I thought he was actually class today, other than some rust here or there, wonderful player I hope to enjoy watching for a long time, I dont know why Neville kept putting him down on the commentry today, in the first half he was getting on the ball in the middle and almost dictating passages of play and all Neville can say is.. "United dont have anyone on the right.."
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
However, I liked the thing that was going on between him and Rafael on the right flank. Though you can say that it was only Fulham and they didn't attack much, but it looked much better than Valencia-Rafael, with Mata coming in (and using the left foot!), while Rafael kept going out wide.
Don't think Neville fancies Mata. He was one of our best players today.
Not really. Its about the "philosophy".
this is sad.
I don't disagree that he'll still produce, but I think we will restrict the level of productivity by forcing him to play a system and role that doesn't suit his talents. I just feel that in the rush to buy more players we are overlooking the fact that we can get so much more out of what we already have.
I'd be interested to see those stats as well, it seems he wants Rooney and RvP to link up in the way he had players playing off Fellaini, getting close to get the second ball as opposed to playing as a 9 and 10 combination, something I think stifles Rooney in particular. Byu the end today we were getting in our own way we were so congested and out of shape.
It does certainly favour Young and Valencia as it plays to their biggest strengths but is such a dated system that teams are finding it easy to defend against as it's predictable, and we don't have a target man who will bully CB's on the crosses.
I dont know what he said but i wouldnt be surprised if he didnt. He's among those who believe in our approach of wide men hugging the touchline and punting crosses is. Mata clearly doesnt meet that criteria of a wide player.
He's already been dragged down to the rest of their level. Needs a proper manager to manage him.
Didnt anyone else notice today? Neville didn't have one positive thing to say about Mata today in the commentary, he was actually attacking him despite looking our most productive player for not sticking out right and attacking Rise, the guy was orchestrating some our stuff today like he should have had a baton in his hand, and even despite the fact that him coming inside left Rafael free to bomb down the right anyway, bizarre stuff from the usually reliable Nev.
The two British commentators who presented the match for NBC were spot on today. They praised Mata for his valiant efforts but condemned the tactics. You generally see commentators hedge their statements but as the game wore on, they more they were unable to contain their disdain for what Moyes was trying to do. Before the game they predicted a big win for United and seemed genuinely shocked at what they were watching from the very first minute of the game.
I'm sorry to learn that Neville saw things differrently.
I'm sorry to learn that Neville saw things differrently.
It was very bizzare. Just before he set up the first goal Neville said he thought Mata really struggled when as far as I could see he was the only one of the front four who looked capable of producing today. Rooney has been poor since returning, RVP is barely involved but fair enough he's scoring goals, Young was a waste of space (13 chances created in 14 apps to Mata's 12 in 3 says it all) and Januzaj was on an hour too late.
Haven't seen the replays but I was there and he was our best player by far. He's a lovely little player to watch and was the only one who seemed confident enough to stray from the cross, cross, cross tactics from time to time. I said before he signed that if we use him as a way to be more creative through the centre he will be successful here but he will struggle if we just use him as another vehicle to spread the ball wide. We have no plan but to spread the ball wide and it's a shame because we won't see the best of him playing like that. Even Januzaj who has been a revelation this season came on and was crossing all the time.
The tactics need altering before we get the best out of any of this lot regardless of whether he's playing wide or central.
The tactics need altering before we get the best out of any of this lot regardless of whether he's playing wide or central.
Tbh I didnt see anything today from Mata that we dont see from Kagawa when hes on the wing. Only difference is Mata showing a bit more strength other than that mata couldnt get in the game at all and got a lucky assist.
Both keep it incredibly simple because of lack of options. Apart from the goal mata created nothing. But its not his fault tbh its the tactics.
Both keep it incredibly simple because of lack of options. Apart from the goal mata created nothing. But its not his fault tbh its the tactics.
The more this goes on, the failure seems to be on the management to bring out the best out of Kagawa and Mata.
He has the second most assists in the squad. 
And RVP, Rooney, Carrick, Jones, Smalling, Evans, Rafael, Vidic, Rio, Fletcher, Cleverley, Chicharito, Welbeck...I sense a trend.
He has the second most assists in the squad.
Has he assisted in every game hes played ?
Yeah, three games and three assists. He deserves a better manager.
He has the second most assists in the squad.
That doesn't surprise me, we have been truly awful at creating chances this season. A single substitute appearance by Zaha for Cardiff was enough to ensure he now has more Premier League assists this season than Carrick, Cleverley, Nani, Kagawa, Young and Giggs... combined.
Better range of passing from Mata, being able to switch wings. That volley type long pass to Ashley Young in the second is a good example. I think Kagawa would never have attempted it.
That is depressing. Hardly even played any games for us yet, and already more assists than players that have been here all season.He has the second most assists in the squad.
Covered 8.2 miles in yesterday's game. More than any other United player.
A bit dramatic with those pictures. It's quite obvious the players are disappointed, they should be, when we finally broke through that pile of Fulham players only to be screwed over by lack of concentration in the back. This was something that irritated Sir Alex quite a lot too.
Mata looked good and I cannot wait to see more of him. Such a classy little player.
Mata looked good and I cannot wait to see more of him. Such a classy little player.
It goes to show it's more the manager than the players when Mata looks the same as the rest doesn't it?
Only early doors of course but still..
Only early doors of course but still..
He stands out like a sore thumb.
Took a shot from outside from the box, plenty of good playmaking with a long range balls and the most important thing: an assist.
It's his third consecutive assist in the matches he's played for us, no matter how shit we're playing he still gets those.
From The Guardians 10 points:
2) Juan won't matter if United continue to play crossing strategy
Is the evidence of three games too scant to suggest that Juan Mata's playmaking flair is to be wasted by David Moyes in a wide berth for Manchester United? It may, indeed, be a little early to return a watertight verdict but to see the Spaniard shunted out to the right for Sunday's desperate 2-2 draw with Fulham at Old Trafford was to ponder what the rest of the season holds for a man who only wants to play as a No10. £37.1m of the Glazers money was splashed last month so that the much-bewailed creativity-deficit could be eased by Mata's arrival from Chelsea. Instead, United have thus far become a poorer proposition since he pulled on the red jersey with a win, a defeat and a draw the count as Moyes's gang continue to ping the ball wide and punt in crosses, bypassing Mata's more silky and subtle approach. Jamie Jackson
2) Juan won't matter if United continue to play crossing strategy
Is the evidence of three games too scant to suggest that Juan Mata's playmaking flair is to be wasted by David Moyes in a wide berth for Manchester United? It may, indeed, be a little early to return a watertight verdict but to see the Spaniard shunted out to the right for Sunday's desperate 2-2 draw with Fulham at Old Trafford was to ponder what the rest of the season holds for a man who only wants to play as a No10. £37.1m of the Glazers money was splashed last month so that the much-bewailed creativity-deficit could be eased by Mata's arrival from Chelsea. Instead, United have thus far become a poorer proposition since he pulled on the red jersey with a win, a defeat and a draw the count as Moyes's gang continue to ping the ball wide and punt in crosses, bypassing Mata's more silky and subtle approach. Jamie Jackson
The thing that lets you know Mata is class: he can still produce good football and assists even when his only job seems to be to hit it long to the opposite flank...
Found himself doing alot of what kagawa does when played on the left, which is trying to play through the middle but no one else was on his wavelength. Ended up joining in the crossing fiasco. Still got an assist though.
True but for me thats due to him having an incentive to play very hard at the moment whereas Kagawa doesnt. Mata is trying to get into the Spain national team which is enough incentive for him to be working crazy hard to get into those positions and generally obviously he is a better player than Kagawa but generally its exactly the same issues with Mata not being involved for long periods.
I think I might love him...
Huh hes done that quite a few times. He did it in the Swansea and Sunderland games out to Januzaj and Valencia. Granted they werent volleys but long passes out to the wings is something Kagawa has 100% been doing.
This performance here is atleast equal to Mata's first 3 games. 3 minutes in he gives a very good long pass out to Januzaj
Lazy piece of journalism tbf. Its not so much the position but the tactics. And he has never ever ever ever said he 'only wants to play no.10'. He's never been a no.10, he's an inside winger and his most productive season was last season where he got most of his goals and assists playing from the right even though he played most of the time in the middle, infact that is the only season where he has truly played a no.10. He won his first POTY playing from the left. He has spent 80 percent of his career in the wide positions.
I was impressed when he moved into the 10 role. Converseley, I wasn't impressed with Rooney yesterday. The difference between their technique in tight spaces was stark I feel. That said, I put it down to rust.
I love him. What a class man and tried his heart out last night.
Rooney always looks to go wide which is why hes not gking to be better than mata in that #10 role. Hes not creative or intricate enough.
- Status