Incredible performance. Was incisive and looked for the ball at every opportunity, linked up well with Pogba and Martial
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 32
- Goals
- 6
- Assists
- 3
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
He was excellent today. I think he generally improves our play when he comes in as a sub. Still don't like him as a starter.
Hugs mothafecka
Just knew instantly he was going to score that freekick.
Big??
Yeah, just knew he was putting that in.
We had a free kick in the exact same place against Valencia and at the time I remember wishing Mata was on the pitch as he'd probably put it in
He was brilliant today, constantly open for a pass, looking for the one-two. Really changed the game for the better when he came on. Also, free kick was a lovely finish.
Needs to play more centrally. We need to find a way to get him, Pogba, Alexis and Martial interlinking in the final 3rd. Jose would never do it but I envision something like this would make us very fluid and effective.
Martial Alexis
Mata
Pogba Fred
Pereira
Mata
Pogba Fred
Pereira
Am I wrong in thinking Mata has taken relatively few direct free kicks here despite apparently being really good at them?
He's had his issues lately. However, fantastic performance tonight. Hugs you beautiful little fecker.
He changed the game today. We started to play real football when he came on.
Anything that's within 5 yards of the box should be his automatically
Not quite mate, he came on the 18th minute. We played proper football when we took mctominay off and gave them no reason to push us high up the field to press our troubled CB.
He's our Christian Eriksen. He gives us that calmness and allows us to piece our attacks together. Not as creative and probably won't be as audacious as Eriksen, but he's our link player and often picks the right pass in the final third. Great free kick too.
Huge Matafecka
He played very well today. Worked even better when Lukaku went to the right and delivered numerous dangerous crosses.
Great free kick. Unfortunately leaves a sour taste of, this guy could have been so much better for us over the last 4 years.
Great free kick. Unfortunately leaves a sour taste of, this guy could have been so much better for us over the last 4 years.
My bad I thought he came on at half time. Got it mixed up with Fellaini.
Easy mistake to make - they are very similar, visually....
Needs to play number 10
Nice freekick.
I tend not to get that moved emotionally by our players anymore, but he got a standing ovation while going over to take a corner which felt special and much deserved, he gave a thumbs up he was almost shy about. Its like he is our only player who can receive the ball in the middle of the pitch under pressure and calmly play a simple one touch pass out of danger. Its noticeable, as he is never there.
He was also steaming into tackles which he naturally shouldn't be doing, a very memorable performance allround. Well done Juan
He was also steaming into tackles which he naturally shouldn't be doing, a very memorable performance allround. Well done Juan
Yeah he's not assertive enough to take them unfortunately. Definitely very good at them though, as you can see:
I do like Juan, hope he gets a one year extension.
Juan Mata has handled himself with dignity during a rough period for us. Always gives his all, whether he's in a position he's comfortable with or not or if he's taken off when he doesnt deserve to be. He may not have won a lot with us, but he's someone who will be a popular figure at the club for years. Such a likable guy.
For some reason Lukaku is taking some free kicks from time. State of our team ffs 
The most technically gifted player at the club. Just a shame he lacks a bit of pace. Otherwise he would be world class.
For a teddy bearBig??
Great to see him leading the comeback today!The thing is he will always look good when his job is purely to attack, especially when we're dominating and the field is 'small'.
He equally useless when he's forced to defend, or transition from defense to attack because he's simply too slow.
If we played a more suffocating type of football like Pep sides, I think he'd be amazing. His technically perfect, tactically astute and for a while was really creative. But in the same way you don't want Chris Smalling passing the ball, you don't really want Mata to be sprinting. But the way the system works under Mourinho, a wide player has to.
He equally useless when he's forced to defend, or transition from defense to attack because he's simply too slow.
If we played a more suffocating type of football like Pep sides, I think he'd be amazing. His technically perfect, tactically astute and for a while was really creative. But in the same way you don't want Chris Smalling passing the ball, you don't really want Mata to be sprinting. But the way the system works under Mourinho, a wide player has to.
Funny thing is, we make less sprints than most other teams. Mata improves our play because he isn't sprinting all the time. He keeps his head up.
Thought his addition was gonna be meaningless for a while. He turned it on big time though.
You shouldn't be giving teams the opportunity to attack you to the extent where you need him to a do a lot of defensive work. You're not playing against top teams every week.
His first great performance in a long while. Should start against Chelsea with Alexis and Martial up front.
So you are basically saying we played proper football when Fellaini came on?
I agree.
Poor Fellaini, he just never gets the credits he deserves. People would rather say 'when McTominay was removed' than 'when Fellaini came on'.
I completely agree.
For me, he and De Gea show a lot of class. No whining, no moaning, no controversial soundbites to the press, no agents stoking fire, total commitment on the pitch even when having a bad day etc.
Poor attempt. I give fellaini the credit when he deserves it, but he came on today and didn’t do that well. He played in an awkward channel/winger role and looked very out of place.
Mctominay coming off clearly had a much much more significant impact than fellainis presence in their box. Love fellaini tho
That's the problem people keep having with Fellaini. Akward and what not. He did play very well. He did play VERY well. He stabilized the defence, linked up well with the attack and was himself a threat in the opposition box. At the very least, he was a major distraction for the Newcastle backline. Of course it was not so obvious because of his lack of flair and his contributions were not in the Pogba, Martial, or Mata, pleasing-to-the-eyes mould.
Glad you do like Fellaini though and just to mention this, my post wasn't meant to criticize you. It was more of a tongue in cheek try.
I’m usually very harsh on Mata, but he was very good yesterday. Fair play Juan. I hope he is used properly from now on.
Same - I said he was done.
It's hard to tell with Jose tactics whose good and whose not.
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