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He wasn't on penalty duty at Chelsea, and I think he scored something like 3 penalties for us. Plus Chelsea had a lot more attacking outlets in their team, so they didn't rely so heavily on Mata.I kind of get the argument mentioned earlier that he got more assists for Chelsea because they were a particularly dangerous team from set pieces.
Why is he scoring more for us though? We're a team that struggles offensively, we've been pretty terrible for most of the time he's been here and he's spend a large part of his time here out wide rather than playing centrally. So how come he scores more for us?
I really like Mata, and I want him in the team, but he makes our right hand side so redundant. There's just no threat coming from there atm. We need a proper winger on the right, someone with genuine pace and skill.
I kind of get the argument mentioned earlier that he got more assists for Chelsea because they were a particularly dangerous team from set pieces.
Why is he scoring more for us though? We're a team that struggles offensively, we've been pretty terrible for most of the time he's been here and he's spend a large part of his time here out wide rather than playing centrally. So how come he scores more for us?
I really like Mata, and I want him in the team, but he makes our right hand side so redundant. There's just no threat coming from there atm. We need a proper winger on the right, someone with genuine pace and skill.
As biased as I am in regards to Mata, I do agree but you then have to ask yourself, how much more productive would a pacey skilful winger be. Yes, it would make us more direct and attacking but as predictable as Mata can be out there, time and time again he is directly impacting games.I really like Mata, and I want him in the team, but he makes our right hand side so redundant. There's just no threat coming from there atm. We need a proper winger on the right, someone with genuine pace and skill.
I don't think it's that clear cut as just saying if we had a winger on the right he wouldn't score/create as much as Mata did so having Mata is ok. The issue with Mata should be read in the context of our team - we do not have a great attacking right back to give us an effective threat, our left wing is not pulling up trees either and neither is Mata a Ronaldinho type of playmaker that has game changing individual moments. In short I think we need a more balanced attack to make up for our lack of quality in attack so for us to achieve that balance we need to have both wings firing so that teams do not have the luxury of putting three defenders on the only difference maker we have in the side. I genuinely believe that Mata should fight for a spor on the team against Rooney with Young going to the left and Lingard on the right. It's only when we have the threat of pace allround that either player is at their best due to the space they would be afforded in the centre when teams are stretched.As biased as I am in regards to Mata, I do agree but you then have to ask yourself, how much more productive would a pacey skilful winger be. Yes, it would make us more direct and attacking but as predictable as Mata can be out there, time and time again he is directly impacting games.
Another OK performance but he is so vital to our game. He is one of those players which puts in tidy performances game after game and the fans continue moaning and the moment he does not play a game, we all start missing him.
Do the fans really moan about Mata though? I know a few here do but most fans (and certainly the one that attend the games) seem to have absolutely no problem with him. In fact I'd guess most fans think he's pretty excellent.
I don't think it's that clear cut as just saying if we had a winger on the right he wouldn't score/create as much as Mata did so having Mata is ok. The issue with Mata should be read in the context of our team - we do not have a great attacking right back to give us an effective threat, our left wing is not pulling up trees either and neither is Mata a Ronaldinho type of playmaker that has game changing individual moments. In short I think we need a more balanced attack to make up for our lack of quality in attack so for us to achieve that balance we need to have both wings firing so that teams do not have the luxury of putting three defenders on the only difference maker we have in the side. I genuinely believe that Mata should fight for a spor on the team against Rooney with Young going to the left and Lingard on the right. It's only when we have the threat of pace allround that either player is at their best due to the space they would be afforded in the centre when teams are stretched.
It seems like LVG has seen what we have all been crying out for over the past 18 months and that's pace. Unless LVG can see Mata as a number 10 I think his time as a starter for us could be numbered - I think Mata would be great as a 10 with pace either side of him and Martial up top, it would really bring out his qualities and I think he would benefit greatly from having players making runs in behind.
However it seems as though LVG prefers a second striker, Rooney, or a third midfielder, Herrera to play number 10 and it's starting to make me think this could be the last season we see Mata at OT - bold statement I know but I just can't see him fitting in unless we let him play at 10 which I would love to see.
Thoughts Caf?
However it seems as though LVG prefers a second striker, Rooney, or a third midfielder, Herrera to play number 10 and it's starting to make me think this could be the last season we see Mata at OT - bold statement I know but I just can't see him fitting in unless we let him play at 10 which I would love to see
Think it might be worth giving Mata a run in the middle and play Lingard wide right, still have Young or Memphis or Perreira to play wide left.Answered my question in the FullTimeDevils video. Best 20 seconds of my week. Hugs.
On the game, like every week I hope to see him behind the striker but there is a better chance of it happening against Watford now. In saying that, I also hope Herrera plays so that will most likely force him back out wide.
With PSV being such a crucial game, I think Schneiderlin and Bastian will 100% start that, so I'm hoping it's one of them with Herrera today allowing Mata to play in there. If they both play though, it will be Herrera at 10 though.Think it might be worth giving Mata a run in the middle and play Lingard wide right, still have Young or Memphis or Perreira to play wide left.
Still unconvincing at the no 10.
