Does last night's goal put to bed the rumours that he's lost his legs??
Comfortably outpacing the chasing defenders even with full control of the ball.
Comfortably outpacing the chasing defenders even with full control of the ball.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 37
- Goals
- 3
- Assists
- 7
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
I'm usually down on Mata, but have to say he's stepped up of late and doesn't appear to be a washed up liability - to the contrary, his intelligence and technical acumen is benefitting the team.
I hope he can keep this up.
I hope he can keep this up.
I think the whole OT did, the cheer came way before the goal was actually scored.So much so I started cheering when he shot
With Pogba out, he's our only player who is capable of making a genius and unexpected assist. Some players have enough technical quality to make a great pass (like Martial, or may be even Pereira if he's not running), but only he has both technique and vision to execute it.
When we play him every 2 or 3 games he is still very good. Can't do it game in game out though. Glad we kept him.
I don’t doubt his ability to score but when it was played through as it was and there was still plenty of grass to run in to I was thinking crap, anyone but Mata. Really didn’t fancy his chances in a foot race and thought Wolves would easily catch him.
Thankfully they didn’t and it was a beautiful finish. Thought he had a pretty good game. Made some tremendous runs. Actually looked a bit like the old Mata that was so highly thought of at Chelsea in parts tonight.
He can still affect games so much, the quality of his passing and crossing is obvious. There are some games where his lack of pace would cost us, and some games where his quality on the ball is necessary. I think he's a good squad option to have but we should be dependent on him as our main source of creativity.
He is the best technical player we have full stop. Has been for the past few years. When at his best as he has been for the last few games is also the cleverest footballer we have and capable of seeing the killer pass others such as Matic and Fred do not see.
At his age he has to have the game time. I hope he can be allowed to continue to his ability.
I agree with what Ole said after Mata's good performance v Norwich, if Mata is able to get on the ball with plenty of the game in front of him he can start to dictate play and make things happen. He's still our best technical and creative forward but obviously he struggles now against the very best, has been misused in that ridiculous role wider on the right and you can't see him being able to flourish in a deeper role as he gets older as he doesn't have the dynamism, unlike for example Messi who I could see becoming a fine DLP-type when his pace goes.
Given space and time versus poorer opposition Mata has got plenty to offer.
Showing quality at the moment, but it doesn't excuse numerous non-existent performances in the last couple of years.
Lets hope with more games he can deliver even more.
Anyone but Lingard right?
Lets hope with more games he can deliver even more.
Anyone but Lingard right?
Ive always said he's still worth having around and wasnt too bothered about the whole new contract business.
Hes never gonna do this against every team, but when used in a limited manner and correctly in that CAM role, he can open up chances do some damage. Hes not as quick as a few years back but his footballing brain is light years ahead of everyone else in our squad.
Im not sure he'll will start against liverpool as they play the ball very fast, and close down quite fast, which doesnt suit his current game, and he'll have a lot of running around to do. But i do expect him to be involved in some way. Personally I'd take him any day, in any match, over Lingard, but i think Ole gonna play Peireria for this one. But would get him back in the team vs Burnley and possibly away at City
Hes never gonna do this against every team, but when used in a limited manner and correctly in that CAM role, he can open up chances do some damage. Hes not as quick as a few years back but his footballing brain is light years ahead of everyone else in our squad.
Im not sure he'll will start against liverpool as they play the ball very fast, and close down quite fast, which doesnt suit his current game, and he'll have a lot of running around to do. But i do expect him to be involved in some way. Personally I'd take him any day, in any match, over Lingard, but i think Ole gonna play Peireria for this one. But would get him back in the team vs Burnley and possibly away at City
if Juan Mata hadn’t lost so much of his legs, he’d be one of the first names on the team sheet in todays United.
He’s one of the most joyous players To watch when it comes off for him, both because of his subtle artistry and because he’s such a swell guy. Unfortunately his range and stamina means he can only be used in certain games, and only if the team plays to his strengths, and it’s obvious why top priority has not been to help the team play to the strengths of a bit part player.
Now they’ve managed to do that for a couple of games running, and then we see why Mata is still comfortably ahead of Gomes when we need a player like that.
I’m a big fan of Mata and think he still has a lot to offer. Yes his legs have gone a bit, but like any player he needs a run of games to get back into as we are seeing. He can’t be left on a bench and then expected to be at his peak after weeks of no game time.
His pass for Rashford’s goal at Norwich was mm perfect, and had KDB delivered that for Aguero the press would have been salivating. Beckham would have been proud.
Give him a few more games and see what happens. He loves the shirt, he gets the fans and genuinely wants to do well for the club. He puts in more effort than a lot of the others, and his calming influence might just help some of the youngsters develop a bit more. Many of them should be looking at the likes of Mata as an example.
His pass for Rashford’s goal at Norwich was mm perfect, and had KDB delivered that for Aguero the press would have been salivating. Beckham would have been proud.
Give him a few more games and see what happens. He loves the shirt, he gets the fans and genuinely wants to do well for the club. He puts in more effort than a lot of the others, and his calming influence might just help some of the youngsters develop a bit more. Many of them should be looking at the likes of Mata as an example.
How on Earth can you validate such a statement? 'Finishing' isn't just having a nice one-on-one. Finisher's have to fight, hold off defenders, be brave, create and score chances.. use both feet, their head... that's a great finisher. And what is the difference between a great finisher and a great 'technical' finisher?
Ruud Van Nistelrooy was the best finisher I have seen at Old Trafford, not sure whether he would be decribed as 'technical'. The guy just scored goals. Loads of them. I wish more forwards would be as focused and no-nonsense as he was.
Sorry, I cannot agree that Mata is the best finisher at the club. No idea who is really, all our forwards have their weaknesses in front of goal. RVN etc... Kane, Aguero... I would even add Vardy, Aubamayang to that list (and I am not saying they are as good as RVN etc..) but they are finishers. Mata is no great finisher, and I have seen him miss the target on many occasions... just like any player.
Has had a couple of really good games. I never thought he would be able to run all the way to the keeper, beautiful finish.
He's been a charm since Moyes signed him and has worked his way even during Jose's reign. The man is one of the best professionals i have seen during my football watching days. He's been amazing and his footballing skills are unquestionable. There are some fans who think he's slow but he's not Lionel Messi but Juan Mata. In fact i think he has all the technical abilities of Lionel except for the burst of pace. Mata is a fantastic squad player and can continue to be part of our squad for a couple more years to come. He will add amazing close control and techniques to the variations in attack and our academy boys can learn a lot from this genius of a player. If only God had given him more legs (injection of pace), he'd be something else.
I do worry sometimes.
Exactly. I can get why people want someone quicker, but Mata gets unnecessary abuse tagging him directly on the poison pit that is Twitter. You could be forgiven for thinking he must have disrespected the shirt.
Worth noting that this is his second proper run in the team this season... he had one earlier this season where he was bad - but it was at the time when everyone was bad (not that thats an excuse)
But yeah, since the City away game where he didn't feature, he's made an appearance in every game bar Burnley and City in the cup - starting 5 games and coming on 4 times... so that might have helped him get his form up.
The only doubt I had ,when he was put clean through, was he'll be caught up.Quite comfortably too. 
what about?
Just what I was going to say.
Sure, you can disagree with it. No need to get so offended about a personal opinion.
Great finish. Never thought for a minute he'd miss.
Half thought they'd maybe catch him though! Love Juan Mata.
Half thought they'd maybe catch him though! Love Juan Mata.
Its obsession with pace nowadays that is leading to fans undervaluing him. He is still a decent player and a good squad option, and I loved it when we extended his contract especially as he can be someone youngsters can look up to for his attitude along with his obvious footballing abilities
He started the game well. Thought he drifted out of it entirely in the second half other than the goal though.
I'd have felt equally confident if it was Martial. He's also a really strong technical finisher, and puts one on one chances away no trouble. Rashford definitely more hit and miss, despite all his other sterling qualities.
He shouldn't start vs Liverpool
Been in good form but we'll be looking to hit Liverpool on the counter and Mata isn't suited to that. We need industry both at 10 and on the right to help out in defence and burst forward on the counter.
Been in good form but we'll be looking to hit Liverpool on the counter and Mata isn't suited to that. We need industry both at 10 and on the right to help out in defence and burst forward on the counter.
I get all that and normally I'd agree.....but if the alternatives are Lingard or Periera I'd just play Mata. He's more likely to score or create something than both put together. Just need to make sure the system we play accommodates him. He's got history vs the dippers too.
He had a very good game and scored a good goal. I am not taking anything away from Mata but Ruddy made it easier for him. One more step and Mata would have been caught by a Wolves player. If Ruddy had stayed on his line it would have been difficult for Mata. Just pointing out the fact that he would have been caught before he scored if Ruddy had stayed back.
Playing him in the middle is his best position. And of course his free kicks.
Playing him in the middle is his best position. And of course his free kicks.
If Ruddy had stayed back he'd be leaving a huge area of the net for Mata to score in... So he could really easily just have slotted it into the corner from where he was, which was only about 12 yards.
Mata has 2 goals and 1 assist in 12 games as an AM
Andreas has 1 goal and 3 assists in 8 games as AM
So no, Mata has not been more likely to create or score something than Andreas let alone Andreas plus Lingard combined
Andreas is 1 in 2, Mata is 1 in 4
any player would have few good games in a season
Liverpool 2:0 Man Utd
Should be starting a lot more. Corner delivery alone the levels are better when he's on.
Was lively and had the ball moving, kept possession when he came on.
Should really have started, for me
Should really have started, for me
That's just plain wrong and you know it. Pereira has more games as an AM than you portray, he has way more minutes than Mata in general and as an AM and one of his assists wasn't as a AM. When they both play they interchange.
Bit strange overall to use this argument for Pereira performing better than Mata considering it's ~1300 minutes vs ~500. Pereira should be the one doing a lot better as he's the one playing but he's been nothing more than "not as bad as Lingard" for the most part.
Yes he's played double the minutes because he's played twice as well as Mata has this season
Mata blinders
Feels like you're whole argument is always whoscored stats. He's played 13 matches mostly as a #10. That's more than half of his minutes. Conveniently whoscored doesn't label those matches correctly for your sake or his average would be lower (13th in the squad, 11th counting regulars).Yes he's played double the minutes because he's played twice as well as Mata has this season
Mata blinders
As someone that does quote stats a lot you should also know that Mata's playtime this season is statistically irrelevant as a comparison. No one calls for Mata usually but he's just had two very good games so it's natural that people want to see him start when he does manage to find some form. Pereira hasn't had a patch that borders on the rogue colors this season. At best you see a 7/10 performance out of him where he's trying but not really doing much besides putting in a shift which apparently is our standard for being good enough these days.
Really don't like when Ole ruins form by dropping players who do well.
Does it with Greenwood, Mata, Williams for players like Lingard, Pereira, Shaw and James.
Does it with Greenwood, Mata, Williams for players like Lingard, Pereira, Shaw and James.
- Status