Mata | Mourinho says it's just a Mata of time

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Could do with this kind of player to add some much needed creativity. Him on the flanks would be a great option. Get rid of Valencia/Young if need be, they have not offered any source of goals/creativity/assists for almost 2 years ffs.
 
I would like him but he isn't really what we need. Last season he was incredible playing centrally but he wouldn't displace Rooney and we wouldn't get the best out of him on the flanks. When Villas Boas was there Mata was stuck on the left and he wasn't half the player he became under Di Matteo and Rafa.

That said, if Rooney won't sign a new contract (which is entirely possible) then there probably isn't a better option available as a replacement. He would be pretty perfect in that scenario.
 
Eric'sCollar said:
Chelsea won't sell him to United. End of.
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That's probably true, but one difference between this situation and us not selling them Rooney is that we were desperate not to lose Rooney, whereas Chelsea are seemingly open to selling Mata. I don't think Chelsea will sell to United, or any title rival, but I wouldn't rule it out completely. Mourinho himself said refusing to sell to rivals is very outdated, so I don't think it's impossible.

He's certainly the kind of player we need so Rooney can get back to scoring goals. Though we'd also have to stop playing dinosaur football to accommodate him, as he probably doesn't want his primary role to be "give the ball to Valencia, and then get in the box".
 
Signing Mata unless it was an absolute steal wouldn't really make sense for us right now, be like buying a new set of tyres for your car despite the fact the suspension is broken.
 
He would be an improvement on the flanks though. Valencia, Nani and Young have failed miserably the past 18months (arguably even longer) to produce anything of note.

Him and Adnan swapping wings would be pretty lethal and can play as wide playmakers ala City.
 
Leg-End said:
Signing Mata unless it was an absolute steal wouldn't really make sense for us right now, be like buying a new set of tyres for your car despite the fact the suspension is broken.
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I disagree. While there are obvious areas where we do need to strengthen, I think that we just need a few top class players that can go straight into the starting 11 and lift us up a level or two. Mata is certainly one of those players.
 
He would fit right into our current squad in that he is another player we could buy, play out of position then moan about when he doesn't perform quite as well as expected.
 
Leg-End said:
He would fit right into our current squad in that he is another player we could buy, play out of position then moan about when he doesn't perform quite as well as expected.
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Who exactly are all of these players? Kagawa?
 
Leg-End said:
He would fit right into our current squad in that he is another player we could buy, play out of position then moan about when he doesn't perform quite as well as expected.
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Mata's perfectly capable of playing across the front 3 AM positions. I'm sick of all this nonsense that every attacking player is a '10' these days.
 
Leg-End said:
Kagawa, Smalling, Jones (less so, he's pretty decent everywhere), Giggs, Buttner (his position being anywhere but Man Utd).
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Mata is obviously on another planet to those players though. Kagawa has been poor even when played in his favourite position, apart from the odd CL game.
 
Mata would definitely be an upgrade on Kagawa if we signed him. If we wanted to let Kagawa leave...
 
Shark22 said:
Mata is obviously on another planet to those players though. Kagawa has been poor even when played in his correct position, apart from the odd CL game.
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Has Kagawa truly been given a run of games though? Actually lets not even talk about it, I'm not a Kagawa sympathiser by any means and he has been poor, thats not really the point I was making.

In the small chance that Chelsea sold him to us I would be giddy about it but unless we did something about whats behind him then its just a band aid on a gaping chasm of an issue. We aren't Chelsea or City in that we have a bottomless pit of money, hence I said unless he was a steal then would it be wise to prioritise him over other more glaring needs?

If we signed Mata and a midfielder though, I'm onboard, sign me up.
 
Uhh Ohh... At least some positive news from the new year day then. It is crystal clear that he is available and is not in Mourinho's plans. That was big hint from mourinho yesterday. Only question remains is: whether they are willing to sell to us after we declined to sell Rooney to them and will probably do the same in next summer?
 
We're not gonna be interested in him for a number of obvious reasons, including his price tag and not having an available slot for him in the team.
 
I don't think price tag will be a problem. It is going to be 50m or like that. Should be around 30m and he is worth it. As far as slot in team is concerned, it can be created. Yesterday, I felt Januzaj played better on right and same had been case couple of times before as well. Mata can slot in on left and can also give us option to have him in a midfield 3, at the tip, should we play that formation. So much more than a upgrade on Young and it is not like we are full with world class talent on wings. If he is available for right amount, finding a slot for him in team won't be a problem imo.
 
ItsEssexRob said:
Mata wont go to one of our rivals obviously, and I think he will go back to spain, or possibly PSG. Shame as I do like the guy, but he clearly isnt as good all round as we all thought. Oscar has excelled this season and is a better all rounder, Willian has shown what hes capable of and Hazard speaks for himself. Mata would be good to keep untill the Summer ideally though so we can rotate with him as a squad player when the FA cup and CL games return.
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Don't agree. He was arguably league's best player or one of the best for 2 seasons. Suddenly a player doesn't become bad. Maybe you can say that 1) Mourinho hasn't used him properly 2) Given him enough regular chances 3) Doesn't fit in Mourinho's system.
Saying his game isn't as good all round is just rationalization of Mourinho's actions (We lot used to do it with SAF's decisions too sometimes). I bet Chelsea fans would have laughed off if anyobdy had suggested in last 2 years that Mata isn't as good all round a player.
 
Would love to get him on the cheap, though I can't see them selling to us, and if they do it would be way over the odds
 
I think we would be mad to not put in a bid atleast. We know he is surplus to requirements at Chelsea. Why not just bloody have a go and make a bid?

Hell, we bid 25mil for Fabregas so you can't really use the excuse it's a waste of time.
 
Takes a particular sort of idiot to not make good use of a talent like Mata. Atletico would be an ideal destination although as unlikely as it would seem I'd prefer he ended up with Barcelona.
 
FCBarca said:
Takes a particular sort of idiot to not make good use of a talent like Mata. Atletico would be an ideal destination although as unlikely as it would seem I'd prefer he ended up with Barcelona.
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Agreed, Chelsea will live to regret it.
 
wonnie said:
I think we would be mad to not put in a bid atleast. We know he is surplus to requirements at Chelsea. Why not just bloody have a go and make a bid?

Hell, we bid 25mil for Fabregas so you can't really use the excuse it's a waste of time.
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We passed on Ozil. What makes you think we will go for Mata? That too from Chelsea?
 
Can't see this happening for a variety of reasons, firstly they will not sell to us unless it involves Rooney. Also, i believe he was offered to us in part ex for Rooney last summer which we turned down so again unlikely for us to accept now. We also have Kagawa in that role so again no room for Mata.
 
A big public bid, even that failed, would show some intent at least.

It's funny that Chelsea will happily sell and loan their players to the likes of Liverpool and Everton who they clearly don't see as rivals, but are shit scared of selling to United in case the player tears up trees, yet they think we should sell our best player to them for peanuts.

I'd sleep happier in my bed if I knew that at some stage both Chelsea and City will be abandoned by their super rich owners and end up like Portsmouth. Not going to happen but it would be such an enjoyable thing to watch happen.
 
I'd like Mata if we were to move any of our attacking players on. Don't know how plausible it'd be though.
 
GaryLifo said:
A big public bid, even that failed, would show some intent at least.

It's funny that Chelsea will happily sell and loan their players to the likes of Liverpool and Everton who they clearly don't see as rivals, but are shit scared of selling to United in case the player tears up trees, yet they think we should sell our best player to them for peanuts.

I'd sleep happier in my bed if I knew that at some stage both Chelsea and City will be abandoned by their super rich owners and end up like Portsmouth. Not going to happen but it would be such an enjoyable thing to watch happen.
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Says who? When have we ever made a real effort to sign a Chelsea player?

I suspect they would be reluctant to sell to United but unless and until a concrete offer is made, who knows. If the player wants the move, in light of the fact that he's clearly surplus to requirements I think there's a decent chance - especially given the recent financial results. I suspect that Jose needs to sell before he can buy, hence making it clear that Mata is available.
 
As sad as it is, Mata wouldn't be able to do shit here as long as we play the way we're playing now. And he probably doesn't want to come either. And even if he did, he doesn't strike me as a player that Moyes likes.
 
wonnie said:
Mata's perfectly capable of playing across the front 3 AM positions. I'm sick of all this nonsense that every attacking player is a '10' these days.
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Of course he can play out wide, but it doesn't get the best out of him as was proved at Chelsea. Like Kagawa Mata is better in the centre and though he'll still be an upgrade on the left flank for the fee he would cost it would just be better to get an actual left winger.
 
We need to buy him if available and make a trip of him Rooney and RVP whilst adding energy in the middle of the park. Only way I can see a top four finish.
 
Theon said:
Of course he can play out wide, but it doesn't get the best out of him as was proved at Chelsea. Like Kagawa Mata is better in the centre and though he'll still be an upgrade on the left flank for the fee he would cost it would just be better to get an actual left winger.
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Our maybe we just stop playing with wingers. I can't name a quality winger that plays the way we play. Only the Bayern lot and they both play like inside forwards. Get Mata on the wing cutting in. Unlike Kagawa he has balls.
 
Mainoldo said:
Our maybe we just stop playing with wingers. I can't name a quality winger that plays the way we play. Only the Bayern lot and they both play like inside forwards. Get Mata on the wing cutting in. Unlike Kagawa he has balls.
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Yeah. Navas is the only one I can think of who may fit into our current system.
 
Mainoldo said:
Our maybe we just stop playing with wingers. I can't name a quality winger that plays the way we play. Only the Bayern lot and they both play like inside forwards. Get Mata on the wing cutting in. Unlike Kagawa he has balls.
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We need to change the way we play but there isn't a tactic around that makes a central player play his best football on the wing. It's the same with Silva at City, Mata at Chelsea, Kagawa at United, whoever.

There are certainly some modern players on the flanks like Robben, Ribery, Reus, Hazard, who don't play the classic style that our wingers do, but I'm not talking about them because they can actually play their best football on the flanks. Mata doesn't fall into that category.
 
Theon said:
We need to change the way we play but there isn't a tactic around that makes a central player play his best football on the wing. It's the same with Silva at City, Mata at Chelsea, Kagawa at United, whoever.

There are certainly some modern players on the flanks like Robben, Ribery, Reus, Hazard, who don't play do the classic style that our wingers do, but I'm not talking about them because they can actually play their best football on the flanks. Mata doesn't fall into that category.
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Silva plays frequently for City on the right and is very good and critical for them. Same with Carzola for Arsenal. I think if someone like Kagawa was at Arsenal, he would be playing well for them even at the left side of the midfield.
 
crappycraperson said:
Silva plays frequently for City on the right and is very good and critical for them. Same with Carzola for Arsenal. I think if someone like Kagawa was at Arsenal, he would be playing well for them even at the left side of the midfield.
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Of course Silva has played wide for City, same with Spain and Valencia.

As I said about Mata they can play the role and would be an upgrade from Valencia/Nani/Young, but it doesn't get the best out of them and we would be better signing a player who actually performs best out there.

If we signed Mata for the left wing role then we would be daft to expect him to perform like he did last season - he wouldn't do it because the position doesn't suit him. His game completely changed when AVB was sacked and he was moved infield at Chelsea, he instantly became twice the player.

If we could get him for a decent fee then it would probably still be worth it, because a Mata at 75% is still better than our current wingers. But ideally we would just get a player who does his best stuff on the left.
 
Theon said:
Of course Silva has played wide for City, same with Spain and Valencia.

As I said about Mata they can play the role and would be an upgrade from Valencia/Nani/Young, but it doesn't get the best out of them and we would be better signing a player who actually performs best out there.

If we signed Mata for the left wing role then we would be daft to expect him to perform like he did last season - he wouldn't do it because the position doesn't suit him. His game completely changed when AVB was sacked and he was moved infield at Chelsea, he instantly became twice the player.

If we could get him for a decent fee then it would probably still be worth it, because a Mata at 75% is still better than our current wingers. But ideally we would just get a player who does his best stuff on the left.
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Before last season he has always played left wing. So do not know what your really talking about. Silva was the central frigure at Valencia.
 
I signed him on FM for £25 million in a January window after he became unsettled. Went on to become an absolute legend. We'd be idiots not to at least dip our toe in the water. He's on similar to Özil and RvP in the sense that if he becomes available, we at least have to try getting him.
 
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