Thought he was pretty anonymous. Not a bad game, just not anything overly good. I can see him being benched for Pedro though.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 54
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 11
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Thought he was fine today. Contributed well but I guess he faded as the game went on.
Wonder why people expect him to play as our #10 if/when Pedro comes in. If he's not playing there now, why would that change with the addition of another attacker?
Wonder why people expect him to play as our #10 if/when Pedro comes in. If he's not playing there now, why would that change with the addition of another attacker?
Just saw some stats that say he attempted more passes then any of our attackers on the pitch, also completed more then any of them. Off the top of my head - in the second half (I thought he was average in the first, bar an excellent through-ball to Januzaj, which he should have done better from) - I can remember several occasions where he released Darmian down the right to put in a free cross, once where he put in Shaw (for the Memphis chance), twice doing good work for Bastian to have a shot, and also whipping in a great corner that he should have scored from, on top of some good quick corners with Memphis, as well as generally having some very good interplay around the box with Rooney/Depay/Schweinsteiger... but yeah, apart from all that he was annoymous, or missing, or sloppy, or not adventurous... or something.
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Class today as he was vs Villa. He's looking so much more creative with Memphis and januzaj making runs in behind as I always suspected he would, because before there was nobody really running in behind. Darmian and him are building a nice understanding as well.
As others have been saying, get him in that 10 position, and let him rotate with Herrera and Fellaini. Depay and Pedro on the wings.
Typical game of Mata. He has moments where you can see why you want him in your side. Then he goes for ages without doing anything. Doesn't work hard enough defensively. Slows our attack down. I can understand why Mourinho had no problems selling him to us.
I thought he played well. I've said in the post match thread he can drift in and out, he's not one to control a game's rhythm, but with our centre midfield now that's not necessarily a real issue for me. Given our struggles with creativity in the league he's the sort of player I'm fine with seeing.
Still would love to see him at 10 though, or on the field with Ander for a while.
Still would love to see him at 10 though, or on the field with Ander for a while.
Very good again, doing his job perfectly.
Last season he was very very efficient with his possession however he was not very creative and was criticized for not attempting riskier passes. This season so far he's not quite as efficient in possession, lost the ball a bit more than we're used to seeing him (still easily one of our best ball retainers) but he's attempting the riskier passes now and has created more chances than anyone so far. He's put both Januzaj and Depay on a one-on-one with the keeper with Silva-like passes and Rooney too that he strayed just offside on the right. He was criticized for not attempting these kind of passes last season.
He was ok, similar to how he often is, some nice touches and passes, but out muscled easily and often stops our attacks due to not being able to turn a defender and accelerate.
Rooney
Depay ------Mata -----Pedro
I think this will work for us, with Januzaj and Young being an alternative to Depay and Pedro and Big man Fellaini an option for Mata. Then again we can play Januzaj if required as a no.10 too.
Hope LVG tries this along with
Herrera -------- Schneiderlin
Schweinsteiger
behind that top 4
Depay ------Mata -----Pedro
I think this will work for us, with Januzaj and Young being an alternative to Depay and Pedro and Big man Fellaini an option for Mata. Then again we can play Januzaj if required as a no.10 too.
Hope LVG tries this along with
Herrera -------- Schneiderlin
Schweinsteiger
behind that top 4
People will be getting such a shock if/when he eventually plays centrally and barely looks any better.
Definitely better suited to the wing, even if he has his limitations there.
Definitely better suited to the wing, even if he has his limitations there.
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TBH not a fan of the either formations. I like Mata on the right as it allows him a free role and keeps him away from a congested middle. And the fact that he has Darmian behind him helps.
For the second I don't think the forwards and wingers will receive good service with that lineup. Although I can see LvG playing variations of that in big games.
I agree with him only being OK for this game. If you look at the price tag he came with he should have done better. His performance is from a player costing like 15m rather than 46m. Have to shape up to be honest.
What game did you watch? He slowed us down constantly! Looks hamstrung playing that position without Herrera to link up. A waste of a talent unless played as a 10. If he doesn't play right wing again then that is fine by me!
Yeah, spot on.
I like this version of Mata a lot more. It's been very noticeable in the last 2 games that he's been actively trying to create more chances rather than just going with the flow like he did for a lot of the last season. As for him going backwards a lot, I'm not too bothered by that. He hasn't got the strength to hold up the play and so he prefers to keep the ball. As long as he can keep playing these through balls...The lack of strength will be even more of an issue if he was playing as a #10 so I'd say he's fine as it is. He ends up drifting inside in any case.
Just hope we don't sign Pedro. Mata is quite easily the better player.
I agree. I dont think he had a great game and slowed us down too often. I can see him being benched if we buy Pedro
The second half yesterday was the quickest football we've played all season, across the entire pitch, by a country mile, how on earth do people think he slowed us down?!
Also, yesterday was clearly the most attacking Darmian has been for us and he was a threat down that right hand-side... again particularly in that second half. Do people think this was some sort of magic coincedence? Mata was constantly feeding him on the overlap.
Also, yesterday was clearly the most attacking Darmian has been for us and he was a threat down that right hand-side... again particularly in that second half. Do people think this was some sort of magic coincedence? Mata was constantly feeding him on the overlap.
Still don't think he was a good investment (considering the then-record price). Buy Pedro, return Mata for a refund.
Not sure what he adds being stuck out wide, Would much rather see him at #10 where he can pick up more of the ball. If we do eventually sign Pedro you would think that his wing position will be the one that is the one up for grabs, so that could see Mata out of the team.
26 goals and assists in 45 starts - mostly whilst being played out of positions, when we've been a bit rubbish.
God this place is weird sometimes.
Van gaal has already said he prefers 2 strikers in that position so that aint happeniny
He has a glaring lack of pace despite being a wizard with the ball....he's a big asset but might find himself on the bench if van gaal signs more forwards with pace but mata will play a big role this season and is currently our only true playmaker
“lies, damned lies and statistics”: Stats can be used to prove anything.
In the halls of statistics, it doesn't get more important then... you know... goals.
He'll never play that #10 role, he just doesn't suit the criteria for that role LVG requires.
Our #10 spot is up for grabs. Mata there flanked by pedro and Memphis is much better than Mata out wide with januzaj or Fellaini as the #10.
The goals stat only tells you the number of times a person had the last touch. Do you not find YouTube compilations that focus on goals by midfielders (and defenders) rather pointless? I'd rather see their other abilities - passing range/strength/tackling/defensive contributions/aerial prowess/pace/strength of character/leadership/dribbling ability/positional awareness/dead-ball ability.
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That's deep man.
I think if we do get Pedro he'll certainly be given the chance in the #10 role. It'd be daft not to to be honest. When you look, we don't really have a player at the moment that can play wide right which is why Mata finds himself there I feel. And it's not his best position but he's consistently shown his quality there, I can only imagine he'd be more dangerous more centrally with runners around him.
Possibly. Just my opinion I know, but I don't rate him so highly and predict he'll be on the periphery soon, and gone within a couple of years.
What? He didn't slow us down at all, we played probably our quickest football in a long time and he created loads of chances for us. Played plenty of through balls and picked out great passes all game long, and held on to the ball well when needed. Without a doubt was one of our best players.
In fact, over the first 3 games he has been one of our best players. He has played great forward passes and looked very creative actually with forward runners to pick out. Some people can't see that though because they have a predetermined notion that they don't want to see him out wide so he cant possibly do well, when in reality he has been doing really well there.
The amount of posts including the word 'Pedro' 
The amount of posts including the word 'Pedro'
Yeah, hilarious.
The amount of posts including the word 'Pedro'
I had this one down as a cert for ages
Unreal online meltdown todayI had this one down as a cert for ages
I obviously disagree with you (just seen your tag line pmsl in this case) but I really don't think he's great at this position and I've seen all 3 games. Just my opinion id prefer Valencia or Young in this position.
Fair enough... And yeah, I got the tagline because I was one of the "scouts" on here for like half a year but only handed out I think 1 like and didn't promote anyone
Deserved it tbf- Status