Ridiculous second half from him again. His last 2 matches he looks like Mata of the old.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 32
- Goals
- 6
- Assists
- 3
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
Brilliant. Was buzzing around nicely and composed in the first half, then just stepped it up in the second
Some people think he’s a luxury. Imagine having the luxury of a player with the balls to control the ball and try and move it forward. Easily our best player today.
Martial's goals were obviously super important but I think Mata drove most of it in the second half. My MOTM.
Much, much better centrally if he plays it should be in the centre. He's not a winger should never play there.
Plays with heart and passion every. single. time.
Responsible for the Newcastle win and for today's nearly win. If he'd stayed on, who knows.
Responsible for the Newcastle win and for today's nearly win. If he'd stayed on, who knows.
The moment we subbed him, we knew whats up.
One of his very best performances in a United shirt.
For the first time in ages he has played in that No 10 role and surprise surprise, he is brilliant
He needs regular games. He was good pre-season too. How many players can give their best when they're not playing regularly - you need to play for momentum and confidence.
Was great today MOTM for sure! Why is he always looking so tired around the 80th minute?
Was great today, shame about his lack of pace.
Makes up for that with his brain.
I'm his biggest critic. But his attitude and effort unlike some is always spot on
Did well today
Did well today
Fantastic today. Absolute magic player, far more suited to his role today he really made the difference for us today and vs Newcastle.
Was really good today, and last week too. I'd say he more than deserves to start next match, let's keep our fingers crossed that he can keep this form up. God knows we could do with a bit of brilliance at the moment.
was great today. have to say good choice to start him, most starting 11s had 3 in midfield. might have caught chelsea off guard a little maybe they prepared all week for somrthing a bit different and mata got some space
Because he gives 100% plus a share of other players percentage, who don't!
Beside Pogba, only Mata our creative player on the field. As always.
He really gave a shit today. That ball he won to set up the 2nd goal, they're the kind of 50/50s that he'd normally duck out of. He got stuck in more than anyone in that front 6, which you'd never associate with Mata.
Much better in a midfield 3 than on the right wing. Despite his lack of pace, he's still infinitely more mobile off the mark than Pogba and Matic. He looks very comfortable in the middle and under pressure.
Much better in a midfield 3 than on the right wing. Despite his lack of pace, he's still infinitely more mobile off the mark than Pogba and Matic. He looks very comfortable in the middle and under pressure.
For those saying it's obvious that he should be playing centrally, it has to be remembered that Mourinho played him as a 10 numerous times in his first season and Mata was poor every time. That's why he ended up being moved over to the right where he was actually better.
Of course, now that he's had a couple of good performances there it'll be interesting to see if he continues to get chances and whether he continues to take them.
Of course, now that he's had a couple of good performances there it'll be interesting to see if he continues to get chances and whether he continues to take them.
Which games, if you can recall?
I remember maybe one or two. But I also remember Lingard getting played at 10 much more.
Very good today. When we played quick passing game he looked so good.
He is a definition of big game player. Makes us tick against the top 6. Was great today!!!
Feisty and along with Pogba got a grip of the game for us in the second half.
I'm terrible at remembering individual games. I know it wasn't a huge amount of matches, but he certainly had his chances and just never came close to taking them.
Yeah I remember being disappointed with a few too.
But i dont think he was ever given a run of games in the position.
Lets see, should he be given a run there, if he can make the position his own.
He's not luxury, though he does need to be facilitated somewhat. If he doesn't have movement about him then he can he largely ineffectual. He simply doesn't have the pace or strength to receive the ball in tight areas and hold on to it unless he has immediate options available. Give him those options however, and he comes alive.
Superb performance today.
Always like him playing in a deeper midfield role tbh. Far, far better than when hes on the right. Weird to think but we've completely wasted him these 5 years. It's like if we had David Silva and kept him out on the wing the whole time (obviously not as good as Silva is, but point stands). Waste of a quality player.
He rarely played there and never got a run. The first half season we had Rooney wasting space behind Ibra with Mata on the right a lot. When Mkhi came in he replaced Mata. Often times when they played together it was Miki central and Mata right.
One of the few runs that I remember he had centrally was with Van Gaal in his first season alongside Carrick and Rooney in midfield for a bit, but that didnt last too long.
Two of his best games since he had an excellent spell under Van Gaal, when we won a couple with some excellent performances.
He's never a RW. Should only play centrally. He was outstanding today. Even in the shite 1st half the only player showing composure was Mata.
I do remember some poor performances as a #10 but I think the longest run of games he got there was three? So hardly a great sample size. Especially as we usually had other problems causing the team to struggle at those times too.
I mean he's had poor games at RW too but that didn't seem to stop managers from playing him there
Our best player, in my opinion. Not only on the ball, but did a fantastic job off it too, nullifying Jorginho, which is not something you would associate Mata with. I'd like to see more off him in that 10 role.
Brilliant today. You can tell he cares.
I'm not so sure about that because I can remember week after week complaining that Mata wasn't being used in his best position.
I think it was that combination where Mata was originally played centrally with Mkhi on the right, but after a while where it wasn't working they swapped and had more success. Mata then never got another chance centrally again. I do agree it wasn't a good 'run' of games, but it seemed to be enough for Mourinho to never use him there again since.
Other than that relatively early period where he didn't play well in that position, Mata never got another chance up until the last two games. So even in the first season he did play quite a bit more on the right.
Hardly any of our players has that.
Not his biggest fan but great game today, he wanted it more than most and it told when he beat Luiz to the ball for Martials goal.
Also loved his foul on Azpi, love a bit of bite.
Also loved his foul on Azpi, love a bit of bite.
If only he wasn't so damn slow. He'd be some player.
Excellent from him.
Why do you have to break my heart, Mata! 
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