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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I only watched the game last night and didn't actually think his all round game was as good as the hype he was getting on here (and from Giggs) His movement in the box was brilliant though. A really natural goal-scorer. Says a lot that he's nipping in ahead of a predator like Hernandez.
It's actually very shocking that our midfielders haven't been scoring for a few years now. Fergie always used to say how over the years we had goals coming from all the team and especially from midfield but then didn't sign a midfielder for ages
I blame Moyes (@nahealai just kidding, before I get an essay what Moyes has to do with it)
It's actually very shocking that our midfielders haven't been scoring for a few years now. Fergie always used to say how over the years we had goals coming from all the team and especially from midfield but then didn't sign a midfielder for ages
I blame Moyes (@nahealai just kidding, before I get an essay what Moyes has to do with it)
What's even more shocking to me is that Mata also scored more than any of our wingers, I mean Carrick and Fletcher have other qualities, but Nani, Valencia, Young, Adnan and Kagawa have scored a grand total of 8 league goals between them this year. 4 of which are Adnans.
Absolutely! I think when Fergie said "goals from the whole team/midfield" he meant wingers as well (Becks, Giggs and Ronaldo regularly scored important goals).
I mean basically the team has been playing badly and struggling to score. And that affects every position from which you would normally expect goals. The strikers haven't got as many as last season either.
In a team playing well, the likes of Kagawa and Januzaj will definitely score goals. We don't have to worry about that. The midfield has a more serious problem, because even during good seasons recently they haven't contributed many goals. But ultimately we want to focus above all else on playing better, more effective football as a team, rather than trying to fill quotas for 'how many goals the midfielders should score' etc. We need to buy better midfielders firstly to improve our football, and only secondly to try and improve the number of goals we get from midfield.
In a team playing well, the likes of Kagawa and Januzaj will definitely score goals. We don't have to worry about that. The midfield has a more serious problem, because even during good seasons recently they haven't contributed many goals. But ultimately we want to focus above all else on playing better, more effective football as a team, rather than trying to fill quotas for 'how many goals the midfielders should score' etc. We need to buy better midfielders firstly to improve our football, and only secondly to try and improve the number of goals we get from midfield.
Happy Birthday Juan 
26 years old now. Happy Birthday Jan!
I love this fella, anyone seen his twitter this morning? He has a pair of boots to give away.
So instead of going the boring conventional route he has done this!
First one to get them wins! He is just too damn cool for words
He has a pair of boots to give away.So instead of going the boring conventional route he has done this!
First one to get them wins! He is just too damn cool for words
that's fantastic!That's brilliant!
Legend.Legend.
Let's just they weren't his shooting boots...
Let's just they weren't his shooting boots...
Think it is an Adidas thing, Ramsey did the same the other week outside our stadium
That's hilarious.
Brilliant. Put his name in the hat for the manager.
Really glad for him and De Gea being included in the provisional Spain squad, fully deserved on both parts.
As he wasn't in the last squad I didn't think he'd be in this one. Glad he is and I hope he goes to Rio. Looks like it was between him and Isco.
Not sure if he'll be in the 23 though. Though his form has still been decent really.
Man Utd's Louis Van Gaal ready to part with Juan Mata as Barcelona line up £40m bid
JUAN MATA could be one of the first victims of Louis Van Gaal's new Manchester United regime as Barcelona line up a big-money move.
Reports in Spanish paper AS claim that the Catalan giants are ready to pounce for the former Chelsea star as they look to rebuild their side under new boss Luis Enrique.
A bid of £40million has been mooted for a player who only arrived at Old Trafford in January, and Dutchman Van Gaal, who is famous for his single-minded approach, is ready to listen to serious offers as he evaluates his new squad.
The ex-Bayern Munich chief prefers to play with one playmaker behind the main striker, and with Wayne Rooney his obvious choice behind Robin Van Persie in attack, Mata could be sacrificed to raise funds for pacy, direct wide-men.
United have been linked with a number of names including Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus and Liverpool target Yevhen Konoplyanka, and Van Gaal will sanction a move if he feels it benefits the club in the long-term.
Mata has made some good performances since joining the Red Devils from Chelsea for £38million five months ago, and the Spaniard admits although he hasn't set the world alight during his brief time in Manchester, he has no regrets about leaving Jose Mourinho's men.
"I don't think about that. I do not regret anything in that sense," he explained.
"The first six months of the season were difficult because I did not play as much as I would have liked. But I always respected my team-mates, tried to make the most of the opportunities I had and nothing more.
"In the end there was the opportunity to go to Manchester United, a great offer, and the club also understood that it was a good choice. So the transfer happened."
Sell Mata, buy Konoplyanka... eh
JUAN MATA could be one of the first victims of Louis Van Gaal's new Manchester United regime as Barcelona line up a big-money move.
Reports in Spanish paper AS claim that the Catalan giants are ready to pounce for the former Chelsea star as they look to rebuild their side under new boss Luis Enrique.
A bid of £40million has been mooted for a player who only arrived at Old Trafford in January, and Dutchman Van Gaal, who is famous for his single-minded approach, is ready to listen to serious offers as he evaluates his new squad.
The ex-Bayern Munich chief prefers to play with one playmaker behind the main striker, and with Wayne Rooney his obvious choice behind Robin Van Persie in attack, Mata could be sacrificed to raise funds for pacy, direct wide-men.
United have been linked with a number of names including Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus and Liverpool target Yevhen Konoplyanka, and Van Gaal will sanction a move if he feels it benefits the club in the long-term.
Mata has made some good performances since joining the Red Devils from Chelsea for £38million five months ago, and the Spaniard admits although he hasn't set the world alight during his brief time in Manchester, he has no regrets about leaving Jose Mourinho's men.
"I don't think about that. I do not regret anything in that sense," he explained.
"The first six months of the season were difficult because I did not play as much as I would have liked. But I always respected my team-mates, tried to make the most of the opportunities I had and nothing more.
"In the end there was the opportunity to go to Manchester United, a great offer, and the club also understood that it was a good choice. So the transfer happened."
Sell Mata, buy Konoplyanka... eh
Not sure if Mata can play for any other club till January. Isn't there some sort of rule that a player cannot play for more than 2 clubs in the space of one year?
Even if it were not, would make no sense to even consider selling him. He's untouchable in terms of quality at the club.
Even if it were not, would make no sense to even consider selling him. He's untouchable in terms of quality at the club.
It's a completely nonsense article based on nothing except for ideas on LvG's preferred formation. But even then, it says that Rooney is the obvious choice behind RvP. Why? What indication has van Gaal given that that's what he plans to do.
The only quotes in the article are from Mata about 2 or 3 months ago. Complete rubbish and I wouldn't worry a jot about it.
The only quotes in the article are from Mata about 2 or 3 months ago. Complete rubbish and I wouldn't worry a jot about it.
Exactly this.
Swap for Sanchez, Fabregas and Messi and I'd think about it as long as we get custody on weekends.
Nonsense story
We should be signing great players not selling them.
We should be signing great players not selling them.
Even so, Mata can fit perfectly as a play maker using a 3 in the middle formation which allows Mata to push forward. Total nonsense, Mata loves being here especially with De Gea also being here.
So a Spaniard would rather live & play in Manchester, as opposed to Barcelona - OK
If we were to get more than what we paid then I wouldn't be all that disappointed. But he seems to know about the 'United way' and has become a bit of a fans favourite it seems. Especially in the aftermath of the spunk cleanup when we signed him.
Yes, we can offer more money than Spanish clubs. Seeing Mata go would devastate me, I'd rather us not sign any players and keep Mata. Him, Januzaj and De Gea are my favorite Manchester United players.
We would be mugs to even consider it and disloyal. The players happy and if we sold him suddenly De Gea loses his best mate. It would be incredibly foolish so I doubt it would happen. It's hard enough trying to sign worldclass a the minute let alone giving them away like that.
It's the Express so it's almost certainly bullshit.
Yep bullshit.
Yep bullshit.
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The assumption is that Rooney is the obvious number 10 but I think Mata could make that role his own.
He's one of our best players and I think he will be suited to the style of football we associate with van Gaal's teams more than Moyes'.
He's one of our best players and I think he will be suited to the style of football we associate with van Gaal's teams more than Moyes'.
Where does everyone expect Mata to play under Van Gaal? Assuming he goes 4-3-3 will he play the furthest forward midfielder, or out wide in a Silva like role?
I'd sell Rooney or Van Persie before Mata.
Shit article.
Shit article.
I think that because the rule runs from 1st of July until 30th of June, means in that period he can't play for more than two clubs. I think come 30th of June he is free to sign for who he wants. I could be wrong though. How do you interpret it?
Complete garbage. The kind of rubbish newspapers tend to come up with at this time of year. Only a few days ago, another paper printed Mata was one of the four players in our squad that van Gaal rates.
There's no way we'll get rid of our record signing after six months. It's not as if he hasn't contributed. I hope the attack is built around him this season.
There's no way we'll get rid of our record signing after six months. It's not as if he hasn't contributed. I hope the attack is built around him this season.
Thats gonna screw up our Capital One Cup ambition.
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