Player of the season so far. I thought he was a goner when Jose joined especially after the sub in the Charity Shield. He has rolled his sleeves up and took on the challenge, First name on the team sheet in the number 10 role at the moment. The matador
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 42
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 5
- Status
Let's hope Jose's ego isn't offended by The Special Juan flag
Jose obviously had planned on Mkhitaryan playing on the wing. Mata is better in the middle as a #10 in my opinion but did not get the chances due to Wayne. Now that Jose has some problems with Mkhitaryan and finally realizing Wayne is a waste of a position, Mata should be the #10 but who plays on the wing? Mata on the wing is better than Lingard on the wing and Pogba can play a more advanced role. I'm liking the Herrera Pogba partnership with Carrick at DM but we can't rely on Carrick week in week out. We really need Mkhitaryan to come good so Mata can be more central. Even Mkhitaryan can play more central too.
It's a shame that better players are pushed to a less comfortable position because another player is an automatic name on the team sheet due to wages, contract, captaincy or whatever. We've seen it with Kagawa, Mata, and Martial in recent years. The common suitor being Wayne. Now that he is no longer an automatic starter, it's just a matter of time before we see our attacking players take more consistent positions. We're really starting to click but not scoring on our chances. If only we had a natural poacher of goals in the squad, where would we be?
I want him, Mkhi, Pogba roaming behind one of Martial/Zlatan/Rashford. Pace is overrated when the pacey players we do have can't pass and move or have good off the ball movement.
That's the one thing that's been missing from his game for a loooong time imo. That 1-2 steps to get away from players. He rarely stops the ball and dribbles past/gets into a better position with that burst of acceleration the way Silva does. He did that at Valencia and at times with Chelsea but he's changed his game to almost play as 2nd striker at times. He's still a creative midfielder and does well with the link up plays, passing and movement but he should have had another reportoire up his sleeve with that being able to slip past players.
Obviously, he's never going to consistently draw players in and beat them but for someone of his intelligence, he really should be more of a 'threat' as a ball carrier. That's the one thing I'm consistently disappointed and critical of his game tbh; he's too happy to lay it off sometimes.
"luxury player"
No one even says that any more. What are you on about?
Great luxury player. Also big part of the reason we can't counter quickly as he can't keep up on the counter. Inverted player so we struggle to get good, quick service from wide areas on the counter (from both wings mind). As good as his current form is, our results look just about on par with the past 3 years.
So, I like him, but I say sell him. Don't want Pogba forced back to play him in the 10, and think he lacks qualities we need in wide players at the moment.
So, I like him, but I say sell him. Don't want Pogba forced back to play him in the 10, and think he lacks qualities we need in wide players at the moment.
See? These guys are still here...Should be the first name on the teamsheet not fecking sold. Some of you lot are crazy.
It was just great timing wasn't it?
I will rephrase: No one but silly newbies looking to say something controversial so they get attention in the mains.
Incredible.
He's playing really well right now, to fit him and Pogba in we have to play a lopsided team though.
Yes, I am just looking for attention. Our right side hasn't been an issue that many of you have brought up for the last 3 years...
So your plan is to sell your best player?Yes, I am just looking for attention. Our right side hasn't been an issue that many of you have brought up for the last 3 years...
No, it would be to sell Juan Mata. Unless we were going to completely overhaul and play something like a 3-5-2 with him as a SS. Imagine, overhauling everything for Juan Mata.
Or also imagine just keeping it the same, where we don't really create anything with our wide right players for 3+ seasons. Valencia runs and works very hard with no end product (player of the year so far many of you are saying). Mata gives a little end product occasionally and no real service from the wide areas for anyone else to do anything with.
Don't act like I'm the first to say the right side has been a problem, or that Mata was a part of that problem.
All this talk of SS and right wing is making me uncomfortable.
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Anyone got a video of the MNF segment they did on Mata tonight? Would be good to watch.
"Mata gives a little end product occasionally".
He's also the most under rated players on the caf. Everyone here wanted him sold.
Shows why most of you are clueless.
Shows why most of you are clueless.
Well in Juan. Enough of the RW or SS nonsense - if you play him, play him as a 10.
Feel bad for Miki, turned up with Rooney out of form and Mata on the way out and, despite the former not changing, is way down the pecking order
Feel bad for Miki, turned up with Rooney out of form and Mata on the way out and, despite the former not changing, is way down the pecking order
He is more of a SS than a #10, and he basically plays a free role when he starts as the RW, he does his defensive work like a proper RW but drifts inside like a SS when we attack.
I mean, that's just factually incorrect.
Also, chance creation has hardly been the problem this season... especially from our right hand side, which is where a lot of our good football comes from.
Aye, our left side is the "problem", there's no goals or chances coming from that side.
I'm a little baffled why all of a sudden he's getting praise like he's been shite for the past three years. Since he's joined he's been our best player and about the only player you could bet money on consistently demonstrating some genuine quality at his feet. There's a bit more movement under Mourinho and he's enjoying every minute of it.
Shame the rest of the side can't do their part.
Shame the rest of the side can't do their part.
He was getting praise, it's just that his critics were more vocal
Exactly! He has been the most reliable player (together with DdG) under three coaches with totally different approaches.
Odd that our POTS so far has a 6.2 average rating, don't you get a 6 for having a poor game in most ratings?
Before now he wasn't consistent enough. Like he would have good games and was still pretty productive, but he would also go on long periods without really impacting games and just kinda drift in and out. A lot of that had to do with the role that Van Gaal had him in, on the wing in a side that is possession first, chances second, so it's no surprise that he wouldn't have a big impact. Under Mourinho is really the first time that he's been one of the best players on the pitch consistently, being creative, looking a threat every time he gets it, and generally looking like the top class player he was at Chelsea. That only came in spurts before now.
Fenerbache, watford and chelsea were shocking displays, and even if he wasn't at fault for any of them and was a sub in 2 of them I think (maybe all 3 even, don't remember), a lot of people give 1's all around for the really bad displays. Those 3 games are dragging him down.
I don't know about every one else but my ratings are
10 = World class flawless performance that will be remembered for ages
9 = Performance of the highest order and virtually flawless
8 = Excellent performance
7 = Good performance
6 = Average
5 = Acceptable
4 = Not good
3 = Poor
2 = Dogshite
1 = pls retire
So on average mata has been just over average and is being championed as our POTS? That's worrying
- Status