[Ryan7]

Pathetic support for Young on the right in the second half.

 

[ManUArfa]

I've said it several times but Kagawa used to give the ball away far less than Mata because he always took up good positions and the ball was passed before an opponent got near him. That said, with the lack of movement under LVG he was best off out of here as he wouldn't have been of any use to us...

 

[Fergus' son]

Please leave the club.

 

[ZDwyr]

So bland and average when he doesn't get the goals to boost his stats.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

Is so far below Ozil, Bojan, Sanchez, Silva, Eriksen and Coutinho it's not even funny. Zero pace, zero acceleration, zero ability to dribble the channels, takes too long to take in his options.

 

[drdoityourself]

Looks like a 12 year old boy playing against professionals.

 

[limerickcitykid]

I can only compare his play to a tennis ball-boy. While the ball is in play he stands off to the side and when there is a foul he scurries on to try a quick free kick.

 

[Ish]

Definition of a luxury player I'd say.

 

[Devil may care]

He was out of position or it was someone else's fault, I dunno.

 

[Ace of Spades]

He is weak, just can't protect the ball and lacks pace so can't get away from players quick enough.

 

[Rossa]

He never looked this slow in the past though - not like this. Our entire team look spent - even Smalling is looking a little more sluggish these days.

 

[Godfather]

Sell him. Moruinho will when he comes.

 

[bosnian_red]

If there's one player suited to the Spanish league and not at all suited to the premier league, it's him. He's a class player, but way too inconsistent and easy to shut down in the prem because of the physicality and overall pace of the game. We should offer Atletico a money and Mata for Griezmann deal if Mourinho comes in. I love Mata, but I doubt he'll stay if Mou comes, and he's shown very little since he's joined, apart from a handful of great games.

 

[sullydnl]

If there's one player suited to the Spanish league and not at all suited to the premier league, it's him. He's a class player, but way too inconsistent and easy to shut down in the prem because of the physicality and overall pace of the game. We should offer Atletico a money and Mata for Griezmann deal if Mourinho comes in. I love Mata, but I doubt he'll stay if Mou comes, and he's shown very little since he's joined, apart from a handful of great games.

It's not like he hasn't played well in the PL before though. He was one of the league's best players when he was at Chelsea.

 

[bosnian_red]

It's not like he hasn't played well in the PL before though. He was one of the league's best players when he was at Chelsea.

He was great in 2011/12 and 2012/13, but they were barely a top 4 team then. In 11/12 they finished 6th even. And their whole team was built around him. If he wasn't such a likable person, his performances would be scrutinized a lot more then they have been, even at Chelsea. He just seems like the type that you need to make your whole team revolve around him to get the best out of him, but he isn't good enough to have that at a team who wants to challenge for the title, and not the type to be able to do that in a team that doesn't have other world class players alongside him.

 

[Rossa]

It's not like he hasn't played well in the PL before though. He was one of the league's best players when he was at Chelsea.

We are expecting him to run past players; he isn't that kind of player. Scholes wasn't either. We are expecting him to find forward passes, but look at our attack. Try to find passes he should have made - there are no runs, therefore no openings. He's been poor, but he is a luxury player in that he needs movement to play well.

 

[Raw]

He's lucky that he's so damn likeable. Would be getting Fellaini levels of abuse otherwise.

 

[sullydnl]

He was great in 2011/12 and 2012/13, but they were barely a top 4 team then. In 11/12 they finished 6th even. And their whole team was built around him. If he wasn't such a likable person, his performances would be scrutinized a lot more then they have been, even at Chelsea. He just seems like the type that you need to make your whole team revolve around him to get the best out of him, but he isn't good enough to have that at a team who wants to challenge for the title, and not the type to be able to do that in a team that doesn't have other world class players alongside him.

We are expecting him to run past players; he isn't that kind of player. Scholes wasn't either. We are expecting him to find forward passes, but look at our attack. Try to find passes he should have made - there are no runs, therefore no openings. He's been poor, but he is a luxury player in that he needs movement to play well.

None of which changes the fact that the PL isn't the problem.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

I love Mata but he's done almost nothing in months.

I'd be a hypocrite if i didn't criticise him considering the abuse I give Rooney. Mata has been garbage for a while now.

 

[Rossa]

None of which changes the fact that the PL isn't the problem.

Oh but I agree with you - our team and style of play are the problems.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

I love Mata but he's done almost nothing in months.

I'd be a hypocrite if i didn't criticise him considering the abuse I give Rooney. Mata has been garbage for a while now.

I hear you, it begins now.

feck off you sexy Spanish slow suave weak devilishly smooth charming good for nothing cnut.

 

[Slevs]

Remember when me and a few others got slated here for calling him weak and a luxury player.

Nothing player in all honesty.

 

[MoskvaRed]

Stoke have better players than Mata upfront (and that is not based solely on today's match). It's shocking how much money we have wasted in recent years.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

I hear you, it begins now.

feck off you sexy Spanish slow suave weak devilishly smooth charming good for nothing cnut.

It's hard to be critical of him because he's a favourite of mine but you have to be fair. He's been shite for a while now. Offers nothing

 

[Successful]

Stoke have better players than Mata upfront (and that is not based solely on today's match). It's shocking how much money we have wasted in recent years.

I was just going to ask if anyone else thinks Bojan is a better player than Mata? Just look at some of the play he created today. Set up 2 situations that should have been goal.

 

[Speak]

I was just going to ask if anyone else thinks Bojan is a better player than Mata? Just look at some of the play he created today. Set up 2 situations that should have been goal.

Yep, he's better. And Arnautović.
Swap either for Mata, and they don't single-handedly transform the side, but they definitely make the attack less limited, less predictable, more dangerous.

Both have quicker feet, turn better, dribble better, make the ball stick more.
Mata... Well.. Mata has a nicer first touch.

 

[Adam-Utd]

I was just going to ask if anyone else thinks Bojan is a better player than Mata? Just look at some of the play he created today. Set up 2 situations that should have been goal.

Arguably Bojan/Arnautovic/Bojan are all playing better than Mata is at present. Whether a new manager can rescue him is his last chance really, otherwise he needs to go back to spain.

 

[sullydnl]

I was just going to ask if anyone else thinks Bojan is a better player than Mata? Just look at some of the play he created today. Set up 2 situations that should have been goal.

He wouldn't look better if he was playing for us. We actually play a worse brand of football than Stoke...

 

[Speak]

He wouldn't look better if he was playing for us. We actually play a worse brand of football than Stoke...

He'd look better, because he can actually turn/dribble past a man. That alone would make him look better. He'd ,at the very least, not have to hide and avoid receiving the ball under pressure.

How much better is debatable, I guess.

 

[Boycott]

He's not even a luxury player anymore.

Before he'd at least show some moments of quality but now there's none. Pathetic display again.

 

[sullydnl]

He'd look better, because he can actually turn/dribble past a man. That alone would make him look better. He'd ,at the very least, not have to hide and avoid receiving the ball under pressure.

How much better is debatable, I guess.

Di Maria could dribble like a boss, it didn't stop him looking awful for us. I'm assuming Depay is meant to be able to do that too (though I've seen little evidence of it)? Martial has gradually been dragged down to our level as well.

If just Mata was struggling it would be one thing. When literally every attacking player struggles it's another.

 

[Speak]

Di Maria could dribble like a boss, it didn't stop him looking awful for us. I'm assuming Depay is meant to be able to do that too (though I've seen little evidence of it)? Martial has gradually been dragged down to our level as well.

If just Mata was struggling it would be one thing. When literally every attacking player struggles it's another.

I feel Di Maria looked better than Mata, until he basically decided he was off and gave up trying. His inconsistency on the ball was to be expected. At least he tries something different to be inconsistent. Mata's so limited and safe that it has no use at all.

Martial looks better than Mata. He has no issues receiving the ball all over the pitch or under pressure. Hence he has the potential to be a really top player, which Mata isn't.
And Memphis (although not flat-footed, slow and weak like Mata) is also pretty crap at dribbling past anyone. He's not being dragged down; he's just not that good.

 

[Raees]

I was just going to ask if anyone else thinks Bojan is a better player than Mata? Just look at some of the play he created today. Set up 2 situations that should have been goal.

Id rather have any of their atrackers over Juan.

 

[Eugenius]

Needs to be the first player to go in the summer. He adds nothing to the team, and his movement is largely awful aside from the odd clever run in behind. He can't play as a false winger and give Young no support if all he's doing is collecting the ball in safe areas and playing safe passes.

 

[Moonred]

Mata needs the team to play around him for him to succeed. Unfortunately he was never good enough to afford such luxury. Been abysmal for a while now. Weak like the whole club at the moment. Dull blog coming up..

 

[Truedevil]

Guardiola could utilise him much better in a correct setup but i fear for him under someone like Mourinho.

 

[Successful]

Yep, he's better. And Arnautović.
Swap either for Mata, and they don't single-handedly transform the side, but they definitely make the attack less limited, less predictable, more dangerous.

Both have quicker feet, turn better, dribble better, make the ball stick more.
Mata... Well.. Mata has a nicer first touch.

Arguably Bojan/Arnautovic/Bojan are all playing better than Mata is at present. Whether a new manager can rescue him is his last chance really, otherwise he needs to go back to spain.

I used to like Arnautovic quite a lot. He's actually quite a heavy winger to play against, and yet he's awfully quick and can dribble pretty good. I just don't like his first touch. You could see that when he fell today, and also on his goal he had a bad touch that turned out lucky.

Di Maria could dribble like a boss, it didn't stop him looking awful for us. I'm assuming Depay is meant to be able to do that too (though I've seen little evidence of it)? Martial has gradually been dragged down to our level as well.

If just Mata was struggling it would be one thing. When literally every attacking player struggles it's another.

I think Di Maria just didn't want to stay at Manchester. Some people just don't melt in in north of Europe. Other players can't stand being in a smaller city either. I don't doubt Di Marias qualities, he just didn't do well here. It has happened before that big players didn't click in a different league.

 

[Speak]

Guardiola could utilise him much better in a correct setup but i fear for him under someone like Mourinho.

Under Guardiola, he's a squad player at best.
He uses/requires players with much higher levels of technique than Mata.

No room for players who want to hide/play safe, due to not having quick feet, a change of pace or a decent turn.

 

[SambaBoy]

To me he's playing how he has always played for United, it's just more evident due to this run of games and bad form. His statistics are not too bad but when is the last time he properly influenced a game, Liverpool away last season and possibly City at home?

People make excuses about him playing out of position but the likes of Ozil, Silva, KdB and Cazorla have all spent periods on the wing and still affected the game. He doesn't have the ability to beat a man with skill and there's absolutely no chance of him out running anyone as he's so weak and has no acceleration.

I don't know when the last time was the he cut open a defence with a good ball, and that maybe due to the manager but the players have to also take some of the responsibility, he's suppose to be a top class player and he's just coasting through games offering next to nothing.

He was never a United type signing in all fairness, and it just hasn't worked out, we need to get rid for the good of the club IMO.

 

[Amir]

Di Maria could dribble like a boss, it didn't stop him looking awful for us. I'm assuming Depay is meant to be able to do that too (though I've seen little evidence of it)? Martial has gradually been dragged down to our level as well.

If just Mata was struggling it would be one thing. When literally every attacking player struggles it's another.

Yeah, when it's one player underperforming, that player has a problem. When it's all of them, the manager has a problem. Our players are better than this.