But the question will soon become, will Mata be happy here if he's on the bench? Clubs want top quality benches as well, but if you've got players who could fit into plenty of top teams, they're going to want out if you don't play them regularly. Look at how many top drawer players Real Madrid have let go over the years, for example.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 4
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
But the question will soon become, will Mata be happy here if he's on the bench? Clubs want top quality benches as well, but if you've got players who could fit into plenty of top teams, they're going to want out if you don't play them regularly. Look at how many top drawer players Real Madrid have let go over the years, for example.
Ah. None of them deserving really.
You simply don't bench a world-class player when he's fit and ready to play.
If you do, he's going to want to leave the club.
If you do, he's going to want to leave the club.
Top seasons not playing as actual number 10s.
And in Mata's case playing in a poor, gung-ho, tactically poor Chelsea side, whilst being given no defensive responsibilities at all.
I'm not denying he's a very good player, but he's more of a second striker for me.
People seem to think he's a David Silva type player who'll get his foot on the ball and dictate the game, but he's not.
Like I said, you swap Mata and Silva and Silva doesn't struggle here, whereas Mata doesn't do Silva's job for City half as well.
Di Matteo's 'system' was perfect for him.
Like you said, he's productive in terms of goals and assists though - which is great. But that comes down to his instinctive nature. And scoring and assisting doesn't make a player a number 10 in my opinion.
I'm a bit worried about us even considering Juan Mata. He's clearly a world class player so went 37 million on him last year. We need to keep what we have and build for next season.
Fans need to develop an attachment to players aswell, we have lost the likes of Vidic and Evra who "got United" understood the passion and despite their declining quality in recent years, they had a positive relationship with fans throughout.
If we start buying and selling within a short space of time, that will be gone. I don't want to us almost have a revolving door with players coming and going constantly.
I do think it might be RVP that might drop to a squad place in the long term.
Fans need to develop an attachment to players aswell, we have lost the likes of Vidic and Evra who "got United" understood the passion and despite their declining quality in recent years, they had a positive relationship with fans throughout.
If we start buying and selling within a short space of time, that will be gone. I don't want to us almost have a revolving door with players coming and going constantly.
I do think it might be RVP that might drop to a squad place in the long term.
Reports emanating from Italy and sports daily Tuttosport claim Juventus are lining up a move to sign Manchester United attackerJuan Mata on loan in January with a view to a permanent deal next summer.
This shit again.
This shit again.
Then why post it?
Because it's only my opinion that it's bullshit, not that Juventus aren't really considering him.
It's trivial and also only early September
Absolutely absurd to sell Mata, he's is going to be fantastic for us.
Once he clicks with everyone else in the centre the park he will prove a lot of people wrong
Once he clicks with everyone else in the centre the park he will prove a lot of people wrong
Being early September doesn't mean that we're not being linked with new players (like Strootman) for the January window and it's reported by some reliable papers like the Telegraph.
Mata is our player and even though the Juventus link has already been discussed, the stories about Juve's interest seem to be sticking around so I thought it's worth posting again.
Can't see us getting rid of him though.
Mata is our player and even though the Juventus link has already been discussed, the stories about Juve's interest seem to be sticking around so I thought it's worth posting again.
Can't see us getting rid of him though.
Not absurd at all. Not only has he performed poorly (like the entire team), but the attacking lineup seems very crowded these days. Why? One of the strikers/attackers has to be Rooney, the other will be Falcao, no way he is benched if fit. That could probably mean RVP and Falcao up front with Rooney as the 10-er. On top of that Di Maria will definetly start as often as he is fit which means that Mata will either play out wide or at CM, which I can NEVER imagine he will. Herrera is also occupying one spot at the middle, and VC Fletcher will most likely play as many games as he can. So either Mata goes or he lives the rest of his United career as a benchwarmer with occational minutes.
Can easily see him move on to Juve, he would ravish the Italian league. Can't see him having a bright future here though (look above).
Since when does being Vice Captain guarantee minutes? That's just daft.
I can see him moving on, he came here to play not to sit on the bench and he wants to play in his best position which is as a number 10. Something has to give this season because I don’t think we can keep Rooney, Falcao, RVP, Mata and Januzaj all happy this season (especially if we don’t finish in top 4) and by the end of it or even in January someone is going to want out.
Having said that he is a good player and if he plays well then he will keep his place, so far this season he has been very poor though and I think Januzaj has more to offer, he offers us more pace, skill and occupies players to create space for others and we are crying out for all of those things at the moment. Mata was a short sighted purchase by Moyes and Woodward he wasn’t needed, he might come good but is he really that good a player that we risk hindering Januzaj’s development or possibly even being forced to sell him.
Having said that he is a good player and if he plays well then he will keep his place, so far this season he has been very poor though and I think Januzaj has more to offer, he offers us more pace, skill and occupies players to create space for others and we are crying out for all of those things at the moment. Mata was a short sighted purchase by Moyes and Woodward he wasn’t needed, he might come good but is he really that good a player that we risk hindering Januzaj’s development or possibly even being forced to sell him.
Apparently LVG either wants to hide his feelings for RVP by not naming him VC or he wants an excuse to play Fletch because he rates him. Either way, this isn't really about Fletch being VC is it? And even if it was, let me get you on topic again...
Mata won't play in CM.
They're not letting up,saying that United as quoted 30mil euros for him.
One bad season and everyone forgets who you really are.
Wouldn't shock me if it happened if he struggles to get into this current team with the group of attackers we have. Would be a shame though.
My Fantasy Football is saying he's injured. Any news?
Pretty sure he is alright. I read somewhere (might have been his blog) that there was nothing to worry about and that he just got some cramp against Burnley.
Thanks @ZDwyr
7 goals in 8 games is a streak that a number 9 would be proud of. How can anybody say he has done nothing since coming here?
Kind of amazing how everyone is second guessing LVG on Mata. Why do we assume his place is up for grabs? Seems to me the battle is on for RVP.
He shouldnt be going anywhere. We are lucky to have him and we will miss him if he leaves. He is a wonderful little player and one of the world's best #10s. Rooney is a good #10 but Mata is better.
he hasn't had any bad seasons in the PL.
Selling Mata. You guys are insane...
Seems to me he's the Wes Schneider we never signed. Why would LVG ship him out?
Did Sneijder sign for a club team LVG managed or was he just the best player available to him for the national team? I honestly dont see Mata as a LVG signing at all and I think he'll find game time restricted as the club moves forwards with this new philosphy. I may be wrong but he looks the most likely casualty to me....Rooney the most obvious..Mata the most likely!
Yes you're right, LVG never signed Wes. I'm just saying I think LVG will value Mata's technical ability, just like he valued Wes S. I'm not sure Mata is the most likely to miss out. The press are pushing that idea but lets see.
Mata's record is very good and is suffering from having no movement in front of him. As soon as we move away from the 352 to either a 41212 with Falcao or a 433, he will be better.
Rooney and RVP together up top do not offer enough pace if we aren't using wingers. Falcao, at least, makes some very good runs.
Rooney and RVP together up top do not offer enough pace if we aren't using wingers. Falcao, at least, makes some very good runs.
If Juve is interested in Mata, this might be one of the rare cases where a direct swap (Mata-Vidal) might actually make sense. The press love talking about those! I highly doubt it'll happen, but Mata left Chelsea because he was marginalised, so if LvG is going to play Rooney in his role you never know.
Rooney for Vidal seems like a more fair swap for me.
He had a poor season so we should sell him? Guess what , the whole team had a poor season. I'm sure LVG will find a way how to use him. Selling him would be absurd.
13/14 was poor for him, obviously.
Selling Mata so Rooney can play as a 10 with Falcao and RvP. Man United fans have sunken to a new low.
True story. Whats next? SMH
Our results with Mata in the team show absolutely no improvement from the awful set of results prior to his arrival. In the PL: Before W11 D4 L7. Since W8 D3 L5 (games Mata started W6 D3 L5) + this season W0 D2 L1. Indeed our goals scored when Mata starts in the PL is an alarming 23 in 17 matches. Therefore it would be worth exploring other options. Personally I think Januzaj offers far more creativity than Mata. The idea of Rooney as a creative player is somewhat alarming.
Mata's best hope was that the promising axis with Kagawa became a key element of the team. That or new wide players with superior movement.
Mata's best hope was that the promising axis with Kagawa became a key element of the team. That or new wide players with superior movement.
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So he's the problem although he was probably our best performer since he joined? Ok then.
Mata has started every game for LVG except for the cup game, and Rooney hasnt even been tried at the number 10 role has he?
YOu people are crazy if you think we will sell him any time soon.
YOu people are crazy if you think we will sell him any time soon.
He just needs a few good performances to pick his confidence up and the teams/supporters in his ability to play in our system
Trouble is competition is now high! May help him more though with more quality around him
Trouble is competition is now high! May help him more though with more quality around him
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