If one has to go from Mata, Martial, or Blind, which one?

I might be in a minority but I would say Mata by a long way

I want to make clear that Mata is a technically superb footballer and a credit to our club off the pitch

However, I believe his total lack of pace and physicality are totally at odds with what we want to achieve and how we want to play
 
ReallyUSA said:
Blind. Martial is still young, and there is a chance he'll get back to his form. We have such a bland team, so Mata's creativity is a necessity. Blind is a decent squad player, but in defense he's a mistake waiting to happen. Though I would like to see him in a defensive mix position.
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This seems to be repeated, but it doesn't really happen. Not more so than any other defenders we have. He is a solid, versatile defender, but there seems to be a belief he's just going to cave in and be the reason we concede heaps of goals, all of a sudden, despite always being a solid performer.

Getting rid of a good squad player who can cover a number of positions (who also appears happy to be a squad player) doesn't really make any sense.


However, I don't see why any need to be sold.
 
ivaldo said:
Martial has the talent, Blind can play literally anywhere so probably Mata.
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Blind only plays lb and cb. Mata plays rw and am. It is a myth that Blind can play anywhere, under Mourinho. He was tried as a cdm under lvg and was poor. We can try Mata as an 8 and he will most likely be poor. Blind will not play cdm, most likely and thus plays the same amount of positions as Mata.
 
The lack of appreciation for Mata on here is bizarre. He contributes something positive for us almost every time he plays.

He was second top scorer last season, and whilst we are looking active in the market there is still uncertainty about our creativity, where the goals are coming from, and who is going to step up and replace the overall influence of Rooney and Zlatan. Yet despite this, many of you would quite happily get rid of yet another hugely popular senior player, who also happens to be one of our most consistent creative influences and goal threats.

Surely we would lose far more than we gain? Who else do we have who can operate in 3 or 4 different attacking positions and still be effective, either as a play-maker or a goalscorer?

I agree Martial has potential, but he is far from fulfilling it. He hasn't flourished under Jose, and I don't think he will get many opportunities to do so next season either, considering we are looking to sign Perisic. Tbh i don't even feel he is ahead of Rashford for playing on the left. So for me, Perisic and Rashford will both be ahead of him next year. Looking to me like it could be another frustrating season of occasional starts, under high scrutiny and ever increasing pressure for Martial, while Mata will continue to make important contributions with his usual goals and assists whenever he is called upon.

Same goes for Blind as for Mata, what fee we would bring in for them, in no way outweighs what we would lose.
 
Is this serious? Blind is easily the worst footballer of the 3.
 
I can think of half a dozen I'd get rid of before these 3.

Martial - no way give him the chance to develop on his first season.

Mata - we still need his guile unless we sign a new no.10.

Blind - Ideal squad player for me.

Young, Jones, Smalling, Darmian, Fellani & Lingard all ahead of them in my list for the exit.
 
The thread should be about Smalling/Jones, Darmian/Shaw/Blind, Young/Fosu-Mensah/Tuanzebe, positions in which we're overfilled and that do have a chance of players being sold/loaned.
 
Rossa said:
Blind only plays lb and cb. Mata plays rw and am. It is a myth that Blind can play anywhere, under Mourinho. He was tried as a cdm under lvg and was poor. We can try Mata as an 8 and he will most likely be poor. Blind will not play cdm, most likely and thus plays the same amount of positions as Mata.
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Barely tried and during a time our team was a mess. It's not a myth, he can quite comfortably play anywhere along the back and in midfield. Mata is no better a right winger than Blind is a DM. Irregardless we are well stacked in offensive arras, even if it isn't to the quality some would like, while our options at LB aren't great.
 
apotheosis said:
Only speculation of course and i wouldn't want any of them to leave. We are looking to improve, and we won't do that getting rid of valued and reliable squad players.

But, objectively I would probably sell Martial with a buy back clause. He just hasn't been up to much really, despite me really wanting him to do better, and I think bringing in Perisic will severely limit his opportunities. Blind is an excellent utility player, and Mata was our second top scorer last season, probably one of our more creative too, can play in a few different positions, as well as bein our only true #10, plus he understands he isn't going to play in every match.

Martial plays one position and not even that effectively. So we don't get much from him really. Poor goal return, doesn't put in much of a shift, and isn't exactly creating assists for teammates. He is also the only one who would be actually worth selling. Selling Mata for 15m is pointless, we would lose far more than we would gain. Same goes for Blind really.

Not in the thread i know, but i would personally rather sell Lingard before any of those mentioned.
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He had one poor season. At the age of 21. After being our top scorer in the previous season, playing mainly from the left side in a team desperately lacking in both creativity and attacking intent.

It's amazing how fickle everyone is regarding Martial. He's already written off because he wasn't very good in ONE season. After a brilliant debut season. While Lingard is rewarded with a new contract for doing sweet feck all.
 
Why one of those three? Weird thread. Blind if I have to pick. Mata contributes positively in most games he plays. Martial I'm not ready to give up on.
 
Blind is a fantastic player, unlike fellaini blind is a player who never looks out of place in the position he's asked of. Blind plays at CB and owns that position brilliantly, who was crucial in that europa league final, blind should not even be on the list who is what a special utility player he is
 
ivaldo said:
Barely tried and during a time our team was a mess. It's not a myth, he can quite comfortably play anywhere along the back and in midfield. Mata is no better a right winger than Blind is a DM. Irregardless we are well stacked in offensive arras, even if it isn't to the quality some would like, while our options at LB aren't great.
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Are you kidding? Mata has proven very useful on the right wing. He drifts in and enjoys playing with Valencia. Mata on the rw, Valencia at rb and Herrera at rcm worked very well.

Blind has played poorly at cdm when given the chance, and it looks very unlikely he will be given the chance again, so you thinking he could play there is moot. Playing there in th Dutch league and in the PL are different things. Mourinho has played Mata as an attacking mid and a rw. Therefore, Mourinho sees both fit for two positions; however, he mostly sees Blind as a lb, and even then he seems to be third choice. Blind's ability to play several positions is vastly exaggerated. We are quite well stocked in defense now as well, more so than in attack.
 
Rossa said:
Are you kidding? Mata has proven very useful on the right wing. He drifts in and enjoys playing with Valencia. Mata on the rw, Valencia at rb and Herrera at rcm worked very well.

Blind has played poorly at cdm when given the chance, and it looks very unlikely he will be given the chance again, so you thinking he could play there is moot. Playing there in th Dutch league and in the PL are different things. Mourinho has played Mata as an attacking mid and a rw. Therefore, Mourinho sees both fit for two positions; however, he mostly sees Blind as a lb, and even then he seems to be third choice. Blind's ability to play several positions is vastly exaggerated. We are quite well stocked in defense now as well, more so than in attack.
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Well no, he's played well at DM when not under the management of LVG. It's odd to me that the clear negative effect LVG had on so many players seems utterly forgotten when it doesn't suit a premise. You don't have to look far to see how, despite playing in the same position, a player can vastly improve when used properly. Surely Herrera should give you reason for pause when writing off a player on the basis of half a dozen games playing under poor management?

How many times do Mata play AM last season?
 
OnlyTwoDaSilvas said:
This seems to be repeated, but it doesn't really happen. Not more so than any other defenders we have. He is a solid, versatile defender, but there seems to be a belief he's just going to cave in and be the reason we concede heaps of goals, all of a sudden, despite always being a solid performer.

Getting rid of a good squad player who can cover a number of positions (who also appears happy to be a squad player) doesn't really make any sense.


However, I don't see why any need to be sold.
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This is all sake of conversation. In a league that has such physical players, he seems to get bullied quite easy. Also gets caught out of position a lot. I think this is due to the fact he's not a real cb. He came here as a cdm, and an option for left back. He's one of the creations that never went back to normal. I rather see a broken down Smalling or Jones.
 
ivaldo said:
Well no, he's played well at DM when not under the management of LVG. It's odd to me that the clear negative effect LVG had on so many players seems utterly forgotten when it doesn't suit a premise. You don't have to look far to see how, despite playing in the same position, a player can vastly improve when used properly. Surely Herrera should give you reason for pause when writing off a player on the basis of half a dozen games playing under poor management?

How many times do Mata play AM last season?
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All of the pre-season friendlies, to start of.

I count 7/33 games of Mata as #10 (in 4-2-3-1): Leicester (h), Zorya (h), Stoke (h), Fenerbahçe (h), Burnley (h), West Ham (h), Tottenham (a). Seems there's a clear tendency to play him there at home, specially in the first part of the season, but mostly on the right-wing and away.
 
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Three decent and extremely likeable players but they all would have difficulties to play in top CL sides sadly.

Martial obviously should stay as being a long term project and quite a challenge for Mourinho's player management skills.
 
Siorac said:
He had one poor season. At the age of 21. After being our top scorer in the previous season, playing mainly from the left side in a team desperately lacking in both creativity and attacking intent.

It's amazing how fickle everyone is regarding Martial. He's already written off because he wasn't very good in ONE season. After a brilliant debut season. While Lingard is rewarded with a new contract for doing sweet feck all.
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Mata hasn't had any poor seasons and has become an important player for every manager he has played under. Martial was one bright spark in an otherwise dismal campaign under LVG.

Unfortunately for Martial, his one poor season has occurred under our current manager, who is now actively looking to spend almost 50m on an alternative player for his position. There is just no way Jose is paying that to play Martial ahead of him. Martial wasn't first choice last season, and in fact was overlooked on many occasions in favor of Rashford and Lingard. So irrespective of his undeniable talent, Jose clearly doesn't fancy him much, and with Perisic looking ever likelier, i doubt we can reasonably expect him to have much opportunity to kick on this season.
 
Android1974 said:
All of the pre-season friendlies, to start of.

I count 7/33 games of Mata as #10 (in 4-2-3-1): Leicester (h), Zorya (h), Stoke (h), Fenerbahçe (h), Burnley (h), West Ham (h), Tottenham (a). Seems there's a clear tendency to play him there at home, specially in the first part of the season, but mostly on the right-wing and away.
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So 7 times and only once in a big game which was Spurs away. He didn't play the full 90 there either, did he?
 
ivaldo said:
So 7 times and only once in a big game which was Spurs away. He didn't play the full 90 there either, did he?
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He never plays 90' anywhere in the pitch. And that Tottenham away game wasn't an important one, at all. You can say those home games weren't big, I can also add that they weren't very successful either, lots of draws there.
 
ReallyUSA said:
This is all sake of conversation. In a league that has such physical players, he seems to get bullied quite easy. Also gets caught out of position a lot. I think this is due to the fact he's not a real cb. He came here as a cdm, and an option for left back. He's one of the creations that never went back to normal. I rather see a broken down Smalling or Jones.
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I disagree. Given his size and lack of physicality, I don't think he gets bullied that much at all. He's done very well against big strikers when he's constantly predicted to get his arse handed to him. The one area he is can often be beaten is pace. Quicker players do get behind him frequently, but that is common across the board. A fast attacker will get behind a slower defender more often than not.

His versatility, his intelligence on the pitch, and no signs of unrest at being a squad player, I see him as a very valuable asset. If we sell him, he'd probably have to be replaced with another squad player, so it doesn't seem logical to move him on, unless he himself asks to leave.
 
ReallyUSA said:
Blind. Martial is still young, and there is a chance he'll get back to his form. We have such a bland team, so Mata's creativity is a necessity. Blind is a decent squad player, but in defense he's a mistake waiting to happen. Though I would like to see him in a defensive mix position.
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septic said:
Obviously Blind.

Then Mata, by a distance.

Martial last, also by a distance.
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Judas said:
Blind

Mata






Martial

Not a hard decision.
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cantona7676 said:
Blind
Mata
Martial
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Dazzmondo said:
Blind. I definitely don't want to lose Mata or Martial. Martial in particular would be devastating
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vi1lain said:
Blind by a distance
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Dante said:
Blind. Obviously. How could any sane person suggest otherwise?
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el3mel said:
Blind.
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MAME DIOUF 32 said:
Blind all day.
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:( I think I'm gonna cry.

C'est Moi Cantona said:
The opinion I expected tbh, but personally I'd sell Mata first, though wouldn't surprise me if Jose went for Martial.
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So the expected opinion is Blind, your opinion is Mata and Jose's opinion is Martial. I think I just understood why you chose these three particular players. That's what I came here for, I guess.
 
Android1974 said:
He never plays 90' anywhere in the pitch. And that Tottenham away game wasn't an important one, at all. You can say those home games weren't big, I can also add that they weren't very successful either, lots of draws there.
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Not necessarily important, but they can be classed as big opposition I suppose. Still, sort of shows Mata is only realistically considered an option in one position, a position a lot of people think he is unsuited to.
 
Blind is a liability on the pitch. He fools everyone with his pretty passing, but he averages a mistake a game that almost always costs us a goal. No pace, no physique, gets skinned by a half decent forward and makes Smallingesque gaffes. A failed DM and a mediocre LB, and an even worse CB. We can do better in terms of a squad player.

Mata is a good squad player but shouldn't be starting for a top team.

Martial had technique and end product in his first season but his second season is disappointing. Remains to be seen how he develops.

So yeah, sell Blind.
 
ivaldo said:
Not necessarily important, but they can be classed as big opposition I suppose. Still, sort of shows Mata is only realistically considered an option in one position, a position a lot of people think he is unsuited to.
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It depends on the tactical switch Mourinho will impose to account for Lukaku's game. Mata do seems unlikely at #10 most of the games without asking for too much midfield protection. But in a eventual 4-4-2 he might play secondary-striker, for instance.
 
LawCharltonBest said:
It's like asking who I'd rather kick out of bed from Beyonce, Elizabeth Hurley or Theresa May.

Obviously Blind.
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Comparing Blind with May.. What is wrong with you? Such a cool intelligent guy, that too from Netherlands. I'd gladly kick you out of that bed and let him go instead of me with Beyonce and Hurley.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Blind is the new John O'Shea. Squad player versatile in different positions. I'd keep him.

Mata/Martial/Mkhi all offer pretty much similar outputs. We should be able to get rid of 1.
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We started last season with 8 attacking players, we now have 6! Why on earth should we be able to get rid of one?
 
Blind is the one who's talents are most easily replaced generally.

But Mata is the one who's talents we probably have the most cover for between Mkhitaryan, Pogba and Herrera.

On the other hand two of our most important players would be gutted if Mata were sold. So Blind it is.
 
SirMattBugsby said:
:( I think I'm gonna cry.



So the expected opinion is Blind, your opinion is Mata and Jose's opinion is Martial. I think I just understood why you chose these three particular players. That's what I came here for, I guess.
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Where's the evidence that Jose's opinion is Martial?
If anything, Blind was only used at LB due to Shaw's lack of consistency & ability to stay fit, and the CB crisis towards the end of the season.
In a fully fit team he's 3rd choice at LB and 7th choice at CB? Possibly 8th if Tuanzebe gets more minutes this season.
 
vi1lain said:
Where's the evidence that Jose's opinion is Martial?
If anything, Blind was only used at LB due to Shaw's lack of consistency & ability to stay fit, and the CB crisis towards the end of the season.
In a fully fit team he's 3rd choice at LB and 7th choice at CB? Possibly 8th if Tuanzebe gets more minutes this season.
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Jose has cricitised Martial more than any other player in the team and overlooked him on a regular basis.
 
ivaldo said:
Jose has cricitised Martial more than any other player in the team and overlooked him on a regular basis.
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That doesn't mean that he doesn't rate him or he wants him gone, or atleast it's not evidence of that.
It could be quite the opposite - that he rates him quite highly and actually wants more from him for example.
 
vi1lain said:
That doesn't mean that he doesn't rate him or he wants him gone, or atleast it's not evidence of that.
It could be quite the opposite - that he rates him quite highly and actually wants more from him for example.
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Of course, but It's more evidence than there is for Blind and Mata.
 
Don't understand why you chose these three but for me, Martial.

Blind is the ultimate squad player, Mata has been one of our best goal scorers over the past 2 years despite playing from the right.

Martial is still potential and a handful of good performances, could go either way.
 
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