[AP88]

Take away his assists and he's more of a liability than Lingard. But he keeps on pulling them out of nowhere....

But, for me, he can and should be upgraded; his general anonymity has a detrimental effect on the team, and for every one direct assist, a more involved player can facilitate two by linking play, occupying opposition ect....think Lallana last season.

Ive said it before, but i think Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal version circa 2014 or for Wales now) would be a huge success as an industrious #10 in this United team.

 

[Ashley R1+O]

He's a strange footballer, a little sloppy and messy but when put on point and into clutch situations he pulls the trigger and is devastating.

 

[prtk0811]

As a winger he is zero threat to teams, the effectiveness is just not there. He is only effective as a cam. And it will be a huge problem for us as the only remaining options are mata lingard or rashford or even martial there.

 

[prtk0811]

He is scoring assists, but he also needs to score goals in the epl, which he has not scored yet.

 

[Santoryo]

Take away his assists and he's more of a liability than Lingard. But he keeps on pulling them out of nowhere....

But, for me, he can and should be upgraded; his general anonymity has a detrimental effect on the team, and for every one direct assist, a more involved player can facilitate two by linking play, occupying opposition ect....think Lallana last season.

Ive said it before, but i think Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal version circa 2014 or for Wales now) would be a huge success as an industrious #10 in this United team.

Dude re read your own post to see how ridiculous it sounds.

"Take away his assists". It's quite funny seeing people trying to talk about something as important as assists as if they were sideway passes which should just be disregarded when evaluating a player's performance and importance to a team.

 

[kouroux]

Is that technically an assist since Lukaku's first shot was saved ?

 

[roonster09]

Is that technically an assist since Lukaku's first shot was saved ?

Don't think it should count. In every site it's not counted but official PL says he made 6 assists which means they counted it.

Weird as if you go and check results in PL website, under assists it mentioned only Pogba.

Edit: It's not counted by any site. Even PL official site. I looked it wrongly.

 

[Jacob]

Shouldn't be played on the flank. He is made for the number 10 role. Mourinho was a coward for playing 3 CMs.

 

[kouroux]

Don't think it should count. In every site it's not counted but official PL says he made 6 assists which means they counted it.

Weird as if you go and check results in PL website, under assists it mentioned only Pogba.

Edit: It's not counted by any site. Even PL official site. I looked it wrongly.

So why are some caftards talking about another assist ?

 

[roonster09]

So why are some caftards talking about another assist ?

No idea, even Pogba's wasn't counted assist against Swansea IIRC.

 

[luke511]

It's hugely important we have 2 technical players, ie Mata and Mkhitaryan, on the pitch for us at all time. That's one of the main reasons why we've been more effective in the final third this season. Without both of them our possession becomes cagey and inconsistent.

 

[Freak]

Take away his assists and he's more of a liability than Lingard. But he keeps on pulling them out of nowhere....

But, for me, he can and should be upgraded; his general anonymity has a detrimental effect on the team, and for every one direct assist, a more involved player can facilitate two by linking play, occupying opposition ect....think Lallana last season.

Ive said it before, but i think Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal version circa 2014 or for Wales now) would be a huge success as an industrious #10 in this United team.

I'd like to have whatever you've been having.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Mkhi is phenomenal in the middle and pretty average out wide. There's no secret to that and it shouldn't surprise anyone he wasn't great (along with our entire team pretty much yesterday).

For what it's worth, I'd probably start Martial and Rashford on the LW/RW (they can interchange) next game. Martial's cross to Lukaku which he somehow missed was a dream. Then Mkhi plays where he should at 10 with Pog/Matic behind

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Take away his assists and he's more of a liability than Lingard. But he keeps on pulling them out of nowhere....

But, for me, he can and should be upgraded; his general anonymity has a detrimental effect on the team, and for every one direct assist, a more involved player can facilitate two by linking play, occupying opposition ect....think Lallana last season.

Ive said it before, but i think Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal version circa 2014 or for Wales now) would be a huge success as an industrious #10 in this United team.

Why should we take away his assists? That's what makes him the player he is. He has an eye for match winning passes.

 

[Ish]

Dude re read your own post to see how ridiculous it sounds.

"Take away his assists". It's quite funny seeing people trying to talk about something as important as assists as if they were sideway passes which should just be disregarded when evaluating a player's performance and importance to a team.

Yeah agreed. A bit like saying take away Inzaghi's goals and you'd basically be playing with 10 men.

 

[izec]

I like Mkhi, but something is weird with his strength. He has a great body, technique, pace, muscular legs and a good upper body, but he gets outmuscled so easily and seems to lose a lot of 50/50 for some reason. I expect him to be more robust and come out of tight situations with the ball more often, but the opposite happens. he has the ingredients, but for some reason it doesnt work out as well as when he has space and time.

You wait for it to click and everything to fall into place, but it never happens. It is like he is playing with 80 percent out there. I wait for him to show some balls and show us what he is really capable of, and not hide to pop up here and there. he really has the talent, but is happy to just play the supporting role instead of going for it from start to finish.

 

[Gopher Brown]

Yeah agreed. A bit like saying take away Inzaghi's goals and you'd basically be playing with 10 men.

Take away de Gea's hands and he's a shit keeper

 

[Trizy]

I know he's got some assists and that's great, but when you watch the entire 90 minutes of each game he's played this season the majority of them is actually pretty poor. Spends far too long not doing a whole lot.

This.

 

[Donsangre]

Yeah agreed. A bit like saying take away Inzaghi's goals and you'd basically be playing with 10 men.

Haha, I love it. However, unlike Indzagi, Mkhi also is pretty good at defending.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Bar the run and pass for the second, I thought he was pretty rubbish... It might just be me, but I swear he loses the ball quite a lot - far more then a player of his stature should at least.

 

[pocco]

Bar the run and pass for the second, I thought he was pretty rubbish... It might just be me, but I swear he loses the ball quite a lot - far more then a player of his stature should at least.

It's not just you. He's terrible when receiving the ball under pressure or with his back to goal. I think opposition players know this because they are on to him straight away, dispossessing him.

 

[SirAF]

Take away his assists and he's more of a liability than Lingard. But he keeps on pulling them out of nowhere....

But, for me, he can and should be upgraded; his general anonymity has a detrimental effect on the team, and for every one direct assist, a more involved player can facilitate two by linking play, occupying opposition ect....think Lallana last season.

Ive said it before, but i think Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal version circa 2014 or for Wales now) would be a huge success as an industrious #10 in this United team.

 

[Treble]

It's hugely important we have 2 technical players, ie Mata and Mkhitaryan, on the pitch for us at all time. That's one of the main reasons why we've been more effective in the final third this season. Without both of them our possession becomes cagey and inconsistent.

Would a midfield of Matic and Pogba be enough against top opposition? I doubt it.

 

[barmyarmy]

He didn't have best of games, our game plan was pretty clear to make runs behind their defence & Mkhi to make those through balls he atleast tried 3-4 through balls (other than 2nd goal) which would have put our attacker 1 on 1 against keeper. He put a cross at near post nobody gambled to take a run. Having said that he really doesn't shield the ball well when he receives under pressure.

Our main issue is off the ball runs apart from Rashford/ Lukaku & mata when he plays we don't make enough penetrating runs. A player who has the ball once passes should be on the move which we don't do enough.

 

[MeUnited]

Problem is Mata's a superior player but people won't accept it because Mkhi is the new toy. Despite the fact he's had maybe three good 90 minutes in a United shirt, even when he gets played at 10 and the slower Mata gets shunted to the right.

 

[Blind]

Still frustratingly flaky, the good is sometimes really good, but it's always just flashes. I'd like to see Mata centrally on Tuesday, seems like an ideal time to give him licence in that number 10 role and let him stake a claim for starting there in the league.

 

[breakout67]

Problem is Mata's a superior player but people won't accept it because Mkhi is the new toy. Despite the fact he's had maybe three good 90 minutes in a United shirt, even when he gets played at 10 and the slower Mata gets shunted to the right.

Mata is a specialist in not being able to sustain a performance over 90 minutes. Not to mention Mata is a massive liability in the middle on the transition. Mata has never been up to the required level to be a no.10 regardless of opposition because he cannot carry the ball or provide a physical presence in midfield; he is a pass and move player with good end product (has the attacking quality but not the defensive quality for a no.10).

Mata is a good player but he is a certain sub late into the game when we want to close a game out because of his defensive frailties.

 

[Amar__]

Mata is a specialist in not being able to sustain a performance over 90 minutes.

Oh, the irony. Criticising Mata for that in the Micki thread.

 

[breakout67]

Oh, the irony. Criticising Mata for that in the Micki thread.

Holy feck, read the post im replying to. He said Mata is better than Mkhitaryan because Mkhi doesnt have a good 90 minutes often. His post is the one that is ironic.

I know it might be hard for you to believe, but criticizing Mata doesnt automatically mean that Mkhi does not share the same criticism.

Both Mata and Mkhi do not sustain their level throughout the whole game.

 

[AP88]

Holy feck, read the post im replying to. He said Mata is better than Mkhitaryan because Mkhi doesnt have a good 90 minutes often. His post is the one that is ironic.

I know it might be hard for you to believe, but criticizing Mata doesnt automatically mean that Mkhi does not share the same criticism.

Both Mata and Mkhi do not sustain their level throughout the whole game.

Replace both. Simple.

 

[breakout67]

Replace both. Simple.

I think if we want to be one of the best teams in Europe then neither are up to the quality as no.10. But for the league they are sufficient because you don't need as good a team to win the league.

Mkhi is definitely weak in possession (loses the ball when pressured quite often); but he is very creative and defensively intelligent.

Griezmann would have been the upgrade to both of them, but we didnt get him.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

He's a weird one. It's similar to Zlatan last year. Didn't particularly play well and was non existent in some games yet for 5 minutes they'd produce something.
I hope Miki starts to produce over 90 mins and really stamp his authority on games. Seems to be the same issue with Mata. Both great players just struggiling to produce consistently over 90 minutes.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He's a weird one. It's similar to Zlatan last year. Didn't particularly play well and was non existent in some games yet for 5 minutes they'd produce something.
I hope Miki starts to produce over 90 mins and really stamp his authority on games. Seems to be the same issue with Mata. Both great players just struggiling to produce consistently over 90 minutes.

Indeed. And it's a bit of a worry when you consider how important/effective the equivalent players are for our title rivals. Imagine how good we'd be if we were getting performances out of them consistently at the same level as City are getting from De Bruyn and David Silva, or Spurs from Eriksen?

 

[Jaybomb]

It really twists my nipples when someone says "Take away the _____ and he's rubbish!"

You could say that for just about any player ever. But I find it more hilarious when people say something like "Take away his goals and he's a rubbish striker!"... that's like saying "Take away his hands and he's a rubbish keeper"

Deluded. Some people have let stats and in depth analysis ruin the simplicity of the game. Football is simple. You score more goals than your opponent and you win the match.

I blame Football Manager for this Chess-like mentality. It's borderline cringeworthy how far some people take it when judging a player that they're very obviously masking their agenda against.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Indeed. And it's a bit of a worry when you consider how important/effective the equivalent players are for our title rivals. Imagine how good we'd be if we were getting performances out of them consistently at the same level as City are getting from De Bruyn and David Silva, or Spurs from Eriksen?

Yeah, when I've had discussions on this before the players you've listed are what I'm always comparing it to. They just always seem to be in the game and influencing it. Isco as well but bit of an unfair comparison as the boy has been on fire since the start of the year near enough.

Mkhitaryan that year before he came here looked awesome, so did Kagawa tho and well Mata has for me kinda always been the same. I can't decide if we ruin these players or we just don't get the right guy. It's a frustrating situation as both are clearly talented but I just never feel like they do enough over a game.

 

[MeUnited]

Yeah, when I've had discussions on this before the players you've listed are what I'm always comparing it to. They just always seem to be in the game and influencing it. Isco as well but bit of an unfair comparison as the boy has been on fire since the start of the year near enough.

Mkhitaryan that year before he came here looked awesome, so did Kagawa tho and well Mata has for me kinda always been the same. I can't decide if we ruin these players or we just don't get the right guy. It's a frustrating situation as both are clearly talented but I just never feel like they do enough over a game.

Give Mata an extended run at the number 10. I can't for the life of me remember more than 4 or 5 games he's played as a 10.

 

[Trequartistry]

Take away his assists and he's more of a liability than Lingard. But he keeps on pulling them out of nowhere....

But, for me, he can and should be upgraded; his general anonymity has a detrimental effect on the team, and for every one direct assist, a more involved player can facilitate two by linking play, occupying opposition ect....think Lallana last season.

Ive said it before, but i think Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal version circa 2014 or for Wales now) would be a huge success as an industrious #10 in this United team.

This is actually a good post, agree with all of it apart from the Ramsey part.

 

[shield]

His contribution is always patchy. There are periods where you will even struggle to notice him on the pitch, then he will suddenly do something brilliant and then go missing again. I like him, but like Mata, he is very lightweight and struggles when the tide is against the team. If one or two other players are having a slightly off game, like Pogba and Herrera in the last game, then the team really struggles if Mikhi is also in the same team.

If others shine, and the team is on the front foot then Mikhi/Mata make the team even better, but if the team is struggling, then they are mostly a huge liability because of their inability to influence the game on their own. One could even make a case for preferring Fellaini over them in such situations.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Give Mata an extended run at the number 10. I can't for the life of me remember more than 4 or 5 games he's played as a 10.

True but then he plays there has one decent game then 2 fairly disappointing ones. Now tho the team or the front 3 have a lot more movement than what he has had before so he should have people to pass to and hit. I'd like to see what happens when he has Rashford, Martial and Lukaku to play passes to instead of the static front line we've had pretty much since his arrival bar 1 season.

 

[izec]

Could have had 2 assists yesterday, if Lukaku had scored directly and if Rashford didnt touch Pogba's header. Mourinho also plays him at every opportunity, seems he is doing alright. Still hope he improves and shows more decisive actions during the game and not disappear completely at times.