Scholes played centre mid and as a support striker he shat on Mata for dynamism and energy. Just a better player in every sense.
That match highlights what a legendary player he could be in such illustrious company. Ran the show for us, despite us being on the losing side.. he didn't hide, he kept wanting the ball, kept moving non stop, kept us going forwards.
As for Sheringham, he was a striker and a part of a quartet, it is not remotely comparable. We had a side full of world class players so we could afford to keep Sheringham to offer us something different, add abit of guile to our usually gung ho energetic style of football... he wasn't the default setting or the guy we built a team around. Nor did we spend £40m on him.
He is not a good comparison to make. Mata would come off the bench in the 99 side and be a decent squad player but he wouldn't dislodge any of Beckham, Scholes, Keane, Giggs.. or the front two. He wouldn't do that in the 08 side either. He is not good enough, end of as a first team player for a side which aspires to be the creme de le creme of England and Europe.