Yea I guessed he did but wasn't sure. Anyways, if his total contribution is 20/25+ for us this season, I'd be ecstatic!
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 4
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
Excellent game from Mata today. Showed how much of a difference it makes when you have players in front who give you the option to play the forward pass. That extra man in midfield instead of defense is going to be the making of our season. It's going to be battle for the front 3 position. RvP missed that chance from Di Maria, but it was a hard chance to take, but he had a very good game overall. Rooney started slow, but he was buzzing after 20 minutes. Falcao came on and looked very good in his cameo, would have put away that chance he had if he had a few more games under his belt.
We instantly dropped 2 levels when he came off. He can and will still improve when everyone has a better understanding of their roles and he as well about his, but at least today he had other players around him who have heard of that strange thing aka "pass and move".
Amazing how every pundit on the BBC page had him starting on the bench despite no evidence at all that LvG might not prefer him. In fact he has started every pre season game and league game this season under LvG.
He isn't going anywhere. Why the hell would we get rid of our only real just 26 year old No 10 with a great goal scoring and assists record over the last 5 years as well as an excellent fitness record?
Some ppl ...
Amazing how every pundit on the BBC page had him starting on the bench despite no evidence at all that LvG might not prefer him. In fact he has started every pre season game and league game this season under LvG.
He isn't going anywhere. Why the hell would we get rid of our only real just 26 year old No 10 with a great goal scoring and assists record over the last 5 years as well as an excellent fitness record?
Some ppl ...
Having Herrera and Di Maria either side of him and Blind holding allowed him to show his qualities today, took his goal really well too.
I was wrong, it's 8 goals in his last 10 for us and also 4 assists I think.
We are getting regular goals from midfield for the first time in years.
Hold me
To be fair, when Mata came off Rafa came off too. Mata played beautifully today and his contribution to the team was there for all to see. Just don't underestimate what Rafael contributed. Taking them both off at the same time was extremely detrimental to the way United played. Falcao looked ok, but Rooney was awful as a 10. As for Valencia, well the less said the better. Such a shame.
Mata obviously has such an influence in the dressing room and especially with the new Spanish speaking contingent. He must be an integral part of the team. Surely LvG can see this? Let's hope the rumours were just journos grasping at straws. I'm still laughing at everyone saying he and Daley Blind are slow.
Mata obviously has such an influence in the dressing room and especially with the new Spanish speaking contingent. He must be an integral part of the team. Surely LvG can see this? Let's hope the rumours were just journos grasping at straws. I'm still laughing at everyone saying he and Daley Blind are slow.
Was one of our best players said it when there was threads criticizing him. He benefits from players making runs and interchanging with him he is a clever player and as I said he will be one of our best players come end of the season.
People were doubting him way too soon. When people are running around him and he gets the ball in the right positions, he's devastating and truly world-class.
He was the difference in the middle. Maybe we took the foot off the pedal, but after he came off we were not that incisive. Adds a touch of brilliance to the team!
Played like he has had a rocket put up him, I've not seen him get about the park like he did day since he signed.
As for Valencia, well the less said the better. Such a shame.
Valencia once did amaze me with his dribbling when he did something different first time in his career probably just to stumble on the ball in his next move.
Mata is the type of player that looks shit when those around him look shit and looks really good when those around him play well. He's the kind of player that provides the finishing touch to a good move that opens up the enemy defense or scores a goal and right now he's mostly scoring goals. Juan Mata he scores goals!
Juan Mata he scores goals!With corners and free-kicks. But it looks that Rooney and Di Maria will be executing them.
i just loved that piece of skill he performed in the f
so basically like Shinji
Mata is the type of player that looks shit when those around him look shit and looks really good when those around him play well. He's the kind of player that provides the finishing touch to a good move that opens up the enemy defense or scores a goal and right now he's mostly scoring goals.
so basically like Shinji
Very similar players but Mata is a few levels above in terms of talent hence the decision of keeping Mata and selling Shinji.
we could never sell Mata after half a season, Shinji was unhappy and the rumours with Dortmund started months earlier, not just the rumoured swap deals with Reus or Hummels. It was easier to sell him than Mata, lets be honest. Although i agree that Mata is better, but not a few levels better.
So pleased to see him score.
Me too. A goal for RVP and Falcao would have made it perfect.
And the ref fell over!
At least my opinion comes from Mata having so much more to his game including set pieces with his wonderful left foot, shots from outside the box and the variety of goals he scores. His range of passing and balance are also better than Kagawa's. You can compare Mata's best season at Chelsea and Kagawa's last season at Dortmund. Mata was just unstoppable during that season with 18 goals and 25 assists during the 2012/2013 campaign. He could even surpass that if he keeps his current form throughout the season.
He's productivity is still more than Shinji and talent in almost every area.
(8 goals in last 10 games now with plenty assists too despite the team playing not well)
Kagawas balance is fantastic too. On the rest i agree, although the Kagawa this season will be a different one. He will score plenty of goals too. Just saying that they are not miles apart, after this season we should reevaluate Kagawa again.
He plays every game, Kagawa score too yesterday after playing in his favourite position from the beginning.
I dont want to start another Mata/Kagawa discussion, but Kagawa will score plenty of goals this season too.
In the German league in Dortmund's system and style of play yeah. Wasn't working for him at United or the BPL though.
he wouldnt look out of place in this team right now against QPR.
Oh my.
Would like to see his running statistics. Seemed to be absolutely everywhere during the first half. Good performance from him I thought. Hope he holds onto his position, Rooney in there doesn't fill me with confidence.
Has anyone ever been as maligned as a flop with such an exemplary goals/assists return? He's been involved in something like half of all our goals since he signed. I wish our other flops were as floppish as him. I'd be happy with a consistent string of flop signings of this caliber in the future too.
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He's got a lot more in his locker than Shinji and is a proven PL performer unlike him which is a big difference. For one, he has great goal scoring instincts for a midfielder, even in that delightful pass that Di maria played for RvP you could see Mata was ready for the rebound after making a well timed run. It's a big thing to have that, it gives the defenders another serious threat in front of goal to think of, no coach will ignore a player who has 8 in last 10 games when giving instructions to his defenders on who to be careful of, and that gives more freedom to our actual goal scorers. Basically the merits of having a goal threat from midfield.
Really liked him today, finally he gets the support that would bring the best out of him. Here's hoping he soon reaches the same levels that made him one of the best players in the league a couple of seasons back.
Yup, never understood it either. How does a player that can present those figures gets criticized and called a coward? Especially when the whole team is playing horrendous with a handful of players that weren't fit to lace his boots? I thought it was pretty obvious that the problem wasn't him? I'll put it down to frustration I guess, seeing as I'll probably hound out Ronaldo with a pitchfork myself if we don't start winning soon!
Ok, that's it, decision made. I was thinking of gettin Januzaj on the back of my shirt but was tempted by Di Maria's performance but that smile has done it. He just knows it.
Well said. Mata is not slow, maybe his way of play pass and move give the impression that he is slow but his acceleration is quite impressive if you look him closely. He is simillar to Van Persie and even Rooney in that aspect. They can run fast but they do it only when it is needed. Blind can move around very well to, maybe not one of the fastest players but still fast enough to oversprint many players and fast enough to do his job.I'm still laughing at everyone saying he and Daley Blind are slow.
We lost something when he was subbed off. I still think Van Persie who had a poor game and was on a yellow card should've made way instead.
I was criticizing him earlier for the first few games, and he like everyone else deserved it really. Was brilliant today, and he can still offer even more. He's got great movement though and you can always count on him to pop up in the right position to grab a goal or an assist. Hopefully now that he is surrounded by other world class players, he can kick on and show how good he is and have a great season in the hole for us.
The only reason I watch United.
Is there any fan of any club who doesn't like this guy?
Would have him in the squad before RVP at this moment. Thought he was excellent today. Game slowed down when him and Rafael came off.
Good game. I think the axis Blind-Herrera-di Maria-Mata-Rooney worked quite well and looked balanced so judging only on yesterday`s game it might be between RvP and Falcao.
Of course we have a special situation with none of them injured - however I hope Mata can build on that performance and he got some confidence.
Nice finishing for the goal as well.
Of course we have a special situation with none of them injured - however I hope Mata can build on that performance and he got some confidence.
Nice finishing for the goal as well.
- Status