It's what happens when the team is not coached properly for years and just left to do whatever they want.
Championship teams have better teamwork than us.
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Championship teams have better teamwork than us.
I've always thought that if David Silva went to us, and Mata to City, it would be virtually the same outcome. Silva would be unconvincing - look slow and physically weak, and Mata - at least I think - would be a terrific playmaker, dictating attacks, making quick combinations.
That's why I'm not that bothered when I see a player we reportedly wanted succeed for another club - say Mané for Liverpool after LVG wanted him - because it's far from certain, that players would succeed for us.
Agreed. Not really sure what Ragnick was looking for out there today. Obviously we are in a tough spot with only Matic as a defensive mid, but I would rather he put an academy player in at defensive mid who is actually suited to the position than what we did today. The days of just throwing on 5 attackers and that being enough are over. So often we have zero continuity and it more than evens out any talent disparity we have compared to "worse" teams.
Most likely. Same for the likes of Bernardo Silva, Pedri, Cazorla, Iniesta. These players would likely all look poor at United, and great at City.
He's been a great player and one of our few sensible signings. Just never got the other 10 positions close to being right.
We’ve never had any idea about how to use him, not the foggiest.
The sad state of affairs that even now, he’s by far our best player at keeping the ball, passing and moving, and dictating some tempo. Absolutely nuts.
yup
Looked the best player on the pitch when he came on. Showing the team how you pass a ball and move into space. It’s not difficult but the other players seem to struggle with it.
Loves to play against Norwich, really should have been used more for certain games this season. He's not that bad of a player and he's just another example of wasting a player. Mata could be lighting it up in mid-table La Liga or somewhere and instead he's only played 11 league games in two years.
He was very good today again. I'd start him ahead of Bruno on current form.
Intelligent and a beautiful footballer. Looked class above today.
I agree, it's a scandal we didn't have a manager to get the best out of him. Just a brilliant player.
Lovely when he came on... Sharp movement and passing and, crucially, actually gives a feck. Think he's actually been decent in his cameos of late, and so deserved to start ahead of Lingard today.
Should have been used more this season. Especially in games vs lesser teams where we have struggled.
Should have been used more this season. Especially in games vs lesser teams where we have struggled.
Let’s not rewrite history. Cazorla and Silva (let alone Andres Iniesta) had elements to their game that Mata never did. He could never play in a pivot or deep central midfield as a serious option like the above two did.
Could Juan Mata have had a better end to his career if he was at a different club / we were a more stable cohesive unit? Sure, but so could plenty of players at our football club.
Could Juan Mata have had a better end to his career if he was at a different club / we were a more stable cohesive unit? Sure, but so could plenty of players at our football club.
Purely because of his lack of acceleration, not down to talent.
He was just as good on the ball but his physique in latter years has let them down.
Today again he showed he will always be a good footballer.
I said this last week - despite being one of the slowest players around he puts himself about more than nearly everyone else in our side. Constantly harrying. He puts many others to complete shame.
Have always believed, there are certain games where Mata should ideally be among the first names on the team sheet - games where we are expected to dominate possession and territory. We really do not have a better pass and move player in our squad - a player who can take up good positions between defensive lines and break open defences
Him joining us was the worst thing for him. Probably would have more trophies to his name at a better
Probably
Probably
the way we sidelined him for the last 2 years is stupid. At some point, player selection was based on players’ speed with no regards to tactical relevance (the tactics were run on counter attack anyway). This hurt us and Juan. We could have benefited from his maturity and tactical mind much more
Played under 5 different managers. At some point people need to realise it’s the player, not all the managers.
Love Mata. Our best "footballer"
Juan more year?
Start him Tuesday night
Sorry I do not agree, think that he would have been great under Pep for example. Moyes wings and crosses, LVG played static possession, Mourinho liked to lump up huge ass players and Ole well didn't have to much of a plan and Mata was older. But you might be right I guess we will never know.
Brilliant mind for the game, but his athleticism at his advanced age is open to question.
Agreed. If given the game time the likes of Sancho has had I think he’d be outperforming him stats wise too.
I've always wondered what the long-term idea regarding Mata was for Moyes. Unless it was likely just one of those typical opportunistic signings where any sense of logic went out the window.
Think that's right but I can understand it.
When you take over post SAF and the club only get you one summer signing, Fellaini, you'll take whatever you can get in January.
I have had a growing feeling the last couple of weeks that United will sign him to a new deal.
So many attacking players are leaving for nothing (Greenwood, Cavani, Pogba, Lingard)
And he's made one or two good passes when he's come on, which United are usually very reactive to. That's why Phil Jones is still here.
So many attacking players are leaving for nothing (Greenwood, Cavani, Pogba, Lingard)
And he's made one or two good passes when he's come on, which United are usually very reactive to. That's why Phil Jones is still here.
Man, I'd forgotten he was only 25 when we signed him. 
Man, I'd forgotten he was only 25 when we signed him.
Aye same, dunno why just presumed he was closer to 30.
He was already on his way down when we signed him, he wasn't even a first choice regular at Chelsea in that final season. We paid £37.5m for him in 2014 (a club record), he played under 5 separate managers as @Samid stated, and has about a handful of memorable performances altogether.
Why is it our fault he failed and no accountability to the player himself? He could have also have left plenty of times over, but he chose to sat on his arse and do hug blogs for a bit.
Really weird rewriting of history with Juan Mata recently. I guess nostalgia bait is crazy.
Why is it our fault he failed and no accountability to the player himself? He could have also have left plenty of times over, but he chose to sat on his arse and do hug blogs for a bit.
Really weird rewriting of history with Juan Mata recently. I guess nostalgia bait is crazy.
One of my favourite players of recent years. A very high class 10, a more than decent 8. And we played him on the right wing as often as not.
Agree, the issue with Mata it was another classic Woodward/ MUFC signing. Why did Chelsea wnat to sell, was he really suited to Premier league? Did we have the right team around him to make it work for him (same question for Pogba). How did he fit into our football style and philosophy. We can no more answer these questions now any more than when we signed him
It was a panicked signing to paper over the cracks of the moyes era that were already massively apparent. Remember Moyes the same idiot who passed on Thiago to sign Fellani.
He was great at Chelsea but as with Matic we bought him when he was in decline and they wanted to get rid.
We ruined him. Should of been number 10 with free role behind a top centre forward.
Every time this thread gets bumped, I open it half expecting to read about a contract extension.
I like him but it’s time to move on for everyone involved
However, given the high amount of players we’d likely miss this summer I am afraid that we might extend his contract by 1 year to spend less on acquiring an additional squad player. Especially given the fact that we’d still want him to be a club ambassador when he retires
However, given the high amount of players we’d likely miss this summer I am afraid that we might extend his contract by 1 year to spend less on acquiring an additional squad player. Especially given the fact that we’d still want him to be a club ambassador when he retires
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