Brilliant today, but I'd like him to step it up against the better teams now. Di Maria's pace has really helped him. He's a final third number 10.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 4
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
Twice the player when things happen around him and he doesn't have to waste his time coming deep for the ball. His movement today was amazing, created so much space for the rest of 'em.
He was excellent, I am really interested to see how much he covered, he was all over the pitch.
They said he won't fit in this team. He fits in it a lot better than the old one!
Once Falcao is fit and firing then it becomes a choice between Mata and RvP I think. Based on current form and the balance of the team it should be Mata who wins that battle. Rooney is nowhere near as good in that role behind the strikers.
With better movement next to him he was always going to play better.
Very good performance. He and Di Maria will link up very well. Hopefully LVG continues playing him in the #10 role.
Definitely. He links up a lot better with midfield than Rooney does. Rooney has a striker's instincts, Mata a midfielder's and it makes a huge difference. Rooney drops in and turns looking to go forward, Mata drops in and will fill spaces left by Di Maria and Herrera giving us more fluidity in the middle. As a pure #10 Mata's better than anyone else we have.
Interpreter too, his abilities know no bounds.
Thought it was his best game for us.
More movement around him and he looked class again...who would have thought!
It was pretty glaring. A lot of people pointed it out in the matchday thread. You could see Herrera and Di Maria dropping back to maintain the diamond and the camera following the action into our half while Rooney stood still around the center circle, the diamond getting stretched and stretched and stretched until eventually Rooney exited stage left.
Oh don't get me wrong, I want him to succeed here as much as any player, in fact more than a few. But, he'll be the most subject to squad rotation I fear. Not because he's any lesser than those around him, except for the pace and urge that our new signings have plenty in them.
A lot better today.
Seriously how is it possible not to love this guy? He even acts as Di Maria's translator!
Very good today. He's not just staying high up the pitch but was involved throughout.
When Di Maria said thank you (in English) at the end and Mata translated it and said "he just said thank you"
Quality.When Di Maria said thank you (in English) at the end and Mata translated it and said "he just said thank you"
That was great
When Rooney dropped in deeper, he reminded me why he shouldn't be playing there. Mata brings so much more to the team in that postion.
He's obviously been getting a lot of criticism lately along with doubt over his future here, but he was a lot better today. He's the type of player who I think will benefit a lot if those around him are playing good football.
If we insist with this midfield diamond i think he should play at the top of it, was great today and seemed to be everywhere.
His future has been talked about being in doubt based on very little evidence. He's started every game under LVG.
True, although he hadn't been particularly great thus far this season and was coming in for criticism. Had he not improved, his place in the team may have been at risk. He was a lot better today though, which is a positive.
The team suffered when he went off and Rooney dropped into his role so it's safe to say if we continue with this diamond he's probably safe in this starting team.
No surprises here, he thrives on movement. If we play with movement, Mata will be fantastic as a number ten.
Glad he played well today.
8 goals in 10 games. We have been crying out for goals from midfield and he's been delivering them.
He's still the best number 10 at the club and you can see that LvG appreciates that very much.
He is now playing with quality players, it's inevitable he is going to look better. Finally he is playing with players on his wavelength.
Fair enough, QPR were shite, but that was masterclass from Juan. I saw a lot of people wrote him off when we brought Falcao aboard, but Mata is comfortably our best #10.
Hes also such a likable character, must have a great impact in the dressing room as well
Hes also such a likable character, must have a great impact in the dressing room as well
We'd be crazy to sell him he's class.
Very good and needed performance. Hope we start him and two strikers next game like today and not Rooney, RvP and Falcao all at once.
Too slow. Terrible player, isn't he?
There's no way LvG would sell him I think.
He actually has this really great ability of popping up in the box at the right time and is a really accomplished finisher. As we saw with his goal today and against Sunderland.
From deeper positions he can easily get 15 goals a season which is worth its weight in gold.
From deeper positions he can easily get 15 goals a season which is worth its weight in gold.
In a decently tuned team he's worth 20+ total of goals and assists.
His best moment today was when he was sat on the bench and the camera was right on him and he broke out a smile so warm it'd make Vinny Jones' heart melt.
I think we will get there before long and the noticeable drop, when he exited, attests to how good he was. That's the benefit of having players like Di Maria around, he draws the opponent's attention to him and allows others to have enough space and time. So far Van Persie looks like he is losing the battle of who makes way for Falcao.
Mata's 7th goal in his last 9 league starts for Manchester United and some wanted him gone.
He reached nearly twice that number in his last full season at Chelsea.
- Status