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

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Mata in to replace Kagawa who goes to Dortmund as part of the Gundgeon deal :drool:
 
Jaybezia said:
Can't see Mata pushing for a move and saying Manchester United as his preferred, if not only destination..
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World cup year. Mata will be absolutely desperate to move to whichever major team will play him every game.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if this is agent bollocks again, to try and ensure that Mata gets enough games at Chelsea.
 
I really wouldn't be opposed to the idea of swapping Rooney for him, sounds a bit mad given how good he's been for us, but the idea of an interchanging trio of Januzaj, Mata and Kagawa just sounds amazing to me, and I just get the feeling he'd be the sort of player to get us playing the football we should be playing again.
 
Cina said:
I really wouldn't be opposed to the idea of swapping Rooney for him, sounds a bit mad given how good he's been for us, but the idea of an interchanging trio of Januzaj, Mata and Kagawa just sounds amazing to me, and I just get the feeling he'd be the sort of player to get us playing the football we should be playing again.
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I like him but I don't think he's any better than Rooney and I certainly don't see why his signing would mean that Kagawa got a spot in the side when his performances haven't remotely merited it. But I suppose it's a leap of faith that if you play a system more suited to him and where he plays his preferred position that he'll perform. I'm not convinced, though.
 
Rooney is going to leave next year anyway so I'd really rather have Mata here as a replacement than lose him for nothing. If Chelsea want him, they'll get him after his contract expires and we can do nothing about it.

We won't be competing with Chelsea for a while most likely so them having a proper forward won't affect us directly.
 
Brophs said:
I like him but I don't think he's any better than Rooney and I certainly don't see why his signing would mean that Kagawa got a spot in the side when his performances haven't remotely merited it. But I suppose it's a leap of faith that if you play a system more suited to him and where he plays his preferred position that he'll perform. I'm not convinced, though.
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Yeah, that's more so what I'm getting at. We've no idea if Moyes would actually play the system to accommodate him, I'd just love to see that happen, I'd love to see Kagawa playing where he should be alongside other skillful players (not likely, given Moyes inexplicably put Young on the pitch ahead of him yesterday), but it's more of a pipe dream than anything.

I think we'd play better football with Mata in the team over Rooney, but we'd have to change our style (whatever that currently is) to do so, so it's obviously a risk.
 
Cina said:
I really wouldn't be opposed to the idea of swapping Rooney for him, sounds a bit mad given how good he's been for us, but the idea of an interchanging trio of Januzaj, Mata and Kagawa just sounds amazing to me, and I just get the feeling he'd be the sort of player to get us playing the football we should be playing again.
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You know that just wont happen. Moyes will insist on playing Valencia and Young when fit.
 
Brophs said:
They'd sell us Mata, I reckon, but only if we sold them Rooney, so that's going to be a no go.
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But if Rooney wants to leave, we might as well as get Mata as a replacement. I think in today's market having cash at hand is not much use because world class players are priced at such a premium.
 
wonnie said:
But if Rooney wants to leave, we might as well as get Mata as a replacement. I think in today's market having cash at hand is not much use because world class players are priced at such a premium.
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Who will be our main striker then considering RvP will be 31, Hernandez can't play alone up top and Welbeck is still finding his scoring shoes?
 
Cina said:
I really wouldn't be opposed to the idea of swapping Rooney for him, sounds a bit mad given how good he's been for us, but the idea of an interchanging trio of Januzaj, Mata and Kagawa just sounds amazing to me, and I just get the feeling he'd be the sort of player to get us playing the football we should be playing again.
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It'd be the right move for United and would undoubtedly bolster Chelsea as well
 
coolredwine said:
Who will be our main striker then considering RvP will be 31, Hernandez can't play alone up top and Welbeck is still finding his scoring shoes?
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That's a separate issue. If Rooney wants to leave, we can't really stop him can we? I mean all things considered if he wants to leave now wouldn't be the worst time to cash on him considering his age, and especially if we transfer him to Chelsea at least we can get Mata in exchange probably.

In any case RvP can probably be first choice for another two seasons and then hopefully Welbeck/Hernandez continues to develop. Most likely we'll buy someone in that space of time.
 
wonnie said:
That's a separate issue. If Rooney wants to leave, we can't really stop him can we? I mean all things considered if he wants to leave now wouldn't be the worst time to cash on him considering his age, and especially if we transfer him to Chelsea at least we can get Mata in exchange probably.

In any case RvP can probably be first choice for another two seasons and then hopefully Welbeck/Hernandez continues to develop. Most likely we'll buy someone in that space of time.
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I agree on the "right time to sell Rooney part", but to get in Mata would have its own set of problems. Too much of a (age) difference between our strikers, we would have to get rid of Young/Nani/Valencia (preferably the former, in worst case, the first two), and then would have to wait to see if he fits in or not. I don't think it is as easy and straightforward as it seems.
 
coolredwine said:
I agree on the "right time to sell Rooney part", but to get in Mata would have its own set of problems. Too much of a (age) difference between our strikers, we would have to get rid of Young/Nani/Valencia (preferably the former, in worst case, the first two), and then would have to wait to see if he fits in or not. I don't think it is as easy and straightforward as it seems.
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I think at this point Valencia/Young/Nani are the first names that should be jettisoned out of the club as part of the new clear out. They've had a good 18 months to get their form right and it's been downright absurd. Only the form of RvP and Carrick masked our deficiencies last year and even then we could still see how shite we were on the wings.

Obviously every player who you look to bring in is a risk, but seriously, Mata? He's been in England for 3 years, is 25, has no injury problems and is a world class player.
 
wonnie said:
I think at this point Valencia/Young/Nani are the first names that should be jettisoned out of the club as part of the new clear out. They've had a good 18 months to get their form right and it's been downright absurd. Only the form of RvP and Carrick masked our deficiencies last year and even then we could still see how shite we were on the wings.

Obviously every player who you look to bring in is a risk, but seriously, Mata? He's been in England for 3 years, is 25, has no injury problems and is a world class player.
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We seemingly haven't been able to fit in Kagawa. Just saying.

Don't disagree with Mata et al, but the club right now needs a massive refresh - in terms of tactics, players, etc. And that will take some time. I reckon we will suffer the same problem with Mata, as we have with Kagawa.
 
Carrick and Fletcher centrally

Januzaj, Rooney and Mata in front of them and RvP up front

That would certainly make us look a lot stronger than we are today
 
Cina said:
I really wouldn't be opposed to the idea of swapping Rooney for him, sounds a bit mad given how good he's been for us, but the idea of an interchanging trio of Januzaj, Mata and Kagawa just sounds amazing to me, and I just get the feeling he'd be the sort of player to get us playing the football we should be playing again.
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Agreed. Rooney being older, on much higher wages, less fit and almost certain to leave in a maximum of 18 months all points towards doing a deal now.

It's also worth mentioning that whilst performing well this season, Rooney hasn't been carrying us like Suarez is with Liverpool. If Mata finds the form he was in last season we certainly won't be missing Rooney.
 
Cina said:
I really wouldn't be opposed to the idea of swapping Rooney for him, sounds a bit mad given how good he's been for us, but the idea of an interchanging trio of Januzaj, Mata and Kagawa just sounds amazing to me, and I just get the feeling he'd be the sort of player to get us playing the football we should be playing again.
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I dont see someone like Moyes playing those 3 behind a striker at all. He's like SAF, far too big a fan of defensive wingers so to speak. Kagawa couldnt get a game yesterday after last week's performance vs Swansea.
 
Varun_Utd said:
I dont see someone like Moyes playing those 3 behind a striker at all. He's like SAF, far too big a fan of defensive wingers so to speak. Kagawa couldnt get a game yesterday after last week's performance vs Swansea.
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You need wide players who will track back or you are going to leave yourself very exposed out wide, it is common sense in football. You can get away with one not getting back but having two like that would be suicidal at the top level.
 
JazzG said:
You need wide players who will track back or you are going to leave yourself very exposed out wide, it is common sense in football. You can get away with one not getting back but having two like that would be suicidal at the top level.
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I dont disagree with that at all. But then I dont think Januzaj is someone who doesnt track back or at the age of 18 cant be taught to effectively.

I dont want Mata here in any case as long as we keep Rooney, we wont get the best out of him. We just dont play that way.
 
Varun_Utd said:
I dont see someone like Moyes playing those 3 behind a striker at all. He's like SAF, far too big a fan of defensive wingers so to speak. Kagawa couldnt get a game yesterday after last week's performance vs Swansea.
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I am not Moyes biggest fan. But Pienaar and Mirallas are far from defensive wingers.
 
Brophs said:
They'd sell us Mata, I reckon, but only if we sold them Rooney, so that's going to be a no go.
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Agree. Have we ever sold our best players to direct rivals? I can't think of any.
 
finneh said:
Agreed. Rooney being older, on much higher wages, less fit and almost certain to leave in a maximum of 18 months all points towards doing a deal now.

It's also worth mentioning that whilst performing well this season, Rooney hasn't been carrying us like Suarez is with Liverpool. If Mata finds the form he was in last season we certainly won't be missing Rooney.
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Fully agree with you. Rooney has tried to leave you twice - just get rid. Yeah he's a great player, but if that allowed you to improve your squad by getting Mata I'd do it. You still have van P and Kagawa in similar positions.
 
adexkola said:
Buy another no 10 and place him on the wing, because he can do a job there.

Sounds reasonable.
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no reason we cant change our formation to a one similar to Chelseas or Citys, to accommodate him.

even without Mata, we should be setting up 4-2-3-1 like Chelsea to get the best out of Kagawa and accommodate him in the same team as RVP, Rooney and Adnan.

Moyes needs to try something different and a player like Mata may force him to do that.
 
MDFC Manager said:
World cup year. Mata will be absolutely desperate to move to whichever major team will play him every game.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if this is agent bollocks again, to try and ensure that Mata gets enough games at Chelsea.
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He'll get his share of games, there's plenty of matches left to be played in three different competitions and Jose will rotate the team.

Mainoldo said:
Why not? His not going to get that money in January from anyone else.
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He doesn't have to sell him to United, or any other club in January, or beyond. Mata has four more years left on his contract.

P.S. I personally wouldn't swap Mata for Rooney. Rooney, given his wages, age, weight and fitness issues and overall attitude, is a risk. I'm not even sure how much he's got left as a top level striker. That would be a huge investment in someone, whose best years are probably behind him. Giving up Mata for him in the process would be a bad deal for Chelsea, in terms of value and future. If United would rather sell him abroad in the summer or even allow him to run his contract till the end, I'd prefer to look at other options.
 
Varun_Utd said:
I dont disagree with that at all. But then I dont think Januzaj is someone who doesnt track back or at the age of 18 cant be taught to effectively.

I dont want Mata here in any case as long as we keep Rooney, we wont get the best out of him. We just dont play that way.
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He doesn't come across as someone who will track back but you never know he might become better at that as his game develops.

Be interesting to see how you get Rooney & RvP to work together, playing with two strikers has been problematic for Liverpool at times and even City away from home have found it a bit tough with two.
 
smallred said:
no reason we cant change our formation to a one similar to Chelseas or Citys, to accommodate him.

even without Mata, we should be setting up 4-2-3-1 like Chelsea to get the best out of Kagawa and accommodate him in the same team as RVP, Rooney and Adnan.

Moyes needs to try something different and a player like Mata may force him to do that.
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With Valencia out the team we nolonger need to play 442. Plus Mata is more than capable of operating as an inside forward.
 
JazzG said:
He doesn't come across as someone who will track back but you never know he might become better at that as his game develops.

Be interesting to see how you get Rooney & RvP to work together, playing with two strikers has been problematic for Liverpool at times and even City away from home have found it a bit tough with two.
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I've got the opposite impression so far. He comes across as someone who's definitely ready to put in a shift but the problem lies in his awareness while tracking runners. That's something that can be improved upon.

And once both of them come back, Rooney will simply have to drop deeper and play as an advanced midfielder. We cannot play with 2 outright strikers.
 
lem8sh said:
No chance of him being sold to us surely
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I'd be of the same opinion.

But a little bit of doubt has crept into my mind. Realistically, we are no threat to Chelsea for the title. Him loaning Mata to us Lukakuesque would significantly help us take points off City, Arsenal and Liverpool when we play them.

Wishful thinking though.
 
As we're now officially out of it, maybe Mourinho will throw us a (Spanish) bone? :)
 
We don't play them anymore in the League this season so that would be their reasoning to sell him to us.. But I wouldn't bet on it, obviously..
 
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