To be fair, Mata being our top scorer so far doesn't particularly reflect well on our forwards. But still, very good for him to get his goal today nevertheless. Some have been citing confidence as one of his problems, so hopefully that'll begin to improve after this.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 4
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
To be fair, Mata being our top scorer so far doesn't particularly reflect well on our forwards. But still, very good for him to get his goal today nevertheless. Some have been citing confidence as one of his problems, so hopefully that'll begin to improve after this.
In these sorts of games where team park the bus, Mata is gage solution to break them down. I think he should have started today with Rooney upfront instead of the weakening RVP...
He should be frustrated with the way he played while Rooney was out. I certainly am after that.
Herrera should play central with Mata and Di Maria either side of him and Rooney uptop. We should give that a shot for a couple of games and see how we do.
We need to play players in their strongest position and based on who we are playing. Against Chelsea we were lacking height and physical presence so Fellaini playing made sense.
Today, Palace played with one up top and had their captain missing in an away match. Mata, Herrera (obviously when fit) should be playing these games. If were going to play a slow pace, its ok as long as you have somebody like Mata who can feed the runners or get into the position as second striker.
Today, Palace played with one up top and had their captain missing in an away match. Mata, Herrera (obviously when fit) should be playing these games. If were going to play a slow pace, its ok as long as you have somebody like Mata who can feed the runners or get into the position as second striker.
Thought he come on and did really well today, cutting in from the right flank, and scored a great goal from exactly that situation.
I think if Di Maria is told to keep the width on the left (although it doesn't seem to suit him), we can get away with playing Mata on the right, allowing him the freedom to cut in and influence the game from the middle - similar to Silva at City.
If we continue to play 4141, I just don't think he has the engine to play in centre midfield.
I think if Di Maria is told to keep the width on the left (although it doesn't seem to suit him), we can get away with playing Mata on the right, allowing him the freedom to cut in and influence the game from the middle - similar to Silva at City.
If we continue to play 4141, I just don't think he has the engine to play in centre midfield.
If we're playing 4-1-4-1 against Arsenal, I'd like to have him instead of Januzaj. Preferably with him taking the sort of positions he was in today because he looked our best attacking player.
I'd rather a midfield three with Blind completing it and sitting deeper instead of Mata if we're playing like that. I think Mata should be further up the field, and a midfield three with those three in particular is probably a bit too attacking.
That's the attacking 3rd. Blind and Carrick behind them.
He looked frustrated ad that's good because he was hungrier than he's been at any moment with us, didn't look to play the safe ball too much. I agree with the poster who said that we should try Herrera in the middle with Mata and Di Maria flanking him behind room.
Could work, although I'd like to see us reverting back to what we had before with Di Maria, Blind and Herrera as the midfield three, although Carrick's return does give us more options and your idea could work. Would mean dropping one of Rooney/Falcao though.
He's a goalscorer, and an excellent one.
He's narrowed the formation, basically cut the wing in half, was the one who was positionally unshackled if you will.
This allowed us to play through the middle, short 1-2s which got people into positions, it's something we haven't seen when he/Herrera are not on the pitch.
LvG: Mata has played a lot of matches. I've given him the chance, I give other players the chance and at the end we shall see who plays more
Doesn't sound great in all honesty.
Doesn't sound great in all honesty.
Interesting indeed. I also think we will eventually have to try again with those 3 players in the middle; I'm confident they can build a very quick understanding of each other if given the chance.
What I love about this situation, is that Mata and Rooney essentially are the same player in the sense that they can get away with murder because of the fact that they have good goal/assist stats. Mata is better at passing and keeping the ball under pressure, and when the attacks flow well, he's unquestionably a better no.10 than Rooney. The latter on the other hand, is more direct and versatile, which is more useful on a rainy day. He's also a striker at heart, which gives him a natural boost of individualism when needed.
Neither are ideal no.10's for our team. Mata because we lack quality on the wings. Rooney because he's not a no.10, and never will be.
Right now, I'd play Mata in the no.10 position, with Rooney up front. And don't care who the second striker is. Januzaj/RVP/Falcao/Wilson. Whoever is in the better form will start.
Neither are ideal no.10's for our team. Mata because we lack quality on the wings. Rooney because he's not a no.10, and never will be.
Right now, I'd play Mata in the no.10 position, with Rooney up front. And don't care who the second striker is. Januzaj/RVP/Falcao/Wilson. Whoever is in the better form will start.
We'll have to disagree.
He was at his best under Benitez, who was all about getting the ball from back to front quickly, and not heavy possession.
Under Di Matteo - when he was also good - they were average and, again, didn't consistently dominate possession anything like we did today (70% ish in the first half)
I agree that he played a big part in the games they won, but they weren't a slow-paced possession team.
At least you know that Rooney will run off the ball and with those three behind him we could cut defences open which we have struggled to do i the last few matches.
I'm really pleased for him, he was excellent after coming on. Never should he be below Felliani or Januzaj in the pecking order. He has consistantly contributed with goals and assists since he arrived, more than those two combined in the same time frame.
Mata should definitely be in the team with Di Maria and Herrera with Rooney playing as a striker until Falcao or RvP shows any sort of form. Carrick and the excellent Blind can be holding players.
The thing is, he does tend to perform against the likes of Palace. It's the bigger games that he's been terrible in.
We seem to have a knack of breeding top class players who are incredibly frustrating or a slight notch below brilliant. Rooney, Mata and now RVP fall into this category and Di Maria these last few games looks similar.
It's a great problem to have though. Particularly as we aspire to a 60 game season.
Was the smile I had when he came on, you can only imagine what it went to when he scored.Glad to hear he scored. When he came on he played wide right?
Think that we looked to him last season and this season we've not and he's not done enough to influence the game. He still have moments in him and he was good when he came on. Hopefully, he can build on this
Certainly showed more than Januzaj. Wouldn't mind seeing him start ahead of him.
Played right but his touch was always inside. Not as in cutting inside but just drifting into the centre of the park, it really opened the space for Valencia too (not that he made use of it).
Not getting carried away but for games like that at home, it's why I don't mind Mata in a wide position if van Gaal plays Rooney at 10. When we dominate possession, he can come in a link everything. Especially with Rafael out there, he would take advantage of that space.
Wearing my Mata shirt to the pub today.
I absolutely agree, I think our strongest midfield is blind and carrick in the cm with mata just ahead of them.
I think Wilson would have more impact that rvp at this point and his speed and fearlessness always make him a threat.
I have a sneaking suspicion that we're both Mata fans, so I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did!
Didn't see the game but on MOTD they said he had 9 goals in his last 15 games. That's really quite good, even for a striker those numbers would be nothing to scoff at. I know we all want him to be more than a goalscorer and he has that ability, but even if he's not doing a lot else he's clearly been effective. It's just impossible to fit all the players we want to play into one team though.
When he scored, I jumped up went across to the laptop which was off (3.30am at the time here) and started pointing at it telling the caf to say sorry to Mata lol (like that Italian commentator who supports AC Milan telling everyone to say sorry to Balotelli).
He copped needless criticism over the past few games and I still believe that he will be a vital player for us this season. He needs to improve, no doubt about that but he is such a great player.
But yeh, I have a dangerous man crush on him.
Yeah I jumped around too and celebrated with my somewhat bemused 4-year old son. I've questioned his form recently but always loved the player (and person.)
No doubt his form has to be questioned, like any player but I just found the only reasons he was heavily criticized is because he isn't David Silva.
IMO our best player. Drop RVP play rooney up top and play mata as number 10.
Yep RVP has looked laboured so he needs to be shown he is not an automatic choice if this form continues (Arsenal game I can't see this happening)
Juan saved us today. I wont be suprised though if he is frustrating next time out.
Im not impressed with this 4-3-3. Go back to 4-4-2 diamond.
RVP-----Rooney
Mata
Di Maria-----Fellaini
Carrick
Shaw-----Blind-----Jones-----Rafael
Mata
Di Maria-----Fellaini
Carrick
Shaw-----Blind-----Jones-----Rafael
Its a squad game, Fellaini got his chance and he took it, now Mata will get his and it depends upon what he does with it. Van Gaal said as much in his post game comments that even he wants to see who ends up cementing themselves in the squad by the end of the season.
I wouldn't mind seeing a 2013 City formation applied on United. with Mata and Di Maria playing as wide cams and not wingers.
DDG
Rafael - X - X - Shaw
Blind - Fellaini
Mata ------Di Maria
Rooney
RvP
Rafael - X - X - Shaw
Blind - Fellaini
Mata ------Di Maria
Rooney
RvP
- Status