Schweinsteiger doesn't have Keane's mobility and Mata doesn't have Scholes range of passing. They work fine as they are right now. They both need another CM in the team to do the water-carrying. Schneiderlin didn't have a good game tonight but take him out and we'd have been completely overrun for 90 minutes.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 54
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 11
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Schweinsteiger doesn't have Keane's mobility and Mata doesn't have Scholes range of passing. They work fine as they are right now. They both need another CM in the team to do the water-carrying. Schneiderlin didn't have a good game tonight but take him out and we'd have been completely overrun for 90 minutes.
I'm having real difficulty deciding between him and Smalling for man of the match. He was class tonight, very unlucky with the shot that was blocked, it was a nailed on goal until then. He has become more of a team player for us which has previously been missing.
That cantonaesque flick was simple amazing. Needs a biiiiiiiiiiiig hug for that 
Juan Mata's game by numbers vs. Wolfsburg:
98% pass accuracy
5 chances created
3 shots
1 goal
1 magical assist
98% pass accuracy
5 chances created
3 shots
1 goal
1 magical assist
98% accuracy is pretty insane given you'd hardly call that a cautious performance from him.
They're some ridiculous numbers...
And I bet one of those incompleted passes was the cross for the penalty!
The intelligence for the first goal. Didn't have a clear sight in goal, so draws in a defender, plays it against his arm to get a free shot from the penalty spot. Can't buy that. Should get an assist for that goal too.
I was just thinking that watching the highlight show.
His best performance for us to date? Dare I say, that was Silva-esque.
He was running the show.
He was running the show.
I think he's played his best football in the last 2 games.....
delighted to see him dictating games.....hard not to think he'd be even better in a free role behind Martial with more movement around him
He doesn't really though. Almost all of his best work tonight came from either an inside right position, or drifting into the box from the right hand side. The pen, and his great goalbound effort cleared by Dante early on being good examples.
He basically ran the show against a good European side for a good hour, largely from a right sided starting position. The fact he drifted in a lot isn't the same thing as "playing in the middle' and I'm pretty sure his heat map would back this up (though I"m happy to be disproved)... He swapped with Martial a few times to good effect, but if anything it took our only CF out of the box, and thus reduced our threat. Especially since Rooney was doing his usual shift as a LB-come-DM-come-Roaming Warrior.
He's brilliant. Thats all.
forbidden fruit we are not allowed to think of
It's a joy to see him back to his Chelsea days. Yes I said it. Let's face it he hasn't been as good for us as he was for Chelsea but he is starting to show in a consistent manner that he is very clever with the ball.
Hilarious. When Mata was having an occasional off day, it was too funny the way people were crucifying him and actually questioning his ability.
Let nobody try that bs again.
Let nobody try that bs again.
He's consistently refused to praise or blame individuals. What he meant is probably he's seen Mata play even better (Liverpool) yet didn't praise him in those occasions either.What? LvG sees the game very different from us fans
Yeah i know, but he should have stopped at the "i don't talk about individuals". Not anything to make drama about though.
I think he's been one of our best players so far this season, long may it continue. Going forward I hope he's a player that Van Gaal considers key for us
That was arguably as good as I've ever seen him, even for Chelsea. Was unplayable until the last 20 when he couldn't get on the ball and we lost all control. Brilliant from him.
Definitely found his Chelsea form.
That fecking flick. Happy to be proven wrong about Juan.
It does worry me that a player that has produced regularly since joining us, a player with great ability and end product, might not actually be that safe in the lineup under LVG.
What makes you think he isn't safe in the lineup? He's started every game so far, I can't really think of a period in his United career where he's been benched apart from just before his home goal against Palace last season.
Just a general feeling of mistrust when it comes to LVG. He might not like him cause he's not tall enough, quick enough, not positionally disciplined enough, etc.
If Rooney would make any runs forward I think Mata would be even more effective. Either way he's been tremendous this season and has demonstrated a knack for pitching in with an assist or a goal in what seems like every game.
I hold Mata in such high regard that nothing he pulls off surprises me. Our little magician
Disappointed I missed the match considering it sounds like Mata played so well. I was a critic of his last season but I think that was unfair. He's probably been our best player this season. Or equal with Smalling anyway. That assist was just magical!
LVG's reaction was a little weird in the post match presser...
I agree, it was mindfeck, but then again Mata seems to be the first name on the teamsheet for LvG and that speaks volumes.
I'm pretty sure he's one of the first names he puts on the team sheet.
Magical performance that was, though. He'll still be hated by a section of our rather simple fans.
Terrible when fans like their own players, isn't it?
No, but that has nothing to do with what I said.
Sort of does though, doesn't it?
No, praising a player and being obnoxiously dismissive of previously deserved criticism made by others is not the same thing.
- Status