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2014-15 Performances

View full 2014-15 profile

6.0 Season Average Rating
Appearances
35
Goals
10
Assists
4
Yellow cards
2
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Mata was never going to be the soul saviour of our dreadful season just gone and so far this season (barring pre season) it hasn't been much better.

However, for me he has shown enough glimpses so suggest he could be a very good player with other good players around him. There has just been a total lack of the creativity and movement which surely brings out the best in Mata, the time for real judgement is herein imo.

Let's see how he plays with more solidity behind him and better movement to the sides and in front of him. He could be a very special player if things click.
 
Keep hearing rumours he might be off in January. Personally I think we'd be fools to sell him, I'm sure van Gaal will find a way of fitting him into his system.
 
It would be great to get rid of any of the attacking players who isn't approaching 30. Hernandez and Welbeck are done, Mata is the next.
 
He needs legs around him and no tactical responsibility.
 

Rumours seem to have started from tuttosport bollocks. Can't imagine there being anything in it.
 
Selling Mata would be officially insane. He's started the season really well imo, just needs to be more selfish in front of goal and go for more shots.
 
:lol: Rob Sheperd's 'football grapevine'. Ay, chill out guys. There's lads on the Caf with more club sources.
 
I dunno which is more laughable. Us selling Mata or Juventus buying him. :lol:
 
Acole9 said:
Keep hearing rumours he might be off in January. Personally I think we'd be fools to sell him, I'm sure van Gaal will find a way of fitting him into his system.
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If you think about it, the whole 3-5-2 is in place to accommodate Mata, which tells you everything you need to know.

If it was for the sole reason of playing Rooney and Van Persie together, he could do so in a 4-4-2, as it is he has opted for a 3-5-2 because that way he can play Mata in behind them.
 
RedSky said:
Selling Mata would be officially insane. He's started the season really well imo, just needs to be more selfish in front of goal and go for more shots.
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Get back on Red Alert RS Im going to totally crush you for that remark, hes been one of your poorest performers this season! That said theres others you should be selling before him.
 
The same narrative that was used to defend Kagawa is now being used to defend Mata.
 
RedorDead21 said:
So will De Gea and Adnan if they turn out world class...whats your point??
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I can never understand this logic. We are one of the biggest clubs in the world. Why do people automatically assume that if one of our players turns out to be world class they will join the likes of Real and Barca? We have had plenty of world class players in the past that have spent their whole careers, or at least their best years, at the club. Plenty of players view us as the best club in the world.

In the case of De Gea he is Athletico through and through so he won't join Real Madrid. We also beat loads of top teams to sign Adnan as a kid and those same clubs were bound to be interested in him last season yet he stayed. I don't see why he will suddenly jump ship if he fulfils his potential.
 
If Juventus want Mata, they'll have to return Pogba, it's as simple as that. He has just over 18 months remaining on his contract vs 4 yrs for Mata who's in the prime of his career. Next summer Pogba's value will fall to ~£30 million so it's a fair trade. They get a really good creative midfielder and we get a player that should never have left in the first place.

Or we could use him in a player + cash deal for Koke. He'd slot right into Atletico's setup with Griezmann moving to the left and Mata occupying the central areas.
 
Invictus said:
If Juventus want Mata, they'll have to return Pogba, it's as simple as that. He has just over 18 months remaining on his contract vs 4 yrs for Mata who's in the prime of his career. Next summer Pogba's value will fall to ~£30 million so it's a fair trade. They get a really good creative midfielder and we get a player that should never have left in the first place.
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I highly doubt Pogba would ever want to come back.
 
DWelbz19 said:
The same narrative that was used to defend Kagawa is now being used to defend Mata.
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I understand what you are saying but if two similar players fail in the same team like what's threatening to happen here, isn't the problem more with us ? There is a reason we signed Kagawa, (dismissing Mata as a panic buy here) and that was because we wanted the specific qualities he brought but the team wasn't ready to change direction and individually Kagawa was not a dominant personality that could force himself and his style on the team. Maybe it's time we start dismantling the infrastructure that is around the No.10s before rushing to confirm Old Trafford as the graveyard for such a player.
I mean, this team is lost when asked to play anything that doesn't involve working the ball wide to Valencia ignoring infield options crying out for link up play. That is not to say that Mata has been in sparkling form himself, he hasn't been involved in build up play enough but we shouldn't rush to write him off just yet when there is probably half a dozen players who should be sold before him.
 
Name Changed said:
I highly doubt Pogba would ever want to come back.
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matherto said:
Even still, he left under a cloud and created a storm with the comments he's made ever since. He can feck off, I don't care how good he gets.
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Not one bad word spoken about the club though.
 
matherto said:
Even still, he left under a cloud and created a storm with the comments he's made ever since. He can feck off, I don't care how good he gets.
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No he hasn't. There was an interview in the Mail (I think it was anyhow) where he did complain about the club but he subsequently posted on twitter that he never even met that journalist let alone gave the interview. He has spoken very highly of the club since he left and he even described himself as a Mancunian in one interview.
 
"Juventus counting the pennies" :lol:

Good luck with that.

Mata is now the only real No 10 we have, unless once LvG gets Strootman and as a result uses Herrera as 10 ahead of Blind and Strootman. On the other hand he likes goal scoring No 10s which Mata undoubtly is.

At least one of the 3 big strikers will be a bigger issue to fit in than Mata, who if we indeed have a strong midfield could also play on the wing in a 4-3-3.

I know ppl love to point out that he has no pace and is not an athlet. But we don't know what LvG wants now, because he has actually just let go our only athletic and pacey striker and as a result has left us just with Di Maria to provide pace. So for all we know he could see Mata as his ideal No 10 without giving 2 cents about his lack of pace/athletism and play 1 or 2 pacey wingers around him and our striker(s).
 
He's had a very poor start to the season, but selling him in Jan would we an awful move. There's quite a few you can and should sell before him! Besides, what do you think we'll get from his sale - at most 20-25 mil, if we're lucky? That's an outright 12-17m loss within a year FFS!
 
I like Mata, but if Juventus were to offer a swap deal, which would see Mata going to Juve and Pogba coming to us, I'd bite their hand off. Van Gaal eventually does want to play a 433, which means he only wants centre midfielders.
 
Scored 7 in his last 9 games. Scored or assisted 60% of our goals since he joined United. Does not contribute.

Mata: 3 shit games and a goal. Let's sell him.

Rooney: 3 shit games and a goal. Get's nominated at "Player of the month".
 
ottosec said:
Scored 7 in his last 9 games. Scored or assisted 60% of our goals since he joined United. Does not contribute.

Mata: 3 shit games and a goal. Let's sell him.

Rooney: 3 shit games and a goal. Get's nominated at "Player of the month".
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Please dont tell me Rooney has actually been given POTM? Or just nominated.
 
Best #10 at the club by a country mile (he is a class or two above Rooney for sure) who has to start in that position if that position exists in LVG's plans. If not, who knows?
 
ottosec said:
Scored 7 in his last 9 games. Scored or assisted 60% of our goals since he joined United. Does not contribute.

Mata: 3 shit games and a goal. Let's sell him.

Rooney: 3 shit games and a goal. Get's nominated at "Player of the month".
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I take it you haven't been to the Rooney thread then?
 
Shane88 said:
Typical. Man United, where quality number 10's go to die.

Fecking joke if we sell him.
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He's not a quality number 10 though, and neither was Kagawa.
If an actual number 10 like Silva came in, he wouldn't suffer like Mata and Kagawa, in my opinion.
 
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Speak said:
He's not a quality number 10 though, and neither was Kagawa.
If an actual number 10 like Silva came in, he wouldn't suffer like Mata and Kagawa, in my opinion.
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Mata is a quality no10 and so was Kagawa. Get off it. It's no coincidence both have come here and struggled after having top seasons. Mata has managed to remain productive though.
 
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The way to get the best out of Mata is to play him in his preferred #10 role with plenty of hard workers around him.

---------------Blind----Strootman

--------Januzaj----Mata----Di Maria

--------Rooney / Van Persie / Falcao
 
feck selling mata. Even if we move to a system where he isnt a guaranteed starter. we still need world class players to come off the bench, rotate for competition for places, and to cover for injuries. FFS look at bayerns, madrids, and city's benches.
 
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