[Feed Me]

What utter shite that is.

How can I argue with that?

 

[Di Maria's angel]

You originally tried to imply that Mata is inhibited by Van Gaal, yet his best sustained runs of form in the last three years have come under... Van Gaal.

The Mata of United has been nothing compared to the one of Chelsea.

As for playing at his best for three years, how hard was that to achieve?

The first half of 13/14, Mourinho never played him.
The second half of 13/14, Moyes was his manager.

How hard is it to better the achievements of the aforementioned season?

 

[Feed Me]

The Mata of United has been nothing compared to the one of Chelsea.

As for playing at his best for three years, how hard was that to achieve?

The first half of 13/14, Mourinho never played him.
The second half of 13/14, Moyes was his manager.

How hard is it to better the achievements of the aforementioned season?

Totally agree.

So what can we do to get that Mata back?

Sorry, but the current version is a squad player at best.

 

[Yorkeontop]

He's been awful lately but he's never been consistent for us. Remember how awesome he was a month or 3 ago, he'll be back.

 

[Minimalist]

Given his lack of pace and acceleration, you're not going to see the best of him while the forward unit is currently so impotent. He's not going to beat men on his own, he's a playmaker and that usually involves a midfield that does its job as a unit (Carrick was a nightmare yesterday) and has runners or at least forwards finding space (which never happened either).

He's definitely not playing well and it's frustrating to see him going 'missing' but his technical game was impeccable as usual. You can have hope with players like Mata unlike others in the squad.

Could have scored yesterday if Rooney wasn't so fecking awful.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Totally agree.

So what can we do to get that Mata back?

Sorry, but the current version is a squad player at best.

I don't actually disagree with this post. He's been a shadow of the player we want and need. However, I, initially, disagreed with your statement regarding his first touch, which has always been brilliant.

 

[Feed Me]

I don't actually disagree with this post. He's been a shadow of the player we want and need. However, I, initially, disagreed with your statement regarding his first touch, which has always been brilliant.

It's not so much that he needs three touches to get the ball under control, but rather that he takes multiple touches before making a pass. He's not as quick at recycling the ball as his peers, in my opinion, nor is he as good in tight spaces and under pressure.

 

[DWelbz19]

He's just really not that good. Like, seriously. How many more matches of sheer anonymity will it take for people accept this?

 

[JaffyJoe]

I don't think he's very good. He can be an effective player in the right system but he plays way to slow and he passes too safe.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

It's not so much that he needs three touches to get the ball under control, but rather that he takes multiple touches before making a pass. He's not as quick at recycling the ball as his peers, in my opinion, nor is he as good in tight spaces and under pressure.

To be honest, who's good at doing what you say? Everyone is guilty of moving the ball around slow, just as they are at being so static. The lack of movement in our team is shocking to see, especially, how this was thought to be the basis of our philosophy.

 

[ottosec]

2 years ago he was the most creative player in the league, now he never tries a through ball. Philosophy.

 

[DWelbz19]

Yeah, hyperbole just like that is the reason people will never accept it, I guess.

 

[MoskvaRed]

2 years ago he was the most creative player in the league, now he never tries a through ball. Philosophy.

Two years ago he was sat on Chelsea's bench. We were suckered into paying top dollar for a player who's level is Europa league/Champions League group stage makeweights.

 

[Amar__]

He is far from great but he is pretty much our best player this year excluding defence, and maybe Martial(who is inconsistent himself). Still our highest scorer in PL, and has the most assists. Most productive in CL too.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Two years ago he was sat on Chelsea's bench. We were suckered into paying top dollar for a player who's level is Europa league/Champions League group stage makeweights.

He needs runners. This formation doesn't suit him at all.

 

[MoskvaRed]

He needs runners. This formation doesn't suit him at all.

We seem to collect players who can only perform under specific conditions. I don't think he's good enough to build our attack around so we should move him on if he can't adapt.

 

[Nighteyes]

He needs runners. This formation doesn't suit him at all.

We should sign Usain Bolt then. Clearly none of Depay, Lingard and Martial are quick enough for him.

 

[Devil may care]

He should be following Rooney out the door in the summer, we need to fill our forward line with pace and power.

 

[NinjaFletch]

He is far from great but he is pretty much our best player this year excluding defence, and maybe Martial(who is inconsistent himself). Still our highest scorer in PL, and has the most assists. Most productive in CL too.

Just like he was last season too, although bizarrely Ashley 'huff and puff and blindly cross to no one' Young was given more praise.

He needs to get involved more, but when he is on the ball he looks like he has the quality to hurt teams. I don't feel that with Rooney at the minute.

For the time being I'd stick Depay up top, Mata behind him, Lingard on the right and Martial on the left. I don't think they'd blow teams away, but it removes Rooney who hinders Mata and the team.

 

[Adam-Utd]

We should sign Usain Bolt then. Clearly none of Depay, Lingard and Martial are quick enough for him.

We should sign Usain Bolt then. Clearly none of Depay, Lingard and Martial are quick enough for him.

I think it's obvious we need quick transitions to make the use of it, he had that at Chelsea where they defended deep and countered at pace. He's never going to dribble passed a player and sling a good cross in, but he will make a through ball or a good decision when passing at speed.

Those players you've listed are clearly quick enough, but they need room to run into. When we play the slow tempo passing game it gives them limited room, so their pace is nullified mainly.

 

[jem]

I still think he can be very good/great, but I am getting sick of how he is playing these days (whether it's his fault, LVG's system, relationship issues with Herrera or whatever, I don't really care.) The constant looks forward before playing the safe pass back is driving me crazy. I love the man (some might unhealthily so,) but it's time to start making a difference again, as he did in that brief team purple patch last spring, or else bring in someone who can provide a more consistent threat from the wing (I don't think Lingard is that player.) I also think that if we bring in a match-winning winger, like Robben, then Mata could once again flourish in the middle.

 

[TwoSheds]

Am I the only one who doesn't see anything in Mata? I know he's capable of fantastic football when in absolutely bang on form but whenever he's even a little bit off the pace he's just a nothing player. Very little desire, pace, strength, passing is unadventurous...sure he's a lovely lad but we don't need more of them, we need ones who'll run around kicking people sometimes like Herrera and who would drag themselves through broken glass to get the win.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

He needs runners. This formation doesn't suit him at all.

Irrespective of whether he'd be better with that, and I'd suggest that every player that isn't quick would like that, he was still having a very good season prior to the last few weeks without these rapid runners around him. His form seems to be falling off a cliff at the moment. Not sure what is wrong but his all round game, involvement in our buildup and goal threat have all massively declined.

 

[Obiorahking_]

Classic Redcafe. When he plays good everyone is screaming his praises and when he is terrible people think he is average and start questioning his class. Honestly I really would love for Mata to leave so that people can see how pathetic they look when they question him.

 

[Obiorahking_]

Oh Rooney definitely needs to be replaced, but it's not Rooney's fault for Mata performing poorly lately.

He just lets the game pass him by. He's too content with playing it safe(like most of our players).

Maybe because that is our whole gameplay when it comes to midfield??

 

[RedMachine03]

 

[the hea]

He's been a complete passager today yet again.

 

[DWelbz19]

More of a liability in our front four, more so than Fellaini. At least the lump has some uses for far post crosses.

 

[Raees]

He is basically a technically refined Wayne Rooney. . Shite.

 

[Man-United]

It's a pain to see how he slow us down all the fecking time. He's the problem in this team.

 

[Oo0AahCantona]

It's a pain to see how he slow us down all the fecking time. He's the problem in this team.

He's A problem in this team. Theres basically 4 players who have done themselves credit this season the rest have been garbage. He certainly doesnt work with our current personel thats for sure.

He will improve when the quality of the rest of the attacking personnel improves.

 

[drdoityourself]

Pace is everything in the modern game, there's no place for him here.

 

[Godfather]

Luxury player. Let him go

 

[Man-United]

He's A problem in this team. Theres basically 4 players who have done themselves credit this season the rest have been garbage. He certainly doesnt work with our current personel thats for sure.

He will improve when the quality of the rest of the attacking personnel improves.

True. Should write it as one of many problems in this team. LvG the biggest.

 

[Lawman]

Hope people are starting to notice how much of a passenger he is. He's awful a 5 a side player at best. Yes he scores nice goals but overall what he contributes in 90 mins is us having 10 men.

 

[Raw]

Seems like he goes through cycles. He goes through a period where he looks brilliant, constantly winning games for us. Then he goes through a period where he's completely invisible and can't do anything right.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Hope people are starting to notice how much of a passenger he is. He's awful a 5 a side player at best. Yes he scores nice goals but overall what he contributes in 90 mins is us having 10 men.

Surely he needs to play as a 10? Cracking player and a nice guy but a luxury player nonetheless

 

[NinjaFletch]

He's out of form. But its no coincidence his loss of form is coinciding with us not doing anything. At the start of the season when he was racking up goals and getting involved so were the team.

 

[BarstoolProphet]

1/10 performance.

 

[Minimalist]

Looks lost with the players around him (some poor, some not doing what they're supposed to do) and the system.