[Randall Flagg]

Thought he was pretty good and felt it should have been Herrera to go off instead
But it didn't matter in the end

 

[Nighteyes]

Was very poor aside from the freekick routine. Herrera wasn't much better but was more forceful

 

[DarkXaero]

Had a quiet first half but I thought he was getting better in the second half before getting replaced.

 

[mu77]

he was meh.

 

[Escobar]

Hasn't really picked up has he. Still a bit "pointless" with the ball and it was right that he went off. Just doesn't show enough when he has the ball

 

[Dobba]

The freekick and subsequent celebration that it had come off were great. The rest was a bit...meh.

 

[Godfather]

He really struggles to impose himself. Sth like what we saw from Martial today would be unthinkable from our right hand side with Mata there.

 

[2mufc0]

Doesn't do much these days, but passes and keeps the ball safely so Lvg won't drop him.

 

[sullydnl]

Meh sums up today's performance pretty well alright.

 

[Devil may care]

The only reason I gave him a point more than Memphis was his part in the freekick, as other than that he offered very little at all today.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Very disappointing today. We can't have one side of our formation offer nothing.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Was poor today I thought. Was a good decision to sub him off. Just didn't impose himself enough.

 

[Adisa]

Nothing performance. And I'm one of those that think he's had a decent season so far.

 

[dsch]

I like him better when he drifts to the middle and has options around him instead of only either cross or dribble.

 

[sullydnl]

Nothing performance. And I'm one of those that think he's had a decent season so far.

Yep, I think he's been our best attacking player this season but today was definitely a bit of a no show.

 

[chetan]

Was pointless today, nothing was coming from our right side. Even when he was drifting inside he just made some short passes to the nearest player.

 

[itso 7]

It would be helpful if attempted something purposeful with the ball when he drifts into central areas. Atm I think it's better if we try Lingard or Perreira on that RW because as it stands our right side of attack is dead.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

It would be helpful if attempted something purposeful with the ball when he drifts into central areas. Atm I think it's better if we try Lingard or Perreira on that RW because as it stands our right side of attack is dead.

Yup. It would be refreshing to see us have a threat from both sides. But despite his lack of pace and ability to go on the outside, Mata has to be more pro-active. Complete passenger today. Tried nothing, did nothing.

 

[NoPace]

Had trouble, as he often does, getting on the ball against a team parking the bus. Normally a player like him just drops deeper and more central and links up but Van Gaal wants us more rigid than that. I could see Memphis and Young both starting when Van Gaal is sure the other team is going to sit 10 behind.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Even I have to admit, not great yesterday but did a job. 6/10.

The pass to Blind though, while 'easy' still needs the perfect weight on the pass to make Blind's job easier. That's me taking the best positive I can.

 

[UnitedBoy]

I rate mata, who doesn't. But I think him playing on the right is one of the reasons why we can't break down the teams who bring the bus. It's not his fault of course, he dies his job.

 

[the hea]

Thought he was pretty good and felt it should have been Herrera to go off instead
But it didn't matter in the end

Both Mata and Herrera were poor today.

 

[Amar__]

Thought he was poor today, almost invisible. Good stuff with the free kick though.

 

[Stack]

From football365's 16 conclusions

* That first goal meant that Juan Mata had scored or assisted every one of Manchester United’s Premier League goals excluding the own goal against Tottenham. At a time when Wayne Rooney falters and many others flatter to deceive, Mata continues to be the jewel in an often unflattering crown. On form, he is United’s best outfield player.

I also regularly forget that Mata only turned 27 in April. Many more years of wonder to come.

 

[Raw]

* That first goal meant that Juan Mata had scored or assisted every one of Manchester United’s Premier League goals excluding the own goal against Tottenham. At a time when Wayne Rooney falters and many others flatter to deceive, Mata continues to be the jewel in an often unflattering crown. On form, he is United’s best outfield player.

I imagine that was written before we scored the other 2? Herrera won the penalty for the 2nd and Young passed it to Martial for the 3rd

 

[Stack]

I imagine that was written before we scored the other 2? Herrera won the penalty for the 2nd and Young passed it to Martial for the 3rd

I found it interesting that he has such a different view to the rest of us.

 

[Attila]

I found it interesting that he has such a different view to the rest of us.

The rest of us probably watch every United game...not sure about the football 365 guy

 

[Randall Flagg]

From football365's 16 conclusions

* That first goal meant that Juan Mata had scored or assisted every one of Manchester United’s Premier League goals excluding the own goal against Tottenham. At a time when Wayne Rooney falters and many others flatter to deceive, Mata continues to be the jewel in an often unflattering crown. On form, he is United’s best outfield player.

I also regularly forget that Mata only turned 27 in April. Many more years of wonder to come.

In fairness that was only 3 goals

Assist for adnan, mata scored against Swansea and then today.

 

[United again!]

* That first goal meant that Juan Mata had scored or assisted every one of Manchester United’s Premier League goals excluding the own goal against Tottenham. At a time when Wayne Rooney falters and many others flatter to deceive, Mata continues to be the jewel in an often unflattering crown. On form, he is United’s best outfield player.

Three goals. It is hardly some magnificent achievement, it is even worded in favour of him in saying 'excluding the Tottenham OG' when really you could just say, so not every game then. Haven't seen the second half but he did the usual in the first half that I saw. He is a massive problem at right forward and it is bordering on almost pointless playing him there. I've seen people saying he's our best attacker this season or something similar and that quite frankly is incredibly delusional.

I also regularly forget that Mata only turned 27 in April. Many more years of wonder to come.

The only thing that is of wonder is that at 27 it is scary to think that some of these performances give an obvious air that his legs are gone. But that could easily be attributed to the way LVG has the unit playing.

 

[ZDwyr]

He was ineffective, unfortunately. I really wanted him to play well.

 

[Sam]

He needs to be in the team because he's one of our best players on the ball, but he's just not a very good winger.

He's a conundrum right now. I think its time to play him centrally and get some pace on both flanks.

 

[Eugenius]

Clearly LVG doesn't rate Mata as a number 10, he's played Fellaini, Di Maria, Depay, Januzaj and now Herrera there ahead of him. Of course LVG's judgement isn't always sound but that really suggests something here, same with Mourinho.

He's absolutely useless on the wing though. I don't care about his assists and goal stats, when I watch the game I see us struggling to break down teams and see Mata drifting ineffectively central and leaving Darmian isolated. I'd drop him for Young, and play Rooney behind Martial and then we'll start threatening teams.

 

[Ixion]

Great pass for the first goal. 1 goal and 3 assists in 7 games, no one else has been that productive.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Clearly LVG doesn't rate Mata as a number 10, he's played Fellaini, Di Maria, Depay, Januzaj and now Herrera there ahead of him. Of course LVG's judgement isn't always sound but that really suggests something here, same with Mourinho.

He's absolutely useless on the wing though. I don't care about his assists and goal stats, when I watch the game I see us struggling to break down teams and see Mata drifting ineffectively central and leaving Darmian isolated. I'd drop him for Young, and play Rooney behind Martial and then we'll start threatening teams.

That's a shame, because they've been really bloody good since he's joined us.

 

[mufcwarm92]

Clearly LVG doesn't rate Mata as a number 10, he's played Fellaini, Di Maria, Depay, Januzaj and now Herrera there ahead of him. Of course LVG's judgement isn't always sound but that really suggests something here, same with Mourinho.

He's absolutely useless on the wing though. I don't care about his assists and goal stats, when I watch the game I see us struggling to break down teams and see Mata drifting ineffectively central and leaving Darmian isolated. I'd drop him for Young, and play Rooney behind Martial and then we'll start threatening teams.

Ignore facts because your opinion is contrasting. Ok then.

 

[NinjaFletch]

I genuinely think his best position is on the right drifting in.

 

[limerickcitykid]

Its not like goals win games or anything.

 

[NinjaFletch]

He needs to be in the team because he's one of our best players on the ball, but he's just not a very good winger.

He's a conundrum right now. I think its time to play him centrally and get some pace on both flanks.

He's clearly not being asked to be a winger, and he's clearly not playing as one.

Do you genuinely think that Van Gaal says to him before every game 'get chalk on your boots and get crosses in' and yet still continues to pick him week in, week out when he spends the majority of his game in an inside right channel?

 

[Eugenius]

Ignore facts because your opinion is contrasting. Ok then.

Stats don't tell the whole story. He got an assist yesterday and had no influence on the game otherwise. Stats don't tell you the counterfactual either, ie how many more chances and goals would we score if Mata could actually get away from his man & looked to link up with Darmian better. And another fact we can all agree on is how slow, safe and tumescent our attack is, and to my mind Mata is one of the biggest culprits. He's a much better footballer than Ashley Young for example but look at what having a bit of pace & ambition does in terms of effectiveness.

 

[Sam]

He's clearly not being asked to be a winger, and he's clearly not playing as one.

Do you genuinely think that Van Gaal says to him before every game 'get chalk on your boots and get crosses in' and yet still continues to pick him week in, week out when he spends the majority of his game in an inside right channel?

But thats the problem right there, the lack of a proper winger on the right makes the team very lopsided, and pretty much makes the right hand side a non factor when it comes to attacking. All our play is coming down the left because thats the only position we have a player that can beat a man.

I like Mata central, and I'd play him there. But with a winger on either side. It doesn't have to be a traditional, line hugging winger, just someone with pace and skill who can offer a threat down the right.

Personally I'd quite like to see Young and Memphis on either wing, problem is, they both prefer the left.