Ive been thinking about this recently and many people have been comparing mata with silva. Just wondering views and whether they think mata will be as good/better as effective etc as silva. Or do they think there completly different.

Cheers

I still think its a mata of opinion. Not every cloud has a silva lining!

Very similar players IMO both rely much more on intelligence than pace

Both Mata and Silva are top quality and im glad we have Mata with us as hes only going to get better

Silva is more polished technically and a bit more classy. Mata is possibly more effective though, more direct and gets into goal scoring positions better.

I wouldn't say I prefer one over the other, but Mata is more than 2 years younger and still developing so that puts him ahead.

Both small, both spanish, both comfortable on the ball, both with an eye for goal and technically good.....

The only difference i see is that silva's little rat tail hairstyle makes him look like a pikey.

Silva's game is more developed than mata's. He has more experience and uses his skill and technique more effectively. That said, i think mata has the potential to beome alot better than silva if he can continue playing like he is.

At the moment you would have to say silva, he is the finished article.

In the future it could well Mata, and as a Chelsea fan i sincerely hope so. Going by his couple of appearances for us so far, he certainly does look like he could be special.

Alan

Mata has had a quicker impact than Silva did, although he is now a key player for them.

Mata has had a quicker impact than Silva did, although he is now a key player for them.

That could be more a reflection of our current style of play than the difference in quality of the two ?

Alan

TBTH honest I never really rated the David Silva of 2/3 years ago. To me, on the few occasions I got to watch him, he lacked consistency and flitted in and out of games. That was why he was only on the periphery of the Spain national squad. But watching him now there is no doubt he has progressed remarkably and is relishing the freedom he is being given to roam around the pitch by Mancini.

In respect of Mata I personally haven't seen enough of him yet to form a concrete opinion, but there is no doubt he has made a good start with us.

What should also be remembered is that Silva currently has the benefit of playing alongside in-form, confident, goal-scoring forwards in Dzeko and Aguerro who are making the most of Silva's supply. The speed, movement and intelligence of Aguerro in particular makes Silva's job easier.

TBTH honest I never really rated the David Silva of 2/3 years ago. To me, on the few occasions I got to watch him, he lacked consistency and flitted in and out of games. That was why he was only on the periphery of the Spain national squad. But watching him now there is no doubt he has progressed remarkably and is relishing the freedom he is being given to roam around the pitch by Mancini.

The David Silva of 2/3 years ago was a phenomenal player. Your opinion is (I imagine) formed by the fact you hardly saw him. For Valencia, he was outstanding, week in week out. Sure, he didn't start most of Spain's WC games, but looking at the players at their disposal, that's hardly a disgrace. City were buying guaranteed quality and it was a big statement of intent when they signed him. Last year (though he improved) we saw nothing. That was his settling-in period. This term you are seeing the real Silva, and for those of us that watch La Liga regularly, it is a very recognisable sight. A tremendous player.

Why does everything have to become someone vs someone? Can't we enjoy two similar looking players at the same time without biases? A player's effectiveness is also hugely affected by the team he's playing in, the style of play and the players around him. So in my opinion, comparisons like these are futile.

PS: I am not deriding the creator of the topic rather musing over the general tendency of fans to start making comparisons as soon as they see two similar players.

The David Silva of 2/3 years ago was a phenomenal player. Your opinion is (I imagine) formed by the fact you hardly saw him. For Valencia, he was outstanding, week in week out. Sure, he didn't start most of Spain's WC games, but looking at the players at their disposal, that's hardly a disgrace. City were buying guaranteed quality and it was a big statement of intent when they signed him. Last year (though he improved) we saw nothing. That was his settling-in period. This term you are seeing the real Silva, and for those of us that watch La Liga regularly, it is a very recognisable sight. A tremendous player.

You must have missed the part where he stated that the quoted assessment was his opinion only.

Last year we saw nothing of Silva? I dunno, even as "nothing" he was still looking pretty impressive for City. Your opinion was (I imagine) formed by the fact that you hardly watched him play. Because he looked pretty damn class all season.

(I have no doubt you saw him play, im just illustrating how silly that statement was)

Silva the winger, not really a masive fan, Silva the number 10 floating in and around behind the strikers, huge fan.

When he played out wide for valencia I alway fealt he was quite easy to deal with, no searing pace on him, doesnt really beat a man with trickery, never saw him get othe bi-line and put a cross in.

He still seems to start out wide but thats about it, he's always popping up in the middle and helping city to play the game in the right areas then findin that perfect ball.

Matt I believe is a wide player with the ability to come inside. Have seen him streatch the play and get to the bi line a few times for us already, actually wasnt sure i was watching chelsea when it happend its been so long.

Silva is ahead in terms of his development, and perhaps little more "silky" and less direct than Mata. But both fit into the same general creative mould. If I had to pick one purely head to head it would be Silva because he's more proven the premier league, and in actual fact, probably my favourite player in the prem that doesn't play for us.

Interestingly enough we should have really signed him. I remember him stating that he wanted to come to Chelsea and how it would be great to play alongside Drogba and co. Alas, Chelsea dithered, Man City swooped in, and that was that. Shame, can you imagine Mata and Silva in the same (club) side!?

Silva is ahead in terms of his development, and perhaps little more "silky" and less direct than Mata. But both fit into the same general creative mould. If I had to pick one purely head to head it would be Silva because he's more proven the premier league, and in actual fact, probably my favourite player in the prem that doesn't play for us.

Interestingly enough we should have really signed him. I remember him stating that he wanted to come to Chelsea and how it would be great to play alongside Drogba and co. Alas, Chelsea dithered, Man City swooped in, and that was that. Shame, can you imagine Mata and Silva in the same (club) side!?

Even better than just Mata and Silva in the same club side, Imagine David Villa for them to thread balls through to. Maybe even someone pacy on the right wing to act as a different outlet like Pablo Hernandez. All they'd need is a good deep lying playmaker and that side would have a hell of a lot of quality. Maybe someone like Ever Banega. Wow, what a club side that would be.

Silva the winger, not really a masive fan, Silva the number 10 floating in and around behind the strikers, huge fan.

When he played out wide for valencia I alway fealt he was quite easy to deal with, no searing pace on him, doesnt really beat a man with trickery, never saw him get othe bi-line and put a cross in.

He still seems to start out wide but thats about it, he's always popping up in the middle and helping city to play the game in the right areas then findin that perfect ball.

Matt I believe is a wide player with the ability to come inside. Have seen him streatch the play and get to the bi line a few times for us already, actually wasnt sure i was watching chelsea when it happend its been so long.

great point- is an astute observation.

you can see mata is a player with a past as a winger and as a striker. silva is an old fashioned no.10. on the left, on the right, in the middle- he's a a great supplier floating into space between the lines.

if silva is a rui costa, a supreme creative player who doesn't score loads, mata is more the kaka type no.10. clever and smart, but wants to use his pace more, wants to score more. he's a really good player already with a lot more to come (hopefully). he's not at silva's level yet, but he has it in him to get there.