Hasn't been playing well for a long time. If we're going to play him, I'd rather try him out at #10 and have Lingard or Young on the right.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 54
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 11
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
He needs to be dropped. He offers us nothing, he's simply not good enough to play out wide.
I blame Van Gaal's style and a lack of options to pick out with a pass because Van Gaal has everyone in such a rigid formation. Mata can do better, as can everyone, but it's a lot easier for players to be consistent when they are given freedom and encouraged to attack, not like whatever we see on the pitch. With us, just about any player would be shite. Put Silva in our team, and he'd be useless. Same with Ozil. The problem isn't the players.
No real reason not to bench him given how poor he has been recently. Maybe a little spell out of the team would do him good, playing all the time certainly isn't working.
Benching Mata won't have any positive impact on us generally though as the other players in his position are so ordinary. Unless we sign someone else he's still by far our best bet. He just needs to rediscover some sort of form or at least his knack of producing a lot while not in good form.
Benching Mata won't have any positive impact on us generally though as the other players in his position are so ordinary. Unless we sign someone else he's still by far our best bet. He just needs to rediscover some sort of form or at least his knack of producing a lot while not in good form.
If he's not going to play as a number 10 then he shouldn't be in the team, he's too slow out on the right.
He's not playing well. Plain and simple, I don't think its a matter of position or anything else, just a very fallow patch of form.
Absolute shite again today. Why is he still getting games as an inside winger. It. Does. Not. Work.
It doesn't work against Arsenal. It doesn't work against the West Hams. It doesn't work against the Norwichs. It doesn't even work against Sheffield fecking Wednesday.
Of course, he has also been shite in almost every appearance in the centre this season too. A shadow of the player he was at Chelsea under Benitez, where funnily enough he played inside right at least half the time too.
It doesn't work against Arsenal. It doesn't work against the West Hams. It doesn't work against the Norwichs. It doesn't even work against Sheffield fecking Wednesday.
Of course, he has also been shite in almost every appearance in the centre this season too. A shadow of the player he was at Chelsea under Benitez, where funnily enough he played inside right at least half the time too.
Has to be dropped, he has offered nothing for a long time now.
Two vaguely interesting comments from LVG on Mata in the post match press conference:
1. LVG said we needed width today and he wanted Mata to provide it but he wasn't there, which meant it was up to Darmian which wasn't good.
2. He said that Mata has been doing fantastically at RW and always makes a big contribution but he isn't a RW. He'd like to fix that but it's difficult to find someone who'll perform better than Mata even when he's in a position that isn't his best.
I think the first comment is interesting in that LVG was actually expecting Mata to provide width, which seems very strange given he's Juan Mata. Seems a bit stupid to me but there you are.
The second comment is interesting in two ways. First, it basically confirms the fact that we're looking to replace Mata at RW. Second, it suggests that LVG still really rates Mata and is very aware that he isn't playing in his best position.
It makes me wonder if LVG has been playing Mata at RW more due to our lack of alternatives in that position than because he doesn't think Mata can play centrally?
1. LVG said we needed width today and he wanted Mata to provide it but he wasn't there, which meant it was up to Darmian which wasn't good.
2. He said that Mata has been doing fantastically at RW and always makes a big contribution but he isn't a RW. He'd like to fix that but it's difficult to find someone who'll perform better than Mata even when he's in a position that isn't his best.
I think the first comment is interesting in that LVG was actually expecting Mata to provide width, which seems very strange given he's Juan Mata. Seems a bit stupid to me but there you are.
The second comment is interesting in two ways. First, it basically confirms the fact that we're looking to replace Mata at RW. Second, it suggests that LVG still really rates Mata and is very aware that he isn't playing in his best position.
It makes me wonder if LVG has been playing Mata at RW more due to our lack of alternatives in that position than because he doesn't think Mata can play centrally?
So shit. I hate him and Fellaini with a passion.
shit
Silva is miles better than Mata and so is Ozil! The problem is the players in the fact that the quality is not there atm. We need better wide attacking players Mane and Moura would be a great start and add an attacking right back like Coleman who we should have bought last season!
Can't believe this was the guy who we hailed as the first of our superstar signings and welcomed with a helicopter whilst he was dressed aptly as our savior in the james bond tuxedo. Feck this shit.
Yes they are better but would be just as ineffective. Silva maybe a bit less so as he cab dribble past players well but overall, players of that sort can't do anything at united for a reason. Mata is a quality player, he just needs a system to get the best out of him and more quality around him. Like Ozil and Silva need at their clubs. Like kagawa needed when he was here and why he's class at Dortmund but was shit at united apart from looking very promising in Fergies last season (and even then, that year was far from our most fluid and attacking under Fergie).
Mata has shown a decent amount of times how good he can be. But that's all he can do when we play in such a restrictive style with hardly anybody making any runs.
I do think he's playing there because of a lack of options. After mata, the only players who have really ever played there are Lingard, and Herrera a couple of times. Maybe young a couple of times. Its not too good whoever plays there though.
LvG's thoughts on the RW position and Mata (6:10)
Feckin' garbage performance. Him and Darmian together were a sack of shit. It's like they'd take it in turns to not move for each other.
I still think he'd be way better under a different manager... like all our players in fact.
I still think he'd be way better under a different manager... like all our players in fact.
I dont think they work together personally.
I dont think mata works in general unless you've got valencia or young behind basically filling the role of winger.
Mata has shown a decent amount of times how good he can be. But that's all he can do when we play in such a restrictive style with hardly anybody making any runs.[/QUOTE]
Mata is simply not good enough for a system to be built around him. A bit like Berbatov although completely different players. The players must fit the team rather than the other way around. As United are to big a club to rely on one player unless he is a Messi, Ronaldhino, Ronaldo (older) standard as even the young Ronaldo had to fit the team. We have too many players that are better than Mata.
Mata has played at right of the front three and apart from the odd game Liverpool Spurs come to mind. He has been woeful even as a ten his preferred position he has been meh. Kagawa was much better and he got moved on you can expect the same with Mata.
Mata is simply not good enough for a system to be built around him. A bit like Berbatov although completely different players. The players must fit the team rather than the other way around. As United are to big a club to rely on one player unless he is a Messi, Ronaldhino, Ronaldo (older) standard as even the young Ronaldo had to fit the team. We have too many players that are better than Mata.
Mata has played at right of the front three and apart from the odd game Liverpool Spurs come to mind. He has been woeful even as a ten his preferred position he has been meh. Kagawa was much better and he got moved on you can expect the same with Mata.
Oh Juan... 
Unfortunately, the way things stand we need people who make things happen out of nothing. We are not good enough to create team goals by just passing it around. We need a creator i.e a player who will beat their man and create chaos or something unexpected. By no means is Mata a disgrace but for me he is a weakling, not in terms of size but of bite. He is just not suitable to a team like ours who plays like us and because of this his shortcomings, no pun intended, are more obvious. He is just that type of player.
Newcastle 3:3 Man Utd
100 % pass completion. First name on the next team sheet.
He crossed the ball in the 91st minute, was that his first touch since coming on?
In all fairness, he didn't have much of an impact. I can't remember most of those passes being particularly effective or incisive. Still, he was only on for a limited period so didn't have too much time to offer anything anyway.
Liverpool 0:1 Man Utd
Contributed a handball and an important cross, at least it was an eventful outing after a few poor games.
Thought he was very good when he came on. Cross to Fellaini was excellent, and he looked very decent in general. Start him ahead of Lingard next game.
It's fine to be put on the bench from time to time, especially when you're underperforming. Still expected him or Depay to start over Lingard today.
Contributed a bit more than just that
He plays entire season without resting one game and gets dropped for Lingard against Liverpool away, probably his best United game last season.
Thought he changed the game for us IMO. Brought much needed calmness to our play.
This.
Our other players pretty much looked like pub players without any technique what so ever. Mata could bring the ball down and you could see the Liverpool players were reluctant to try and tackle. Against our other players they would just slide in and get the ball every time (bar against Martial). He's slow, but he works his socks off.
Agreed.
Weirdly the Young injury, forcing Darmian to right-back and CBJ to left-back brought some balance to our play as well.
Anyway, good cross for the goal. #juanfield
Hopefully we see him back in the starting 11 on Saturday
Think is absolutely key for us
Think is absolutely key for us
Easily the most useful he's looked in our side for ages.
Bloody loves playing at Anfield he does.
Bloody loves playing at Anfield he does.
Good cross. Was nice that a ball into the box finally went near Fellaini.
Hope not the guy kills our attack, but then Lingard is not any better. Either give Mephis a chance or put Young up on the right but anyone but Mata for me. (I am not adverse to him as a 10 though)
Yep, that cross to Fellaini today was a real attack killer.
Cheesy do you live on this forum? And great we took a short corner and Mata put in a good ball for Fellaini but come on that has nothing to do with our general build up.
No, just had a lot of free time since New Year.
And today proves that when he plays well, Mata can be key to our build-up. His good ball is exactly what you can get from him. Granted, he's been a bit rubbish lately, but he looked excellent when he came on and was key to our build-up. He's far, far better than Lingard.
No, just had a lot of free time since New Year.
And today proves that when he plays well, Mata can be key to our build-up. His good ball is exactly what you can get from him. Granted, he's been a bit rubbish lately, but he looked excellent when he came on and was key to our build-up. He's far, far better than Lingard.
Whilst I think he is of a far better quality than Lingard (no doubt about that)I just think he should never be played in that right hand side role as he kills our momentum there. Play him as a 10 if needed and if we must put Young up into the right hand side of attack as he is better than both in that position.
- Status