I don't think anyone's suggesting that one player can solve our problems.
8
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If we're going to play with a number 10, then he shouldn't be on the bench, in my opinion.
After Fellaini tonight, there is no way people can say that him "being too easily barged off the ball" is a reason to not play him...
Why does everyone have to be so melodramatic? Is anyone really suggesting that he'll single-handedly solve our problems? That would be foolish to think. However, I imagine that many, including myself, think that he would be an upgrade over Fellaini.
Ah sorry, just read this after previously posting. Still, I think he would help out.I have not suggested anyone has, i'm just stating my opinion on him.
I reckon he'll end up at Barca and never look back.
More than 10 games since he got a start... Ridiculous.
Yep. People will always find reasons not to play someone and just stick with what the managers doing, like many did with Herrera, but the thing is, nobody is playing better. Herrera came in and was an immediate improvement and we as a team look better with him on the pitch. Right now, same thing at the #10 position. Rooney has clearly shown he's our best striker, so we need to change things in the hole. Mata has been inconsistent this season but is clearly our most talented player, so he really should be getting more chances.
If that's the case, I guess he will still be with us next season. Unless we sell him elsewhere first
We dominate possession and it's all a bit slow. This suits Mata and would be similar to how he had it at Chelsea, so why not give him a go as number 10 behind Rooney. This Fellaini nonsense needs to stop.
A fecking disgrace... so would say a real ***********. This is just unacceptable by any stretch to have someone like Mata on the bench when Fellaini should be a last resort plan ATM.
Don't worry. Falcao will almost certainly start against Spurs...
Barca don't play with a 10, so he won't fit there.
Reckon we'd have won the match had he started instead of fellaini, and I'm no Mata fan.
Bizarre that he's not getting used more. I'm guessing Van Gaal wants Fellaini's physicality but we could use a few more goals, which Mata could provide.
I don't see LvG playing Mata as one of the midfield 3 against Spurs, so his only shot of starting is if he gets picked over Januzaj to play on the right of the front 3.
It's over for him. He'll probably be off on a loan deal come the summer.
Not a sniff, very hopeful he'd get a start today. But not to feature at all is puzzling, so suited to today's game. See why Fellaini opted for and favoured but really don't agree with it. It screams of anti-football despite the Belgians efforts and that he isn't having a bad season at all, it is just a struggle to see the need for him at times.
Shame for Mata, he certainly deserves more than this, in the quality he has shown off the bench. Love to see him get a run in the side but the chance of that looks slim to none. A bit of positivity he'd bring and to veer away from the route taken with Fellaini and predictability of that.
Shame for Mata, he certainly deserves more than this, in the quality he has shown off the bench. Love to see him get a run in the side but the chance of that looks slim to none. A bit of positivity he'd bring and to veer away from the route taken with Fellaini and predictability of that.
The only thing he does is get goals really, he is terrible off the ball and can't seem to have an impact on a teams overall gameplay, that being said would have liked to see him play against Arsenal.
He is on course to leave in the summer to Juventus
He is on course to leave in the summer to Juventus
Think it's getting to the point where people are overrating him just because he has been out for a while. He hasn't been that good all season, not sure why him coming in would magically turn us around. Having said that, there is no doubt he has been underused lately and I would like to see him become more involved.
I'm depressed.
Is this a general important life comment or just because Mata isn't getting game time?
If Mata doesn't start the next game, it could become a life issue.
I just can't for the life of me get my head around the argument for him not playing or people wanting Fellaini ahead of him.
Well I'd be prepared mate.
It's a physical thing, we have so many light players that LvG favours having Fellaini in there, and of the other CM roles Mata does less work than Herrera and Blind.
If we have the ball at our feet (those of Mata's not Fellaini's) we don't need the physicality, ability and quality will shine through. We have to go with Fellaini because he is the only player tall enough to see the ball in the lights when it comes down.
When you have the ball at your feet you need to move quickly with it and be able to protect it, unfortunately Mata is so easily knocked off the ball and has no pace to get away from challenges when he has it, that's why LvG is reluctant to use him, and I think in the PL you need a physical player in midfield, all the top 7 teams have one bar us.
Judging by Fellaini performances, he don't really do well with the ball at his feet. He was only good when the ball is in the air. There is no reason to have a physical player in midfield when he commits foul every challenge. We need a player who tackles the ball and not the player. Mata on the other hand has good technical skills and ball distribution which is what a number 10 should be doing. Back to the same argument, City has Silva, Chelsea has Oscar and Real Madrid has Isco.
Well play a physical player in midfield and Mata in front where he is at his best. Not rocket science. Mata has proven he can do it in the Premier League, it's not his physical attributes holding him back, it's van Gaal's selections .
Fellaini isn't great with the ball at his feet I agree, but he protects it and lays it off reasonably well, but don't mistake this for me being a fan of what he brings, he's simply the only car we have in the lot for the role LvG needs right now. The huge difference between the 3 players you mention and Mata is strength on the ball and some pace as well as defensive workrate, also for the two that actually play in our league they have big unites like Matic and Fernando to do the dirty work and allow them to play.
How would we do that in a 4-3-3 which is what LvG is using right now? If we switched to a 4-2-3-1 that would put too much defensive reliance on Fellaini as part of the two and positionally he's poor, it might work with Blind and Carrick sitting I guess, in all honestly the midfield is so full of slowness and lacking in athletes that it's a big issue in general.
Herrera with Blind or Carrick in midfield with Mata in the hole.
I can accept arguments to have two strikers and that could affect Mata but when Fellaini is played off the striker with Mata on the bench just kills me.
I can accept arguments to have two strikers and that could affect Mata but when Fellaini is played off the striker with Mata on the bench just kills me.
I don't think he's going to play that as basically we'd be left with two lighter players with very little pace as the holding CM's and Mata offering no tracking back to help them out, Fellaini for all his flaws does put in the defensive effort when we lose the ball.
I agree. Mata always hurts Arsenal.
This should've been our line up...
--------------------DDG------------------
Val-------Smalling------Rojo------Shaw
-----Herrera----------------Blind--------
Di Maria-----------Mata-----------Young
-------------------Rooney----------------
Its crazy really, i can see the physicality argument and think Fellaini is useful but not for every game.
Im convinced that as with Rafael the manager is doing it to stroke his own ego of doing things his way and as per usual relying on his odd decisions for him to be heralded a genius, not working though is it?
Im convinced that as with Rafael the manager is doing it to stroke his own ego of doing things his way and as per usual relying on his odd decisions for him to be heralded a genius, not working though is it?
The reason Mata is on the bench is the same reason Mourinho put him on the bench. Talented player he is... He is too weak and slow. If he could opporate as a winger in a 4-3-3 im sure he would have got more games. But he would need to be a lot stronger. Next season I hope we replace him with a Bale or De Bruyne
Like when Fergie refused to play Nani over Valencia or both at the sametime in a big game. Or when he did and we lost to City and everyone was screaming why drop an out of form Valencia. Mangers make strange decisions sometimes but to think it's based on their ego is just as bizarre.
Mata has good technical skills, yes - as in his ability to trap and pass a ball accurately. But one of his limitations is that he's not particularly good at turning, shielding or twisting with the ball. He has to play the way he's facing too much for a number 10 in those often congested areas.
How many times have we seen Mata literally have to move sideways/away from goal to get the opposition marker off his back so he can turn around? It's not for no reason.
It affects quite a bit of his game. From the areas of the pitch he moves into, to what he actually does when he receives the ball under pressure. It's difficult to build on somebody who isn't always able to make the ball stick in those areas of the pitch.
Silva and Isco both have that ability to turn and wriggle free of their man... as well as their technical skills.
As for yesterday: I didn't mind him not starting. We needed to ensure we put a stamp on the game early on, and for all Fellaini's faults, he makes his presence felt.
I would have liked to see Mata come on later on though, because he's obviously got goals in him.
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Also, people talk about him needing a physical midfield behind him to shine... but that still wouldn't change what Mata is capable of when the ball is played into his feet. That's more of an issue than the midfield behind him, in my opinion.
Now Carrick is back and we can play Blind too, Mata should be utilised. Fellaini is fine to use against the more physical teams but the 75th minute onwards was crying out for some quality in the final third. The kind of quality that Mata can produce. I really hope he's in the team against Spurs.
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