Says it all when even his usual apologists (two in particular, won't name names) have stopped posting in this thread.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 37
- Goals
- 3
- Assists
- 7
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
Most people on this forum pointed out that he's finished. Club gives him a 2 year contract. You really do have to wonder how these people got to the positions they're in at the club.
It is staggering that someone so slow and weak has been playing out wide for so long. How have so many managers been guilty of the same nonsense.
Maybe it's that hug Ole gets every Monday morning at training after a poor weekend result, that helps Ole forget about his problems momentarily, which is why he decided to extend Mata's contract.
I'm sure there's some sort of club ambassador role for him somewhere. Shouldn't be near the pitch.
One season wonder, and that's when he was at Chelsea, I'd have Fellaini or Herrera as no.10 over him any day of the week. The most disappointing transfer for this club for me, because how hyped he was before coming here and he showed so little after coming here.
Thought he had one of his better games for quite some time, but what the hell do I know.
What did you like about his performance ?
I write down the team, then a + for anything good that they do, and a - for any poor moments. For this match, I didn't notice Mata doing anything good or anything bad either. It was all relatively straightforward passes. The stats say he saw quite a lot of the ball (62 touches), high pass completion rate (91%), one key pass for McTominay's header wide, no shots, 1 interception, 1 failed attempt to tackle, 1 unsuccessful dribble, dispossessed once.
I noted a cross from Mata that was cut-out in the first half, as well as the wide free-kick from which McTominay should have got his header on target (probably worth a + in my rating system). In the 2nd half, a cross that was slightly too high for Martial, then a good team move that ended with Mata's cross/pass being cut-out. Finally, Dan James' cross that seemed to go between Mata's legs.
This season, I liked Juan's performance against Southampton. I thought he linked the play well and his run off the ball created enough space for Dan James to score. Against West Ham his run off the ball for the big chance from Pereira's cross was great but the finish was shocking, apart from that he seemed to opt to go back when he had options to pass the ball forwards, on several occasions. Struggling to recall much from the Newcastle match. He had a shot from an angle that was saved against Leicester. AZ Alkmaar another quiet game.
Understat have Mata's expected goals per 90 mins at 0.21, and his expected assists per 90 mins 0.07 (PL matches). 1.49 key passes per 90 mins. Statsbomb have his expected goals per 90 mins at 0.19, and his expected assists 0.08. In simple terms, he had one big chance to score (from Pereira's cross against West Ham) and the chances he has created have tended to be low percentage shots from distance
Sometimes on 2nd viewing I have a very different opinion of how a player performed but I don't feel like watching that match again.
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Mata's pass to draw the penalty was a straightforward one for a #10, but he hit it quite well, got Williams in stride and if it had been at all slower the fullback would have intercepted it. Definitely worth a +
I just noticed he has 0 goals or assists this season so far, I like the guy and have defended him but it's becoming clearer and clearer that he's pretty much done. Still have a faint glimmer that maybe he'll improve with a better attacking structure around him but you can say that about pretty much all our attackers.
He’s as useful as an appendix. How he managed to get a 2 year + 1 contract extension at his age baffles me and should be investigated.
It's just pathetic and a shambles.
Was good, is bad.
Like a battery drained of life, you get them out of your remote control pronto... don't keep them in there for 2 extra years because they used to work.
Like a battery drained of life, you get them out of your remote control pronto... don't keep them in there for 2 extra years because they used to work.
Not much clearly.
For a creative player he really isn't very creative. In a squad full of dross, I don't think there's a player I'm more annoyed to see in midfield.
Same. Got into some good positions compared to other players. A nice pass for Williams.
He's the one with a brain in our team (aged 31). Sure, he should just be an option from the bench. But our current team is clueless in position and our midfield options are limited, so he needs to play.
Saying that he's one season wonder is just stupid. He was played out of position for 3-4 years. Won almost everything that there's to win. Shame he's been stuck in a mediocre team for years.
He should go to Spain in summer, play for 2-3 season and come back as an ambassador. But first, we need to find a good attacking player, because Lingard and Andreas are not even close to Mata's quality.
Please stop labelling Mata as a "player with brain" . It suppose to be long long time ago, now even Lingard scored double goals with same assists than Mata for the last 2 seasons.
Also, the reason why he played out of position is because he cannot convince managers to play him no.10. At the first season of Mourinho, he played Mata as no.10 for several matches, and he failed, just like what he did now when Ole gave him no.10.
Like playing with 10 men with this guy playing. The fans can see this but the coaches can't. Ridiculous.
I would rather have Berbatov over him even now.
Our options at the no.10 role really do mean we’d be better off not playing one.
Seems a nice enough chap but it’s indicative of our status in the game that he still gets a start
Seems a nice enough chap but it’s indicative of our status in the game that he still gets a start
People say he needs movement around him, well tonight he has it. Time for him to show he still has the ability.
Man Utd 3:0 Partizan
Good game for him, but also prove that his standard now is around Serbia league or MSL level, just like he had some good times at pre season.
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As long as Pereira and Lingard are in the club he stays as a starter.
Good performance. Doesn't mean anything though. He doesn't play against Partizan every week.
If only he had some semblance of physicality! Showed today he still has it upstairs, but his body's too weak.
Physically he has declined so much, it’s odd as he’s not that old and hasn’t had career full of injuries.
He had some good moments today but given the quality of opposition and time and space afforded to him that should be expected.
He had some good moments today but given the quality of opposition and time and space afforded to him that should be expected.
Frankly, he is done. Just doesn’t have the legs anymore for the PL. Will still have good games like today against weaker opposition mind. Should move to MLS or a slower league.
Played ok. It's both hilarious and sad watching him get outrun to his own touches. Time to retire really.
Feel we are going around in circles with him, Lingard and Pereira. A hint of a good performance, or one positive moment in a match can win anyone of them the start in the next game. The next game is always a disappointment, and we end up trying another one of those three.
But he was good tonight and we'd be foolish not to try and get him into some rhythm. He deserves to retain his spot for the Brighton game to try to build upon this performance. We simply have no better options, especially at home against Brighton which could suit him.
But he was good tonight and we'd be foolish not to try and get him into some rhythm. He deserves to retain his spot for the Brighton game to try to build upon this performance. We simply have no better options, especially at home against Brighton which could suit him.
Played really well tonight. Gives us needed creativity. Too slow though and his pressing is not that great. Deserve to start against brighton though.
For what i recall vs Brighton for the last 2 seasons, Mata played really bad and cannot handle the physical pressing's style from Brighton, and even have a direct mistake to concede a goal. So what make you think Brighton's game suit him?
He can’t handle the physical presence of a 10 year old girl never mind a PL defender.
I don't think I'd be able to handle a boy year old girl either...
He won't make it in China or the MLS either, they are pretty physical. I think he's only suitable for certain games.
You’re not supposed to.
He just does not suit playing in the PL anymore. None of our options are any good, but I will take the one that can atleast run and hold the ball a bit.
He was decent today. Shame his legs have gone.
This is why we need Pogba back to play in the number 10 role or midfield 3 as he may be inconsistent but our number 10’s are poor
He is completely done, likeable guy and all but he’s a complete liability, like playing with 10 man.
- Status