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2018-19 Performances

View full 2018-19 profile

5.3 Season Average Rating
Appearances
32
Goals
6
Assists
3
Yellow cards
3
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Lingard won't be sold, so it's best we move Mata on and try and buy someone who can improve on those two.

Maybe a move back to Spain with either Valencia or Sevilla for next season?
 
Pogue Mahone said:
He was piss poor against West Ham, despite winning the penalty. A genuinely abject performance. Which probably explains why he's been marginalised since.

Was one of our better performers at the weekend. Hopefully he holds onto his place in the team. We do seem more likely to get a good performance out of him than whoever might start in his place.
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Let's be honest, there have been plenty of abject performances of late, some from players who still got the chance after chance to redeem themselves (but didn't).

I've always been a believer in giving a player time to get momentum, confidence etc. and then judging on a run of games, not just one.
 
acnumber9 said:
You’re right, keeping the ball is incredibly outdated. There is only one way to play football.
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Of course but because of the evolution and expectation of attacking players now he looks mediocre. There are players who can do everything he does and more but we cling onto him because he’s a better passer than others. That’s the mindset this club has instead of moving on players who aren’t fit for purpose.

Pressing has evolved to an extent that it has changed the game whether people like it or not, I don’t see any hope of competing with the top 2 unless we learn how and acquire players who can do it and who can resist it.
 
SATA said:
He's good in the home games where he doesn't get pressed much and when we have majority of the ball. The quality and ball retention is always there. Perhaps he shouldn't play in the away games especially against relegation teams. I also feel Ole could have used him more in the two legs against Barca
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This was clear last season when people kept having a go at him playing on the right. He wasn’t a problem at home. He just has no pace in transition for away games.
 
Mata is very good at the things he's good at, which happen to be things our attack generally lacks. That means that in a given season there will always be games where he's the right man to play, games where you wonder why someone with his technique and intelligence doesn't play more often.

Unfortunately there will also always be the other games, where his strengths are eclipsed by his physical weaknesses.

I don't think anyone doubts his character or that he's generally a good influence in the squad. The question is whether you'll get enough from his strengths over the course of a season to make carrying someone with his weaknesses in the squad worthwhile.

To my mind that would depend on two things: 1) How often we're likely to play a system like yesterday's next season, because that's where he'll be at his most valuable and 2) what other incomings and outgoings there will be.

Tbh, despite him being my favourite player at the club right now, I wouldn't be too fussed to see him leave. If our summer strengthening didn't see it being convenient to lose him then I can certainly see the value keeping him would bring to the squad. He certainly provides a different sort of option to the other players currently at our disposal. At the same time, nobody is going to complain if we upgrade him.
 
I dont understand why we would be offering Mata a contract at all. He rarely plays and we should replace him. I'll be disappointed if Ole gives him a contract.
 
Juan Mata is committed to United. According to an article I just read...and I know you can't believe everything...he wanted to get the run in over as it was more important to the club than sorting his contract. He proved last week that he still has something to offer...if we are talking slow, lets talk Matic who has done feck all most of his time here. Apparently JM has been offered an ambassador role at the club when he stops playing and there is no one better for that imo.
 
Livvie said:
Juan Mata is committed to United. According to an article I just read...and I know you can't believe everything...he wanted to get the run in over as it was more important to the club than sorting his contract. He proved last week that he still has something to offer...if we are talking slow, lets talk Matic who has done feck all most of his time here. Apparently JM has been offered an ambassador role at the club when he stops playing and there is no one better for that imo.
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I honestly wish to know from United fans who want us to release Mata how much are they expecting we will be spending this summer and whether they actually believe that he is the worst of the 6 attackers we have. We sold Fellaini in Jan, we'll be releasing Valencia and it seems Herrera is on his way out too. Lukaku has been flirting with Serie A teams, Alexis has been poor for us, Matic is on his last legs and he is still starting, our CBs are piss poor and then there are Darmian, Rojo and Pereira as well. While we need a RW undoubtedly, we're still looking at replacing as many as 5-6 players who might be looking to leave.
 
Green_Red said:
I dont understand why we would be offering Mata a contract at all. He rarely plays and we should replace him. I'll be disappointed if Ole gives him a contract.
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Agreed and it seems Ole is desperate for him to stay, which greatly concerns me and tells me Ole will be more of the same as the previous managers and gone by this time next year.
 
Green_Red said:
I dont understand why we would be offering Mata a contract at all. He rarely plays and we should replace him. I'll be disappointed if Ole gives him a contract.
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Keefy18 said:
Agreed and it seems Ole is desperate for him to stay, which greatly concerns me and tells me Ole will be more of the same as the previous managers and gone by this time next year.
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I agree and along with the deals for Young/Jones/Smalling it's nothing but red flags thus far.
 
I hope he does himself and us a big favour and turns down the renewal.
 
It's really simple with Juan. If there's going to be room in the system, or one of the main systems, for a Number 10, then keep him, because he's an excellent player in that role. If it's going to continue to be a variation on having a centre forward and two wide strikers, then sell him, because there is no way he can fit into that system due to a lack of mobility and aggression. He affects games with his linking, his passing, his shooting, not his running, his dynamism, his harrying.
 
Let Mata leave, and get in Ødegaard instead. A midfield of Joao Felix (left mf), Julian Weigl (defensiv mf), Martin Ødegaard (right mf). Up front Martial (left winger), Rashford (CF), Sancho (Right winger). Thats what we call a team full of talents who can play creative attacking football.
 
Huddersfield 1:1 Man Utd
Does not offer much as an attacker now. Has he signed the contract ??
 
We wasted him for years imo
Don't think it's worth keeping him but the problem is we have so many others we need to replace before him
 
Had some moment of quality in the first half and we definitely get something out of him at the top of the diamond, but he only has oe half in his legs these days.
 
Lost count of the amount of over hit through balls in that period we were playing well. Nice guy but I don’t really see the point if we’re going to build a new team.
 
He was easily one of our best players today, particularly in the second half. No idea how he didn't finish the game with at least one assist
 
Annihilate Now! said:
He was easily one of our best players today, particularly in the second half. No idea how he didn't finish the game with at least one assist
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One of our better players but did make a few mistakes- easy pass to Rashy missed in 1st half being one of them.
With the players around him, I genuinely hope we keep him. There are far too many deadwoods that need to be sold before him
 
Very wasteful, one or two nice passes. Should have done much more like most of the attackers. First half even Sanchez was more effective
 
When your team creates so few good chances, you need your quality players to be composed. Twice today he could have set up Rashford, but both times his pass was oddly overhit.

Weird for him given how good that part of his game is, but still. Small margins.
 
He couldn't get past 10 goals mark in all competitions in all seasons he played here.

For a forward that's terrible.
 
Fully evolved into a nothing player. That shot he had about 20 mins in maybe, easiest take a footballer will ever get, side footed, edge of the box, perfect pace and position, no pressure.. and he put it wide. How a professional footballer does that I don't know.
 
el3mel said:
He couldn't get past 10 goals mark in all competitions in all seasons he played here.

For a forward that's terrible.
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2014-15 10 goals
2015-16 10 goals
2016-17 10 goals
 
I actually thought he was pretty good today. One of our more creative players and should have had two or possibly three assists had the finishing been better. I'm more than happy to keep him as a squad option.
 
andeeeeyhart said:
I actually thought he was pretty good today. One of our more creative players and should have had two or possibly three assists had the finishing been better. I'm more than happy to keep him as a squad option.
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Yep. Made 7 key passes today
 
So he is staying, Herrera and Valencia announced they are leaving but we hear nothing from him...It was the perfect situation to load him off ffs
 
Deserves a contract for life here. His last ditch tackle of Mo Salah with hamstring injury is probably the moment that cost Pool the title.
Juanito at MUFC for life
 
Feel sorry for whatever RB we bring in next season. Another season of the full back having to own the entire right flank defensively and going forward due to Juan Mata.
 
I think the decision to scramble round Mata with an improved contract offer shows the sheer panic that our club is in.

There is a Strong possibility now that all of the following with leave the club this summer, de gea, valencia, herrera, pogba,lukaku... and most of our primary targets are overpriced or will move elsewhere..as a result panic has struck in.

As a result selling clubs are rising prices cos they know we are panicking, so we are trying to hold on to players like Mata, who despite being a great role model is past his sell by date on the pitch.

It stinks of sheer panic, i'm afraid.
 
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