[Jim Beam]

Best player this half? He's the one (also Pogba) trying to make things happen.

Yes. Running like crazy and one of the rare ones trying and actually succeeding to do something with the ball.

This is also the first time I've seen him genuinely pissed off (at the end of the half giving that ball for a throw-in).

 

[sullydnl]

The idea that Mkhitaryan was a better player than Mata certainly seems like a distant memory at this point.

 

[SER19]

Type of,players fans should want. Not afraid to take the ball, does so on the front foot not a protective recipient of the ball. Heart on his sleeve. Wish he was more successful here

 

[Ace of Spades]

The only player with some common sense on keeping the ball.

 

[Roboc7]

He is so average, runs around a lot and plays a lot of simple passes but offers very little. He wouldn’t get a look in at any other top six side.

 

[Kapardin]

The only player with some common sense on keeping the ball.

And it is no surprise. Mata is also average and needs upgrading, but he has had some experience playing at the highest level.

It is simple. If we continue to rely on inconsistent players like Rashford and Martial and insist on their development without first developing our team, this is what will happen. Need more proven quality in attack.

 

[Member 109952]

Whilst he had some decent touches in the match, we'll never be a good team with him in the side. He's a large reason why our play's been so uninspired ever since Fergie retired - 166 games over the past 5 seasons. You watch each of those games and it's the same thing - gets the ball, passes it to the wing or whoever's closest to him, and runs into the centre. Give him the ball in a dangerous area? No skill or dribbling ever, will either pass it away or lose it. Occasionally he'll get a goal from being in the box for most of our attacks, but he offers nothing in the build up and is why we resort to crossing it so often.

Today was relatively a 'better' match from him - in that he tried to get involved more. Even then it's just so predictable, he'll get the ball, make the obvious pass or lose it, and then run away. Martial/Rashford/Mikhi haven't been any better as of late, but compare to the Salah/Mane/Coutinho/Willians etc - pretty much every wide attacker for the top 6 sides (barring maybe arsenal) - and he's just so far behind in the threat he offers.

It's mad that we don't just throw £50m at Mahrez who's been very good this season and would be a huge upgrade. He has everything Mata has alongside pace, dribbling, and a stronger shot.

 

[jem]

He is so average, runs around a lot and plays a lot of simple passes but offers very little. He wouldn’t get a look in at any other top six side.

He did brilliantly to set up Lukaku for what should have been a straightforward goal, and generally kept his composure, which is more than you can say for the likes of Rashford, Mkhi, Shaw and even Matic today.

 

[Devil may care]

His sublime first touch and cross created our only clear chance in the 93 minutes, one of the few that looked like he gave a shit.

 

[Amar__]

Our best player by a mile today.

 

[berbatrick]

He was the only one running around late in the game. We were more static than any team I can remember (i have blocked most of the Moyes season from memory). He literally had to run around the whole midfield and side-to-side so that others could pass.
On the ball: good first half, ok second. Got into good positions, which made him our attacking Maradona.

 

[Jazz]

Feel for the lad. Was really trying today but his team mates were just shite mostly.

 

[Silverman]

Definitely deserves to keep his place in the squad. Can see his role being less significant as the years go on but if he's happy to stay and contribute when he can then great. A bit like Giggs in his latter years as an ageing Mata shouldn't really decline too much when he never relied on his athleticism or pace.

 

[Bobski]

Definitely deserves to keep his place in the squad. Can see his role being less significant as the years go on but if he's happy to stay and contribute when he can then great. A bit like Giggs in his latter years as an ageing Mata shouldn't really decline too much when he never relied on his athleticism or pace.

Mata has picked up recently but please do not compare him to Giggs, even indirectly. Giggs at 37 was a better player than Mata has ever been for Utd, probably quicker as well.

 

[SNes]

Offered the usual Mata performance pass it sideways and run away.

 

[el3mel]

I love him, but him recycling the ball too much slows our play and build up of the attack. He takes too many passes when we want to be more direct going forward. He comes with some moments of brilliance from time to time in some games but overall he's one of the reasons our build up of the attack is too slow.

 

[Yagami]

I think he's been very good these past few games. He actually tried some through balls tonight and, whilst they all didn't come off, it's better than him constantly passing it back or to the wings.

 

[Jaybomb]

He was let down again today.

 

[Raees]

He's like a slow Mesut Ozil without the assists.

 

[Foxbatt]

He was terrible today. People seems to give him an easy pass because he runs non stop. But his running non stop is useless because he is also slow. He hogs the ball when he should pass. A good example is the first half when Mikhi messed his cross and over the head of Young. Mata picked the ball on our wide right. All he had to do was pass it to Young who was all alone in their box without a player in sight. What did Mata do? As usual he refused to pass and brought the ball inside where it was too congested and eventually Matic took a shot.
His negatives outweigh his positives and that is what is wrong with United. Too many mediocre players.

 

[Eugenius]

Is probably one of the least creative number 10s playing for a top half team. Picks the ball up in non threatening areas, deep because he doesn't have the pace to play on the half turn between the lines. And plays square balls or percentage crosses into the box. Doesn't ever look that bad playing like that, but creates nothing and provides no penetration.

 

[Foxbatt]

Sell him

 

[sullydnl]

Our best player by a mile today.

Sell him

This Redcafe groupthink has to end.

 

[DarkXaero]

Typical CAF letting the anger of a shit performance conclude that Mata was also part of the problem today, when he was our best player easily.

 

[Born2Lose]

Typical CAF letting the anger of a shit performance conclude that Mata was also part of the problem today, when he was our best player easily.

15 PL goals in 2.5 seasons, if that's our best player then no wonder where so dire.

 

[VivaObertan]

He's absolutely our best attacker, good performance today... let down by the dross around him.

 

[gavdim2002]

He's absolutely our best attacker, good performance today... let down by the dross around him.

This.

 

[Stacks]

He is so average, runs around a lot and plays a lot of simple passes but offers very little. He wouldn’t get a look in at any other top six side.

And it is no surprise. Mata is also average and needs upgrading, but he has had some experience playing at the highest level.

It is simple. If we continue to rely on inconsistent players like Rashford and Martial and insist on their development without first developing our team, this is what will happen. Need more proven quality in attack.

Whilst he had some decent touches in the match, we'll never be a good team with him in the side. He's a large reason why our play's been so uninspired ever since Fergie retired - 166 games over the past 5 seasons. You watch each of those games and it's the same thing - gets the ball, passes it to the wing or whoever's closest to him, and runs into the centre. Give him the ball in a dangerous area? No skill or dribbling ever, will either pass it away or lose it. Occasionally he'll get a goal from being in the box for most of our attacks, but he offers nothing in the build up and is why we resort to crossing it so often.

Today was relatively a 'better' match from him - in that he tried to get involved more. Even then it's just so predictable, he'll get the ball, make the obvious pass or lose it, and then run away. Martial/Rashford/Mikhi haven't been any better as of late, but compare to the Salah/Mane/Coutinho/Willians etc - pretty much every wide attacker for the top 6 sides (barring maybe arsenal) - and he's just so far behind in the threat he offers.

It's mad that we don't just throw £50m at Mahrez who's been very good this season and would be a huge upgrade. He has everything Mata has alongside pace, dribbling, and a stronger shot.

He is the right profile of player in a Pep system but not ours unfortunately. Over a full 90 minute game, his passing stats are near identical to David Silva's both this season and last. That's in key passes per game, chances created, pass completion, pass length. Where he falls behind is in forward passing. I think with the right runners and coaching, he could do that role well at City. He does lack Silva's dribbling though. He has played in Spains version of Tiki Taka for years.

 

[Ash_G]

He is the right profile of player in a Pep system but not ours unfortunately. Over a full 90 minute game, his passing stats are near identical to David Silva's both this season and last. That's in key passes per game, chances created, pass completion, pass length. Where he falls behind is in forward passing. I think with the right runners and coaching, he could do that role well at City. He does lack Silva's dribbling though. He has played in Spains version of Tiki Taka for years.

I'd say he could easily do it for us as well but our system just doesn't allow it. Nearly all of our attackers could make the sort of runs Mata could pick out but we just don't play to that for whatever reason that I just can't get. I'm not saying we should play like City/arsenal etc but I can't get why we wouldn't play 433, allow Martial to play closer to the box and have him/Pogba etc making runs ahead that Mata could work with. He's proven in the PL at this, for me the main issue is that I don't really feel we have a strategy in attack bar relying on individual talent to make the difference and for someone like Mata who's talent is to bring others in to play it just doesn't work if there isn't a plan in place.

But I don't get the heat Mata gets on here. When he's in the team more often than not we flow much better and that's cause he comes inside, helps retain and recycle possession in to good areas but generally we don't make the most of it.

 

[Foxbatt]

He was part of the problem too. Just because he was always looking for the ball and running does not mean he is not part of the problem. He had the chance to create the game's best open chance and he turned it down in the first half. The Mikhi over hit cross from the left that went over the head of Young. Mata collected it on the right and all he had to do was a simple pass to Young who was all alone inside the box without an opposing player marking him. A simple pass would do as Mata also had no on near him. Yet as usual he carried the ball inside into traffic and eventually Matic took a shot.
Yes he did put in a very good cross that Lukaku should have scored but Mata slows the plays down and does not suit our style of play. He is too slow and cannot dribble unlike Silva who is also very quick in short spaces.

 

[Stacks]

He was part of the problem too. Just because he was always looking for the ball and running does not mean he is not part of the problem. He had the chance to create the game's best open chance and he turned it down in the first half. The Mikhi over hit cross from the left that went over the head of Young. Mata collected it on the right and all he had to do was a simple pass to Young who was all alone inside the box without an opposing player marking him. A simple pass would do as Mata also had no on near him. Yet as usual he carried the ball inside into traffic and eventually Matic took a shot.
Yes he did put in a very good cross that Lukaku should have scored but Mata slows the plays down and does not suit our style of play. He is too slow and cannot dribble unlike Silva who is also very quick in short spaces.

You are right. He doesn't suit are style of play and neither would Silva. Silva had a few off the boil seasons at City but the new role has rejuvenated him. There is the possibility he too could go off the boil in our attacking system.

 

[finneh]

15 PL goals in 2.5 seasons, if that's our best player then no wonder where so dire.

Yep - him and De Bruyne both on 13 and 14 goals respectively these last 18 months. No wonder both teams are so dire.

 

[jem]

Offered the usual Mata performance pass it sideways and run away.

Absolute nonsense. He's one of the few who actually makes off the run balls. Would you prefer it if he just stood there post-pass?

 

[jem]

He was part of the problem too. Just because he was always looking for the ball and running does not mean he is not part of the problem. He had the chance to create the game's best open chance and he turned it down in the first half. The Mikhi over hit cross from the left that went over the head of Young. Mata collected it on the right and all he had to do was a simple pass to Young who was all alone inside the box without an opposing player marking him. A simple pass would do as Mata also had no on near him. Yet as usual he carried the ball inside into traffic and eventually Matic took a shot.
Yes he did put in a very good cross that Lukaku should have scored but Mata slows the plays down and does not suit our style of play. He is too slow and cannot dribble unlike Silva who is also very quick in short spaces.

That's funny, because all I read about from Mata detractors is that he looks to offload the ball at the first chance...

 

[Ashley R1+O]

He doesn't really offer much unfortunately, dropping into the lanes and finding space is about the ball game. As a leadership player he needs to be doing a lot more and I won't be surprised if he leaves at the end of the season when reinforcements come in.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

He did well and was let down by others poor finishing.

 

[bosnian_red]

Wish we'd play him In a midfield 3 alongside pogba to help him control games. But that would also require a much different overall system from Mourinho.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Wish we'd play him In a midfield 3 alongside pogba to help him control games. But that would also require a much different overall system from Mourinho.

Hate to say it, but I feel this is what Pep would have done, and what Van Gaal did.

Whilst not very physical, Mata's a hard worker off the ball. Certainly improved that aspect of his game in recent years anyway.

He would do the role of Silva, where he'd be the glue in the team. Someone who, as you said, helps us controls games and keeps the ball ticking over, whilst Pogba does the more audacious stuff.

Unfortunately, as you said, it would mean Jose changing formation and even if he did play a 433, which he has done with us, he wouldn't partner Mata with Pogba in a three.

 

[bosnian_red]

Hate to say it, but I feel this is what Pep would have done, and what Van Gaal did.

Whilst not very physical, Mata's a hard worker off the ball. Certainly improved that aspect of his game in recent years anyway.

He would do the role of Silva, where he'd be the glue in the team. Someone who, as you said, helps us controls games and keeps the ball ticking over, whilst Pogba does the more audacious stuff.

Unfortunately, as you said, it would mean Jose changing formation and even if he did play a 433, which he has done with us, he wouldn't partner Mata with Pogba in a three.

Yep. Would have to change his style completely to use Mata in a midfield 3, switch to a team made to control games by possession and pass it around on the ground in the typical barca style. Obviously there's no guarantee it'd succeed, but I don't think Pep would have any problems using a Mata-pogba-matic midfield 3 and making them the best midfield 3 in the league and perfectly balanced. Add to that midfield by having 2 attacking wingers and a striker in front. It's not like Pep just works magic. Other managers have gotten success using similar systems. Basically 5 attacking, creative players in midfield and the front 3, generally fluid, but hard working. Mourinho is all about rigidity for all but the 3 behind the striker, and even then, they all have their roles. Martial/rashford the runner with the ball and the one who can take risks, Mata on the right to come inside and help pogba with keeping possession/creativity, lingard as the 10 to push forward and find pockets of space as a second striker, and Lukaku to battle with center backs up top. Very rigid. Very one dimensional. Can be effective, but doesn't encourage creativity or freedom.

 

[RedStarUnited]

Im seeing people in here comparing Mata to Silva, absurd comparison.

Mata cant protect the ball under pressure, Silva can.

Mata cant dribble, Silva can.

Mata doesn't have the creativity that Silva has. When was the last time you saw Mata play a defense splitting pass?

The only thing he is better than Silva at is timing in the box and finishing.