[OneUnited24]

Would be interesting to see how he would do if he had Di Maria, Januzaj and Welbeck ahead of him.

Personally i think he would favour a 433 where he playing ahead of Carrick/Blind & Herrara, with Rooney/Welbeck/RvP, Di Maria, Januzaj ahead of him.

But LvG seems intent on having all 3 (mata/rooney/RvP) play at the same time.

 

[WyoManU]

LvG just needs to find a way of getting the best out of Mata, he was amazing at Chelsea i'm sure he can come good at United.

IF he was so amazing, then why did Mourinho sell him to a supposed rival?

 

[Massive Spanner]

Some ridiculous over reacting to a player who is struggling for form in an unfamiliar system.

I mean, he's actually been better for us since he arrived than Rooney and RvP have yet everyone wants him to be the one benched. Bizarre.

 

[r0x0rwolfo]

He's been poor this season. But nothing is lining up for anyone. Someone needs to solve this puzzle and start to truck on. We need to go back to basics.

 

[Ringo 07]

Yup, Mata's really looking poor in our team full of dynamic and athletic players. First thing that comes to my mind when I see our team play is 'damn, why isn't Mata more athletic and dynamic? I wish he was as athletic and dynamic as Antonio'. Hey, imagine that. Mata bulked up and his brain completly evaporated ( just like Valencia's after he started roiding ) and now he can only pass with his left foot. Now that would be something.

When you mention a Dynamic and Athletic player that plays in central midfield when comparing Mata to someone then hey..would it not make more sense to compare him to proven dynamic and athletic playermakers like Fabreagas, Kroos, Gotze, Scholes, Modric, Gerrard, Iniesta, etc...why would you compare a creativeless speed merchant who plays a completely different role to a playmaker when talking about athleticism and dynamism?

 

[Devil may care]

Mata's problem is that he has no pace off the mark to create some space for himself to play in, hence why he looks lost so often. If you look at Di Maria today it wasn't just his pace once he is off and running, it's his pace off the mark and body strength when receiving the ball in a tight area that gave him the space to start the runs and try forward passes.

 

[Name Changed]

Some ridiculous over reacting to a player who is struggling for form in an unfamiliar system.

I mean, he's actually been better for us since he arrived than Rooney and RvP have yet everyone wants him to be the one benched. Bizarre.

He's getting amongst the goals but his general play is pretty poor to be fair. He needs to be doing a hell of a lot more.

 

[Water Melon]

Mata's problem is that he has no pace off the mark to create some space for himself to play in, hence why he looks lost so often. If you look at Di Maria today it wasn't just his pace once he is off and running, it's his pace off the mark and body strength when receiving the ball in a tight area that gave him the space to start the runs and try forward passes.

This. Mata's main weaknesses are his strength and speed. Not sure we would have bought him, if it was up to LvG or SAF.

 

[Sam]

Mata's problem is that he has no pace off the mark to create some space for himself to play in, hence why he looks lost so often. If you look at Di Maria today it wasn't just his pace once he is off and running, it's his pace off the mark and body strength when receiving the ball in a tight area that gave him the space to start the runs and try forward passes.

He defiantly needs speed and strength around him, for two reasons. A) To create space for him to work B) So he can pick out the runs.

Atm we don't have that. Especially with Rooney and RVP up top. I'd like to see him surrounded with the likes of Di Maria, Welbeck & Januzaj. I suspect he'd look much better.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

IF he was so amazing, then why did Mourinho sell him to a supposed rival?

So he wasnt amazing for Chelsea?

Jose didnt rate him enough last season, that's why he went to us. Before that he was great for them.

 

[dev1l]

Some ridiculous over reacting to a player who is struggling for form in an unfamiliar system.

I mean, he's actually been better for us since he arrived than Rooney and RvP have yet everyone wants him to be the one benched. Bizarre.

Thing is that as with Rooney, Rvp and now Di Maria, ppl expect more of Mata considering the team s situation. Today was perhaps one of his worst game in a united shirt.

 

[Devil may care]

He defiantly needs speed and strength around him, for two reasons. A) To create space for him to work B) So he can pick out the runs.

Atm we don't have that. Especially with Rooney and RVP up top. I'd like to see him surrounded with the likes of Di Maria, Welbeck & Januzaj. I suspect he'd look much better.

If he can't make his own space as a midfield player that is a problem, Scholes never had much speed but his speed of movement when receiving the ball in tight areas meant he always had a yard to make his pass.

 

[Will Singh]

I remember in the newbies I used to defend Kagawa and say he need like minded players around him and that he needs players to make runs for him to find the killer pass.

Now I see a lot of people on here are saying Mata needs quick players around him or needs this that or the other.

For me we didn't need Mata nor will he bring anything to the side what Kagawa couldn't give.

If he was so great Chelsea would have never sold him to us especially being a rival!

I don't think RVP, Rooney and Mata is working but I'll admit on paper it looks fantastic and when we signed him I couldn't wait for them to play together.

 

[united_99]

Really poor today. Same goes for the two supposed world class strikers we had on the pitch, but that is the Mata thread.

Even his shooting and corners were off (well then Young and Anderson took them and were even worse at them).

Oh and so typical that a player who probably has never ever been injured in his life got injured today when we already have half the team out.

 

[RuudTom83]

3rd game in a row that MATA hasn't delivered, so he can't have any complaints if he is not selected in the upcoming matches.

 

[Keenst]

He was rubbish today. Like everyone else.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Decent goal-scoring record (albeit half of them from set-pieces?) but can anyone remember a single game for United where he ran the show?

I'm struggling tbh. Which is a worry because that's what I was expecting when we signed him. What we've got has looked more like a small, not very quick, not very strong, support striker.

 

[Scrumpet]

Decent goal-scoring record (albeit half of them from set-pieces?) but can anyone remember a single game for United where he ran the show?

I'm struggling tbh. Which is a worry because that's what I was expecting when we signed him. What we've got has looked more like a small, not very quick, not very strong, support striker.

Individual games under Moyes have blended into unholy mush in my mind, but my impression is he was our best player the second half of last season. Who was better than him?

 

[Brophs]

Decent goal-scoring record (albeit half of them from set-pieces?) but can anyone remember a single game for United where he ran the show?

I'm struggling tbh. Which is a worry because that's what I was expecting when we signed him. What we've got has looked more like a small, not very quick, not very strong, support striker.

Nope. I was glad we signed him, even though I struggled to see how he fit in, but he hasn't looked the same player. Probably a lot to do with how poor a side he joined but if you had to make a snap judgement, which gladly we don't, you'd probably think he's not long for being at the club. I can see him being the one to make way at some stage.

 

[charlenefan]

Invisible today

Any news on his injury?

 

[Aint gota Kalou]

If we moved to a 4-3-3 does anyone think he could play wide with Di Maria playing as a hybrid midfielder/winger like he did at Madrid last season? At the moment he's not getting into the space between the opposition midfield and defense which is where he normally does the most damage. He ends up dropping really deep which isn't really his game.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Individual games under Moyes have blended into unholy mush in my mind, but my impression is he was our best player the second half of last season. Who was better than him?

That's like asking who's been better than him under Van Gaal. Faint praise, at best.

I remember him and Kagawa looking quite good against a completely disinterested Newcastle team at one point. Mind you, I can also remember Fellaini looking good, awat at Palace.

 

[Scrumpet]

That's like asking who's been better than him under Van Gaal. Faint praise, at best.

I remember him and Kagawa looking quite good against a completely disinterested Newcastle team at one point. Mind you, I can also remember Fellaini looking good, awat at Palace.

You've a better memory than me.

 

[ZDwyr]

He played well against Newcastle but Newcastle had lost like 8 games in a row or something by that point.

 

[SammyUnited_83]

Would like to see Adnan in behind the strikers against QPR, I like Mata and he will certainly get more games than most, but we do need to utilise Adnan also.

 

[204Red]

it says a lot that Anderson... yes that's right, ANDERSON... looked much better and more composed

 

[Trigg]

I don't think the system suits him at all. It just gets too congested up front with Rooney, RvP and Mata I feel, which leads us passing wide balls to our current wing backs (don't get me started). Behind a lone striker with two wider forwards I feel would benefit him much more.

I still stand by my claims that Kagawa is a better player.

 

[kundalini]

I remember in the newbies I used to defend Kagawa and say he need like minded players around him and that he needs players to make runs for him to find the killer pass.

Now I see a lot of people on here are saying Mata needs quick players around him or needs this that or the other.

For me we didn't need Mata nor will he bring anything to the side what Kagawa couldn't give.

If he was so great Chelsea would have never sold him to us especially being a rival!

Good analysis.

Kagawa wasn't the problem and Mata sure isn't the solution. Both super players in a totally different system.

 

[kundalini]

I don't think the system suits him at all. It just gets too congested up front with Rooney, RvP and Mata I feel, which leads us passing wide balls to our current wing backs (don't get me started). Behind a lone striker with two wider forwards I feel would benefit him much more.

I still stand by my claims that Kagawa is a better player.

Agree. For Mata to be of much use to us he needs to be surrounded by pace, or at least dynamic players making plenty of runs off the ball.

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

Besides today's performance, he doesn't strike me as the man with the idea's, the imagination. Is he a playmaker or a pass giver? I think this United needs a playmaker, a player who creates situations for a decisve pass, by moving, passing and moving and passing again. That takes a special football brain, Herrera maybe, Kagawa had it, Mata appearantly not.

 

[Scrumpet]

I really don't think the system is the problem. Di Maria pulled the ball back to him and instead of slotting he ball in the back of the net like you'd expect him to he fell on his arse. Just another one of those days, he'll get his sharpness back soon.

If the system is the problem, then the system needs changing. It might be a different matter if our other best players were thriving in it, but they're not.

 

[Trigg]

Besides today's performance, he doesn't strike me as the man with the idea's, the imagination. Is he a playmaker or a pass giver? I think this United needs a playmaker, a player who creates situations for a decisve pass, by moving, passing and moving and passing again. That takes a special football brain, Herrera maybe, Kagawa had it, Mata appearantly not.

He's makes and scores goals. Look at his time at Chelsea he just needs people around him. The total lack of confidence which is running through the team doesn't help but I just feel if he had Di Maria, Rooney, Welbeck and attacking fullbacks he's be a lot more successful.

I really don't think the system is the problem. Di Maria pulled the ball back to him and instead of slotting he ball in the back of the net like you'd expect him to he fell on his arse. Just another one of those days, he'll get his sharpness back soon.

If the system is the problem, then the system needs changing. It might be a different matter if our other best players were thriving in it, but they're not.

I don't think the system is helping. It not the cause of all our problems at the moment, the total lack of self belief/confidence to take the ball and try do something with is a huge problem. But the system isn't helping in my opinion.

 

[Roboc7]

Was pleased when we signed him but never realised just how slow and weak he was, I think he was a panic buy who can only play in one position and all the pace and movement needs to be provided by players around him. No idea how he stayed on the pitch today as he was useless from the start and I actually think he is someone we will have to let go either in January or next summer.

 

[Cheesy]

Was pleased when we signed him but never realised just how slow and weak he was, I think he was a panic buy who can only play in one position and all the pace and movement needs to be provided by players around him. No idea how he stayed on the pitch today as he was useless from the start and I actually think he is someone we will have to let go either in January or next summer.

I don't think it's completely accurate to label him as a panic buy. Marouanne Fellaini was a panic buy. Mata was a player that we arguably didn't need, but still a very good signing for us nevertheless.

I think it's too soon to think about getting rid of him. It's still early in the season and he's one of several big players who haven't performed yet. While he was poor today, he remains a player who has a lot of quality and ability.

 

[Roboc7]

I don't think it's completely accurate to label him as a panic buy. Marouanne Fellaini was a panic buy. Mata was a player that we arguably didn't need, but still a very good signing for us nevertheless.

I think it's too soon to think about getting rid of him. It's still early in the season and he's one of several big players who haven't performed yet. While he was poor today, he remains a player who has a lot of quality and ability.

Was he a good signing though? Not sure he was or will be unless we are prepared to get rid of other players, we would have been better off with someone who can play wide as well and offers a change of pace. I think he has lots of ability but it's not just about ability it's about players who compliment each other and that is where we are struggling right now, he needs quick players around him to open up space, we don't have that even with everyone fit.

 

[Will Absolute]

Was pleased when we signed him but never realised just how slow and weak he was, I think he was a panic buy who can only play in one position and all the pace and movement needs to be provided by players around him. No idea how he stayed on the pitch today as he was useless from the start and I actually think he is someone we will have to let go either in January or next summer.

From what I've seen, I think Mourinho sold us a pup. He hasn't made the contribution expected from a £37m player.

For the sake of our season, I hope LVG stops pandering to 'names', and picks the players and formation that might get the job done. I'd try a reversion to 4 - 3 - 3 with Di Maria, Herrera and Blind behind Januzaj, Rooney/RvP and Wilson. Until their form improves, the 'stars' are not doing enough to stay on the pitch.

 

[noodlehair]

I think a lot of people called it right before the season started. Mata, Rooney and RVP as a front three doesn't work. None have pace, none of them will stretch teams, which means teams can just put a man on each one then press us in every area of the pitch without worrying about being caught out.

Di Maria will be playing instead of one of them as soon as we have a fit midfield, I hope. I'm surprised and somewhat worried Welbeck or Januzaj aren't doing so already.

The problem for Mata is he's the biggest luxury player I've ever seen in a United shirt. He's a non entity when the oppositon have the ball. He doesn't go looking for the ball nearly enough when his team mates have it (reason enough on its own to drop him when he's supposed to be a no10, imo). He wont adapt to another position. He wont put a defensive shift in if you play him more wide. He doesn't work particularly hard compared to any other player.

RVP is a lethal striker, while Rooney is a player who can be every bit as effective as Mata, but will also do a job for the team and be willing to adapt if he's asked to play in a slightly different role. They're both easy to fit in if you're building a winning and stylish team.

Mata's like a jigsaw piece that doesn't have a jigsaw. You start trying to force it in to another one and all the other pieces start crumbling away.

People can make all the excuses up for him they want. The simple fact is if he doesn't want to go down as the biggest waste of money in United's history, HE has to step up and start doing more. The world of Manchester United isn't going to start revolving around Juan Mata just because he played well once in a shit Chelsea team.

If Tom Cleverley had put in the three performances Mata has so far this season, people would be sending him death threats and demanding his exit, not calling for the entire club to be structured around his precious footballing style.

 

[TwoSheds]

It's not that he doesn't try to work off the ball, that's very unfair. It's more that he's so utterly tiny, weak and slow that it's pretty pointless him trying to put himself about as he's got nothing to contribute whether he's trying or not.

 

[TwoSheds]

And actually, the only thing that's mildly irritated me about how both Moyes and LVG have tried to use him is that they've pandered to this notion that he can only play well in the centre or cutting into the centre from the right. I actually think the best I've ever seen him play in the Premiership is when picking up space out on the left and he'd be worth keeping as a left wing option.

 

[noodlehair]

It's not that he doesn't try to work off the ball, that's very unfair. It's more that he's so utterly tiny, weak and slow that it's pretty pointless him trying to put himself about as he's got nothing to contribute whether he's trying or not.

He's a token effort though. So much so that even he blatantly looks like he knows it.

I wouldn't say he's lazy but you're never going to notice him busting a gut to get himself into the game. You wont see him going looking for the ball if it's not finding its way to him. He'll perform his token responsibility and then if the game doesn't automatically revolve into his path, that's it.

Not good enough. Especially not in a struggling team that's overloaded with players who can play in his position. He should be having to push himself every single week just to keep his place...and he isn't