2nd match, 2nd assist, trying to make himself available all of the time and can pick a nice pass, he's making Young tick pretty well I'd say ( first half, he Young was bad in the second ). Him and RVP were the only positives from today to be fair.
Juan Mata | 2013/14 Performances
- Thread starter Varun
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
- Status
I lost count of the amount of times Welbeck lost his footing when Mata got him into a good position inside the box.
Great on the ball. Might need to do more off it but understandably bedding in which can't be easy because our tactics are all over the shop.
He'll do that.
He was making things happen through the middle which was good to see.
Made more passes (56) and more tackles (5) than any player on the pitch today.
He was really excellent. Very intelligent player. Unfortunately everything about our play is unintelligent.
He'll have to shoulder Januzaj's burden in the second half of the season. Lovely little player. Became better as soon as he was put centrally
Must start centrally as our number 10 IMO. Rooney on day's like today is just far too inconsistent to be our playmaker. He doesn't have that eye for a little ball over the top or a slide rule pass anymore, he is just programmed for switching it 40 yards to the wing.
Moyes needs to make a decision which number 9 he want's to start, and then alternate IMO. The fact Mata can hold the ball and pick a pass in tight positions shows exactly what we lack regularly.
Moyes needs to make a decision which number 9 he want's to start, and then alternate IMO. The fact Mata can hold the ball and pick a pass in tight positions shows exactly what we lack regularly.
He can and should be playing from the wings in this team.
Him and Januzaj either side of Rooney and RVP, two hard working defensively minded central midfielders behind them and 2 full backs providing width.
Him and Januzaj either side of Rooney and RVP, two hard working defensively minded central midfielders behind them and 2 full backs providing width.
How on earth that attacking force of RVP, Mata, Rooney and Welbeck managed one goal today is beyond me.
Mata should have had at least one or two more assist with those balls into Welbeck.
Mata should have had at least one or two more assist with those balls into Welbeck.
The quality of Mata's ball into the box is a strikers dream, unfortunately for United that Striker was Welbeck. Steven Hawkins would have put one of those away.
A player like him is wasted on Moyes, we need a manager who can get him, RVP, Kagawa and Rooney all ticking.
I know it's a shit excuse but the wind really effected things. Rooney kept trying to play 40 yard balls over the top and it just blew about all over the place and landed on a stoke head. No rhythm to our play in that second half at all which was disappointing.
It's because Welbeck was being shoehorned into the team despite not fitting in at all alongside Rooney, Mata and RVP. Mata looks class though every time he gets on the ball, and made plenty of chances. If we had a good midfield or a style that can enable us to control games better, Mata would (or maybe will eventually) get bucket loads of assists, but as it is, he'll still get them and will look class, but just will maybe drift in and out of games occasionally because of how end to end and how scrappy our games are.
Apparently this comment was on a F365 article today. Made me laugh (it's also very true)....
Last edited:
After 2 games, he's made as many assists as any other winger has for us this season (counting only league and Champions league). Valencia, Januzaj also have 2, and then Young has 1. A class above the rest of the team he is, was probably our best player today as well.
His assist for young wasn't really an assist in fairness.
Very good.Still counts! I wish Valencia, Kagawa or Young were capable of making any type of assists this season to be fair, no matter how small.
Let's just let Mata manage the team. Phil Jones can watch over him as co-manager to make sure all his choices are perfect.
Bit unfair really. For example, Kagawa would had got an assist had Smalling not missed that absolute sitter against Swansea after he delivered a peach of a cross.
True. Kagawa has been really unlucky not to have any assists, I feel like he set up more sitters then anyone this season and they've all been missed. His last game (Sunderland I think?) he had the nice cross that Fletcher hit the post with, Smalling missed an open net, Van Persie and Hernandez missed open nets earlier in the season. People criticizing him have definitely gone way over the top because he has looked good lately, Moyes just doesn't like him.
It applies for Valencia though, and Young to a lesser extent (he's gotten better lately but still not enough).
Happy with how he has started for us.
He also would have scored if he didn't shit himself..goes both ways.
Excellent.
Hope our Juan isnt taking those abusive tweets by Evil Kagawa seriously, he mightnt get the joke
Didn't see this posted anywhere, a bit rare this from Mourinho. Seems a completely honest interview for once, saying how he regrets not letting him adapt properly and how he gave him nothing, even though he played well a few times when he did play.
Its just fantastic watching him attack and try to make things happen through the middle. So refreshing aftee that bullshit week in week out from valencia and co . I genuinely believe that if we pair him up with kagawa as our inside 'wide men' we could see some beautiful and intricate play through the middle. Unfortunately we have an idiot as a manager who won't give that a chance.
I have a fear he will not play to his full potential in the current setup. In the 1st half he was putting those annoying crosses Valencia and Young are known for. It's quite obvious that Moyes asks whoever is playing wide be it Nani, Januzaj, Val Young, Kagawa to keep crossing. Players should be allowed to play to their strengths. Mata should not be pumping crosses every time he gets the ball. It was only when he played behind the striker that his quality showed. Thats when he started making those key passes into the box 1 of which was put away by RVP and a few that Welbeck wasted.
It made me sad to see him hurl in crosses.
I want a blanket ban on all crosses from outside the box.
I want a blanket ban on all crosses from outside the box.
Alright, so I've been in France the last week skiing, so haven't caught our games. Have we bought Mata to play him as some glorified, left-footed Valencia?
Spot the odd one out
Racist.
http://blogs.grada360.com/juanmata/en/2014/02/03/ocho-dias-muy-intensos/
God he's such a fecking nice guy it's unbelievable.
God he's such a fecking nice guy it's unbelievable.
- Status