[Nighteyes]

Rooney's been poor and in midfield most of the time, Herrera has barely played & RVP has had maybe 5 good games. Di Maria has been exceptionally hit and miss also (which is somewhat expected given new League etc). I certainly wouldn't say any have been better than Mata.

Fellaini bizarrely enough would probably the only shout; but again he's been injured or on the bench more often than not.

Rooney, from deeper positions has more goals and assists. Di Maria despite being inconsistent has been by far and away our most creative player and the stats reinforce that view. Herrera hasn't played all that much but when he has, he's been everything Mata should have been. Quick incisive passing and someone who looks to create. Funnily enough, both Di Maria and Herrera have more percentage of forward passes than Mata does. On the other hand, more than half of his passes are backwards which is not ideal for your creative player. RVP has also been better and is our top scorer. Mata has a better pass completion rate than all of them but that's not too surprising given the safe nature of most of his passes. By no metric has Mata been our best attacking player. Not by watching games and not with stats either. Di Maria would win that award quite easily.

 

[Speak]

I can't see Simeone wanting Mata, he likes grinders, Mata doesn't work nearly hard enough for his Atleti set up.

Yeah, it would be an odd move for a side like Simeone's.
Mata's got a relatively good reputation, so if he does leave here he may get a good move. But I still think he needs to go down a club level to be at his most effective - in a team that can afford to be built around him.

 

[bosnian_red]

Are people back to criticising him? He's been largely class every time he has been on the pitch the last couple of months and should be starting. Not his fault van Gaal has a shite selection policy. He's a class player and can be a key player for us going forward if used correctly, without compromising us defensively too.

 

[finneh]

Rooney, from deeper positions has more goals and assists. Di Maria despite being inconsistent has been by far and away our most creative player and the stats reinforce that view. Herrera hasn't played all that much but when he has, he's been everything Mata should have been. Quick incisive passing and someone who looks to create. Funnily enough, both Di Maria and Herrera have more percentage of forward passes than Mata does. On the other hand, more than half of his passes are backwards which is not ideal for your creative player. RVP has also been better and is our top scorer. Mata has a better pass completion rate than all of them but that's not too surprising given the safe nature of most of his passes. By no metric has Mata been our best attacking player. Not by watching games and not with stats either. Di Maria would win that award quite easily.

I disagree with most of that but we'll just have to leave it at that.

 

[Kidders]

Yeah, it would be an odd move for a side like Simeone's.
Mata's got a relatively good reputation, so if he does leave here he may get a good move. But I still think he needs to go down a club level to be at his most effective - in a team that can afford to be built around him.

I agree that he needs a Club where he is first on the team sheet, while we have Rooney that's going to happen at United

 

[Kidders]

NOT going to happen

I agree that he needs a Club where he is first on the team sheet, while we have Rooney that's going to happen at United

 

[dirkey]

I disagree with most of that but we'll just have to leave it at that.

I'd have to agree with @akash02. I don't think Mata has been anywhere close to our best attacker. He's been fine in a few games, but nothing standout, and in a lot of games I've thought he was a passenger. Doesn't take enough chances on the ball for someone of his ability.

 

[Adebesi]

I don't get it. This lad is absolute quality. LVG is over complicating things for me, Mata should play 10 and Rooney up front on his own.

Would really love to see that.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Selling him would be like a knife to the heart. Would make no sense in my opinion, he is our best option at number 10, he is performing well and will be crucial with the different challenges we will (hopefully) face in Europe next season. He has only been at the club for a year, I want to see him for many more.

 

[Raees]

I hope we sell him and bring in a proper united style number 10, one who can grab a game by the scruff off the neck and take our breath away.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Selling him would be like a knife to the heart. Would make no sense in my opinion, he is our best option at number 10, he is performing well and will be crucial with the different challenges we will (hopefully) face in Europe next season. He has only been at the club for a year, I want to see him for many more.

It depends what we want really. He is a second striker just as much as rooney is. He isn't a playmaker like silva or Ozil, but he will score plenty when given the chance. I just feel his lack of physical attributes will cost him in LVGs team.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

It depends what we want really. He is a second striker just as much as rooney is. He isn't a playmaker like silva or Ozil, but he will score plenty when given the chance. I just feel his lack of physical attributes will cost him in LVGs team.

He impacts games as much as anyone, I know he doesn't have the physical attributes others offer but on the flip side, the don't offer what he can.

With more games, tougher games (again hopefully) we can't just say we have someone in his position, we are going to need quality in depth everywhere.

 

[Adam-Utd]

He impacts games as much as anyone, I know he doesn't have the physical attributes others offer but on the flip side, the don't offer what he can.

With more games, tougher games (again hopefully) we can't just say we have someone in his position, we are going to need quality in depth everywhere.

1 thing for sure is if he plays, he needs the team built around him. Pack the team with pace and movement and he will excel. Have we ever tried him in a 4231 with decent wingers and rooney upfront?.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

1 thing for sure is if he plays, he needs the team built around him. Pack the team with pace and movement and he will excel. Have we ever tried him in a 4231 with decent wingers and rooney upfront?.

I kind of agree with the talk of building a team around him but I wouldn't say it like that, it sounds too much like depending on him, or placing too much importance, I look at it as simply playing him in his preferred role. No reason why we can't play with a natural number 10. Obviously some games require a different system but our team and more importantly, our squad is far stronger with Mata.

 

[izec]

I cant see him at United in the long term, would surprise me if he would still be here in 2 years. Nothing against him and i know he has a lot of fans on here, but it just doesnt seem to work. He was better in the last few weeks, but Rooney is his problem (unless he plays as a striker in the future). Will have the same fate as Kagawa, nothing more than wasted talent and potential for us.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Where is he? Doesn't seem to get a look in recently.

 

[Jev]

It's ridiculous. He's been one of our best players this season and deserves to start every game, while Falcao, and to an extent RvP, are playing on name rather than merit.

Also, what is up with the short-term memory on here? I thought people had dropped this sell him nonsense when he was our best player for a consistent run of games around the turn of the year? There are at least 15 players we should be selling before Mata.

 

[Trizy]

I'd like to see a 4231 with Mata as the 10 and Rooney up top, easily changing to a 4411. He'd be a better striking option too than Falcao and RVP at the moment, more goals too!

 

[Adam-Utd]

Yeah agree with that. 4-4-1-1 with Mata and Rooney up the top, Young and Di Maria wide and Blind and Herrera midfield. Fellaini can come on for Mata if we need to go long towards the end.

 

[Sarni]

I've not really been THAT impressed with him this season, he's had some brilliant performances like Spurs away but all in all I'd call him productive more than I'd call him very good so far. He still deserves to start ahead of Falcao and would give us more balance, going forward if we're planning on moving to 433 there'll be no space for him in the team for him unfortunately unless we could shift him wide in the front trio an ask him to perform a role similar to Iniesta at Barcelona back when he played there - he doesn't have anywhere near his passing range and his qualities are different so it'd be a big task.

I think we will sell him in the Summer, he just doesn't fit van Gaal's philosophy. He'll go on to perform very well for his new club because he's most certainly a quality player.

 

[izec]

I've not really been THAT impressed with him this season, he's had some brilliant performances like Spurs away but all in all I'd call him productive more than I'd call him very good so far. He still deserves to start ahead of Falcao and would give us more balance, going forward if we're planning on moving to 433 there'll be no space for him in the team for him unfortunately unless we could shift him wide in the front trio an ask him to perform a role similar to Iniesta at Barcelona back when he played there - he doesn't have anywhere near his passing range and his qualities are different so it'd be a big task.

I think we will sell him in the Summer, he just doesn't fit van Gaal's philosophy. He'll go on to perform very well for his new club because he's most certainly a quality player.

i think he does. He doesnt take too many risk passes and keeps posession most of the time. His problems are Rooney and RvP/Falcao. Rooney is the better 10 and captain, undroppable. Van Gaal is happy with Mata, but he is limited in his position and we have great players already there.

 

[Rowem]

If the team was built around him he'd be incredible - but there are loads of players who would excel as a pure number 10 allowed to do their thing whilst all the other midfielders and forwards do all the stuff Mata is useless at. Not just defensively, but making runs in behind, running at defenders, getting from box-to-box quickly during a counter attack either with or without the ball, winning headers, pressurizing the opposition when in possession. If Mata could do just one or two of these things to better standard he would be so much more useful. I's hard to find quality players for the other positions to allow for a pure number 10 - you need players who are excellent in their own positions and who can also make up for some of the number 10s deficiencies. Even Oscar at Chelsea gets dropped for a few big games a season, even though he's much more "multi-functional" than Mata, because it's too big of a luxury to have that kind of player sometimes.

 

[DWelbz19]

If the team was built around him he'd be incredible - but there are loads of players who would excel as a pure number 10 allowed to do their thing whilst all the other midfielders and forwards do all the stuff Mata is useless at. Not just defensively, but making runs in behind, running at defenders, getting from box-to-box quickly during a counter attack either with or without the ball, winning headers, pressurizing the opposition when in possession. If Mata could do just one or two of these things to better standard he would be so much more useful. I's hard to find quality players for the other positions to allow for a pure number 10 - you need players who are excellent in their own positions and who can also make up for some of the number 10s deficiencies. Even Oscar at Chelsea gets dropped for a few big games a season, even though he's much more "multi-functional" than Mata, because it's too big of a luxury to have that kind of player sometimes.

Yeah, I completely agree. If you set the whole team around him, he's one of the best players in the league. But managers like van Gaal and Mourinho are very much 'the sum is stronger than individual parts' kind of managers. And as we move closer and closer to van Gaal finding a formation he seeks to consistently play with, Mata sees less and less game time.

I also think thats why Rooney has been so oftently deployed as the #10/second-striker, because so much as well as consistently get the side goals and assist

 

[Ish]

If the team was built around him he'd be incredible - but there are loads of players who would excel as a pure number 10 allowed to do their thing whilst all the other midfielders and forwards do all the stuff Mata is useless at. Not just defensively, but making runs in behind, running at defenders, getting from box-to-box quickly during a counter attack either with or without the ball, winning headers, pressurizing the opposition when in possession. If Mata could do just one or two of these things to better standard he would be so much more useful. I's hard to find quality players for the other positions to allow for a pure number 10 - you need players who are excellent in their own positions and who can also make up for some of the number 10s deficiencies. Even Oscar at Chelsea gets dropped for a few big games a season, even though he's much more "multi-functional" than Mata, because it's too big of a luxury to have that kind of player sometimes.

Good summary!

 

[Sheldon69]

Would really love to see that.

yip !! Me to this

 

[Cassidy]

I don't get it. This lad is absolute quality. LVG is over complicating things for me, Mata should play 10 and Rooney up front on his own.

Far too obvious for LVG, he is looking for a more obscure answer that will make him look like a genious.

 

[Successful]

If the team was built around him he'd be incredible - but there are loads of players who would excel as a pure number 10 allowed to do their thing whilst all the other midfielders and forwards do all the stuff Mata is useless at. Not just defensively, but making runs in behind, running at defenders, getting from box-to-box quickly during a counter attack either with or without the ball, winning headers, pressurizing the opposition when in possession. If Mata could do just one or two of these things to better standard he would be so much more useful. I's hard to find quality players for the other positions to allow for a pure number 10 - you need players who are excellent in their own positions and who can also make up for some of the number 10s deficiencies. Even Oscar at Chelsea gets dropped for a few big games a season, even though he's much more "multi-functional" than Mata, because it's too big of a luxury to have that kind of player sometimes.

+10.
Mata is the player with the best touch in our squad.

 

[ZDwyr]

i think he does. He doesnt take too many risk passes and keeps posession most of the time. His problems are Rooney and RvP/Falcao. Rooney is the better 10 and captain, undroppable. Van Gaal is happy with Mata, but he is limited in his position and we have great players already there.

That is very, very debatable.

 

[BennyBlanco]

He's a ghost half the time, unless he has a midfield dominating the center of the pitch behind him he's liable to just float out of the game entirely.
I really, deeply do not rate him, Mourinho knew exactly what he was doing, and tricked us all, personally if we're playing a no.10 i'd pick Herrera over him, at least he has an eye for a pass, offers running and movement in spades and if things aren't going our way he'll get stuck in.
That's just my opinion.

 

[RikRuud]

Mata should be a nailed on starter in my opinion. He's arguably our most technically gifted player IMO which is needed when he occupies the tight spaces as a number 10. If we had a foward line of lets just say. Di Maria---Rooney---Winger with Mata in behind with 2 Mobile midfielders in support. Lets say a create player and a box to box I think we would achieve this "balance" LVG is looking for. He's too good to be benched 3 games in a row.

 

[prarek]

He has the best technique in our squad but he hasn't done enough to warrant a first team spot. Although to be fair neither has any of the others with the exception of De Gea. But still you'd expect a lot more from Mata. I reckon his time at the club is up. He's not even getting minutes from the bench.

 

[izec]

That is very, very debatable.

Well i meant for van Gaal (which should be obvious). I like Rooney more as a striker.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Herrera over him, at least he has an eye for a pass.

So, you're saying Mata does not have an eye for a pass? Really?

 

[sullydnl]

Mata should be a nailed on starter in my opinion. He's arguably our most technically gifted player IMO which is needed when he occupies the tight spaces as a number 10. If we had a foward line of lets just say. Di Maria---Rooney---Winger with Mata in behind with 2 Mobile midfielders in support. Lets say a create player and a box to box I think we would achieve this "balance" LVG is looking for. He's too good to be benched 3 games in a row.

Agreed.

He has the best technique in our squad but he hasn't done enough to warrant a first team spot. Although to be fair neither has any of the others with the exception of De Gea. But still you'd expect a lot more from Mata. I reckon his time at the club is up. He's not even getting minutes from the bench.

Who would you pick ahead of him who has actually been better for us in recent times though?

Plus he has been involved in plenty of games this season, I can't see him being sold when we're going to have even more next year.

 

[lem8sh]

When I saw someone insinuating Mata doesn't have an eye for a pass I realised this thread is fecked.

 

[dirkey]

When I saw someone insinuating Mata doesn't have an eye for a pass I realised this thread is fecked.

Yeah, possibly a bit much, but one thing I think I'd say about him is I've been pretty disappointed with him on quite a few occasions this season where I've felt he's turned and played a simple ball sideways / backwards when he had a chance to try and do something with it. Course, this could be down to the manager drilling his philosophy into them though.
He did look like he was improving recently .. before finding himself out of the side again.

 

[Jagga7]

What the hell has happened to him? He was our best player for a month and now he's disappeared.

 

[izec]

What the hell has happened to him? He was our best player for a month and now he's disappeared.

Now it is time for Januzaj to play, after that (maybe it started already with Herrera), then Mata will play again. Repeat.

 

[BennyBlanco]

So, you're saying Mata does not have an eye for a pass? Really?

Let me ask you this, have you found him to be particuarly creative in his time here? amusingly we've bemoaned our lack of service to the forwards, not just this season but dating back to the last year of Sir Alex time here, so 3 managers playing multiple formations 442, 4231, 4diamond, 352 etc, Mata came in midway through Moyes time, have we seen a noticeable difference in breaking teams down with our 37million pound "no10" on the pitch? not for me.

We have a no.10 who ghosts out of games, offers minimal off the ball, is weak, and isn't particuarly creative in his no.10 role to boot, certainly not in the David Silva mould with his ideal type of ingenuity he brings to his team. It's really not too difficult to understand why Mourinho got rid is it, 37million we gave them, Mourinho must be having a right chuckle.

Edit again, thats just my opinion, I'm not a Mata fan, obviously, If we had an all-conquering midfield behind him, where he was able to get on the ball more often and offer his brand of tidy short passing and eye for a goal we'd get more out of him.
Clearly right now, and since his arrival we aren't able to play to his strengths, and personally do not think he's good enough to possibly warrant building the side the around in order to see the best of him.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Let me ask you this, have you found him to be particuarly creative in his time here? amusingly we've bemoaned our lack of service to the forwards, not just this season but dating back to the last year of Sir Alex time here, so 3 managers playing multiple formations 442, 4231, 4diamond, 352 etc, Mata came in midway through Moyes time, have we seen a noticeable difference in breaking teams down with our 37million pound "no10" on the pitch? not for me.

We have a no.10 who ghosts out of games, offers minimal off the ball, weak and isn't particuarly creative in his no.10 role to boot, certainly not in the David Silva mould with his ideal type of ingenuity he brings to his team. It's really not too difficult to understand why Mourinho got rid is it, 37million we gave them, thirtyseven million, Mourinho must be having a right chuckle.

Edit again, thats just my opinion, I'm not a Mata fan, obviously, If we had an all-conquering midfield behind him, where he was able to get on the ball more often and offer his brand of tidy short passing and eye for a goal we'd get more out of him.

Well in regards to your first point, yes he has been creative, maybe not as much as his Chelsea days but we would be far more praising of Mata's creative ability if those in front of him did their job. I don't base creativity purely around assists but for the sake of this argument, he could have 20 assists this season if the strikers finished the job more often.

Don't judge the price tag after one year at the club, judge him when he leaves and then we will see if he has been a good signing. So far he has been good, he hasn't done much wrong but because people want the best in the world, anything below the best is a waste. It's a shame many think that way because we should be enjoying what a classy player he is, like other players of ours, I don't think we give them the time they deserve.

People who bring David SIlva into the Mata argument some my case up perfectly so I don't need to go on anymore about that.

Onto your last point, any number 10 would be more effective with an 'all-conquering' midfield behind him, that's a given. So why not get that better midfield and let Mata flourish, rather than buy that midfield and then spend another huge fee on a new number 10 as well?