He used his close control brilliantly to create space, spread the ball with intelligence and purpose and made quite a few key passes. Very potent after the break, don't know how anyone could argue with that. He's just held to other standards than others, I suppose. What constitutes a decent/good performance from other players means awful/useless when it's Mata. It's really tiresome.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 54
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 11
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
He did the basics right, and a couple of his classic "run to the left and pass out wide" moves but that's about it. He was alright in the second half but nothing special, and pretty poor in the first.
Shit first half, our best player in the second. Excellent FK. Watching him in physical battles in midfield is 
He was in Titanic turning circle mode in the first half but played very well in the second, his freekick may turn out to be one of the biggest goals at Old Trafford in recent times.
It's bizarre how a lot of people can't appreciate his qualities.
He was excellent in the second half and capped it off with a stunning goal
Would be madness for Mourinho to sell him. I think I would riot.
How do we not have a chant for him yet?
He was great in the second half, seemed like everything was going through him.
No idea what match some people were watching if they thought he was poor.
No idea what match some people were watching if they thought he was poor.
Not sure if serious?
Anyways, Juanderful tonight. When we needed something special he provided it.
We do!!
Yeah, yet someone like Memphis gets thumbs up by people when his final product is yet again poor.
Mata has made the mistake of setting the bar too high from when he was at Chelsea...
He was maybe a 4/10 1st half, but 2nd half, he was easily the best player. 8/10 easily the 2nd half. Was brilliant in the 2nd half. Deserved that goal for his efforts in that half
Kicked it up a notch and really imposed himself towards the end of the game.
Was great to see. More please.
I'd rate that as his best performance in a long, long time.
Was great to see. More please.
I'd rate that as his best performance in a long, long time.
Much better in the 2nd half and a great goal to cap it off.
Brilliant free kick.
Surprised he got man of the match... Thought he was sloppy as everyone else in the first half. Class in the second but MotM went to De Gea for me. Mata plays so much better when we try to attack with pace and when we're direct. That first half we basically reverted to how we played at the start of the season, or tried to, too patient and always playing the safe pass. Second half we improved right when we decided to start being more direct in our passing and running with the ball, and Mata started playing a lot better. Thank feck we changed our mind about subbing him (commentator kept saying we were about to), great free kick.
Brilliant free kick, he's genuinely really good at them. I am annoyed with Memphis because he definitely can take them well, and it looked like his one the other day was going in, he just can't seem to get it right on them. I'd only give free kicks to him if they really favour a right footer - anything central or towards the right should always be Mata's
"Who's the greatest player in the Premier League?
It's you Juan, Juan, Juan, it's you Juan, Juan!
Ooohh Juan Mata, Ooohh Juan Mata
It's you Juan, Juan, Juan, it's you Juan, Juan!"
I am probably alone in this but I thought he was one of our better players for the entire game, it appeared to me that it was those around him who were messing up opportunities and situations in the game. Ignoring the goal he was my man of the match.
He's properly stepped up in the last few weeks. You've got to take your hat off to him.
That was an excellent free-kick and such a vital moment to score.
Stepped up when it mattered (Mata'd?)
Was nice to see him get the winning goal as captain.
Hugs all around
Was nice to see him get the winning goal as captain.
Hugs all around
Wonderful performance in the 2nd half. Also has been putting in the effort defensively in the middle of the field that demonstrated his commitment.
That's what Mata is all about isn't it? those individual moments of magic.
I think one of his main attributes is his ability to keep the ball moving, the individual moments of magic are what sets him apart from the Tom Cleverleys of the world.
Decided he was going to single handely keep Van Gaal in the job when he heard the Mourinho rumours.
This
I've been one of his biggest critics for a while but his performances since he has moved centrally have improved tenfold. Not as good as many in here implicate, but a huge improvement nonetheless. I still think he's ultimately too slow, weak, and easy to dispossess but he's a great player to have within the side.
Many have cited some apparent shift to speedy players ahead of him as the reason for his upturn in form, but personally I think it is mainly due to Herrera being introduced to the team. See how they link up and retain possession, and think that that was Fellaini instead in weeks before.
Herrera helps, but it's more the change to a more direct style. Not even just the pace around him, though it helps like herrera does. But playing a more direct, counter attacking style leaves him with a lot more space to pick up those pockets and turn on the ball and pick out a pass or run with it a bit. When we play possession football, it's too congested wherever he picks it up, so he has to pass it wide or back, and doesn't end up doing much. Basically just compare us and him in the first half to second half. Completely different.
First player to wear the armband for us who did not play under saf for i would assume a very long time.
It's amazing how the cheer starts before it hits the back of the net. Sublime free-kick.
Great FK.
He's really carried us lately.
Ha, I was just wondering about that. People who time-travelled back from 0.5 seconds in the future.
- Status