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2015-16 Performances

View full 2015-16 profile

5.7 Season Average Rating
Appearances
54
Goals
11
Assists
11
Yellow cards
7
Red cards
1
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Said it before, don't think Mourinho will get rid. He always plays with a 10. And I can't see us buying any this window.
 
Adisa said:
Said it before, don't think Mourinho will get rid. He always plays with a 10. And I can't see us buying any this window.
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Wouldn't make any sense. Why stick with a player who doesn't suit you, and risk a real mismatch between your ideas and his abilities?
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Wouldn't make any sense. Why stick with a player who doesn't suit you, and risk a real mismatch between your ideas and his abilities?
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The mourinho issue seemed to stem from a perceived lack of work rate from Mata at Chelsea. He regularly covers most ground for us this season. I hope mourinho doesn't get rid, he's a classy player.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Wouldn't make any sense. Why stick with a player who doesn't suit you, and risk a real mismatch between your ideas and his abilities?
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I really don't believe that crap about lack of work rate. In the two seasons here I have seen a player who works his socks off in the vast majority of games. Even when he's rubbish.
I simply think it came down to a choice between Oscar and Mata. And he chose Oscar.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Wouldn't make any sense. Why stick with a player who doesn't suit you, and risk a real mismatch between your ideas and his abilities?
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Tbf it's not like Mourinho outright trashed Mata. He just said he preferred Oscar as his #10 and that meant using Mata in more of a squad role.

Given that we don't really have a #10 like Oscar, we've tended to play Mata on the right anyway and we probably have other areas that need strengthening too...

Mata's days are obviously numbered when Mourinho arrives but I could see him lasting another season. Even if he doesn't fit into Mou's plans it would still be pretty stupid to sell one of our most productive players before you've replaced him properly.
 
PepsiCola said:
The mourinho issue seemed to stem from a perceived lack of work rate from Mata at Chelsea. He regularly covers most ground for us this season. I hope mourinho doesn't get rid, he's a classy player.
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Adisa said:
I really don't believe that crap about lack of work rate. In the two seasons here I have seen a player who works his socks off in the vast majority of games. Even when he's rubbish.
I simply think it came down to a choice between Oscar and Mata. And he chose Oscar.
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It's not about work rate. Mata has never been lazy. But he is doesn't have the physical presence or pace to contribute defensively.

Let's see what happens. If Jose gives up a bit of his obsession for discipline and leans more towards quality and class, then I have no problem with that.
 
sullydnl said:
Tbf it's not like Mourinho outright trashed Mata. He just said he preferred Oscar as his #10 and that meant using Mata in more of a squad role.

Given that we don't really have a #10 like Oscar, we've tended to play Mata on the right anyway and we probably have other areas that need strengthening too...

Mata's days are obviously numbered when Mourinho arrives but I could see him lasting another season. Even if he doesn't fit into Mou's plans it would still be pretty stupid to sell one of our most productive players before you've replaced him properly.
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Right, of course. We have to have a replacement to let him go. But I do think the #10 is a position that we need to review irrespective of Mourinho's preference. Noone in that position is top class and we arguably have Mata, Herrera, Lingard, Fellaini and Rooney who can/do all play there. Although I a couple of those could improve under Mourinho, still think we need more from our central attacker.
 
Adisa said:
I really don't believe that crap about lack of work rate. In the two seasons here I have seen a player who works his socks off in the vast majority of games. Even when he's rubbish.
I simply think it came down to a choice between Oscar and Mata. And he chose Oscar.
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I agree with this, it's a bollocks claim.

He must have had another reason, perhaps not fast/combative as Oscar.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Right, of course. We have to have a replacement to let him go. But I do think the #10 is a position that we need to review irrespective of Mourinho's preference. Noone in that position is top class and we arguably have Mata, Herrera, Lingard, Fellaini and Rooney who can/do all play there. Although I a couple of those could improve under Mourinho, still think we need more from our central attacker.
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Agree.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Right, of course. We have to have a replacement to let him go. But I do think the #10 is a position that we need to review irrespective of Mourinho's preference. Noone in that position is top class and we arguably have Mata, Herrera, Lingard, Fellaini and Rooney who can/do all play there. Although I a couple of those could improve under Mourinho, still think we need more from our central attacker.
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Exactly. If Mou decides to sign maybe even 5 players for 1st team, dont think CAM will be one of those positions to be strengthened
 
A class act through and through. He's underwhelmed at times, but he's been far from our biggest problem. Why LVG moved away from playing Mata in the middle, I'll never understand. I'll cheer for him, wherever he ends up.
 
Inexplicably played on the right again in favor of Lingard playing the no. 10 role (WTF?), but Mata showed his class today. That finish was harder than it looked as the pass from Rooney was a difficult one to control in a situation like that, but Mata made it look easy.
 
Mata is a weird player for some fans. He seems weak, very safe players etc but most of our goals in last 2 seasons came from him one way or another.

He might not be in his Chelsea form for us but it is ridiculous some fans compared him with Kagawa. He is miles ahead of kagawa in united shirt.
 
The United said:
Mata is a weird players for some fans. He seems weak, very safe players etc but most of our goals in last 2 seasons come from him one way or another.

He might not be in his Chelsea form for us but it is ridiculous some fans compared him with Kagawa. He is miles ahead of kagawa in united shirt.
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Saw one poster say he's been about as effective as Fellaini during the week....
 
Adisa said:
I really don't believe that crap about lack of work rate. In the two seasons here I have seen a player who works his socks off in the vast majority of games. Even when he's rubbish.
I simply think it came down to a choice between Oscar and Mata. And he chose Oscar.
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Mata does work very hard but he's not athletic or quick which means he's not the best at closing down.
 
I hope we do get rid of him when Mourinho comes. He's been a dissapointment overall
 
When Mata doesn't play well there are usually posters quick to say "that's why Mourinho sold him", like Mourinho obviously made the right decision.

The other side of that argument is that Mourinho chose Oscar over Mata. In hindsight was that even a good move? If Mata has been disappointing then Oscar has been straight up awful. Would you guys really prefer to see Oscar-type players favoured here?
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Wouldn't make any sense. Why stick with a player who doesn't suit you, and risk a real mismatch between your ideas and his abilities?
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I get the impression the problems this season might cause Mourinho to give his tactics a big re-think. It's worth noting that he does like creative number 10's, he bought Ozil after all.

I'm a big fan, I hope he stays. When he has movement in front of him he his extremely dangerous.
 
sullydnl said:
When Mata doesn't play well there are usually posters quick to say "that's why Mourinho sold him", like Mourinho obviously made the right decision.

The other side of that argument is that Mourinho chose Oscar over Mata. In hindsight was that even a good move? If Mata has been disappointing then Oscar has been straight up awful. Would you guys really prefer to see Oscar-type players favoured here?
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That's the thing. I'm coming around to the idea of Mourinho (likely due to not being able to bear another year of LVG.) However, Mourinho's judgment on players hasn't been that great since coming back to England. Putting aside Mata, he made horrendous calls on DeBruyne and Lukaku and struck out badly with Falcao. Again, I'm willing to get behind his coming here, as nothing can be worse than the dross we're currently being offered up on a weekly basis, but he wouldn't be my first choice (if the likes of Guardiola, Pochettino and Simeone were available, which sadly isn't the case.)
 
West Ham 3:2 Man Utd
He looks like a scared child each time he gets the ball. If he doesn't dispose it off in one or 2 touched he'll get brushed aside simply..
 
At points he's had to be deeper than Valencia to cover him ffs. Why is Mata a clear #10 being used as a defensive winger.
 
That's why Mata rightly plays all the time. For all his flaws he's one of the only players we have with that sort of composure and class.
 
He did well for the assists but struggled a lot of the time with the tempo and aggression of the game.
 
Poor first half. Better 2nd half. Did play a good few passes, but was as bad as the rest of our team
 
Well done for the assist but hid for much of the night I think.
 
He is a luxury player to carry in such high intensity games.

Goes hiding mostly. Didn't at the time but clearly now see the reason Mourinho dispensed with him.
 
Not the right player to be criticizing tonight. Did a lot of hard work defensively, especially in the first half when he was constantly covering for Valencia being out of position. Then showed his class with a nice assist in the 2nd half. His passing and overall play could have been better but it wasn't an easy game to play in, with West Ham's pressing and physicality.
 
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