[Walrus]

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.

I dont doubt his finishing. My point was more that Mata thrives when he is in an attacking position with other players around him, as evidenced by the third goal yesterday. His decision making in the final third is generally spot on. If you play Mata as a striker it means one less person in attack with him, most likely, and therefore less options for him.

I wouldnt be averse to trying him up top though, but I do think that playing Mata plus two strikers leaves us unbalanced and overrun in midfield.

 

[charlenefan]

Become a right little tap in master hasn't he

 

[KiD MoYeS]

More productive than RedCafe's best player in the world ever...

 

[sizzling sausages]

Those stats don't really mean anything, especially when most people will agree that Hazard's end product needs to improve hugely.

 

[DWelbz19]

More productive than RedCafe's best player in the world ever...

Errm, excuse me, where is the stat for 'making proper runs and doing take-on's to give everyone else the space'?

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Those stats don't really mean anything, especially when most people will agree that Hazard's end product needs to improve hugely.

Those stats mean Mata has been more productive that Hazard since joining us, so yeah.

 

[sizzling sausages]

Those stats mean Mata has been more productive that Hazard since joining us, so yeah.

That doesn't tell anywhere near the whole story though.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

That doesn't tell anywhere near the whole story though.

What's the whole story then? That Hazard gets completely overrated?

 

[Cassidy]

Those stats mean Mata has been more productive that Hazard since joining us, so yeah.

Essentially the reason why you can't trust JUST stats.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Essentially the reason why you can't trust JUST stats.

Why not? All these particular stats prove is that Mata has assisted more goals and scored just as many as someone praised as the best player in the league.

I shouldn't be surprised that RedCafe discredits anything belittling Hazard though.

 

[Nighteyes]

Why not? All these particular stats prove is that Mata has assisted more goals and scored just as many as someone praised as the best player in the league.

I shouldn't be surprised that RedCafe discredits anything belittling Hazard though.

Why would redcafe be more biased towards Hazard than United's own? Or maybe it's as simple as the fact that Hazard is the better player.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Why would redcafe be more biased towards Hazard than United's own? Or maybe it's as simple as the fact that Hazard is the better player.

Hazard gets ridiculously overrated on RedCafe. Right now, he's not among the top players in the league, yet some would argue he is the best. He's a fantastic talent, don't get me wrong, but he hasn't done anything to be labeled as he is sometimes. Just a pet peeve of mine.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Hazard gets ridiculously overrated on RedCafe. Right now, he's not among the top players in the league, yet some would argue he is the best. He's a fantastic talent, don't get me wrong, but he hasn't done anything to be labeled as he is sometimes. Just a pet peeve of mine.

I'd say Fabregas is outshining Hazard at Chelsea this season.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

I'd say Fabregas is outshining Hazard at Chelsea this season.

He is.

 

[Moonred]

Hazard gets ridiculously overrated on RedCafe. Right now, he's not among the top players in the league, yet some would argue he is the best. He's a fantastic talent, don't get me wrong, but he hasn't done anything to be labeled as he is sometimes. Just a pet peeve of mine.

Not sure why you would generalize the whole forum to suit your needs. Or maybe you are right, I usually avoid when the hazard love flows.

 

[2 man midfield]

Cow in a field and all that.

Must say i was surprised when i read them.

 

[sizzling sausages]

What's the whole story then? That Hazard gets completely overrated?

I don't know about others but I rate him as a great talent and a very good player already but someone who still has parts of his game that can be really improved on. He's not the best player in the league but I'd have him in the top five.

 

[Nighteyes]

Hazard gets ridiculously overrated on RedCafe. Right now, he's not among the top players in the league, yet some would argue he is the best. He's a fantastic talent, don't get me wrong, but he hasn't done anything to be labeled as he is sometimes. Just a pet peeve of mine.

Fair enough.

Bias aside, do you think Mata is better than Hazard?

 

[Nighteyes]

I don't know about others but I rate him as a great talent and a very good player already but someone who still has parts of his game that can be really improved on. He's not the best player in the league but I'd have him in the top five.

I would agree with this. If he stopped fannying around a bit he could easily become the best player in the league. As it is, he's a still a complete menace to any defense.

 

[SSSSnake]

How can anyone not want Mata in the team if he keeps scoring and assisting? We need strength in depth and we're lucky to have him. Granted he isn't gurenteed a starting role when everyone is fit but during the course of a season where we have injuries and suspensions it's a blessing to have him.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Fair enough.

Bias aside, do you think Mata is better than Hazard?

Do I think Mata is better than Hazard? No. But I don't think either are all that important to their teams, great players but we'd both survive without them.

 

[Nighteyes]

Do I think Mata is better than Hazard? No. But I don't think either are all that important to their teams, great players but we'd both survive without them.

I suspect Chelsea fans will disagree with that. Hazard is far more important for Chelsea than Mata is for us.

@TheShedEnd

 

[sizzling sausages]

I'd disagree with that too. Fabregas and Costa have been more impressive than him for Chelsea this season but Hazard is still a huge part of the reason they're doing so well. Put in Schurrle or Salah instead of him for the full season and I don't think they'd be top of the table.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

I'd disagree with that too. Fabregas and Costa have been more impressive than him for Chelsea this season but Hazard is still a huge part of the reason they're doing so well. Put in Schurrle or Salah instead of him for the full season and I don't think they'd be top of the table.

Well Salah is shite, so there'd obviously be a difference. The same way if we replaced Mata with Anderson. If Schurrle played? Yeah, they'd still be top.

 

[Cassidy]

Do I think Mata is better than Hazard? No. But I don't think either are all that important to their teams, great players but we'd both survive without them.

Whilst he hasn't been their best player, that is a statement too far. He has 6 goals and 3 assists this season in the EPL.
Infact they may not have beaten Hull at the weekend without his performance.

 

[Trizy]

Hazard creates a lot of space when attacking for his team to move into, I'm fairly sure he's involved in a lot more goals too apart from his own and assists.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

More productive than RedCafe's best player in the world ever...

Impressive productivity from our wee man.

 

[Kag]

I like Mata very much but those statistics highlight just why we should all be cautious when dissecting them. Just watch the game, the difference in play style and overall contribution is abundantly clear.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I like Mata very much but those statistics highlight just why we should all be cautious when dissecting them. Just watch the game, the difference in play style and overall contribution is abundantly clear.

Does Hazard take set-pieces? If we took away Mata's set-piece goals and assists, it would put a big dent in his stats.

Mind you, we'd also have to delete Hazard's penalties...

 

[Decotron]

I think we'll see him play in his best position when we line up with Carrick and Blind in the middle. Its obvious he's spent the majority of his United career to date playing a little bit too deep. It'll also take the pressure off him in terms of backtracking and work rate.

 

[Decotron]

Also haven't seen this in a while

 

[HabeasC]

Does Hazard take set-pieces? If we took away Mata's set-piece goals and assists, it would put a big dent in his stats.

Mind you, we'd also have to delete Hazard's penalties...

To be fair, a penalty is pretty much a guaranteed goal whereas free kicks most definitely aren't. We shouldn't take Mata's ability for granted in these situations.

 

[Cassidy]

Also haven't seen this in a while

Outrageous!

 

[NinjaZombie]

Outrageous!

I'd forgotten that was Mata and he plays for us now.

 

[NM]

I like Mata very much but those statistics highlight just why we should all be cautious when dissecting them. Just watch the game, the difference in play style and overall contribution is abundantly clear.

Play style doesn't win you games. Goals do. He scores and supplies them. I don't understand what some posters want?

 

[Kag]

Play style doesn't win you games. Goals do. He scores and supplies them. I don't understand what some posters want?

Hazard contributes more in other areas of the pitch. He presses more, he creates more space and his movement is a nightmare for defenders to deal with. Mata is a brilliant player but he doesn't pose that kind of aggressive threat to opposition defenders.

I like Mata a lot, as I've said. I also think if you were to play him at #10 with Rooney ahead of him we would see some excellent results. But the crux of my original point is that numbers don't tell the full story. While Mata may be more productive I think Hazard makes for a better football team.

 

[Loublaze]

Why not? All these particular stats prove is that Mata has assisted more goals and scored just as many as someone praised as the best player in the league.

I shouldn't be surprised that RedCafe discredits anything belittling Hazard though.

This

 

[Adam-Utd]

Mata reminds me of Rooney from the last 2 years or so. Rarely does anything spectacular and can be in and out of games, but somehow keeps making that key pass or being in the right place to score.

I must admit I didn't realize he had such an eye for goal, he really is a second striker in that sense. Whether we really need a player like that though rather than a creative type is debatable, but so far you cannot deny his goals/assists have been quite impressive since he joined us.

If only his pace was a little bit better it could really take him to the next level, but you can't have it all I suppose.

 

[Kostur]

More productive than RedCafe's best player in the world ever...

Absolute bullshit, Hazard would have triple those stats if he wanted to. Quadruple even.

 

[Speak]

Why not? All these particular stats prove is that Mata has assisted more goals and scored just as many as someone praised as the best player in the league.

I shouldn't be surprised that RedCafe discredits anything belittling Hazard though.

Very few (if any) on here have stated Hazard is the best in the league.