What would you prefer instead?
I think you're probably right about Herrera. I think Januzaj is a winger and not a 10 so I'd swap him and Mata over in today's starting 11. Personally I'd drop Herrera but happy to be proven wrong.
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three-man midfield
Indeed. They bring the best out of each other, and can drift around each other if need be. As much as I think Juan is our best #10 individually, I think both of them on the pitch, in that early 2nd half formation, would give us more all round.
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Didn't play Kagawa as the #10, not playing Mata as the #10.
What is wrong with us?
What is wrong with us?
Herrera should play as a nr. 10. And then Mata will shine too.
Also Mata has spend most of his career on the wing.
And played there last season too.
Also Mata has spend most of his career on the wing.
And played there last season too.
He spends so much time in the middle, don't really understand the complaints about him playing on the wing.
I thought he was very good today.
My main point would be if you start him in the middle (as an a/m not as a second striker where his back is to goal) then all of a sudden he's got 3 potential passes on being rooney through the middle, Depay running from the left and then the right winger i.e. Januzaj who would be running in on his stronger foot. Not to mention if he's already central he can make the pass quicker. We've got wide players in Depay/Januzaj who would naturally be wanting to make a run inside and we've got Mata who's by far our best player at spotting those runs. Multiple runners would open up the pitch as teams wouldn't be able to just flood the middle.
When Herrera plays and Mata is wide it's not such an issue as they've clearly got a good understanding and Herrera uses the ball a lot quicker than Depay/Januzaj do centrally which helps Mata, but as a natural fit Mata as the third midfielder with two wingers making inside runs seems like a good idea to me. There will be some games where maybe the other team presses too quick and Mata can't find space where he might be better of wide but I can't see the hard in trying that set up, although right now I'd be happy going with a front 4 of rooney, mata, depay and herrera.
We all would.
As ever, baffled with any criticism he gets. He's a sublime footballer and is just brilliant to watch. I also think he operates very well from the right and would be quite happy for him to continue there.
He's an excellent footballer, just a shame he comes across as an abonimable human being.
... I just wanted to say something bad about him, since people are harsh on everyone here. He's quite clearly the definition of a class act.
Sorry Juan.
I think he has been good all season so far...
Well, he may have created one or more clear scoring chances in every game we've played so far, but you have to remember that he did once do this..
And this...
So...think on.
While I prefer him centrally, I think it is best for the team that he plays on the right. Fellaini and Herrera can be in the #10 role. Whereas if Mata goes central, Adnan, Young or Valencia come in on the right.
I sort of think Kagawa would be the perfect number 10 for us now with the current system. Ironically.
I have not watched the match from this morning, fair enough that you acknowledge he had had problems with his ability to keep play ticking over when he's dropped back for whatever reason. I cant comment on this game however, the overall point is that as an attacking player he needs to spend more time attacking rather than defending. Sounds like he had a good game and the more confidence can only help to solve the mata.
But thats an irrelevant criticism because of his natural tendency to drift inside anyway.
Against Newcastle I thought it was notable the amount of time Januzaj spent on the right and Mata centrally. I think thats the fundamental reason Januzaj has been preferred over Herrara so far so that they do have that natural ability to swap roles.
Anyway, I agree with those who like his position and think it will be an even more useful ploy now we have a real right back rather than a headless chicken to give us more width down that side.
He's been good in every game this season and our best attacking player over the 5 games by far, and has created plenty of chances. I said it before, but this season he's looking way more creative then he has since his 12/13 season at Chelsea and it's great to see. Finally looking like the player we thought we were buying. Not saying he was poor since he came, but he has been decent overall you could say. The odd glimpses of class and some great games mixed with some ineffective games. This season, we finally have a settled team so hopefully he'll keep it going but the way he's started this season has been really encouraging. Been weird that anybody has criticized him at all these last few weeks really.
Yeah he plays from the right, but like one of the poster said, he probably ends up in the middle more than sticking to the wing. I think it suits him just fine, plus more often than note the fullback is less physical type of player than a typical DM nowadays, where he would be tightly mark and barged the ball off him. With a full back tracking him and follows him towards the middle, it would theoretically opens up more space for Darmian, I think .
.Quiet in the first half but came to life when his bro was moved into the #10 role.
I thought he was pretty good.
Look, I am not saying he's a crap player or he should be dropped. But that bit in bold is a huge stretch, it simply isn't true. Even if he were the best out of the lot (so far for me it is clearly been Depay but they have all had patches of inconsistency) it wouldn't be by much. One thing that is obvious to see is that his potency is greatly increased when he is staying up field and not getting bogged down helping out Darmian. When he's able to get support if and when he comes inside to playmake. When he isn't up field he leaves a huge hole that Rooney often drifts into. When he gets involved from deep on the break (the exception being that full half dribble out of the corner) he has slowed it down and virtually stopped it on a number of occasions.
(I am not talking about the Brugge second leg though. Haven't seen it yet.)
I don't think it's irrelevant when him coming inside means that often we can lack anyone but Darmain wide, where as if we lined up with someone on the right who can go down the line but also make an inside run like Depay does on the left it would open up more options in the attack.
Januzaj did move wide at times but he seemed to hold his width and wasn't really making runs inside. He can do it just not sure whether it was instructions or him but I don't think he was being as effective as he can be there. I agree that Januzaj/Mata/Depay can be fluid and I'm happy to keep going with it, I just think Mata should be the one primarily central and Januzaj should be on the right making inside runs on to his left foot. That seems a much more natural fit for everyone.
I agree that Mata on the right can be effective with Herrera as I mentioned in my post however I think when it's Januzaj/Depay off Rooney both hold on to the ball too long and make it harder for Mata to influence.
Played some lovely through balls yesterday something we don't see often enough, would like to see him play in middle a few times but that would probably force Herrera out of the team again!
Without setting the world alight, Mata has barely put a foot wrong so far this season
But for some reason I do fear he will be dropped at some stage
Anyways does anyone have his passing stats?
But for some reason I do fear he will be dropped at some stage
Anyways does anyone have his passing stats?
We need to buy a RW and play Mata in the 10 position. I just love his decision making when he has options to slip it through. Pedro on the right would have been perfect. I hope we can buy someone and give him a run there.
Thats the way I saw it too, but im over it now. I think Mata will be fine where he is with Herrera at No 10
Made the Spain squad alongsidw Dave. Not sure who he's in ahead of or if someone's injured
No Thiago or Morata. Great to see Juan back though. Just a shame there was no room for Ander with Spain's ridiculous strength in depth.
Mata has been our best attacking player yet this season. I don't get the critiscism here
Indeed. Most of the criticism should be directed towards the players that haven't made the most of his service.
He has replaced Jesus Navas in the squad. Thiago has been dropped.
Swansea 2:1 Man Utd
His refusal to offer width as a winger is so annoying. He needs to offer the overlap to Darmian when he's got the ball, not hang back five yards so he can cut inside and play an easy pass.
He spends 95% of the time running away from goal and 5% running towards it.
He spends 95% of the time running away from goal and 5% running towards it.
I love the guy but Anybody else get incredible frustrated watching him
Darmian is making great runs down their side but mata stops all momentum.
Honestly wouldn't say no to Mane as our RW at the moment
Darmian is making great runs down their side but mata stops all momentum.
Honestly wouldn't say no to Mane as our RW at the moment
Always think he has a goal in him but when he doesn't get it, he really does look detrimental to our attack. Keeps cutting in too often and isn't linking up with Herrera enough.
His worst half this season, Swansea are doing a good job picking him up when he cuts inside. The lack of movement ahead of him doesn't help either.
Hey, what do you expect from a false winger #10? He's our most gifted player, he needn't do anything that he doesn't want to.
Currently the spanner in the works!
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