Not sure if it has been posted but in his latest blog entry he said that he got cramp against Burnley, and that he had tests done and there is "nothing to worry about." Will be interesting to see what his involvement is against QPR with Falcao coming in.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 4
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
So Juan Mata not in the Spanish lineup - does that come as a surprise? He had a bit part role in the world cup (as expected), but scored when he got the chance. Agreed that he is not having a great season; but I expected him to have a run out with the national team
Not a big surprise, no. If Spain hadn't had a few injuries he'd probably have missed out on the World Cup squad too, he's pretty much on the fringes.
You know when Spain's games are? Due to all the chaos and news at United the last few days I haven't had much time to follow their news recently
But looking forward to watch them again, always so many quality players around!You know when Spain's games are? Due to all the chaos and news at United the last few days I haven't had much time to follow their news recently
Play tomorrow against France in a friendly and then a qualifying match against Macedonia on Monday. Not sure about the times though...
He's rated 85 in FIFA 15 #official, for the guys interested.
I tend to be pleased when United players sit out internationals but we play so few games this season, I actually think it would have done him some good to get a bit of action for Spain. Might give him a bit of a lift if he has a good game for them.
Pisses me off too much than it should!
United always get criminally underrated on fifa! I remember Rafael having 77 after that season when he was the best right back in the league bar Zabaletta.
You watch, Di Maria 86, Van Persie 87, Rooney 87, Falcao 88
Thanks!
Bar di Maria who should be 88/89 after last season, those ratings are fair.Pisses me off too much than it should!
United always get criminally underrated on fifa! I remember Rafael having 77 after that season when he was the best right back in the league bar Zabaletta.
You watch, Di Maria 86, Van Persie 87, Rooney 87, Falcao 88
I agree. But I mean the fact that Di Maria and falcao have gone to united will mean that the ratings will go down by a point or two!
I think its about right to be fair, he hasnt been great last season, he was rated 87 after his freaking good season at Chelsea, to get -2 is quite fair. Di Maria should be higher tho, and I hope they dont underrate Januzaj/Shaw. Shaw was chosen best LB last year, so if they dont give him at least 78 I will be surprised.Pisses me off too much than it should!
United always get criminally underrated on fifa! I remember Rafael having 77 after that season when he was the best right back in the league bar Zabaletta.
You watch, Di Maria 86, Van Persie 87, Rooney 87, Falcao 88
One thing that I'd say has disappointed with me with Mata is his passing ability. When he was a Chelsea, I was always under the impression that one of his big strengths was his ability to pick passes and through balls, very much in the Ozil and Silva way, for example his pass to Ba for that goal against us in the FA Cup. Yet at United, he hasn't really shown that sort of vision or skill. If anything he's played far more like a second striker then an attacking midfield. Scoring goals, but not really setting them up in the way I was expecting. So whats the reason? Have I overestimated that part of his game, or are the runs simply not being made as much at United, for him to be able to pick those passes?
Maybe a few of the Chelsea or Spanish lads could clear things up a bit?
@antihenry
@TheShedEnd
@Vato
@duffer
Maybe a few of the Chelsea or Spanish lads could clear things up a bit?
@antihenry
@TheShedEnd
@Vato
@duffer
I have no clue Sam, sorry.
What kind of Spanish fan are you? You should have an in depth knowledge of every single Spanish player to ever have played the game. Ever. Pffft.
You don't deserve our beautiful Di Maria
What kind of Spanish fan are you? You should have an in depth knowledge of every single Spanish player to ever have played the game. Ever. Pffft.
You don't deserve our beautiful Di Maria
Who? ;-)Not really.
At United, he has certainly been like a second striker, ala Totti or Del Piero. He did create in the first few games here (when he was not crossing), but this season he has often not played those killer passes. If you look at a lot of our attacking moves, he looks to get at the end of them (frames where you have all three of Rooney, RVP, Mata looking to get at the end of attacks) rather than instigate them or play the through pass. Has certainly been disappointing this season.
Juventus' top target for January, according to Tuttosport.
bullshit.
They'll probably offer us a loan deal paying 20% of his wages
I'd sell him. Not even for money's sake, but he just doesn't fit a 4-3-3 as a starter.
Don't get why so many seem to want him out of the starting XI now. He hasn't set the world alight but he's playing in a broken team with no attacking movement, which makes it extremely difficult for him to make the passes he's capable of. He's done fine with an impressive goal return. Mata's not the problem, it's our style of play.
In the midfield 3, at the tip. LVG has played no.10s there.
Di Maria... If not, then Herrera.
Mata's not really a 'number ten' in my opinion, more a second striker.
The further away from the striker, the worse.
Priority should be one or two wide men (a traditional winger, and a goal scorer - both with pace) this summer, provided Blind, Herrera and Di Maria work well as a midfield three. If the midfield still looks under par, then a midfielder and one traditional winger.
I really don't want to see Mata in midfield. We could keep him for rotation, but that would just be wasting everyone's time.
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Sense.
Mata is the epitome of a no. 10. Creative, technically very strong and operates in the space between the opponent's defence and midfield. If that's not a no. 10, what is?
Rafael - Jones - Rojo - Shaw
Herrera - Blind
Mata
Januzaj _______ Di Maria
Falcao
Herrera - Blind
Mata
Januzaj _______ Di Maria
Falcao
Rooney and Van Persie to come off the bench
The criticism you can make against him is that he does not drop deep enough sometimes (unlike lets say Silva or Oscar). Otherwise, as rightly pointed out, he is the epitome of a no.10
I am sure the two international captains will have a word or two to say about that!Rafael - Jones - Rojo - Shaw
Herrera - Blind
Mata
Januzaj _______ Di Maria
Falcao
Rooney and Van Persie to come off the bench
I am sure the two international captains will have a word or two to say about that!
Then they'll have to do their talking training or on the pitch. No place for mediocrity in this squad any more.
He was playing from the half way line against Burnley. He had to drop so deep because service was so poor.
I see Silva as a number 10. And I think he's very different to Mata.
Mata's more of an instinctive player than a dictator of play. Looks best when the game is more stretched and he has space to use and can time his runs late into the box.
Whereas a number 10 excels with holding the ball (and waiting for that pass) even when penned in the final third under tight marking.
A number 10 often finds themselves isolated and needs to hold the ball without the space to build up speed. At in these circumstances when I think Mata goes missing. A bit might be due to a lack of patience in his play.
Mata at his best, is all about great control, passing it short and moving up the pitch for the return. He can obviously thread a final pass - very well, but so can Kagawa, and I see him as a second striker too. And playing those passes doesn't ake them number 10s.
His close control is brilliant, and he has it in him to play it about well, but he doesn't dictate the game or leave his mark on the game like a proper number 10 for me. He tries (as it's expected of him), but I doesn't seem natural to him, and I actually think that takes from his game, which is more geared towards being direct and closer to goal being instinctive.
It's hard to explain really, but I don't see him as someone to build a successful side around. And I definitely wouldn't give him the role of number 10, let alone midfield. I also don't think he shields/protects the ball well enough when starting from stationary, which means he has to release quickly - which isn't ideal for a number 10. The ball doesn't stick to him when he's tightly marked and slowed down.
It's an unpopular opinion, and I'll probably be replied to by a Chelsea fan telling me I'm completely wrong, but that's just how I see it.
He's never come across as a proper number 10 to me.
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Him and Kagawa was the most positive thing of last year for our overall game. Without them in the team we looked absolutely clueless and zombie football was at its worst.
We are currently looking very slow and zombie like so removing him will be the wrong way to go. He needs to drop down deeper though and it has been his natural position as an AM, it looks more like manager instructions to play him further up.
We are currently looking very slow and zombie like so removing him will be the wrong way to go. He needs to drop down deeper though and it has been his natural position as an AM, it looks more like manager instructions to play him further up.
I am sure the two international captains will have a word or two to say about that!
I also am far from sure that Falcao will do well if up top on his own (albeit supported by Mata).
i just dont see the point in that, keep him in central midfield where we actually need a player to dominate the role.
True that- I think I remember one of the commentators saying as well "Mata's not really getting into the box to create or get onto the end of something, he is spending way too much time trying to provide a passing option to Jones"
I am not sure .. He played a two striker system with Atletico; but was all alone at Monaco (with James as the no.10), wasn't he? Did well there.
I can see where you are coming from; especially with Mata not having delivered performances where he has controlled the games for Man United (He has been prolific with goal scoring).
With Chelsea, however, he was always the one who dictated games. Chelsea did not have a deep lying playmaker or pass master behind Mata, and it was the no.10 who was charged with building attacks, especially under Benitez. I thought most of the interesting attacking plays went through Mata at Chelsea and he wrecked havoc when charged with build-ups.
When the 3-4-1-2 was devised for Man United, I thought it would benefit no-one more than Juan Mata; because in this system the no.10 is even more classical than the no.10 in the 4-2-3-1. It gives the no.10 that moment of pause in the mould of a true trequartista and bring everyone into play, as you've mentioned. Clearly, it has not worked so far but I still have faith that this system will bring the best out of our playmaker.
I understand your point about Silva being a more classical no.10 but I think Mata is a fantastic no.10 in his own right. I definitely believe that our attacking play can go through him and that he can dictate games. Thats the beauty about the trequartista - no two of them seem to be alike and each of them bring different combination of qualities to the table.
The problem going forward this season, so far, has been much the same as last.. a complete and utter lack of service to the front, particularly through the middle of the park.
There will be no point having attacking players with the quality of RVP, Falcao, Rooney, Mata, Di Maria if we can't get them on the ball in positions where they can have an impact.
I'd like to see how we'd do playing lining up in a diamond with 2 up top and Rooney in behind.
======Blind=======
=========Herrera======
==Mata=============Di Maria
=========Rooney=======
=====Falcao=====RVP====
The main concern would be Blind and Herrera really - I haven't seen enough of them to know - but it might actually get the ball to our front 5.
There will be no point having attacking players with the quality of RVP, Falcao, Rooney, Mata, Di Maria if we can't get them on the ball in positions where they can have an impact.
I'd like to see how we'd do playing lining up in a diamond with 2 up top and Rooney in behind.
======Blind=======
=========Herrera======
==Mata=============Di Maria
=========Rooney=======
=====Falcao=====RVP====
The main concern would be Blind and Herrera really - I haven't seen enough of them to know - but it might actually get the ball to our front 5.
- Status