The potential combination of Mata, Rooney, RVP and Adnan is frightening. There was hints of how good it could be tonight. I really think Mata and Rooney will love playing together.
Juan Mata | 2013/14 Performances
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Wasn't great but he gave everyone a huge lift. He will only get better. Did take up some good positions which was good to see.
Looks like he needs a couple of games before we see his true self. But was still good today.
The first part is spot on. He looked out a bit out place, really. At Chelsea he'd have players closer to him playing lots of neat short passes whereas here Valencia and young have their very specific and fixed ways of playing which involved sticking out wide most of the time.
Maybe if we start mata and Kagawa/Januzaj out wide it might help automatically bring that new style in.
A big difference from Mata and Kagawa's performances though, which seperates a decent performance to a good one is how often he got into good chances and how he was part of every good piece of play we had pretty much. I put it on the last page, but he got 4 key passes today according to whoscored. Rooney has our highest with 2.4 on average for comparison's sake, which shows how good of a player he is at finding those pockets of space and playing the right pass. He could have had another goal and assist today alone, in a relatively quiet performance, whereas Kagawa looks tidy for the most part but largely ineffective.
That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Yet I feel you might be right.
I'm not sure really. Rooney and RVP will both always play when fit, same with Mata. Januzaj has been our best player this season after Rooney, so do you think that Moyes will drop him to the bench for Young/Valencia who the fans aren't too fond of? Can't see it personally.
Yeah they'll all play together sooner rather than later, Januzaj's been the bright point throughout the season and isn't going to be left out in the cold.
Nice start. Neat rather than spectacular but it'd be unfair to expect perfection in his first performance. I didn't realise he had played so little lately. Thought he was still getting a few minutes here and there for Chelsea but he hadn't played for them since New Year's Day so in fairness a little rustiness is to be expected. I thought he played well overall.
One minor concern though is that when I was in muppet mode watching his youtube vids from his time at Chelsea, it was clear that there were always teammates making runs around him all the time, whether to open up space for Mata himself or for him to play them in. We were a lot more static in comparison but I'm hoping that when we have better combinations of Januzaj, RvP, Rooney, Kagawa, Welbeck, and even the much maligned Cleverley - all players with good movement - it will bring out the best in Mata.
He was basically the midfield, almost on his own, and made more passes than anyone else in our team. Covered up the glaring deficiency in that area I thought. I get the impression that atm the minutes are more important than his performances because he's had so little game time of late that the more minutes he gets the better he will perform so it'll all sort itself out anyway. Positive start, leaves me optimistic for when we are able to start our best XI.
One minor concern though is that when I was in muppet mode watching his youtube vids from his time at Chelsea, it was clear that there were always teammates making runs around him all the time, whether to open up space for Mata himself or for him to play them in. We were a lot more static in comparison but I'm hoping that when we have better combinations of Januzaj, RvP, Rooney, Kagawa, Welbeck, and even the much maligned Cleverley - all players with good movement - it will bring out the best in Mata.
He was basically the midfield, almost on his own, and made more passes than anyone else in our team. Covered up the glaring deficiency in that area I thought. I get the impression that atm the minutes are more important than his performances because he's had so little game time of late that the more minutes he gets the better he will perform so it'll all sort itself out anyway. Positive start, leaves me optimistic for when we are able to start our best XI.
That was a Kagawa-esque performance. Play a fluid interchanging three of Kagawa, Adnan, Rooney and Mata behind the main striker, retain the ball more, fullbacks provide the width. Surely that's the obvious way to do things?
For those that missed it the game, I made Mata vs Cardiff:
His performance looked better when I watched the game the second time. Similar to Kagawa's performances, but difference is that Mata will play more high balls into the box IMO. Linked up well and worked hard. Positive performance and he'll improve as he gets more game time.
His performance looked better when I watched the game the second time. Similar to Kagawa's performances, but difference is that Mata will play more high balls into the box IMO. Linked up well and worked hard. Positive performance and he'll improve as he gets more game time.
Nice work, mate.
I didnt watch the match but from watching the compilation above, I can tell you one thing, his first touch is on a different level to Kagawa's, despite being rusty, he showed better first touch than Kagawa has in his entire time here at United.
Just read somewhere,
Mata created 3 chances last night, Kagawa has created 5 all season.
Mata created 3 chances last night, Kagawa has created 5 all season.
Yes! Please, no more wingers.
Bullshit
I have lost count of the number of times Kagawa receives the ball while under pressure from his marker and more often then not he will make a poor touch.
Kagawa's first touch before his goal against Spurs at Old Trafford last season was a thing of beauty. Same with his turn against Real Sociedad this season.
Mata is obviously a better player, but lets not get ahead of ourselves here.
Difference with Mata is that he is tidy + actually makes a telling contribution (I.e key pass or assist).
Kagawa for the most part is far too happy to look neat and tidy without ever contributing.
Kagawa for the most part is far too happy to look neat and tidy without ever contributing.
Replacing Kagawa with Mata would be like taking two steps forward and one back, we need more players like those two. Ideally we'd be moving away from the rigid winger system.
To be honest I wasn’t really impressed with the performance after watching the video above (couldn’t watch the match), so many long hopeful balls forward that lost possession. Though from what some people have said that is more to do with us having no players around him and our default look to the wings approach and a bit of ring rust.
What I did like was that he was constantly looking forward and trying to make something happen, something that kagawa who has similar issues doesn’t do as much. Really hope we can get some players playing closer to him and cut out our reliance on pushing the ball wide straight away, because if we don’t do that I feel he will be another player that we can’t get the most out off. Next match I wouldn’t mind seeing combination of RVP/Rooney/Adnan/Kagawa working with him as the forward unit. Slowly work those group of players into our core attacking unit
What I did like was that he was constantly looking forward and trying to make something happen, something that kagawa who has similar issues doesn’t do as much. Really hope we can get some players playing closer to him and cut out our reliance on pushing the ball wide straight away, because if we don’t do that I feel he will be another player that we can’t get the most out off. Next match I wouldn’t mind seeing combination of RVP/Rooney/Adnan/Kagawa working with him as the forward unit. Slowly work those group of players into our core attacking unit
He doesn't get flustered under pressure like Kagawa does. Which shows that he's well a adjusted to the physicality the league. Also plays it at his own pace. Was a solid debut and there's more to come.
Kagawa needs to do a lot more to convince me that he can be a more permanent fixture in our starting 11. We need players like him but for whatever reason he hasnt lived un to expectation. He showed some good performances but not consistently enough.
No question about that. There are various factors as to why it hasn't really clicked for him yet. Nothing to do with his first touch though which is more than fine
Now we actually have the opportunity to field an attacking midfield filled with players that allow Kagawa to thrive. He should at least be given a couple of matches alongside Mata and Januzaj to see if we can't turn on the style. Kagawa and Januzaj alone lit it up against Swansea. Add Mata to that and you've got a potentially devastating creative force behind the striker.
Someone's done a match comp of the Matador in action last night
I was thinking the same thing, but with RVP and Rooney both back, I don't know how likely we are to see Kagawa among that sort of combination. With RVP and Rooney basically having their names locked into the team sheet, it only really leaves two spots left up top. One for Mata and the other would likely have to go to Adnan really at this point. Though I guess with Adnan being so young we will look to rotating him, hopefully with Kagawa instead of our more ridged wingers.
From what I have seen, his first touch and overall body strength and pace are the primary reasons. I dont buy the argument that he hasnt been given enough chances, he has, both under SAF and Moysie and whenever he has been given a chance he disappointed so much so that I remember all his good performances this season namely against Laverkusen and second half against Swansea. And having watched most United matches live, all I can remember is him always loosing the ball when he receives it under pressure. I remember because it always annoyed me.
Kagawa has a brilliant first touch. There have been a few instances where he loses the ball cheaply but it's nothing to worry about, happens to most players. Other than that, he has a great touch. We don't get to see that much because we don't see him making runs. His first touch when he's on the run is one of his best qualities. If he had a good CM behind him who can actually play a through ball to him from the middle instead of the clockwork passes to Valencia/Young, we would improve so much. He doesn't have the need to build his physique, I just love when he does a quick turn and beats a man. Makes it look so easy.
Agree with his consistency though, he just doesn't impose himself enough and doesn't take risks. He takes the safe way out too many times for my liking. But blaming it on his first touch and passing is ridiculous.
It was a good debut, if a bit unspectacular however I think it's important to put it into context and people mustn't forget that he hasn't played football in almost a month at Chelsea. He will get better as his match-sharpness improves.
We also need to improve around him though. The reason he played so many long balls (some of them were very good, some more forgettable) is because we were quite spread out. We need like-minded players around him to play more nice short passes through the middle and in Rooney, RvP, Januzaj, Kagawa, Welbeck, and Cleverley, players with good movement who can pass and move, our interplay simply has to improve. Playing Young and Valencia forced us in a way to resort to passing the ball out wide more often than not, but when everyone is fit I can't imagine those two will be in many of Moyes starting XIs, especially together.
I also felt that Jones and Giggs didn't give Mata much of a solid midfield base behind him, so he often had to drop really deep to collect the ball from the back and no-one really made themselves available to him regularly when he did that. We really need to work on that. Every time someone receives the ball he should have two or three players making runs to open up space or running into space themselves to make themselves available. More of our players need to show for the ball more regularly because atm when someone has the ball everyone seems to be pushing forward running away from them.
I don't want to criticise the performance of the team too much though because we got the result, and that's then most important thing atm by far, but imo it wasn't anywhere near as good as the one against Chelsea I thought, even though we lost that one and won this one. We played much better football at SB so we are more than capable, I'm just hoping it all takes shape as the returning players are fielded together and build up their match fitness.
Mata's debut was a clear example of how good is he. For someone who's probably only trained for 6/7 hours with the team, he fit in so comfortably.
Can't wait to see the progress as him, Rooney, RVP and Januzaj get a better understanding. Its going to be amazing.
Can't wait to see the progress as him, Rooney, RVP and Januzaj get a better understanding. Its going to be amazing.
I was pleased with his debut, not much time to train with the players but he slotted in nicely, kept dropping into space looking for the ball, good signs.
Digging into statistics, bar the assist he's created 4 goal chances, commited 3 fouls ( Matallini 
) while suffering 2, had 87% passing accuracy, 18 suc. out of 24 in attacking third, so yea, quite decent statistics there. But he adds something else imo, something that we've seen from Scholes, he's releasing our wingers Scholes-style and that's why I believe that Young looked so good yesterday and even Valencia had a glimpse or two of being a decent player, it's quite refreshing to have such catalyst in the team because I don't think that neither Roo nor Kagawa can make our wingers tick.
Does it mean that Mata can play in CM one day ? Or is he physically too weak ? I'd say that passing is definitely there.
Cross checked the stats, he's played 52 passes which is the most out of all of our players.
) while suffering 2, had 87% passing accuracy, 18 suc. out of 24 in attacking third, so yea, quite decent statistics there. But he adds something else imo, something that we've seen from Scholes, he's releasing our wingers Scholes-style and that's why I believe that Young looked so good yesterday and even Valencia had a glimpse or two of being a decent player, it's quite refreshing to have such catalyst in the team because I don't think that neither Roo nor Kagawa can make our wingers tick.Does it mean that Mata can play in CM one day ? Or is he physically too weak ? I'd say that passing is definitely there.
Cross checked the stats, he's played 52 passes which is the most out of all of our players.
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Exactly Kostur, he takes a lot less time in playing it out wide which is why Young and Val found themselves in good amount of space. He's looking to play the next pass even before he has got the ball like that headed through ball he gave to Valencia who then had good enough room to put in a cross and due to the early move RvP was completely unmarked, and would have scored that 99 out 100 times.
I thought he played really well last night, considering he’s had one day training with the squad. He completed the most passes (52) with a success rate of 83%, his link up play was encouraging and he had one assist (well kind off)
His positional play and his ability to switch play was clear to be seen, all in all he could be the key to us getting fourth place.
His positional play and his ability to switch play was clear to be seen, all in all he could be the key to us getting fourth place.
Anyone else think all the Kagawa-esque comments are seriously cringey?
For a detailed analysis of Mata's dayboo
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11096/9139154/mata-watch
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11096/9139154/mata-watch
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