Thought he played quite deep today. Necessary though with di Maria also playing CM and I don't think it suits him. Unless we go for a diamond structure, I don't think he should play with di Maria CM.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 4
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
He wasn't getting a game and they were offered 37m. Him being sold to United is no reflection on his ability as a player. He's brilliant.
So this will be the thread for most embarrassing comments this year? I shall look forward to it then.
Before people shoot me down for this, which they undoubtedly will: yes, he was dire today. Yes he hasn't had a good game this season (in fact, who has), and yes, he is slow. Some comments though have been beyond the level of stupidity that I expect at times.
Before people shoot me down for this, which they undoubtedly will: yes, he was dire today. Yes he hasn't had a good game this season (in fact, who has), and yes, he is slow. Some comments though have been beyond the level of stupidity that I expect at times.
It will be close between his and Di Maria's thread soon enough with ppl claiming "If he was that good Madrid wouldn't have sold him"
Watch this space
He was great for us. Jose sold him because he didn't fit his way of playing, whereas Oscar did without sacrificing too much creative quality.
He seems to be a player that needs the team around him to be just right to get the best out of him, and ironically, that sort of team is the United teams of the past - quick, counter attacking sides.
Mata at his best is the best number 10 in the league, he won't run a game, but get him free in between the lines and he will cut defences to ribbons. United should be looking for a holding midfielder and playing a 4-2-3-1 formation (providing Blind and Rojo are the centre-halves, no idea what van Gaal's train of thought there is).
Code:
van Persie
Di Maria - Mata - Januzaj
Herrera - New DM
Shaw - Blind - Rojo - Rafael
De GeaBlind is the new DM.
Blind is a midfielder, he'll play next to Herrera. But yeah, fundamentally I agree with that @TheShedEnd .
Playing Mata with two unbelievably slow strikers, and a team full of players that don't make any runs or decent movement, and you're not going to see the best of him. Its no coincidence that in pre-season, when Welbeck played, Mata looked a lot more involved.
That, or Jose has sold us a dud.
Playing Mata with two unbelievably slow strikers, and a team full of players that don't make any runs or decent movement, and you're not going to see the best of him. Its no coincidence that in pre-season, when Welbeck played, Mata looked a lot more involved.
That, or Jose has sold us a dud.
Was screaming to have him subbed earlier. The game was crying for some pace and Mata was completely ineffective
Hope he can find a way to get more on the ball in this system
Hope he can find a way to get more on the ball in this system
He should remain the corner taker because Young is useless at them and Mata is usually good. Haven't seen Di Maria take them but going by some of his inch perfect long passes today he might be better than Mata.
He looked injured coming off, any news?
It's strange watching him now. The first couple of games for us he looked like a revelation, much like Di Maria today, picking out passes nobody else in our team seemed capable of finding. Today he looks like he's been infected with whatever the rest of the team has though. He often has a good option ahead him, but instead he'll opt to take another touch or two, and just end his move on the ball with a safe back pass.
It was so very, very clear seeing it in contrast to Di Maria, who so often tried to pick out the option further forward on the pitch. He seems completely devoid of any confidence on the pitch, and doesn't seem to trust in his own abilities any more.
It's sad, really, because I've seen him play so much more adventurous so many times that I simply cannot accept that he's just "lost it". I only hope that he doesn't end up as another casualty of our zombie passing style, because he has so much in his locker.
It was so very, very clear seeing it in contrast to Di Maria, who so often tried to pick out the option further forward on the pitch. He seems completely devoid of any confidence on the pitch, and doesn't seem to trust in his own abilities any more.
It's sad, really, because I've seen him play so much more adventurous so many times that I simply cannot accept that he's just "lost it". I only hope that he doesn't end up as another casualty of our zombie passing style, because he has so much in his locker.
All the team is playing shit and i mean ALL (Rooney, RVP included) yet why is Mata getting most of the shit?
When the team is playing well again and are winning, you'll see a different Mata, infact Mata will probably be one of the main reasons in this happening.
When the team is playing well again and are winning, you'll see a different Mata, infact Mata will probably be one of the main reasons in this happening.
It's a reasonable explanation, but I do notice that this gets applied very inconsistently to players depending on whether one likes them or not. Pretty much every player thread on here at the moment has posters who say 'he's shit' and others saying 'it's the team's fault'.
When it comes down to it, the main criticism being levelled at most of our players that have left or are leaving is that they haven't taken their opportunities by making things happen when they played. I don't see why Mata should be any different in this regard.
I don't just mean here. Mata seems to be the target of the media too - 'Mata needs to up his game'
'Mata to be axed for Di Maria' (before the game against Burnley).
Just a few of many headlines regarding Mata.
Last season he was always coming to get the ball, playing through the middle etc. This season he's been shying away slightly, playing sideways passes. He's been infected with cleverleytis
He was a panic buy. Satisfied the fans and made them lay off Moyes for a bit because we had signed a "quality" player.
Fair enough, I hadn't really noticed him being targeted specifically by the media. I certainly don't think it's the case on the forum (at least not more so than about 7 other players).
Have you not looked in any thread except this one?
All of the players get shit, especially Rooney. Mata is the only one who has people running in to make bullshit excuses for him that you could apply just the same to any other player.
For some reason Mata to some people has a free pass to go hiding in games without it ever having anything to do with him.
I say again, if Cleverley put in the three performances mAta has this season, there wouldn't be anyone making an excuse for it, other than "it's because he's shit"
That's exactly the problem with labelling him a panic buy though. How can buying a quality player be a panic buy? Perhaps an unnecessary one and not in a position we needed to strengthen, but people only seem to have started saying this lately since his poorer form started. When he was playing well when he first came in, everyone was delighted and thought we had one of the best players in the league.
Maybe he won't be successful long-term, but the problem here is that if he has three good games, people will be back to calling him our best player and saying he was a superb buy and that Mourinho was crazy to let him go.
Yeah fair point. Maybe more unnecessary than "panic" then.
Yeah, I could agree with you on that.
Needs to step up a bit.
If he is injured and misses a few matches and our play improves it'll be interesting to see what LvG does with him.
If he's hurt I hope Herrera gets a few games in that #10 role. Mata seriously needs to step up a notch with his overall play to get the strikers some good service.
Who would you play in CM then?
Is Mata's FB account real? He just welcomed Di Maria and Blind to United.
Edit: My bad seen the blue tick.
Edit: My bad seen the blue tick.
What does signing Falcao mean for Mata ? Could it be that he gets dropped for Rooney ?
-------Blind---Herrera--
------------Rooney
--------Falcao-----RVP
-------Blind---Herrera--
------------Rooney
--------Falcao-----RVP
Carrick & Blind hopefully
I think Mata is the logical omission.
It would be nice to play 4-3-1-2 (next match), with:
DDG
Rafael Jones Rojo Shaw
Herrera Blind Di Maria
Rooney
RvP Falcao
Rather have that we kick RVP out and play Mata as a 10, Rooney just isnt a 10, when was the last time he gave a through ball? Or even an assists from open play..
----------Blind---------
---Herrera-----Di Maria
---------Mata--------
Falcao--------RVP/Rooney
No?
---Herrera-----Di Maria
---------Mata--------
Falcao--------RVP/Rooney
No?
Jesus that lineup is tasty. 
According to Ogden this is how we may go, but put Rooney where Mata is, and put on the bench.
Rather
-------Herrera-------Blind---------
----------Rooney/Mata------------
Janujaz-----Falcao/RVP-----Di Maria
Give us some width.
Please yes.
I don't think so, the more natural fit would have Mata in that #10 position.
No doubt they would rotate though, it's actually a perfect set of four players to rotate as Rooney can cover 10 when Mata is rested otherwise one of the three will have a game off. It's a lovely set up.
With Falcao here one of Rooney/Mata/RVP will be on the bench I believe. If not two
Is it only me who thinks RVP might not play that much in the near future - maybe because of injury, or maybe something else. Sometimes he doesn't seem as interested as he should be.
I really like Mata and hope he's not the one to make way.
I really like Mata and hope he's not the one to make way.
- Status