Thetownend.com

Mata set to start at County Ground
           
           


  CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Spanish playmaker Juan Mata will start for the Blues in their Capital One Cup third-round clash with Swindon Town tomorrow.

           

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/10691120.Mata_set_to_start_at_County_Ground/?ref=rss
           
           
           

If Torres features any time tomorrow, then by my very rapid reckoning he'll be first man to  play on the hallowed turf, having appeared in a winning WC final side, since Osvaldo Ardiles.

Mata was in the 2010 squad but didn't get on v Netherlands. 

As I say a very rapid reckoning, so could be wrong.  Roque Junior was prob the last WC winner to play v Town, but it was at Elland Road when SSP took the piss.

Any game will count including friendlies.

Ossie came on for about 5 mins v Sunderland first game of 89/90 season.

Nestor Lorenzo was after Ossie surely?

Didn't win the WC though, think Reg was talking about winners only.

Can't wait! If we keep them to less than 3-4 goals then we've done well, but then I'd rather see this calibre of player at the CG than some Chelsea youth team players.

I know it's probably a bit daft to expect anything other than a rather heavy loss but I expected that against Wigan, Stoke and QPR. Football is, as they say, a funny old game.

We'll play them off the park but lose by a single goal.

Anyone know what channel this is on?

Sky Sports 2

I Honestly expected us to beat Wigan and Stoke. QPR, not so much.

To be shown on at least one screen at Kennedy's Irish pub here in Munich before the assembled masses of Town fans, at least one tables booked so far :)  No doubt some Oktoberfest part-timers will be there too  :beers:  After what happened here in the Champions League final, I'd think the locals will be cheering us on.

Excellent news. The Chelsea -1 I got at 21/20 seems fantastic now.

Does it mata?

if you include friendlies then robbie carlos was since then

 :hmmm: I'm liking this...remind me of when he played at the CG.

not at the CG, i meant it in response to roque junior playing against us.  was for fenerbache when cox scored one of his wonder volleys

Ah...last WC winner to play v us is Roberto Carlos....but Ossie still the last to appear at the CG.

Austria, summer of noughtie nine was there. Aka shady, doss etc

Mata proved last season that he is one of the best players in the Premiership. Tons of assists and loads of goals too, really important ones as well. Why Mourinho won't play him is beyond me, although Oscar has apparently been filling his boots with considerable aplomb.

Think that's it - Oscar has displaced him. Read the other day that Mourinho wants Oscar in the number 10 role, with two other CMs playing more defensively. Mata hasn't adjusted to that different role so hasn't been used.