[2mufc0]

The issue isn't simply the player. Every #10 we play (Mata, Rooney + Kagawa) we are unhappy with. Strikes me as an issue with the team/how we're playing than simply the player.

I agree with this, we should just ditch the no.10 position.

Like Ozil Mata is a fair weather player, looks great when the team is playing well but won't contribute in tougher games when the team is struggling. He's offered nothing in his last few games, he would do well in a possession/tiki taka team not so much in our style. Said it at the time he was a panic buy and is turning out that way.

If we play the same formation against Chelsea Fellaini should play in that position ahead of him.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Thought he moved the ball quite well. West Brom really closed the gaps well between their midfield and defence, so it made it hard for Mata in there.

Wasn't great but I think some of the criticism is over the top. Still a fantastic player.

 

[itso 7]

The issue isn't simply the player. Every #10 we play (Mata, Rooney + Kagawa) we are unhappy with. Strikes me as an issue with the team/how we're playing than simply the player.

The thing is that both players are more like finishers of moves rather than initiators which is what we are looking for. You look at Silva running the City attack and you see what we need, these are support strikers who happen to be physically weak. Rather tha bringing others into play they make runs to be brought into play themselves. You look at players like Iniesta and Zidane, how they never had impressive stats but their effect on games was pronounced and teams became successful because of that.

 

[IwatUwat]

He needs space to work in, and the position Herrera was put in last night cramped up the whole forward line. He played IMO further forward than Mata similarly as did Fellaini, this caused issues as Mata had to drop deep.

You want mata to play in between the lines, last night he was forced to play in front of their defence and midfield thus offering not very much. Herrera tried to play in between the lines and as a result hardly got involved, we should have pulled Herrera back closer to Blind and asked their midfield a question about coming on to tackle thus creating space in between their defence and midfield for Mata, RVP to operate.

However he is on the pitch to be creative and he was poor, his free kick was also a great opp, and that was woeful. (harsh but fair)

 

[Yorkeontop]

Why wont he drop deep to collect the ball? He only started doing it when Fellaini came on. Drop him.

 

[MancFanFromManc]

I'm a big fan of Mata's but he wasnt on his game last night He's definitely more dangerous behind a front two

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Why wont he drop deep to collect the ball? He only started doing it when Fellaini came on. Drop him.

He did it loads in the first half - if anything he was spending too much time being too deep, and not enough time near RVP to play stuff with/off him.

 

[Yorkeontop]

He did it loads in the first half - if anything he was spending too much time being too deep, and not enough time near RVP to play stuff with/off him.

I guess we are seeing things differently. Even so,neither of us are satisfied.

 

[Massive Spanner]

He's a really good player, but let's face it, he's just not what we needed. A panic buy by a desperate manager who just doesn't really fit in. He just can't really dominate games like a true #10 should, someone like Silva, and what we need is someone to boss games, not just deliver goals/assists and a few pretty moments here and there.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He's a really good player, but let's face it, he's just not what we needed. A panic buy by a desperate manager who just doesn't really fit in. He just can't really dominate games like a true #10 should, someone like Silva, and what we need is someone to boss games, not just deliver goals/assists and a few pretty moments here and there.

The position he plays, behind two strikers, should be all about assists. His goal-scoring record is great but 5 assists in his last 20 games is kind of crap for someone who should be our creative hub.

 

[Massive Spanner]

The position he plays, behind two strikers, should be all about assists. His goal-scoring record is great but 5 assists in his last 20 games is kind of crap for someone who should be our creative hub.

it's not even just assists though, I mean they're useful and all, Silva (who, for me, is the sort of 'pinnacle' of a great #10) doesn't get an awful lot of assists, but basically links midfield and attack for City and bosses the game, something you never see from Mata. He never controls things. For all the stick Rooney gets on here, he can control games far more than Mata, which for me, is a fundamental aspect of a top #10.

He is basically the definition of a luxury player, actually, which is something I never really agreed with until I saw him for us.

 

[shaggy]

Thought him and RvP would be our best players this season and thought the Mata signing was a masterstroke. I just don't understand how they can go from so amazing to so poor. Mata is still pretty young too.

 

[finneh]

He's a really good player, but let's face it, he's just not what we needed. A panic buy by a desperate manager who just doesn't really fit in. He just can't really dominate games like a true #10 should, someone like Silva, and what we need is someone to boss games, not just deliver goals/assists and a few pretty moments here and there.

Agreed. I thought last season he did well considering the state of the team he came into, but it seems like he is a bit of a shrinking violet. There is definitely a spot for him in the squad in my opinion (particularly if we aspire to a 60 game season), but he needs to start making things happen.

His free kick epitimised his performance yesterday: no conviction and no confidence. I still believe he can get back to a much, much higher standard though.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

it's not even just assists though, I mean they're useful and all, Silva (who, for me, is the sort of 'pinnacle' of a great #10) doesn't get an awful lot of assists, but basically links midfield and attack for City and bosses the game, something you never see from Mata. He never controls things. For all the stick Rooney gets on here, he can control games far more than Mata, which for me, is a fundamental aspect of a top #10.

He is basically the definition of a luxury player, actually, which is something I never really agreed with until I saw him for us.

Yeah, I'm fast coming to the same conclusion. Which is really depressing.

 

[Andy_Cole]

Feel he will be the Kagawa of this season. The player the fans (including me) wants to do well but performs very average. Just a conundrum why? Confidence? The Mata of 2011-13 was my favourite non United player. He was such a classy player.

 

[didz]

If we are gonna be playing two up front, I think Mata oughtta be counted as one of the strikers. He moves off defenders very well, has a great touch and a knack for getting goals from dangerous positions in the box. That screams striker.

I've never seen United do well with "specialist positions" unless you count Park. We've never had a dedicated number 10 playmaker like Zidane or Rivaldo, and I think part of the reason is that we've always favoured a more dogged mentality. We get a lot out of Rooney in that position, because it's like having a free man getting up and down the pitch. We've always had our dangerous attackers getting down the flanks, because that's where you can hit teams quickly.

Having someone like Mata (or Veron) getting the ball in a central area, getting his head up and picking his best option sounds great in theory. But to get the most out of these kinds of players - for us - we've got to play to the other strengths they have - in Mata's case, his movement and killer instinct. Rotating him with RVP on that right channel, I think we'd get a lot out of him.

 

[MancunianAngels]

He's already done more in 3 months than Kagawa did in the whole of last season.

Personally I'd sell Van Persie and have Rooney and Falcao as the main strikers next season, be plenty of games (assuming we're back in Europe) to rotate Rooney, Falcao and Mata.

 

[SambaBoy]

Our system isn't working by playing a no10. He doesn't contribute enough offensively, and seemed too lightweight last night. He doesn't have the ability to take players on, saying that, we don't seem to give him the ball enough in tight areas, preferring instead to pass it out to the wings.

 

[Speak]

Feel he will be the Kagawa of this season. The player the fans (including me) wants to do well but performs very average. Just a conundrum why? Confidence? The Mata of 2011-13 was my favourite non United player. He was such a classy player.

Being asked to do a job he can't do in a system that doesn't suit him.

 

[Speak]

Our system isn't working by playing a no10. He doesn't contribute enough offensively, and seemed too lightweight last night. He doesn't have the ability to take players on, saying that, we don't seem to give him the ball enough in tight areas, preferring instead to pass it out to the wings.

Because he either positions himself as a striker - leaving a huge gap, or drops ridiculously deep and then plays a safe pass.
No in between. No positioning himself in between those two areas, turning and going past a man, and holding the ball - like Silva.
No dictating. Just floating about playing pretty backward passes to Blind, and then getting into the box.

Hence we pass it cutely in safe areas, and struggle to pass and create through the centre.
We need to get a winger and put Di Maria in that '10' role.

 

[Dumbat12]

Except he was.

Yes, he was, but there are a number of reason that can explain it, unlike Mata. Kagawa was deployed on the wing most of the time, very rarely, if ever in the number 10 position. He was played by an inept manager and most of the time sat on the bench. In the good games he had (ex Swansea) where he was our best player, he got substituted in the second half. You can see that now in Dortmund where he is one of their best players, they play a different system though. The point is - Kagawa was never given a chance to perform, and believe me, I'm not a Kagawa "fanboy".


There is absolutely no excuse for Mata. He was given plenty of games in the number 10 position, but I don't see anything particularly good with him. No creativity, no control over the game, gets dispossessed way too easily and generally is too slow. He is actually more of a second striker to me than a creative N10. Yeah, sure, he scores a lot of goals, but what about it? We brought a player who we expected to control the game, make cutting passes, instead we got another striker... F*ck sake.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Yes, he was, but there are a number of reason that can explain it, unlike Mata. Kagawa was deployed on the wing most of the time, very rarely, if ever in the number 10 position. He was played by an inept manager and most of the time sat on the bench. In the good games he had (ex Swansea) where he was our best player, he got substituted in the second half.

Lots of excuses for Kagawa when the matter of fact is he just wasnt good enough nor better than Mata currently is. he wasnt much better when played in his position.
He played in Fergie's last season too, didnt play a lot but didnt play that rarely ether.

 

[Nighteyes]

Yes, he was, but there are a number of reason that can explain it, unlike Mata. Kagawa was deployed on the wing most of the time, very rarely, if ever in the number 10 position. He was played by an inept manager and most of the time sat on the bench. In the good games he had (ex Swansea) where he was our best player, he got substituted in the second half. You can see that now in Dortmund where he is one of their best players, they play a different system though. The point is - Kagawa was never given a chance to perform, and believe me, I'm not a Kagawa "fanboy".

There is absolutely no excuse for Mata. He was given plenty of games in the number 10 position, but I don't see anything particularly good with him. No creativity, no control over the game, gets dispossessed way too easily and generally is too slow. He is actually more of a second striker to me than a creative N10. Yeah, sure, he scores a lot of goals, but what about it? We brought a player who we expected to control the game, make cutting passes, instead we got another striker... F*ck sake.

Playing on the wing is an excuse for being shit (And keep in mind he wasn't even an actual winger in most of those. He was a couple of yards out of position). It's not an excuse for playing like a coward.

 

[Dumbat12]

Lots of excuses for Kagawa when the matter of fact is he just wasnt good enough nor better than Mata currently is. he wasnt much better when played in his position.
He played in Fergie's last season too, didnt play a lot but didnt play that rarely ether.

Playing on the wing is an excuse for being shit (And keep in mind he wasn't even an actual winger in most of those. He was a couple of yards out of position). It's not an excuse for playing like a coward.

I'm not trying to make excuses for Kagawa, it's just how it is. Mata has had enough chances in the N10 position and did absolutely nothing. As of right now, I really prefer Kagawa than watching Mata stroll like a turtle on the pitch. I'm sorry, he seems like a really likeable guy, but he has done absolutely nothing except score some goals which we already have enough people to do that, we don't need another one.

 

[Mad Winger]

I like Mata. His first touch is out of this world, his close-range freekicks are a constant threat, and in terms of passing the ball around, he's a true Spanish midget. He's also incredibly likeable.

But as I've always said(and predicted); Mata is his goals and assists. The moment he stops scoring and assisting constantly, he's unfortunately a very limited player. And those times are sure to come, because unlike Rooney, who is a striker at heart, he doesn't have the same energy and individualism in his game. He's dependent on the ball rolling his way. When it doesn't, he's essentially only good for keeping possession and freekicks.

Having said that, I'm surprised that Mata has become this limited already. It's actually reached the stage where I'm starting to want to see Rooney in the no.10 position instead. And that's saying something, as I've always been opposed to this idea.

The three no.10's we've had since january have had different strengths and weaknesses:

Rooney
+ The strongest individualist(nature of a striker)
+ Can guarantee goals and assists
+ Hard-working
- Offers effectively no linkup between midfield and attack
- Not good at keeping possession under pressure

Mata
+ Generally scores and assists a lot
+ Excellent at keeping the ball in the team(good passing and makes few mistakes)
+ Set-piece specialist
- Very dependent on the ball rolling his way
- Generally limited skillset once you isolate his goals and assists(no speed, can't dribble, bad defensively, low energy)


Kagawa
+ Versatile(hard-working, decent speed, good technique, good at passing, good at intercepting, decent finishing)
+ (Was) our best player at linking up(especially on the counter)
+ If we take goals/assist out of the equation, he generally offers more than Rooney and Mata
- Lacks individualism. Will not save our ass on a rainy day.
- Can't guarantee goals and assist to the same degree as Rooney and Mata(doesn't have "Striker's Instinct").


_________________________________________________________

The truth of the matter is that none have been ideal for us. Rooney is not ideal in the no.10 position regardless of style, but he gets a free pass because of his energy and goals/assists. Mata is ideal for the no.10 position when we dominate games with technical football, but we're not good enough to do that yet. Kagawa was our most balanced no.10, but he couldn't save our ass on rainy days(which there were plenty of under Moyes). Combine this with the fact that he couldn't guarantee goals and assists the way Rooney and Mata could, and it became a gamble to play him.

Long-term, I still think Kagawa would have been the best choice, but that's a different story. I haven't given up on Mata yet, as he will come good when the team comes good. The question is: how long does it take before the team comes good? And will Van Gaal be patient enough to wait that long?

 

[Nighteyes]

It's like Mad Winger watches completely different sets of games. In what fecking universe is Shinji Kagawa versatile? He's the most rigid player we had at the club

Kagawa and Mata have both been bad. When you have two bad players I'd take the one who scores or assists a lot rather he one who doesn't. It's that simple.

And can we stop this nonsense about Rooney offering no link up play. That's pretty much what he does very well when he plays there. And it's something both Kagawa and Mata have proved to be inept at doing.

 

[goin4glory]

Didn't Mourinho say something about Ozil being the best in his position in Europe? Sadly, his take on Mata is looking more and more correct.

People have regularly brought up Ozil struggling to adapt to the premier league but he rarely completed 90 minutes for Madrid, he was regularly subbed off after 60-70mins and benched for the biggest games.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I like Mata. His first touch is out of this world, his close-range freekicks are a constant threat, and in terms of passing the ball around, he's a true Spanish midget. He's also incredibly likeable.

But as I've always said(and predicted); Mata is his goals and assists. The moment he stops scoring and assisting constantly, he's unfortunately a very limited player. And those times are sure to come, because unlike Rooney, who is a striker at heart, he doesn't have the same energy and individualism in his game. He's dependent on the ball rolling his way. When it doesn't, he's essentially only good for keeping possession and freekicks.

Having said that, I'm surprised that Mata has become this limited already. It's actually reached the stage where I'm starting to want to see Rooney in the no.10 position instead. And that's saying something, as I've always been opposed to this idea.

The three no.10's we've had since january have had different strengths and weaknesses:

Rooney
+ The strongest individualist(nature of a striker)
+ Can guarantee goals and assists
+ Hard-working
- Offers effectively no linkup between midfield and attack
- Not good at keeping possession under pressure

Mata
+ Generally scores and assists a lot
+ Excellent at keeping the ball in the team(good passing and makes few mistakes)
+ Set-piece specialist
- Very dependent on the ball rolling his way
- Generally limited skillset once you isolate his goals and assists(no speed, can't dribble, bad defensively, low energy)


Kagawa
+ Versatile(hard-working, decent speed, good technique, good at passing, good at intercepting, decent finishing)
+ (Was) our best player at linking up(especially on the counter)
+ If we take goals/assist out of the equation, he generally offers more than Rooney and Mata
- Lacks individualism. Will not save our ass on a rainy day.
- Can't guarantee goals and assist to the same degree as Rooney and Mata(doesn't have "Striker's Instinct").


_________________________________________________________

The truth of the matter is that none have been ideal for us. Rooney is not ideal in the no.10 position regardless of style, but he gets a free pass because of his energy and goals/assists. Mata is ideal for the no.10 position when we dominate games with technical football, but we're not good enough to do that yet. Kagawa was our most balanced no.10, but he couldn't save our ass on rainy days(which there were plenty of under Moyes). Combine this with the fact that he couldn't guarantee goals and assists the way Rooney and Mata could, and it became a gamble to play him.

Long-term, I still think Kagawa would have been the best choice, but that's a different story. I haven't given up on Mata yet, as he will come good when the team comes good. The question is: how long does it take before the team comes good? And will Van Gaal be patient enough to wait that long?

I wish Kagawa stayed, but he's no longer here, so why he's being talked about, I don't know.

As for Rooney offering no link between midfield and attack, that's rubbish, in my opinion. Granted he doesn't always do it (neither does Mata. Yet again another passenger yesterday) he's just as good as Mata in his link up play, and gets involved in the game a lot more. See the Leicester and West Ham game.

 

[Speak]

I like Mata. His first touch is out of this world, his close-range freekicks are a constant threat, and in terms of passing the ball around, he's a true Spanish midget. He's also incredibly likeable.

But as I've always said(and predicted); Mata is his goals and assists. The moment he stops scoring and assisting constantly, he's unfortunately a very limited player. And those times are sure to come, because unlike Rooney, who is a striker at heart, he doesn't have the same energy and individualism in his game. He's dependent on the ball rolling his way. When it doesn't, he's essentially only good for keeping possession and freekicks.

Having said that, I'm surprised that Mata has become this limited already. It's actually reached the stage where I'm starting to want to see Rooney in the no.10 position instead. And that's saying something, as I've always been opposed to this idea.

The three no.10's we've had since january have had different strengths and weaknesses:

Rooney
+ The strongest individualist(nature of a striker)
+ Can guarantee goals and assists
+ Hard-working
- Offers effectively no linkup between midfield and attack
- Not good at keeping possession under pressure

Mata
+ Generally scores and assists a lot
+ Excellent at keeping the ball in the team(good passing and makes few mistakes)
+ Set-piece specialist
- Very dependent on the ball rolling his way
- Generally limited skillset once you isolate his goals and assists(no speed, can't dribble, bad defensively, low energy)


Kagawa
+ Versatile(hard-working, decent speed, good technique, good at passing, good at intercepting, decent finishing)
+ (Was) our best player at linking up(especially on the counter)
+ If we take goals/assist out of the equation, he generally offers more than Rooney and Mata
- Lacks individualism. Will not save our ass on a rainy day.
- Can't guarantee goals and assist to the same degree as Rooney and Mata(doesn't have "Striker's Instinct").


_________________________________________________________

The truth of the matter is that none have been ideal for us. Rooney is not ideal in the no.10 position regardless of style, but he gets a free pass because of his energy and goals/assists. Mata is ideal for the no.10 position when we dominate games with technical football, but we're not good enough to do that yet. Kagawa was our most balanced no.10, but he couldn't save our ass on rainy days(which there were plenty of under Moyes). Combine this with the fact that he couldn't guarantee goals and assists the way Rooney and Mata could, and it became a gamble to play him.

Long-term, I still think Kagawa would have been the best choice, but that's a different story. I haven't given up on Mata yet, as he will come good when the team comes good. The question is: how long does it take before the team comes good? And will Van Gaal be patient enough to wait that long?

Bit in bold is the complete opposite to what I think.

In a possession game, your no.10 will always need that ability to side-step a challenge in that congested area. And Mata has no such ability.
Passing alone can only get you so far.

Iniesta and Silva are ideal for dominant teams because they can receive it with two men on them, side-step the challenges, hold the ball, and slide a pass in.

Mata can't, so he drops to where he has space. You simply can't build around a no.10 who doesn't feel comfortable holding the ball or dribbling at all. You can't always make that pass. Play can't always be that quick. Space wont always be there.
We're trying to dominate now, and he's going missing until he drops deep and plays another safe pass.

I agree that none of them are ideal though. We need a Silva-type. Or failing that a Modric-type. Obviously hard to find.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I wish Kagawa stayed, but he's no longer here, so why he's being talked about, I don't know.

As for Rooney offering no link between midfield and attack, that's rubbish, in my opinion. Granted he doesn't always do it (neither does Mata. Yet again another passenger yesterday) he's just as good as Mata in his link up play, and gets involved in the game a lot more. See the Leicester and West Ham game.

Don't you know who you're talking to?

 

[Mali_Zeus]

I'm not trying to make excuses for Kagawa, it's just how it is. Mata has had enough chances in the N10 position and did absolutely nothing. As of right now, I really prefer Kagawa than watching Mata stroll like a turtle on the pitch. I'm sorry, he seems like a really likeable guy, but he has done absolutely nothing except score some goals which we already have enough people to do that, we don't need another one.

As it was said here, maybe that position is the problem. Or he isnt versatile enough.

ANd to remember people were crying for Mata to replace Rooney at that position...

 

[Mad Winger]

As for Rooney offering no link between midfield and attack, that's rubbish, in my opinion.me.

Well I disagree. If Rooney was at least a decent link between midfield and attack, then Fergie wouldn't have signed Kagawa and Moyes wouldn't have signed Mata. Rooney is a hard-worker and he scores plenty of goals and assists. What he lacks, is being an effective link between midfield and attack. If he had this skill, then he'd be the best no.10 in the world by a country mile. Mata and Kagawa wouldn't even have been considered then.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Don't you know who you're talking to?

True. Was a stupid mistake, to be honest.

 

[Speak]

Well I disagree. If Rooney was at least a decent link between midfield and attack, then Fergie wouldn't have signed Kagawa and Moyes wouldn't have signed Mata. Rooney is a hard-worker and he scores plenty of goals and assists. What he lacks, is being an effective link between midfield and attack. If he had this skill, then he'd be the best no.10 in the world by a country mile. Mata and Kagawa wouldn't even have been considered then.

Neither of them are much better. In fact Rooney takes up better no.10 positions than Mata, from what I've seen.
It's not natural to either, but at least Rooney tries to dictate.

Mata spends half his time up front, and the other half extremely deep - passing it back 2 yards to Blind.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Well I disagree. If Rooney was at least a decent link between midfield and attack, then Fergie wouldn't have signed Kagawa and Moyes wouldn't have signed Mata. Rooney is a hard-worker and he scores plenty of goals and assists. What he lacks, is being an effective link between midfield and attack. If he had this skill, then he'd be the best no.10 in the world by a country mile. Mata and Kagawa wouldn't even have been considered then.

You think Moyes bought Mata causew Rooney isnt a good nr. 10 ? I think Moyes to this day doesnt know why he bought Mata or how should have he used him.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Well I disagree. If Rooney was at least a decent link between midfield and attack, then Fergie wouldn't have signed Kagawa and Moyes wouldn't have signed Mata. Rooney is a hard-worker and he scores plenty of goals and assists. What he lacks, is being an effective link between midfield and attack. If he had this skill, then he'd be the best no.10 in the world by a country mile. Mata and Kagawa wouldn't even have been considered then.

Oh, I thought we signed a number 10 as a back up to Rooney, or just encase Rooney left? Kagawa didn't exactly dislodge Rooney, did he, which is why he was often shunted out wide, with Rooney in behind Van Persie. Same goes for Mata. Rooney has never been dropped for any of these players, because when they have got their chance, they very rarely taken it.

Just look at Mata now. He's been a passenger in the last couple of games, yet he supposed to be very good linking midfield and attack. At least with Rooney he will always get involved in the game, even if that means picking it up from the goalkeeper. Mata should be bossing these type of games against West Brom.

 

[Mad Winger]

You think Moyes bought Mata causew Rooney isnt a good nr. 10 ?

No, I think he bought Mata because there was no link between CM and attack. There's a reason why Mata took the no.10 position almost immediately. He basically drew the same conclusion that Fergie did, with the exception that we already had a proper no.10 when we signed Mata, which in return is one of the many things that made Moyes a moron.

 

[Speak]

No, I think he bought Mata because there was no link between CM and attack. There's a reason why Mata took the no.10 position almost immediately. He basically drew the same conclusion that Fergie did, with the exception that we already had a proper no.10 when we signed Mata, which in return is one of the many things that made Moyes a moron.

Kagawa isn't a proper number 10. Silva is.

Half of the problem is that none of those three are/were 'proper' no.10s.

 

[Mad Winger]

Oh, I thought we signed a number 10 as a back up to Rooney, or just encase Rooney left? Kagawa didn't exactly dislodge Rooney, did he, which is why he was often shunted out wide, with Rooney in behind Van Persie. Same goes for Mata. Rooney has never been dropped for any of these players, because when they have got their chance, they very rarely taken it.

Kagawa was supposed to take Rooney's position, and Rooney was supposed to play as a striker. Then RVP came. As a compromise, Kagawa played on the left wing when all 3 started. Fergie stuck to this model, because it worked. We had very good stats with these three starting together, partly because Kagawa could work as a link between RVP and Rooney, who for some reason never have been a dynamic duo. Also, whenever RVP wasn't playing, Rooney was pushed up front, with Kagawa taking the no.10 role.

Mata played a shitload of games in the no.10 position with Rooney up front under Moyes. We rarely saw Rooney in the no.10 position with Mata on the wings(I can only remember two games).

 

[Mad Winger]

Kagawa isn't a proper number 10. Silva is.

Klopp and Dortmund would disagree with that...

People have different definitions of no.10's, though. It's a pointless discussion.