As Florent Malouda replaced Juan Mata on the 76th minute mark during Chelsea’s Gameweek 25 defeat at Everton, the boos and cries from fans of the away side of “you don’t know what you’re doing” echoed ominously around Andre Villas-Boas’ ears.
The moment poignantly sums up just how frustrating this campaign has been for the London outfit, in which even a Champions League spot is in doubt. It also illustrates just how highly Chelsea fans rate Mata; for many, he has been the team’s best player this season, and in Fantasy terms he is certainly the most reliable source of points, registering 108, the highest of any Blues player.
As fixtures begin to look more enticing over the coming weeks and, with the return of Didier Drogba from the African Cup of Nations to bolster the attack, Mata once again finds himself in our thoughts. Daniel Sturridge offers another, cheaper option of gaining coverage for Chelsea favourable run of fixtures, but he would use up a precious spot in our attacks – places likely to be currently reserved for the likes of Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Demba Ba and Sergio Aguero. That leaves Mata as the weapon of choice for those backing Andre Villas-Boas to drag his side out of their recent slump.
Currently ranked as the sixth top midfielder in terms of total points, Mata has scored five times, the same as Manchester City’s David Silva, and notched up eight assists, the same as Tottenham’s Gareth Bale. Based on those returns his price tag of 9.6m would seem fair, but the Spanish midfielder does come with a major health warning.
A closer look at his season shows that, while at home he is capable of impressive Fantasy returns, Mata is inexplicably transformed into an expensive liability when Chelsea hit the road. All three of his double point hauls, including a return of 17 against Wolves in Gameweek 13 and a score of 13 against Manchester United in Gameweek 24, have come at home.
Of his 108 points, 73 have been earned at Stamford Bridge, ranking him alongside Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero and Stoke’s Jon Walters as popular players who simply do not travel well. The highest away tally Mata has achieved was six points at Newcastle in Gameweek 14 – only the second time he managed a score above three on the road.
Those Fantasy managers looking to invest in Mata perhaps need to be brave enough to bench him away as a payoff for his considerable home potential. The rewards of such a bold strategy could prove handsome, given that over the next seven weeks Chelsea have four home games (BOL, wba, STO, mcy, TOT, avl, WIG).
Of course to succeed with such a ploy, Fantasy managers would need an able replacement for Chelsea’s away games. For those who already own Clint Dempsey, it is worth noting that Fulham play at home when Chelsea play away all the way to the end of the season. A somewhat luxurious rotation midfield pairing, no doubt, but, given that Dempsey is another who tends to struggle on the road, it’s one that could ultimately prove dividend for those with budget to spare.
