I just see him as a player that when good, he's unplayable, but those games are far too rare. If he put in performances like the one at Anfield last season for example, more consistently he'd be up there with the very best. I'm not even talking about ''that'' goal he scored, that's obviously a wonder goal, but his overall play was fantastic and complete. Why doesn't he do it more often? especially against the weaker teams?
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 54
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 11
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
The answer is simple, because he's not that good.If Park could play the way he did against Chelsea in that 2-1 win consistently he would be world class.He's not.
Comparing him to Park is harsh. Mata has all of the makings of a world class talent, he just can't gel it all together consistently enough to be considered in the top tier. A sublime first touch, calm in goalscoring situations, brilliant movement when on his game and a top professional. He's a treat to watch most of the time, he just isn't the player that's going to get the better of a parked bus week in, week out. He thrives more in an open game of football.
Juan Mata absolutely is in the 'top tier'.
I'm not comparing Mata with Park.I'm just saying just because he managed to put in top class display sometimes doesn't mean he's a top tier player.He doesn't have enough in his locker to crack down teams that sit deep and he's quite inconsistent.He's still probably our best offensive player currently all things considered but I think he's a tad overrated here by some just because he's a very likeable character and come with big reputation."Hugs" and all that.
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He hasn't been 'top tier' since he has arrived here.
That nonsense about Silva lacking end product and being a polarising player.
He has 12 goals and 7 assists in the league last season. He has 1 goal and 6 assists so far (in 5(!) matches). He has the beating of Mata for the past two seasons, yet only one is lauded for being insanely clinical with his stats.
He's constantly seen by City fans to be their best player - ahead of Agüero - yet if he was here, he'd be polarising, like.
Hugs Mata isn't consistent at all. If anything, he is the most inconsistent because he can be fantastic for three games, then shite for the next three (which is exactly what just happened now) he's also the easiest to mark out of matches and as a result he drifts out too often. Once a pacey, goal scoring RW is found, I really do think he'll drop down to the role of a good squad option. Lingard is already providing him with strong completion.
To be fair Silva's last season in terms of goals was far, far more productive than anything he has previously produced. Prior to that his goal tally was 5-8 per season. Whereas the 3 seasons Mata played consistently he's scored 10, 12 and 20 (scoring 7 even when benched for half the season).
I don't think anyone would question Silva's output last season but I stand by my point that United fans are much, much harsher on their own players than most other fans. Look at Arsenal fans with Ozil or Chelsea fans with Mata or City fans with Silva. They all adore their play-makers, even though they do have physical weaknesses and a tendency to let some games completely pass them by.
Mostly because Moyes didn't really know how to use him, and van Gaal mostly uses him as a winger. He's always been at his best when playing through the center (edit: in my opinion). Still, though, he's managed to rack up a decent number of goals and assists.
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He really hasn't. It's just a lazy assertion. His best player was out on the wing for Valencia, and he was very good on the right for Chelsea with Oscar through the middle at Hazard on the left. As a #10, he is only truly effective in a side who seek to absorb pressure, not really look to control the game, and play on the break, where his ability in the final third is at it's best - it's exactly why he had those impressive numbers in 2012/13 season for Chelsea.
In a possession oriented system, his best position is actually where he is now. He just wouldn't find the space to manoeuvre through the middle and he'd be marked out of matches even easier than what he does now.
I've been away from this thread for a while, and decided to have a look what's going on. I see typical the typical myths about Mata are still in fashion.
Retreat!
I just watched all his assists at Chelsea and I was surprised to see how many of them were simple crosses/set pieces. Sort of explains why his creativity isn't anywhere near as impressive as you'd expect given his assists record.
Where did you watch that, mate, youtube? Wouldn't mind seeing myself.
Aye, I just searched Mata 12/13 and there it was.
I'm sorry if me being more impressed by Mata when used through the center than out wide upsets you. It must be very hard for you to see others having opinions that differ from yours.
Tell me, how fecking coddled are you?
I'll defer to your judgement on where he works best in our current system. And yes, it's probably a lazy assertion based on his impressive stats and ability to create something while at Chelsea. At least partially. There's also his ability to find space, which is half-wasted when played out wide. And to me, that's one of his greatest strengths (outside of his ability to pop up with a goal or an assist even on a bad day).
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ta
Not surprising, really. I've always innately contributed his stifled creativity down to the negligence of Mourinho, Moyes, and to a lesser extent van Gaal, but still. That 'spark' has always been real sporadic here.
Yep. He took set-pieces for Chelsea - one of the best teams for aerial threat for yonks.
And the majority of the rest involve him being played in behind a defence, or applying a final pass against a stretched defence. He's extremely accurate at playing those finishing passes, but he needs to be put into those positions in the first place.
It's not creativity in the true sense, in my opinion. Which is why I don't see him as a great player. He needs space to do his thing, whereas the best players create space where there is none.
And despite the statistics, hardly anything he did at Chelsea actually suggests he can do exceptionally in a possession system as a '#10'. His stuff at Chelsea stuff has to be looked at within a certain context.
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Which games with him in the centre impressed you most?
Arguably his best United performance came on the right, against Liverpool.
That's why I think he deserves most criticism for his crossing. His crosses in general are very average for us and he usually picks the wrong moments to cross or doesn't cross at all when he should be doing it. I am surprised why he isn't criticised more for that.
Oh, he's been shite centrally for us, don't get me wrong. On the other hand, he never got a proper run, so I don't think it's fair to write him off based on that. But as DWelbz pointed out, I was a tad lazy in my assertion, failing to consider the system used when he was at Chelsea.
I guess my biggest error was stating initially stating it as a fact that he'd always been best through the center. It is, of course, just the impression I've gotten through his years in England. I'll chalk it up to having been up since yesterday, worked a night shift, and now just waiting for the game to start (and then for it to finish, so I can go to bed).
Yeah. He had a few like that clip over the top to demba ba vs united, but his set pieces were in general a lot better while playing for Chelsea. Both his corners and free kicks.
Our set pieces have been crap under LVG overall, IMO. Maybe we don't practice them.
It has been absolutely shocking tbf, close to no free kicks from all ranges are dangerous and how often do we even score out of corners? If its not for Smalling at times, we aint even dangerous.
Man Utd 2:0 West Brom
It’s okay to have your opinion. I disagree with it and I pointed out that this discussion has been done a couple of time on the Caf and it’s a common myth. My opinion is he never impressed me in the hole.
I could ask you the same! Don’t take it so personal mate, it’s just some people behind laptops talking about football!He finds much more space out wide actually. His biggest problem is that once pressed he just starts passing the ball back and you can forget about him creating chances. Agree about the goal out of nothing, even on a bad day though.
Had one good chance and got involved more today, neat and tidy. Took the penalty with aplomb.
He scored but I think it was another average performance.
Involved in a lot of action without doing much.
got on the ball more than the last few games. Don't think any attacker had a great game. What is his penalty record for us like? Think 4 in 4.
He was fine. No more, no less. Took the chance to score as well as he usually does with a nice penalty and was tidy otherwise.
Meh
He needs movement from other players to be effective. He's too similar to Rooney and Bastian and Carrick.
We need pace on that right side. Not his fault but even Valencia would add more against bus parkers.
He needs movement from other players to be effective. He's too similar to Rooney and Bastian and Carrick.
We need pace on that right side. Not his fault but even Valencia would add more against bus parkers.
^^
His technique on the spot is very good. I feel confident when he steps up.
Thank god he took Rooney off and not Mata.
Unlucky not to score earlier but yeah, happy he tucked the pen away.
Was OK, should have hit the target with his early chance.
If that had been the case, it would have been Ander who had taken it anyway. No worries there.
True.If that had been the case, it would have been Ander who had taken it anyway. No worries there.
Better performance than his recent matches, but still capable of much more. Tidy and took his penalty well.
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