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2019-20 Performances

View full 2019-20 profile

5.3 Season Average Rating
Appearances
37
Goals
3
Assists
7
Yellow cards
1
Status
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He picked up some good positions in the first half and fed in 3 or 4 decent little passes into the forwards, the issue is his brain often moves quicker than his body can react these days, faded as the half went on. Better than Lingard? Yes in that he has a picture of what's around him and more intelligent use of the ball, but the fact him and Lingard are our two main options for the #10 role is just another example of the mess we are in.

ottosec said:
Did well enough, I am not sure why the feck was he replaced by Lingard when the Saints were defending deep...
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I think he runs out of steam around the hour mark in most games these days, he rarely ever plays a full 90.
 
He had a good game. Normally has a good game when he plays in the 10 role. Why he doesnt play there more often I don't know
 
kiristao said:
He had a good game. Normally has a good game when he plays in the 10 role. Why he doesnt play there more often I don't know
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I agree. Until our squad improves I’d be playing him as the 10 every week.
 
Ekeke said:
He was below average, but still better than Lingard's performances in previous matches
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He wasn't below average at all. He was the last one who should have been taken off - was the only one creating anything. Neither of the players who came on have done anything or did anything, to justify the change.

Isotope said:
Just pointless player on the pitch. As pointless as United extending his contract.
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I'll stick with the opinions of the pundits, and Paul Scholes, ta. (And mine)
 
Funny how we aint able to plan our future further than a year but in case of future ambassador role, nailed it.
 
Livvie said:
He wasn't below average at all. He was the last one who should have been taken off - was the only one creating anything. Neither of the players who came on have done anything or did anything, to justify the change.
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Matic came on from the 67th minute and had 35 touches to Mata's 40.

Mata drifted out of the game like always only able to play on the fringes instead of providing a consistent threat
 
Mata
Ekeke said:
Matic came on from the 67th minute and had 35 touches to Mata's 40.

Mata drifted out of the game like always only able to play on the fringes instead of providing a consistent threat
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We looked like creating something with Mata...who also had a big part in our goal...but Matic resembles a plank of wood. Might have had more touches, but did what? Its not the size of the boat but the motion of the ocean ;)
 
Ekeke said:
Matic came on from the 67th minute and had 35 touches to Mata's 40.

Mata drifted out of the game like always only able to play on the fringes instead of providing a consistent threat
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Are you comparing touches of a defensive midfielder with that of an attacker?

Mata was clearly our best creator that day, and I'd go as far as to say among the front 6 that played, he was our 2nd best player. Any chance that we created involved him in it
 
Ekeke said:
Matic came on from the 67th minute and had 35 touches to Mata's 40.

Mata drifted out of the game like always only able to play on the fringes instead of providing a consistent threat
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They operated in completely different positions, and Matic came on when we faced 10 men. You can't just compare stats blindly.
 
To me Mata needs to be used as a sub in the last 25-30 minutes of the game when we are struggling to break a compact defense or when we are chasing a goal. The man clearly can't last the whole 90 minutes.

Simple start Lingard/Gomes and if needed simply sub them with Mata.
 
Mata would be my 10 for the rest of the season, and I would gradually introduce Gomes into that role, and I believe by the end of this season Gomes will have made that position his own. The only other player, I feel, who could get minutes there would be Pereira. I'm amazed by the negative reaction to Mata by some posters on here, and yes, he is slowing down, but he never was that quick, but around the penalty area he is always making things happen, with his runs, little dinked passes etc. If Gomes can pick up some experience from Mata, then I think he could become a world class player.
 
I don't really care how often or when he plays but every minute should be at 10 and not wide.
 
The Cat said:
I don't really care how often or when he plays but every minute should be at 10 and not wide.
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I think he played well when he was on the pitch. As with his age, you would be tired after 65 minutes, so wouldn't mind seing him rotated with Gomes?
 
I am so pissed that we spent all these years with rotating players on no10 while we had him. Sure, some big away games when we play defensive are not for him but in all other games he is perfect no10. And as said it above, him as a first choice and Gomes as second choice is a way to go this season. No more Pogba, Lingard or Pereira on no10. Lets use players who are natural there
 
Andycoleno9 said:
I am so pissed that we spent all these years with rotating players on no10 while we had him. Sure, some big away games when we play defensive are not for him but in all other games he is perfect no10. And as said it above, him as a first choice and Gomes as second choice is a way to go this season. No more Pogba, Lingard or Pereira on no10. Lets use players who are natural there
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Hopefully we stop playing with a 10, when our options are Mata or Lingard there really isn’t much point.
 
Roboc7 said:
Hopefully we stop playing with a 10, when our options are Mata or Lingard there really isn’t much point.
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In general i don't like formation with no10. It is formation from old days and i prefer to see 433. But i disagree about Mata. He was excellent no10 before joining us. True class player. Passing, creativity, vision, finishing, technique...he has it all. He is joy to watch.
Is he that today? I don't know because he barely plays there.
 
Andycoleno9 said:
In general i don't like formation with no10. It is formation from old days and i prefer to see 433. But i disagree about Mata. He was excellent no10 before joining us. True class player. Passing, creativity, vision, finishing, technique...he has it all. He is joy to watch.
Is he that today? I don't know because he barely plays there.
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At his peak he was an excellent player and even very good out wide which he played a lot before he joined us. Now he’s neat and tidy but creates little. A number 10 needs to be a real threat which he isn’t, it’s a huge error to be playing this formation if it’s dependent on Mata or Lingard as both aren’t very good.
 
Man Utd 1:0 Leicester
I don't remember him managing to compete even a single pass. Lost the ball everytime he touched it.

He's quite literally utterly useless in our midfield due to his lack of presence and doesn't help getting the ball back. Every challange he loses. This could have been overlooked if he was producing the goods on the ball yet he's even worse with the ball. Even his godly touch had deserted him.

He was simply just feeding and gifting the opponents possession.
 
Not suited to starting pretty much any league games these days tbh. Should be useful in the Europa league though.
 
He was terrible today. Watching a performance like that just shows we should give Gomes a chance - there's no way he would've been any worse.
 
Was fine, didn't score or run at the speed of light so the moaners will get their knickers in a twist I'm sure.

That move for his chance in the second half was delightful, probably our best team move of the game.
 
Starting him, Matic and Pereira effectively left us playing 7 v 11.
 
Mata's a nice guy but, for a Spaniard, he takes a lot of needless touches that often lead to him getting caught on the ball. Also, he's another I look at think, is he giving the team massively more than Angel Gomes would? Yeah, yeah, yeah 'experience' but what did that 'experience' offer us today? Cos when Leicester took control of the game he didn't help settle the side. In fact he got subbed.

It pains me to say it but there's no way he should've got a new contract out of United.
 
I'm done. Really we're not giving Gomes a chance for past it shite like this? Really, this is the plan.
 
Completely useless in a game like today where it's pretty open and we need mobility in midfield. How he lasted as long as he did I have no idea. Offers virtually nothing.

2+1 year contract though
 
He might be one of the most creative players in the team but his legs are long gone. He shouldn’t be on the pitch unless we’re playing against a parked and tired bus.
 
Supreme touch, technique, vision and passing, but just cannot get away, or even get a yard from anyone.
Which unfortunately means unless he's in acres of space, he can look like a kid against grown ups.

Europa and league cup for certain, but should be a special occasions job in the league - which in fairness today was - with a few out.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
Was fine, didn't score or run at the speed of light so the moaners will get their knickers in a twist I'm sure.

That move for his chance in the second half was delightful, probably our best team move of the game.
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I get that you're a big fan but he was far from fine. I think he gave the ball away at nearly every opportunity.
 
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