[Borys]

The finishing wasn't there...but when you've had Di Maria, Rooney and RVP playing as forwards, why is Mata on the end of the 3 most notable chances? I thought generally he was fine, he drove us forward more than anyone else, he got past Soton's midfield more than Rooney did and he recycled possession very well.

One goal and he's player of the year on here...or he misses the chances and he's hidden away and done nothing good.

Not sure what are you implying. He’s been doing that all season, he’s closer to a second striker than anything and his positioning is very good. He’s not really a creative force.

He did drove us forward, just to pass it to Valencia in most cases. He was probably the best of our attackers (together with Valencia) but he wasn’t very good.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Mental, absolutely mental, to say that he was rubbish when literally, and I mean literally, he was involved in every single one of our few good moments in the game.

Yeah he should have scored, and I'm fecked off that he didn't... But I'm equally fecked off that he's the only fecker who looked like he wanted to score a sodding goal.

 

[jem]

You kidding right? If I could give him a negative rating I would. Couldn't even put on target the two best chances we had all game long. When he's not adding goals, he's useless.

You clearly are seeing what you want to see then.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Not sure what are you implying. He’s been doing that all season, he’s closer to a second striker than anything and his positioning is very good. He’s not really a creative force.

He did drove us forward, just to pass it to Valencia in most cases. He was probably the best of our attackers (together with Valencia) but he wasn’t very good.

I'm implying that you've got 3 supposedly world class players who also couldn't muster a shot on target between them despite playing as forwards, not to mention the fact Rooney and Di Maria could barely control the ball and generally looked clumsy.

You've only got to have eyes to know that Mata was actually not bad at all today. It wasn't a 9 or 10/10 performance, but it was acceptable. In an ideal world, your best chance doesn't fall to Mata so you can hold the miss against him because top players should bury one of the two 'clear' chances he had, but as I say in the context of the players around him who weren't pulling their weight at all - you've got to say he did well. The attackers were the real problem today, no desire to get ahead of defenders, poor first touches under pressure and some woeful passing. Di Maria's decision making in particular was painful to watch.

 

[bosnian_red]

You kidding right? If I could give him a negative rating I would. Couldn't even put on target the two best chances we had all game long. When he's not adding goals, he's useless.

Yeah, he missed the 2 great chances. He also was the only one committing players and making things happen apart from Valencia and actually doing something useful with it. Him, Valencia and Blind were easily and by far our best players today.

 

[jem]

Mental, absolutely mental, to say that he was rubbish when literally, and I mean literally, he was involved in every single one of our few good moments in the game.

Yeah he should have scored, and I'm fecked off that he didn't... But I'm equally fecked off that he's the only fecker who looked like he wanted to score a sodding goal.

Exactly. None of the usual criticism applied to him today. He was involved, mostly positive in his passing and generally didn't go hiding. What did go very wrong was his finishing, but to use that as a bat to beat him with (in terms of his overall worth to the team,) would be like writing off Paul Scholes after one of the very rare games in which his passing was off.

 

[jem]

MOTM? No way. He hid away for most of the game and missed three very easy chances.

This is just moronic. You are obviously just seeing what you want to see. As for the misses, I'd say only the second one was a true howler, and I'm not too worried about him missing such chances in the future.

 

[Ainu]

I thought he did well but unfortunately couldn't finish on the day. It's worrying for the other players when Mata is the only one to create stuff AND be on the end of chances.

 

[m1y2]

he is a good poacher and productive player but I don't believe he is the right player what we need. If it was him/herrera I would go for Herrera. We need legs in midfield and aggression. Of course this stupid system makes everyone Mata included look worse than they are but I don't believe Mata would play for us in any formation if we wanted to get rid of this boring old-fashioned anti-football.. He could best play as 10 in 4-2-3-1 but still I can imagine better palyers in that position to make us look better overall. Once again, gret business for Chelsea. They look lightning quick now and great team unit.. Players like Willian or Oscar fits better in their system. I think we should be looking for such players also. We have got too many indynamic players even creative enough - Carrick, Mata, Blind, RVP, Rooney isn't any fast either.. We can cope with 1 or 2 in the side not with 4 or 5 and in this awkward system of course..

I believe we need apart changing the system strong aggresive midifelder to shield the defense. No need for playmaker like Carrick who lost his legs years ago and often struggles with high tempo and pacy players, Blind is little bit better, can actually run but is also very slow and at times struggles with physicality. I would love to have someone like Wanyama. He is underated imo, no yaya of course but great defensive midfielder of the mould we need

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Yeah, he missed the 2 great chances. He also was the only one committing players and making things happen apart from Valencia and actually doing something useful with it. Him, Valencia and Blind were easily and by far our best players today.

He was put in place to see majority of the possession, as with Rooney because of how Southampton played. If either of his chances had fallen to Rooney, our predicament would be a lot less severe than it ended up being. Him receiving the ball has never been a problem but he's an attacking midfielder that needs to create chances, which he fails at because he's not moving the ball quickly like he is capable of and he's certainly not beating his man with pace, so he needs to convert the chances he has.

This has been our formula the whole season, we do not create many chances but we have been extremely efficient off the ones we do end up creating, so we play 3 forwards close the box.

 

[fergieisold]

I could criticise him for missing a couple of chances, but that would be harsh considering he was fantastic today, our best player who pretty much single handedly created the chances he missed anyway. Infact I would go as far to say that was one of if not the best I've seen him for us.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Thought he was decent today. Was unlucky not to bag a goal.

 

[DWelbz19]

This is just moronic. You are obviously just seeing what you want to see. As for the misses, I'd say only the second one was a true howler, and I'm not too worried about him missing such chances in the future.

You can not be worried all you please, but he had three attempts to gain the side points and missed all three. As for the 'seeing what I want to see', we had 61% possession. How many times did Mata drive forward with the ball? How many times did he play van Persie or Di Maria in? He was more than content to sideways pass and delegate the ball despite being our main [alleged] creative hub.

 

[nick2004]

Results matter. An attacker's job is to get goals. Or assists. He didn't do either. He didn't do his job. On the contrary, he missed three chances. It was easy chances, especially for a 37 million player. How can anyone consider this "adequate"? (never mind MOM...)

 

[Maestro14]

Performance-wise he was one of our better players, but unfortunately he was the difference today. He had three very good chances; if he takes two of them then its 3 great points for United, and he really should've scored at least one.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

Results matter. An attacker's job is to get goals. Or assists. He didn't do either. He didn't do his job. On the contrary, he missed three chances. It was easy chances, especially for a 37 million player. How can anyone consider this "adequate"? (never mind MOM...)

He was in the right positions, and tbf to him he would usually score at least one of those chances, he was the best of a bad bunch as I can't think of any player that did better, so MOM yes, but on a day when this award shouldn't have been given out.

 

[jem]

He was in the right positions, and tbf to him he would usually score at least one of those chances, he was the best of a bad bunch as I can't think of any player that did better, so MOM yes, but on a day when this award shouldn't have been given out.

Well I'm not sure I'd give him MOM; probably go for Blind or even Valencia. But the strange thing is, had he not even been in a position to miss those chances, then people would likely have a more positive view of his performance today. That being said, how did he miss that second on?!

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

Well I'm not sure I'd give him MOM; probably go for Blind or even Valencia. But the strange thing is, had he not even been in a position to miss those chances, then people would likely have a more positive view of his performance today. That being said, how did he miss that second on?!

Dunno the second one is a bit of mystery, the other two are fairly forgivable, but that one was shocker, but his performance compared with Di Maria, Rooney, or RvP was so much better, Valencia did his usual bit of kick the ball past players, run fast, then cross terribly, Blind was ok for his first game back, Mata is quality but missed a sitter so the knives are out for him a bit.

 

[gasmanc]

I would give him a 'rest' our play is very laboured and slow in the last third, he's one of the reasons.
Herrera would be a better option to give some pace to attacks.
Can't believe I'm thinking/saying this but he just doesn't fit, he's a luxury player and for us to succeed we need a high press.
His mobility is fcking shocking for a man of his size and stature and he offers nothing in terms of pressing and defending.
If he's done anything to deserve starts its goal getting but today he had a shocker in that regard.
Sit it out a while Juan.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

The overtop criticism has to be coming from school kids. Yes, he missed golden chances, no doubt should have scored or at least hit the target but shit happens. He was there to get the opportunity, something other players were not doing.

I thought he had a decent enough game in what was an all-round poor performance, he was trying to make things happen.

 

[ottosec]

Shame he missed those chances, he deserved a goal, he was the only one who looked up to it when we were behind. Our best player in this game, but that doesn't say much, to be honest.

 

[Sylar]

Hes a second striker (off the striker) more than a midfielder. I wish we would start playing him there. Its so obvious he plays better up there rather than in midfield.

Dont think we would see City play Silva in midfield.

 

[Trizy]

Missed three easy chances in a row that could have easily won the game for us. I think I've seen Mata play well once this season, against Stoke. Other than that I fail to see what he brings to the team apart from popping up unmarked in the box and getting a goal. Our best XI for me wouldn't have him in it.

 

[gasmanc]

The overtop criticism has to be coming from school kids. Yes, he missed golden chances, no doubt should have scored or at least hit the target but shit happens. He was there to get the opportunity, something other players were not doing.

I thought he had a decent enough game in what was an all-round poor performance, he was trying to make things happen.

He's bordering on donkey.

I don't get it with him, his ability is outstanding, but the bloke moves like an elephant.
His scoring record is great though and I think it's his saving grace with fans so far, had that been Falcao today the knives would have been out, but a striker would have buried one of those.
Too immobile to be anywhere near midfield and not near clinical enough today.
The criticism is just to a degree as his ability to retain possession under pressure is shocking, should never have been cast into a fray with Schneiderlin and Wanayama.
The defensive performance from Southampton was excellent today and it all came from their midfield and while I agree Mata tried to make things happen, sadly for us he was easily controlled.

 

[711]

Mata and Valencia were easily our best players today. I get the impression some of our fans only ever watch highlights.

 

[Kag]

Mata had a good game yesterday. Missed chances happen, it's part and parcel of the game. What isn't acceptable is the lack of chances created, something Mata, on the whole, has to do more to change. Like all, however, he's slightly hampered by playing out of position inside a disjointed system.

 

[VanGaalEra]

Missed three easy chances in a row that could have easily won the game for us. I think I've seen Mata play well once this season, against Stoke. Other than that I fail to see what he brings to the team apart from popping up unmarked in the box and getting a goal. Our best XI for me wouldn't have him in it.

So you missed our games against QPR/Spurs/Newcastle and Liverpool then? And that's matches listed off the top of my head.

 

[ZDwyr]

Had a decent game but with poor finishing. I thought he was our second best player behind Valencia though.

 

[jem]

Mata had a good game yesterday. Missed chances happen, it's part and parcel of the game. What isn't acceptable is the lack of chances created, something Mata, on the whole, has to do more to change. Like all, however, he's slightly hampered by playing out of position inside a disjointed system.

I'd say this is a pretty fair assessment of Mata. He's been growing into the side over the last month or so, so hopefully he becomes even more assertive (and doesn't miss any more sitters.) I would like to see him taking all our corners and free-kicks as well.

 

[slir32]

Good game from him but his poor finishing makes people believe he had a bad one. Should have put one of those chances away though.

 

[Nighteyes]

The overtop criticism has to be coming from school kids. Yes, he missed golden chances, no doubt should have scored or at least hit the target but shit happens. He was there to get the opportunity, something other players were not doing.

I thought he had a decent enough game in what was an all-round poor performance, he was trying to make things happen.

What a silly point. School kids?

Are we really going to praise a player for missing chances becuse he was there to miss them? I certainly didn't see people queuing up to praise RVP when he was missing chances early on in the season or Welbeck before that.

 

[::sonny::]

This league is too phisically for him

 

[luckyspurs]

Great first half. Poor finishing.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

He's quite different to what I thought of him at his chelsea days. I expected his work in the buildup to be a lot better. He is actually very reliant on everything around unlike someone like silva who actively looks to create openings. I think we should play one of him and rooney rather than both. Building our whole buildip around two second strikers a bit odd.

 

[Kag]

This league is too phisically for him

Too physical yet at one point he was the best player in the league behind only Suarez and Bale? Nah.

 

[Bobcat]

Can't believe people are criticizing him after yesterday. Not a brilliant display by any means, and he should have scored, but he was the best of a bad bunch (except maybe Blind). This 352 nonsense is not working for anyone, Mata included. Stick him at the tip of a diamond, with Herrera and ADM behind him, and he will shine.

Mata is the kind of player who can massively improve a side if he has the right players around him, but will look invisible in a poorly composed side

 

[Ixion]

I'd rather have a player there missing the chances than getting no chances at all. He did alright, on anothr day he'd have equalised.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Mata and Valencia were easily our best players today. I get the impression some of our fans only ever watch highlights.

Agreed.

Dunno about people watching highlights but I've often thought that poor quality streams play a big part in the weird opinions you read on here. I reckon a lot of posters are watching the game in such poor quality footage that they're not even sure which player is on the ball at any given moment. Would explain a lot.

 

[Kostur]

Yea I agree that Mata was one of our best attacking players yesterday, alongside Valencia, but I see where people are coming from. Come to think about it, yesterday's game was a bit of a mirror of the SOTON away game, we've had like 2-3 chances overall (none on target) that could've been converted and were converted against SOTON away by RVP. Mata scores those two chances and it's 2-1.

Thing is though, when he's had those chances iirc he was already playing another #9 alongside Rooney, imo it should've been RVP playing there so first and foremost he shouldn't have been taken off for Herrera but yea, that's for another thread and it's been said plenty times already. I was watching the match with my family and told them after that second volley that he isn't going to score today, it was painted on his face and seconds later commentator said the same thing.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

What a silly point. School kids?

Are we really going to praise a player for missing chances becuse he was there to miss them? I certainly didn't see people queuing up to praise RVP when he was missing chances early on in the season or Welbeck before that.

I never praised him for the missed chances, I criticized him for it, bloody hell.

I said his all round play was good. New age fans and kids though will just look at key moments and throw their toys out of the pram blaming a loss on things like the misses, not seeing the bigger picture.