And those little legs can only run so much. I absolutely adore Mata, and feel he still has so much to contribute to this team.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 32
- Goals
- 6
- Assists
- 3
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
My memory of Mata that season, at least in the Autumn/Winter, was that he wouldn't start, would get subbed on and be very good. I can only remember the Arsenal game at home but there was definitely a "Mata again" feeling when he scored in that game, if not for number of goals but level of performance
Playing in his natural position with pace around him, who thought that this would bring out Mata's best
I love that Mata plays the game as if he thinks he’s 6ft 2 and can win any challenge in the air or that he thinks he is a speedster so nick it in front of him and he’ll go. It’s awesome, he was in the box up against I think Rudigar today and the ball is out wide and he is signalling for someone to whip the ball in for him, got to love him, works his socks off as well. That little bit of skill and following tackle on Aspa.
Should be starting for us on form. Said pre match that despite some limitations mata offers us things other players can’t, I’d certainly be starting him where he did today against every ‘weaker’ opponent. He’s very creative and very experienced.
Shouldn't have been taken off. We lost control of the game.
My favourite player at the club at the moment. When we play really well, he is centre of our good play a lot of the times. I wish Jose trusted him more, and built a team around him. He would be great with three quick strikers ahead of him. One of our only players who is always looking to be positive.
Very good second half. Reminded me of Scholes...with that tackle on Dave looool.
Excellent player - would like to see us go to 4-4-1-1 with him as the 10
Makes the right decisions when on the ball, good technically and if he's at 10 his lack of pace won't matter as much
Makes the right decisions when on the ball, good technically and if he's at 10 his lack of pace won't matter as much
Played well today.
One of our standout players today. We know his skills with the ball, but he was a warrior as well today. Love him to bits. Coincidence that he ran much of the show when played centrally from the get go?
He's had such a good season, I really, really like him.
Isn't his contract running down? Needs a new one ASAP.
Isn't his contract running down? Needs a new one ASAP.
It’s not his fault the idiot manager you had at the time didn’t want him - just look today at how important he can be under a manager who believes in himWhy do you have to break my heart, Mata!
I actually think he's largely had a poor season. In the last two games though he's been absolutely crucial and shown that he isn't past it just yet.
Man of the Match. Very few players have his technical ability on the ball and him playing in the hole causes so much headache to opponents because he pulls off touches and ball control that you just hope as a defender your opponent can’t do. He linked our defence and attack perfectly. He maintained a high intensity throughout the whole game. He marked Jorginho out of the game.
Superb stuff in that little 20 minute period after half time. Showed how dangerous he can be in this system when he actually plays on the turn with some desperation. He's the kind of guy who could cement a burst off the bench role if he came on with nothing to lose for us.
The rest of his performance was like the rest of the team. Pretty musty.
The rest of his performance was like the rest of the team. Pretty musty.
Anyone think Mata would be just as great playing a deeper midfield role? I think it'd suit his game
He’ll get better with age. Very intelligent.
Only if we play him number 10 in my opinion.
He was good against Derby too but yeah a really good season was probably being a bit giddy.
He needs to play a lot now though, he has that bit of something extra which we seem to generally lack.
Really? I can't see that working out for us anytime anywhere in this world. I mean, yeah he is technically brilliant but each time he finds himself in those positions, he either gets shrugged of the ball and loses it or runs out of time and plays a quick risky pass that gets intercepted. Not every time, but that happens far to often already nevermind actually playing him in that position from the first minute. Scares me
Not physical enough or strong enough. Great as a number 10 though.
Done really well today, he's not a right winger and never will be but just like Lingard, he's very useful playing through the middle
Unless we stay playing 4-2-3-1 though, he's absolutely pointless.
Unless we stay playing 4-2-3-1 though, he's absolutely pointless.
Playing in his natural position with pace around him, who thought that this would bring out Mata's best
Came here to say the same thing. Who'd have thought playing our number 10 in his natural role, with actual wide players in a team full of pace would bring the best out of him and the players around him. I baffles me that he's been RW in our teams for like nearly 4 years. We wasted his talent.
He was fantastic today and last game. Hugs!
As numerous others have said, he’s completely wasted the best part of his career playing out on the right.
The team just alway looks better balanced and more in rhythm when he’s on.
I think he's strong enough, a midfielder doesn't necessarily need to be physical, would love to see how he'd get on in a deeper role.
But I agree, he's a great number 10
No hugs to party.
We should always try to play him as an AMF, as a right winger He's wasted. He always cuts inside when playing on the right anyway.
We should always try to play him as an AMF, as a right winger He's wasted. He always cuts inside when playing on the right anyway.
Crazy to think it’s took 3/4 years to play him in number 10. Fair play to him. He needs to try bring consistency now.
Superb. We have a very good team if the manager actually allowed them to play. The only time he allows them to is when we are chasing the game....bloody frustrating
I swear everytime we are winning a game and he gets subbed off, we cant keep the ball and end up conceding. (ok two spring to mind, today and the match against Arsenal)...
Some on here believe it is a great idea to not give him a new contract, before yesterdays game at least. I am not a big Mata fan if we play him as a winger, but if we use him as yesterday, can be quite good.
He doesn’t play as a winger when he is on the right. The second goal came from him skipping by on the right anyway. Yesterday’s game just makes it clearer that we need better width, Mata is still a good player.
In a his time with us, I'd be surprised if he has started and finished much more than 10 matches. Not sure if it's a sports science thing with his particular conditioning, but it generally seems that he gets hooked after the 15 min mark. Could be a tactical thing, where we try and protect the lead with a more physical or athletic player
Great stuff yesterday and I hope that Jose is very clear in his mind that a central attacking mid position is where to get the best out of him. Shades of world class, yet it would be League 1 if played out wide on the right
He is number 10 and must play on no10. 4231 works well with him on no10. Without him it is not working at all. I am pissed because of the fact that we tried so many players on that position and switched formations while we have him.
His best performance in a long time.
With the current attacking players he must be the first choice for the Nr 10 position. Out of that he works out on right only when we have Lingard at Nr 10. They can switch positions and work together very well.
His work rate was really surprising. Every game he tries but in this game, it looked like he was bit quicker too. Hopefully he will build on this.
has been outstanding in the last two games.
- Status