Juan Mata

Carl

has permanently erect nipples
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Mar 6, 2008
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The La Liga watchers will know more about this lad that I but he looks a real talent. I've only seen him a handful of times and only saw the extended highlights last night but he was brillliant.

A left footed left winger that scores goals. Surely that's just what we're after? I can't see him going to Barcelona or Madrid anytime soon given the options they already have in that area so maybe a move abroad will be on the cards for him?
 
He's class, has been for a while. He's probably Valencias most prized asset now that Silva and Villa are gone though so he would be very expensive I'd say.
 
cina said:
He's class, has been for a while. He's probably Valencias most prized asset now that Silva and Villa are gone though so he would be very expensive I'd say.
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As expensive as Bale?

Aboutreika18 said:
I'd prefer Banega, tbh. We're well stocked in the wide areas.
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We're not, really. We're potentially well stocked in the wide areas if the likes of Obertan and Bebe fulfil their potential. Who knows what Valencia will be like when he returns and Park is nothing more that a squad player.
 
Isn't his contract running down and he's in negotiations which is why he's been in and out of the side this season?

He's a talent for sure and might be ready to go to the next level.
 
I'm sure he only has a year left on his contract come next summer, so I'd say a fee between 15 and 20 million would get him.
 
cw1984 said:
As expensive as Bale?



We're not, really. We're potentially well stocked in the wide areas if the likes of Obertan and Bebe fulfil their potential. Who knows what Valencia will be like when he returns and Park is nothing more that a squad player.
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We have 2 wing starters, 3 potentials and 2 bonafide squad men (Giggs and Park). That is well stocked. But we can always improve our mix.
 
cw1984 said:
As expensive as Bale?
We're not, really. We're potentially well stocked in the wide areas if the likes of Obertan and Bebe fulfil their potential. Who knows what Valencia will be like when he returns and Park is nothing more that a squad player.
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Perhaps not - but If United were in the market for a left winger the fact that Bale is playing in the PL already has to be a factor - plenty of players look great in Spain but would struggle with the physicality and intensitry of the PL.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
We have 2 wing starters, 3 potentials and 2 bonafide squad men (Giggs and Park). That is well stocked. But we can always improve our mix.
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I agree but as I said earlier we don't know what Valencia will be like when he returns.

Also it remains to be seen if Giggs will even still be playing next season.
 
Georgie Best said:
As a winger, I actually think Mata might be better... He is certantly faster and has great crosses.
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like jd mentioned, silva would have been class for us. We dont really use our left winger as a traditional winger (unless nani is on the left) we let park/giggs cut inside and move more central which is were silva would do his best work. Silva can cross, can score goals and has such a smart footballing brain on him I was quite disappointed to see him go to city.

As for mata, he sure has the talent but I think he benefits more from being closer to the goal and wide areas than central. TBH I havent watched alot of his games but when I have he works well inside the 18 yard box.
 
MST3K said:
like jd mentioned, silva would have been class for us. We dont really use our left winger as a traditional winger (unless nani is on the left) we let park/giggs cut inside and move more central which is were silva would do his best work. Silva can cross, can score goals and has such a smart footballing brain on him I was quite disappointed to see him go to city.

As for mata, he sure has the talent but I think he benefits more from being closer to the goal and wide areas than central. TBH I havent watched alot of his games but when I have he works well inside the 18 yard box.
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First of all, winger is not a position, it is two positions, left winger and right winger, and those two positions demands a different skill sets.

The only reason that is the case is because we don't have one on the left. Valencia is a very traditional winger, and Nani is clearly better on the right than he is on the left. On the left is far more predictable than he is on the right, a lot easier for defenders to deal with. And that is not good for Manchester United, as right back often is the worst player in most defences.

Nani is good left winger, and a very good/world class right winger. If we were to get someone great on the left - we would have the perfect winger coverage with Valencia on the right and a Bale or Mata on the left - and Nani capable of playing on both sides. That will increase our squad and make us more unpredictable as a team. Being unpredictable is they key to beautiful football, as it makes defending a lot harder. A great left footed is the most important signing for Manchester United IMO, more important than a great attacking central midfielder, however there are certainly many more of those around.
 
Georgie Best said:
First of all, winger is not a position, it is two positions, left winger and right winger, and those two positions demands a different skill sets.

The only reason that is the case is because we don't have one on the left. Valencia is a very traditional winger, and Nani is clearly better on the right than he is on the left. On the left is far more predictable than he is on the right, a lot easier for defenders to deal with. And that is not good for Manchester United, as right back often is the worst player in most defences.

Nani is good left winger, and a very good/world class right winger. If we were to get someone great on the left - we would have the perfect winger coverage with Valencia on the right and a Bale or Mata on the left - and Nani capable of playing on both sides. That will increase our squad and make us more unpredictable as a team. Being unpredictable is they key to beautiful football, as it makes defending a lot harder. A great left footed is the most important signing for Manchester United IMO, more important than a great attacking central midfielder, however there are certainly many more of those around.
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Have to agree, with no great disrespect to Park. I've felt like a talented left winger would open our attacking game up and allow us to attack down both sides. With our attacking fullbacks and the range of passing from scholes/carrick it would be very dynamic.

I just wonder if we have our left side tuck in more because our strikers strengths line more centrally.
 
MST3K said:
Have to agree, with no great disrespect to Park. I've felt like a talented left winger would open our attacking game up and allow us to attack down both sides. With our attacking fullbacks and the range of passing from scholes/carrick it would be very dynamic.

I just wonder if we have our left side tuck in more because our strikers strengths line more centrally.
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Our left side tucks in more because we have a former winger Giggs and right footers playing there. If we had a another natural left footer in the team playing there. Our balance and width would be even more impressive than what we can garner currently.
 
MST3K said:
like jd mentioned, silva would have been class for us. We dont really use our left winger as a traditional winger (unless nani is on the left) we let park/giggs cut inside and move more central which is were silva would do his best work. Silva can cross, can score goals and has such a smart footballing brain on him I was quite disappointed to see him go to city.

As for mata, he sure has the talent but I think he benefits more from being closer to the goal and wide areas than central. TBH I havent watched alot of his games but when I have he works well inside the 18 yard box.
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He's not a good crosser (not a bad crosser either, just average) and hasnt played as a left winger consistantly for 3 seasons. He played in the middle for Valencia because Mata is a better left winger. And on the right for Spain (switching) and for City.

Also Mata has 4 assists and 1 goal in the league in 9 starts and 1 sub.

Silva has 2 assists and 1 goal in the league in 10 starts and 3 subs.

Silva is definitely the better of the two when played centrally, Mata is definitely the better of the two when played wide.
 
Ekeke said:
He's not a good crosser (not a bad crosser either, just average) and hasnt played as a left winger consistantly for 3 seasons. He played in the middle for Valencia because Mata is a better left winger. And on the right for Spain (switching) and for City.

Also Mata has 4 assists and 1 goal in the league in 9 starts and 1 sub.

Silva has 2 assists and 1 goal in the league in 10 starts and 3 subs.

Silva is definitely the better of the two when played centrally, Mata is definitely the better of the two when played wide.
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Stupid comparison. Mata is playing in the same team he pretty much always has. Silva is in a new surrounding. Has to adjust weather, league, playing style and food. Not to mention a team that isn't really a team.

You just should have left that bid.
:pI know you don't like Silva per ce
 
Not many great natural left wingers out there. For a winger from Spain I'd prefer Navas. He's progressed a lot. Sadly he's a right winger :(
 
Snow said:
Stupid comparison. Mata is playing in the same team he pretty much always has. Silva is in a new surrounding. Has to adjust weather, league, playing style and food. Not to mention a team that isn't really a team.

You just should have left that bid.
:pI know you don't like Silva per ce
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Mata is playing in a team where he has a lot of responsibility because lots of the big players left in the summer. Not just Villa, Silva, but a world cup winning defender and important part of the team in Marchena too. He's also been pushed in to play Silva's ex-role a number of times and as I said, he's not very good there certainly not as good as Silva, nor as good as he is when playing on the wing. Mata also has had his contract situation dragging on for a year now where Valencia had promised him he would be given what he wanted, but they've failed to deliver on it and that could see him leave in the next few windows.

Its not a stupid comparison at all, both players are in a difficult situation.
 
Ekeke said:
Mata is playing in a team where he has a lot of responsibility because lots of the big players left in the summer. Not just Villa, Silva, but a world cup winning defender and important part of the team in Marchena too. He's also been pushed in to play Silva's ex-role a number of times and as I said, he's not very good there certainly not as good as Silva, nor as good as he is when playing on the wing. Mata also has had his contract situation dragging on for a year now where Valencia had promised him he would be given what he wanted, but they've failed to deliver on it and that could see him leave in the next few windows.

Its not a stupid comparison at all, both players are in a difficult situation.
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:lol: the comparison is not even close. Your problem is you just don't like Silva.
 
Valencia - Nani first choice
Park, Giggs, Obertan, Bebe, Cleverley as covers. Plenty.
 
Wan said:
Valencia - Nani first choice
Park, Giggs, Obertan, Bebe, Cleverley as covers. Plenty.
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It's extremely possible that Valencia won't be the same player when he returns, Giggs retires in the Summer and neither of out young hopefulls make it.

That leaves Nani and Park.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
You must be kidding. I have seen Silva play on the left plenty of times for them. Being one of City's best attacking players on most occasions.
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The only time he's played well on the left was against Chelsea. Most of his starts on the left came at the beginning of the season before he was dropped. His usual position these days is on the right.

He's not a good left winger - thats why he's played multiple positions (in the hole, right wing) and not there as a main position, for the last 3 seasons.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
:lol: the comparison is not even close. Your problem is you just don't like Silva.
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My problem is I wont lie to try and make a case to support a "classy" player, even if I see world beater potential in them.

Being "classy" without being productive is not a lot better than not being "classy" and not being productive. He's a notch above Hleb in terms of productivity, but its still the same case. Someone with lots of natural talent who is yet to show they can consistantly make the difference for their side over a season.

Silva may make that step up like Iniesta seems to have. He may not like Hleb never has.
 
cw1984 said:
It's extremely possible that Valencia won't be the same player when he returns, Giggs retires in the Summer and neither of out young hopefulls make it.

That leaves Nani and Park.
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We'll deal with it when the time comes. Considering the amount of games Obertan have played, I guess SAF trust him to be a backup winger for us which would take Giggsy's place nicely. We'll have at least 4, plus two others. Add Giggsy(he and Scholes will sign on for another year), and we have plenty of options. We won't be signing a winger.
 
Last month Croatia U-21 played Spain U-21 and Mata was most wanted player after the match to give an interview. He showed last from dressing rooms and hold Giggs shirt in his hands. Reporters that were there asked him about Giggs,and he stated that he looked up to Giggsy ever since the started to play football and takes him as his own role-model. When asked what he thinks about succeeding Giggs at United,he responded that it would be dream come true,but he's still no where near Giggs class so don't think that move will come so quick.
 
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