He is anoynoymous because our two cdms have been too damn slow to get him the ball. When he makes himself available we take too many touches to get it out.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 54
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 11
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
I honestly don't know what the point of Mata as a winger is,very poor winger,no pace and can't go past a player,he always comes back.not impressed at all when we've got Young and Anders on the bench.
Get the ball wide get to the byeline and whip balls in or our forwards will stop getting into positions. The only time Mata gets to the byeline is at corner kicks. He's not a winger but it's where he's playing and he is donkey shit at playing here. He needs to fight for the ten jersey or get benched. I'd rather have Young or Valencia play this position.
We need to have some players who aren't afraid to take risks to create something. Cleverley could recycle possession and play it safe - it wasn't enough. Our goal came from an incorrect offside call against Mata, and a great bit of play by Martial. For a lot of the half we looked dour.
I never mentioned crossing the ball either, but Mata should have the tools and capability to create chances for us in the final third.
Anyway I don't want to come across like I am blaming Mata for the first half - I think the far bigger problem was our CM combination. Having two specialist holding midfielders doesn't really work for us I feel, we need to have one of Schweinsteiger, Herrera or Fellaini in there to offer something going forwards.
HE'S NOT PLAYING AS A WINGER FFS HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS IN THIS THREAD.
What a lot of rubbish he's had many an opportunity not just this game and he cuts back and plays safe square or backward passes. He passes the ball square and sprints away pretending to look for a return! He is going through the motions get him into ten or get him off.
I feel like we should be playing through Mata more than we play through Memphis...better things are happening when he gets the ball.
They're only happening when he drifts all the way to the completely opposite side as nobody is meant to be marking him there.
"Pretends to look for a return"
how the hell is that even possible?
You're just so wrong.
Don't think I need to tell you about the actual goals and assists.
Against PSV Mata had 71 passes with a 94% accuracy to Young's 25 passes and 88% accuracy.
His positioning is his biggest asset. It's amazing how he found himself in those 2 situations- Martial goal and when the ball fell to him and he crossed to Memphis.
He’s very handy when he stays high up the pitch, useless when playing deeper. I still don’t like that we don’t use our right side at all.
He’s very handy when he stays high up the pitch, useless when playing deeper. I still don’t like that we don’t use our right side at all.
There are some who think Mata's is infallible and will blame everyone but his for his shortcomings.
For me he's a clear luxury player and completely unbalances our team playing on the right. There's no need for him to be wondering into Rooney's space, not doing anything much, and leave a huge gap on the right.
For me he's a clear luxury player and completely unbalances our team playing on the right. There's no need for him to be wondering into Rooney's space, not doing anything much, and leave a huge gap on the right.
He creates more chances than any other player in our team. If you don't believe me or all these other posters or the manager who frequently starts him over Young then believe the black and white numbers.
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/juan-mata-2015-16-performances.406616/page-27#post-18161778
What is he playing as then,if he is not a winger,not a midfielder and he is definitely not playing as a number 10???
Surely if you actually watch the game you can see what he's doing and where he's playing?
It's really not a novel position at all.
Thought he did well end of the half started to show for the ball and make runs, one of the main reasons we are back in this game imo.
Oh look, the pointless player scored again.
What's his shots to goals ratio??? The guy doesn't ever miss.
For all the things I criticise Mata for, I really rate his finishing and work in the opposition penalty area. For me he can and perhaps should play basically as a false nine, with Martial.
Can't understand the stick he's getting today.
People talk about playing Young or Valencia instead of Mata and it's just ridiculous. He is our most productive player.
Played a big part in the first goal as well as scoring the third.
Played a big part in the first goal as well as scoring the third.
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Don't read the match day threads on here. You'll get one sensible post for every five idiotic ones (being generous).
1 goal and assist for a nothing player 
He's been properly good this second half for my money.
What the feck was Rooney doing there? Threw himself down. Would have been more in the way had he stood still.
Inside forward then we are still fecking carrying him
An inside forward?
Much much better 2nd half, he upped the urgency a lot.
1 goal, 1 assist
Our best attacking player bar Martial, problem is not getting the ball to him enough
Apart from the first 25 when he didn't touch the ball basically, I thought he was great today. Fully deserved the goal.
He got an assist for the first one? Couldn't see it on my stream.
He drifts out of games far too much but his statistical output is too good to not have in the team. Reminds me a bit of Rooney a few seasons back, actually.
Very good today. On the ball calm and composed like usual (PSV was a one-off in that regard) but he showed more potency expected of him. Off the ball his movement was great though much of that was due to the fact Southampton came to play so space was there to be exploited.
Should be, he was offside though
just play him instead of rooney, then bring young out wide. It's odd because he can contribute nothing for 60 minutes then grab a goal, which is why he's so valuable to us when we arent playing particularly well.
He did great when he went central. I'd like him to get another chance there, even though I know he won't.
Didn't see a huge amount of ball, but whenever he has it he usually does the right thing
Think he is hugely important
Think he is hugely important
Thought he was poor in the 1st half, but did better in the 2nd half.
His technique is superb. That was a very good finish.
His technique is superb. That was a very good finish.
- Status