oscar particularly), but when we scored the first goal.

The first goal is, in my opinion, what ignited the performance and the win.

THAT SAID...

I am going to have to re-consider my position on Mata. Something I supposedly was never going to do due to my perceived intransigence.

Well, I did feel the need to dispel the nonsense myths. However, I am going to have a ponder over whether Mata is the right man for the way Jose is trying to play, which actually from a footballing perspective, was very good today.

It is also clear he has no confidence in him, and what needs to be done in the best interests of the club will be what I support.

You may not agree with me, but I hope you fellow blues don't go as far to slag off Mata and tarnish what he achieved, even if you agree with the decisions Jose has made. Something, which I, am re-considering my previous position on

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh god

impressive

Oscar technically didn't dive. There was contact. It just wasn't a penalty.

He was going down before the contact. Dive.

I dunno JNR. In that sort of situation I can't help but feel it's either a penalty or a dive.

It is also clear he has no confidence in him
---------------
Only bit I don't agree with

I also think Southampton got more and more tired as the game went on. Christmas period has a huge affect on players, and at 1-0 their heads dropped.

If Mata was on the pitch in those final twenty minutes with Southampton playing like that, there performance dropped alarmingly, who is to say he wouldn't have had the same impact?

Npe actually hasn't said anything apart from telling us he's going to think about Mata.

He did dive. Fact.

comment by Bluee ... npe77 (U1328)
posted less than a minute ago
I also think Southampton got more and more tired as the game went on. Christmas period has a huge affect on players, and at 1-0 their heads dropped.

If Mata was on the pitch in those final twenty minutes with Southampton playing like that, there performance dropped alarmingly, who is to say he wouldn't have had the same impact?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This ^, fresh legs at the right time had a lot to do with turning it around

Moreover, our performance didn't improve with Willian and Oscar's inclusion, albeit they played very well (Oscar particularly), but when we scored the first goal.
-----------------
And this actually

Two minutes after they came on Oscar should have scored. The subs definitely improved us.

G7
Prior to the subs Chambers and Clyne were getting forward at will. After the subs they were pinned back, Southampton's passing went to shittt and we kept the ball better. I very much doubt this was all a coincidence