As a striker if I am not mistaken. We somehow convinced themselves that he is playing as a No.10 or No.9.5 but he never played like a traditional No.10. He was a striker who plays a bit behind the other striker, a bit like Aguero at City.
Juan Mata | 2013/14 Performances
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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.
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My fault; in that earlier post I should have emphasized a bit more that I was talking about a subset of the Rooney-as-#10 group who were adamant that Rooney is miles better than any other option.
Yeah, I had an idea that was what you probably meant, although I largely agreed with you anyway.
The Spanish, a great bunch of lads.
Let's get Koke to form the final trinity
Apparently Mata and De Gea live on the same street as each other.
I'm surprised they're that far apart, tbh.
I'm surprised they're that far apart, tbh.
Mourinho is an idiot for letting him go. He's miles better than Oscar.
The three amigos.
I'd been disappointed by his set pieces until today but you just knew the free kick was going in from the angle and distance it was taken from.
Performances like today is why I believe that he's a better talent than Ozil. Not only can he pull the strings, but he's excellent in front of goal too and can also score wonderful free kicks like today. He's the better player IMO.
I'm so glad that Moysey got him, still so young too.
I'm so glad that Moysey got him, still so young too.
Any closer than the same street means they will be living in the same house.
I think Noodle had convinced himself he isn't that good because he's just one of those gutless, pointless attacking midfielder types that Arsenal love that don't actually do anything.
Rooney was sometimes used in different positions during particular matches (Europe, aways against big clubs) where Fergie packed the midfield, but in the vast majority of matches through 06-09 he played behind one of Saha, Larrson, Smith, Tevez, or Berbatov. The major exception was the run-in during 2009 when he played out wide a lot.
Before that he tended to play off Ruud, and since Ronaldo left he's had one season as a proper striker and then then several behind Berba, Hernandez, Welbeck, or Van Persie.
Yep. I also prefer him to Silva for that reason. Mata is insanely productive when it comes to the actual numbers and that's without his obvious abilities to help dictate a game.
He didn't play as a proper number 10 until he started playing with Hernandez though. I.e. as the hub of the team trying to dictate play and dropping back into midfield. Playing off more of a target man, yes he did that but he wasn't as involved in build up play as he is now until much later on in his United career.
mourinho wasn t quite convinced apparently
is he coming back?
"It's guy love, between two guys...."
He is Mourinho (who is never wrong
) but it really was a baffling decision by him. I really don't know in what aspect of the game, Oscar is a better player than Mata. Anyway, I hope he rates Schurrle more than Hazard and sell him to us too.
Januzaj is just standing there like, 'why didn't I get a hug'?
Don't know about that but there were a few people who said that Mata was past it. Hilarious comments solely based on the fact that Mourinho let him go (probably the same people who think Mourinho is a perfect manager who never makes mistakes, he's not human because humans actually make mistakes sometimes). Mata was playing for Spain's under 23 team just over a year ago, to even suggest that he's already past it is madness.
Wasn't Noods argument him and Kagawa being similar?
When you get to sign players of Mata's quality a club of United's stature should not miss the opportunity. It's been our problem over the last few years.
♫ Juan Mata knew! Hey! Chelsea no respect!
What-a you t'ink you do? Why you look-a so sad?
It's-a not so bad, it's-a nice-a place.
Ah, we'll get sixth place! ♫
What-a you t'ink you do? Why you look-a so sad?
It's-a not so bad, it's-a nice-a place.
Ah, we'll get sixth place! ♫
There's no reason Mata can't play behind two strikers. He'd need the strikers to drift wide though and stretch the opposition defenses to create space for him. Actually Welbeck and Rooney would be perfect for these roles, more so than RVP. Also we'd need mobile midfielders who are able to win the ball high up the pitch and give it to him.
However, I just don't see Moyes abandoning his 4-2-3-1 when everyone is fit which will mean moving Mata wide to accommodate Rooney and RVP.
I think the key to next season will be playing Mata as a no.10 but I don't know if Moyes will go ahead and do it.
However, I just don't see Moyes abandoning his 4-2-3-1 when everyone is fit which will mean moving Mata wide to accommodate Rooney and RVP.
I think the key to next season will be playing Mata as a no.10 but I don't know if Moyes will go ahead and do it.
DDG's impact in the acquisition, and by the looks of it well-being, of Juan Mata is outstanding.
Only caught the first half and his free kick, and just watched highlights on the other 3 goals. Utter, utter class and was just waiting for him to show it. Put him around half-intelligent footballers and watch him go just like today.
Lovely player. Btw I remember him playing on the left most of the time at Valencia, but again he wasn't your typical out and out winger, but was playing in the right system and with a lot of movement around him.
He was playing and linking up really well with David Silva (who played the number 10 role) and David Villa. So no reason he could't do it with us, but as long as we don't have the right midfield and movement around him, he should continue as a 10.
He was playing and linking up really well with David Silva (who played the number 10 role) and David Villa. So no reason he could't do it with us, but as long as we don't have the right midfield and movement around him, he should continue as a 10.
Cheers! That is great!
Although I must call upon @CrypticClash to give us a high quality gif.
Good to see that he is enjoying playing here.
I'm in agreement with this. I'm a big fan of Silva and when it comes to dictating the tempo and rhythm of a match, Silva is a superior player and he does possess immaculate movement, close control and grace, but like you've said, the numbers when both are at their bet just aren't comparable.
8 G+A in 11 games for us. He's one of those players we have like RvP and Rooney, where even if they don't have good games in a row they can still bring up the most important stats, and that can be the difference between a great player and a world class player.
Yeah, Silva is the better player, he's majestic at his best, but in terms of stats Mata comes out on top. He's more complete. It's very close though, both are wonderful players to watch at their best.
You're basically describing the 'diamond formation' aren't you?
I agree that it would still be difficult to accommodate van Persie and Rooney. One at the least would be tasked of offering an outlet and stretching the opposition defence, but the lack of mobility and pace in the frontline would invariably both get in each other's area as they have in a 4-4-1-1.
Obviously dynamic an energetic central midfielders would be needed, but Welbeck would be such an important player if we were to adopt such a system and it would mean pairing him with either van Persie and Rooney.
I just simply don't see many, if any, systems really coming to fruition with Rooney and van Persie both in the side.
This is reason alone why our league standing should be bette than it is, even if some still argue The squad Moyes inherited was a poisoned chalice.
We possess so much star quality that far outweighs the star quality both Spurs and Everton have, so we should be picking up a lot of points where we play poorly due to our match-winners.
Wow. Does he have 5 assists already? Incredibly productive player. As you say he's one of those that can not be having a good game but still will be racking up great numbers.
Cardiff, Stoke, Fulham, Villa and now Newcastle. I think they have counted his penalty win against Villa as an assist, make that what you will
. Still a good return and it will multiply rapidly in a positive, flowing system.Right, we now know de Gea and Mata have too much guy love to leave this club, ever. So let's get the bros to whip up Koke and make it a holy trinity!
So basically, Mata is a manwhore?
So basically, Mata is a manwhore?
Haha! You should google some pics from his old days with David Villa, that pic above is nothing compared to those. Though the roles are reversed as Villa looks more the manwhore in those
So basically, Mata is a manwhore?
Hernandez living the dream of every single caftard.
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