January 2014 Transfer Window

[stokeriño]

Why always so :/ ?

[METALMAN]

Bell's Palsy

[FLiam]

There's clearly an issue with Mata that doesn't just stem from his "defensive work", just no idea what it is. Same with the whole Casillas situation at Real.

[brenchill]

Casillas wasn't defensive enough either

[stokeriño]

Are you saying there's clearly an issue because of how poorly (relative to other squad members) Mata is playing when on the pitch? Or...?

[TCO]

To be fair, Casillas is still 2nd choice under Ancellotti.

Whoever gets Mata if he does leave is going to get a top quality player with a chip on his shoulder. If I were Man United I'd be putting a bid in as soon as possible.

[stokeriño]

There was that theory that floated about last summer that Mourinho had a grudge against Spanish players. That was an amusing one.

[brenchill]

Why would he want to take a step down and join Utd?

Surely it's only Barca or Real for him

[Matt]

And if I were Chelsea I'd be rejecting any offer from them that isn't a world record fee. We've seen with Arsenal what difference one world class playmaker can make, why would you risk selling someone of his quality (regardless of whether he's in favour or not) to a team who at present don't look like being direct rivals in the short term but could easily be so with a couple of additions. If they sold him to any English club they'd be retarded.

[TCO]

Best of luck to him trying to get into the Barcelona or Real Madrid midfield on a sustained basis.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Well he IS a top, TOP player.

[Nerf]

To be fair, Casillas is FAR from the player he used to be.

[METALMAN]

How do you know? He never plays!

[Nerf]

Because there was a notable drop in quality when he was playing. Hence why he got dropped.

[GoN_]

There's clearly an issue with Mata that doesn't just stem from his "defensive work", just no idea what it is. Same with the whole Casillas situation at Real.

Probably the same reason that made him stay on the bench with his new manager.

[FLiam]

I'd still take him over a lot of goalkeepers.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I'd still take him over a lot of goalkeepers.

Who, Mata? But apparently his defensive qualities aren't up to the job.

[FLiam]

We'll play monkey rush.

[MDK]

You mean rush goalies?

[FLiam]

No-one played monkey rush??