Those two passes in the lead up to our third were what's been missing from his game for a while now, despite being generally neat and tidy (and surprisingly productive). Perfectly weighted, really hurtful passed. More of the same please. The type of footballer I really enjoy watching. Be such a shame if he doesn't kick on from here. Been playing within himself a bit, so we might see a bit more swagger in the coming weeks. Lovely.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 4
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
Mata to RVP to finish off Liverpool. Still don't quite believe it.
From London with love
From London with love
I remember though, Mata, herrera, and di maria when they played I think it was one match together when they were all fit, the passing between the 3 was a joy to behold
I`d love when they`re all fit, to see them play again, there all on same wavelength and know how to play football the "proper" way
I`d love when they`re all fit, to see them play again, there all on same wavelength and know how to play football the "proper" way
Only criticism I have of him is not kissing the camera when he ran towards it in his goal celebration earlier. Giggsy must have left that out of the presentation he gave last week.
It was a great little pass to RVP, he sold three defenders and the keeper the wrong direction.
Another very good game by Mata. The debate will continue on his actual overall game but at the end of the day, he is having direct impacts on games and that is more important in my opinion.
Great to see him score even better that he was offside. That pass also to RVP, to throw the keeper with a pass is absolutely amazing.
Great to see him score even better that he was offside. That pass also to RVP, to throw the keeper with a pass is absolutely amazing.
Beautiful disguise on that pass.
That surely can't be all we expect of him in the red shirt.
Thats honestly better then sex
I think you might be doing it wrong.
His passing was better. He really is a final third/centre forward player, but he also showed some of the killer passing we expect of him. I think he's fine playing in home games, but away we need more from him.
He gets goals and assists, doesn't do a lot else, and is not a good midfielder.
Actually I think that might work for some must win games against very tough opposition - Chelsea, City, etc. when on one hand we must go for the win, but on the other we should be careful not to get punished by them. Play 4-2-3-1 - something like this:
-------Rooney/RVP/Falcao------
Di Maria--------Mata--------Herrera
-----Fellaini/Blind-----Carrick------
Shaw----Rojo-----Smalling---Rafael
---------------DDG---------------
The two DMs in front of the back 4 would make us very solid and also help keep possession, while Mata, Herrera and Di Maria would create a ton of chances for our striker, plus they are quire able to score too. Probably Falcao with his movement and physicality would work best for this formation.
have to agree that Mata isn't doing enough in his all around play for me. Yes, he has some sublime moments, but for large spells of most matches he is in you can forget he is playing.
I like the way he plays in this system, but I'd like to see him popping the ball off more often.
MOTD showed that we attacked 51% of the time down the right today, and I think it was 26% down the left. I don't think those kind of stats are exclusive to today's game either because it's not like Moreno and Lovren were an easier target than Henderson and Johnson/Kolo. Don't think that helps Mata's involvement...and he's never going to do a Di Maria and run through teams when he does get his opportunities.
MOTD showed that we attacked 51% of the time down the right today, and I think it was 26% down the left. I don't think those kind of stats are exclusive to today's game either because it's not like Moreno and Lovren were an easier target than Henderson and Johnson/Kolo. Don't think that helps Mata's involvement...and he's never going to do a Di Maria and run through teams when he does get his opportunities.
Mata's passing accuracy this season is 92.2% which is second only to Flamini in the entire league (the latter of whom obviously plays it much simpler).
Having an incredibly reliable passer is vital to LvG's passing philsophy, especially when at least one of our other midfielders every game is going to be Herrera, Fellaini or Di Maria.
You could argue that Mata's form has been a little off but I, for one, breathe a sigh of relief whenever I see him on the ball as opposed to some of our more wasteful passers. The rest of the squad is still Fergie's in a lot of ways, so it's been built for directness rather than ball retention. Given the current state of the defence, it needs someone it can pass out to without fearing that the ball is gonna come straight back.
Having an incredibly reliable passer is vital to LvG's passing philsophy, especially when at least one of our other midfielders every game is going to be Herrera, Fellaini or Di Maria.
You could argue that Mata's form has been a little off but I, for one, breathe a sigh of relief whenever I see him on the ball as opposed to some of our more wasteful passers. The rest of the squad is still Fergie's in a lot of ways, so it's been built for directness rather than ball retention. Given the current state of the defence, it needs someone it can pass out to without fearing that the ball is gonna come straight back.
I thought he was good. First half he was anonymous until the goal but in the 2nd I thought he got involved and did very well.
Doesn't have the pace to break like Di Maria can during transition but I thought he was very good in transition, was more direct and clear in what he wanted to do. There were many times, we were able to pass through their midfield to Mata and he was able to continue to forward movement and got us on the front foot.
That assist was class. Destroyed the Liverpool defense with a look of his eyes.
He hoodwinked their entire defense, keeper included
IMO he's been very good this season. Hope he keeps racking up the goals and assists. Can't ask for more
Take a bow son. Superb yesterday against LFC. At his creative best and nicked in for a goal too. Excellent
Just seen the average positions on the BBC and his average position is ahead of Wilson and level with RVP. Thhat's a bit too advanced for my liking especially when the two other options in midfield were Fellaini and Rooney.
Not surprising. He's essentially a tidy second striker with added ball-retention.
Quite concerning though. It wont always pay off like it did today.
It's just part of his game, and I can't see that being taken away. In fact, if it was taken away, he'd be half the player. And it's why I still don't see him having a long-term future here as a starter.
Sums it up. The average position map (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30472067 about halfway down) shows Mata to be alongside RVP as our most advanced player. Whilst yesterday he did obviously end up scoring and assisting one, his overall game still concerns me. We all know that Mata is excellent in and around the opponent penalty area, but he goes invisible for the rest of the game. This is OK for a striker, but less so for a midfielder/#10 who really needs to be contributing more in an all-round sense.
Mata is a player who will undoubtedly produce decent numbers for goals/assists over the course of a season, but every time he starts for us we seem to get overrun in midfield and I dont think this is a coincidence.
@Borys
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It's a bit of a conundrum. Like you say, he's just not guaranteed to get involved from game to game.
Even if we were to go 4-3-3/4-2-3-1, not sign Falcao and use that money on a different player:
While you could argue it would suit Mata to play in that advanced midfield role behind one striker, that would mean Di Maria wide.
You have to wonder whether that's better than us buying someone like Depay and playing Di Maria in that advanced midfield role instead.
Mata would make a cracking squad/impact option though. Essentially doing what Lampard is doing for City, and if Depay or Di Maria are out, he's a great replacement. But I'm struggling to see a system that fits him in and still gets the best out of everybody else.
Could you post a photo? I thought in 3-5-2 both Rooney and RvP stay wide (yesterday Wilson and RvP) and he plays as a striker, very high starting position. Don't think that suits us as I would rather Roo/Di Maria to occupy that position.
The two DMs will be asked to do a lot of running with those three ahead of them. Carrick is definitely not suited to midfield two. Herrera is no right winger, and we need Rooney to drop deeper.
That might be the best setup to get the most out of Mata, but IMO it's far from our best team.
I'm not sure about the last point. If he played a tad deeper it shouldn't make much of a difference to his overall game. Having 3 players that advanced and basically playing as strikers while another striker/#10 plays as a CM is not the best of ideas. Ideally, he and Rooney should be level with each other and taking turns to go forward.
@Speak
Yeah it is a difficult one. I like everyone else love seeing Mata play when he is on song, but it is basically like playing another striker. Heck, I think RVP probably made far more defensive contributions yesterday than Mata did.
He is very, very much a luxury player and someone who we have to carry, with the hope that he will - like yesterday - pop up at some point and provide the goods.
For me, I would be playing Mata against the lesser teams as a #10 behind two strikers, but against the big teams I just think we sacrifice too much defensively to do that.
Yeah it is a difficult one. I like everyone else love seeing Mata play when he is on song, but it is basically like playing another striker. Heck, I think RVP probably made far more defensive contributions yesterday than Mata did.
He is very, very much a luxury player and someone who we have to carry, with the hope that he will - like yesterday - pop up at some point and provide the goods.
For me, I would be playing Mata against the lesser teams as a #10 behind two strikers, but against the big teams I just think we sacrifice too much defensively to do that.
But why wouldn't that role suit Di Maria more?
He was really good yesterday. Kept finding that space behind Liverpool's midfield allowing us to push right up. Whether he'll continue to do that against midfields that offer some protection is another thing.
I forgot Di Maria existed for a minute
I think it would suit both Herrera and Di Maria better I seem to be in the minority.
IMO, only two of Rooney, RVP and Mata should ever start.
I forgot Di Maria existed for a minute
I think it would suit both Herrera and Di Maria better I seem to be in the minority.
IMO, only two of Rooney, RVP and Mata should ever start.
I agree with that tbh
I actually don't think it's the worst idea to try Mata up top with Rooney or van Persie as a striker.I forgot Di Maria existed for a minute
I think it would suit both Herrera and Di Maria better I seem to be in the minority.
IMO, only two of Rooney, RVP and Mata should ever start.
With Di Maria in behind.
I'd love to see Mata actually played as a striker a couple of times. Especially at Old Trafford.
I didnt say that it wouldnt
Agreed. He practically plays that role anyway. Only thing would be whether we can still carry enough offensive threat - Mata is at his best when he has options available around him, thus he works very well with two strikers up there. Having only one other striker means one less option for him to pass to.
I actually think his finishing is a stronger attribute for him than his passing. I don't think he's much (if at all) off our natural strikers in terms of his finishing. While he's an accurate passer, I don't actually think he's amazing at cutting through teams at will.
I think his best passes come when he's high up the field. Putting in the final touches to moves with accuracy and perfect weight.
He's capable of through balls from deep, but his assists come more often from little lay-offs and cut backs.
I think it could work if Di Maria played as an advanced midfielder, and was given freedom to roam a bit. Mata wouldn't have to stay up top as a number 9 type striker. He'd have licence to drop deeper, but he wouldn't be required to dictate or defend quite as much. Basically playing as a sort of striker-number 10 hybrid, and getting the best out of his skills.
Could see him possibly getting lost a bit in some away games. But even then, I think he'd look better up top than he often has in midfield.
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Fair play to him, yesterday's game didn't suit him at all yet he managed to score a goal and provide an assist. We didn't enjoy any quality possession in the final third and when that happens he usually is anonymous. Mata flourishes when he gets time on the ball up front with his teammates providing the right off the ball movement. LvG has made us considerably better on the ball but the whole team's off the ball movement, both offensively and defensively, still remains an issue. And as long as this happens Mata will be struggling on the pitch, as did Kagawa last season.
He is not playing as a second striker right now and i wouldn't want him to play there because Rooney is doing a fine job in that role and there is no need to change that. We have problems to solve as a team and there is simply no need to start experimenting on things that are working well for us. Mata is attempting a run towards the far post, whenever Rooney, as a second striker, drifts on the edge of the box in order to stir the defense and create pockets of space. Most of the time Mata's job is to ensure quantity and quality of possession in the opponents half.
He is also not physical enough to track back and close down opponents. Plus he is quite uncomfortable when he has to drop deeper, in our own half, and play a part in the midfield battle. That's why Wilson did this job for him yesterday. It's also the reason why Mourinho couldn't find a place for him at Chelsea. There are two ways for Mata to prove useful, either by having lots of possession in the opponents half and many players going forward or by trying to regain possession in advanced positions with him being ready to get on the ball and pick the right pass like City do with Silva.
We don't have the players to do the latter, it's not what van Gaal wants to achieve here anyway. We have had good possession against lesser opponents at OT but if we don't start doing the same against better opposition and away from home i don't see him having a future here either.
He is not playing as a second striker right now and i wouldn't want him to play there because Rooney is doing a fine job in that role and there is no need to change that. We have problems to solve as a team and there is simply no need to start experimenting on things that are working well for us. Mata is attempting a run towards the far post, whenever Rooney, as a second striker, drifts on the edge of the box in order to stir the defense and create pockets of space. Most of the time Mata's job is to ensure quantity and quality of possession in the opponents half.
He is also not physical enough to track back and close down opponents. Plus he is quite uncomfortable when he has to drop deeper, in our own half, and play a part in the midfield battle. That's why Wilson did this job for him yesterday. It's also the reason why Mourinho couldn't find a place for him at Chelsea. There are two ways for Mata to prove useful, either by having lots of possession in the opponents half and many players going forward or by trying to regain possession in advanced positions with him being ready to get on the ball and pick the right pass like City do with Silva.
We don't have the players to do the latter, it's not what van Gaal wants to achieve here anyway. We have had good possession against lesser opponents at OT but if we don't start doing the same against better opposition and away from home i don't see him having a future here either.
- Status