Juan Mata | 2013/14 Performances

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Mata had a decent game and created a few chances. In fact he put the ball on a platter for Young that many players would have scored. What I don't understand is why he wasn't taking corners. He has a great delivery. I'd rather have Young, RVP, Giggs and Rooney in the box when Mata is playing
 
Good to watch the highlights real of him. I'm sure a lot of his misplaced crosses are from being rusty. The thing I really liked is his coolness under pressure. He'd have three players around him and still be looking for the pass like it's no big deal, very much showing the Spanish control. He also has a style of moving the ball forward or turning on the ball to ensure he picks the right pass at the right time.

I think he'd be excellent in the front of a midfield 3 behind a front 3. i.e:
-----Januzaj----Rooney----RVP------
---------------Mata---------------
-----Fellaini/ Cleverley----Carrick-----
Evra----Vidic----Jones-----Rafael----
------------DDG-----------------

The above is just one way to ensure there are plenty of passing and moving options. Cleverley and Fellani would provide solid defence to give Mata freedom. Januzaj, Rooney and RVP are all very capable at striking a ball or providing an assist, thus it would be an incredibly fluid front 4.

Where one of our strikers are injured, this definitely would work:
------------RVP-------------------
--Januzaj-----Mata-----Kagawa------
---------Carrick----Fellaini------------
Evra----Vidic----Jones-----Rafael
-------------DDG-----------------


It's fair to say that using wingers may be restricted, but this is one formation that would be nice, getting Nani back in his best position:

-------------RVP-----Rooney--------
Januzaj---------Mata-----------Nani
-------------Carrick-------------------
Evra----Vidic----Jones-----Rafael
-------------DDG-----------------

The above might struggle defensively

On paper we have so many options upfront that it is hard to understand why we would not be smashing teams week in week out.

Another option, which I think would work very well is a 3-5-2. Our current CB's are not quite good enough and neither are our wingbacks. Thus this could work well:

--------RVP-----Rooney-----------
Januzaj-----Mata--------Valencia----
--------Carrick----Fellaini-----------
----Jones----Vidic---Smalling------
-------------DDG-----------------

Smalling is capable of being CB or RB so well covered in movement there. Jones is pretty flexible so would have energy for LB/ CB and Vidic would be the rock in the middle. Only question does he have the energy and speed any more. Valencia is good at tracking back, Januzaj would need some instruction to track back more. The good thing about the above is it's fluid between 5-3-2 and 3-5-2, thus gives you defence and attack depending on the quality of the opposition. When Valencia attacks the wings Januzaj could sit back more, allowing Smalling to push out right a little and vs versa. This would also give Mata the best support to get the best of him. The centre of a circle of 6 quality players capable of wing play or central penetration. Fluid/ dynamic play!

In Carrick we certainly have a talented enough player for the interceptor roll and Fellaini has a touch of box-to-box talent about him that would allow him to express himself, whilst also providing extra steel when needed.

Personally I'd be tempted to try the above. Our strength is unquestionably in attacking talent, so focus on scoring more than the opposition, Brazil style!
 
Plenty of times I've seen him play those cross/passes to the far post, in a way where he is aiming for the centre and if it doesn't get there someone is going to get there at the back stick. Great passer. Will create plenty of chances throughout the season.
 
Anybody notice Smalling pointing to where he wants the ball and not making the run into that space in the box? It was in the second half, it's in the comp. :lol:
 
Was a very promising debut, can't wait for his understanding to begin to develop with the rest of the attack. After only a couple of days in training with us and nearly a month without playing as well. Fun end to the season, hopefully.
 
Kill 'em all said:
I thought he looked more like Scholes rather than Kagawa like some are suggesting.
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Agree with this. Kagawa's game revolves around receiving a quick ball on the half turn and bringing others in to play instantly. Mata on the other hand, played the game at his own leisurely pace, attempting to spray balls into the channels and towards RVP.

I'm looking forward to the Kagawa - Mata combination almost as much as the Rooney - RVP combination last season.
 
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:drool:
 
If he can pick up some of the same positions against Stoke as he did against Cardiff, I think he will be able to create a little more, Stoke really struggle when players face their back four.
 
Wasn't his dad quoted somewhere as saying that Mata feels like a little kid signing for us?
 
Red Stone said:
Could he be any happier about being here? Lovely to see, and it's bound to be infectious in the dressing room too.
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It is. Jones said so:

"It makes an impact in the dressing room when you sign a player of that calibre. He is such a talented player on the ball. He has definitely lifted spirits in the dressing room and especially in training. We want to impress and show him that we are what we are, that we are one of the best teams to be at. He came in against Cardiff. He has done well and I am sure he will be a huge asset and fantastic player for Manchester United, hopefully for many years to come. He sees the pass that sometimes no-one else sees. If he continues to make them, I am sure we will soon be climbing the table."
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It's a massive boost to the fans, Moyes and his staff, and most importantly the players.
 
86% Pass Accuracy, 1 Assist: How Man Utd’s £37m Man Made His Old Trafford Mark


It wasn’t as spectacular a debut as was eagerly anticipated, but Manchester United’s new club-record signing,Juan Mata, did provide a preview of the many wonderful things to come in his new club’s 2-0 home win over a Cardiff City side bossed by United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
With Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie having returned to the fold following injuries, it was thought that the new No. 8 would have to make do with a wide left role,but David Moyes opted to leave Rooney on the bench and grant Mata a free role through the middle in behind van Persie in a 4-4-1-1 formation.
His signing no doubt provided a huge lift for the club as well as its fans at a time when a lift was desperately needed, following the club’s shaky start to life under Moyes, and that was made clear when Mata’s first few touches of the ball, even though they weren’t in threatening positions, were cheered by the thousands upon thousands of chuffed fans that packed Old Trafford.
Typically, Mata dropped deep into midfield and even drifted out wide on occasion in order to call for and get on the ball, and his new team-mates were happy to oblige and lay it off to him. As soon as he got it, he raised his head in search of passing options, often making up his mind to hit it out wide for wingers Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young. His passing chart below reflects that. Going forward, though, United need to get more runners off the ball in order to give Mata more options to look for.

In any case, Mata’s desire to pass out wide here as well as his execution led to van Persie’s early goal, which was his first since November 10th, when he scored the winner at home to former club Arsenal.
Admittedly, the Spaniard’s long cross-field pass was aimed at Young, but the England winger wasn’t allowed to control it by his opponent, and it instead broke for Patrice Evra, who had come forward on the overlap and subsequently did very well to prevent the ball from going out of play.
His pass found the Dutchman at the edge of the box, who then laid it off to Young, who in turn teased in a lovely, curling cross which was met by the head of Valencia, who had taken up a very promising position in the six-yard box. The Ecuadorian hit the cross-bar, but van Persie was there to follow up, and he headed home on his second bite of the cherry, as ‘keeper David Marshall had done extremely well to save his initial effort.
After just six minutes, the little Spaniard had made his mark. But he wasn’t done yet. On 59 minutes, he recorded his first assist in a red shirt. It wasn’t one of those “Hollywood balls” or a neatly-threaded through ball, though. For this goal, Young deserves all the plaudits.

Mata passed the ball calmly and simply to him out wide. He teased his defender before cutting inside and then fired a powerful low effort beyond a sprawling Marshall into the corner of the net. It was a fantastic finish.
Mata had his chances too, but neither of his two efforts caused much concern. His right-footed effort from the edge of the box lacked conviction as it was his weaker foot, while his left-footed effort later on from inside the penalty area wasn’t struck cleanly, as he he had not positioned himself properly. He made a few runs into the box otherwise, but wasn’t picked out.
These are just the early stages, one would do well to remember. As Mata settles in and the team adapts to the Spaniard’s style, a better understanding would be formed and the team’s overall performance in the attacking third would improve. It must be noted that the team as a whole put in a very average performance, despite the winning result. Moyes must play his part as well, choosing his tactics wisely in order to ensure that he gets the best use out of his new signing, something that hasn’t happened with Shinji Kagawa, who looks very much out of the picture at the moment.
Cardiff caused more than a few problems over the course of the match, but poor finishing and passing in the final third let them down. Mata often dropped back with the rest of his fellow midfielders when Cardiff had the ball, but he was mostly just waiting for an opportunity to lead a counter-attack and didn’t really exert himself in the defensive phase of play, something that former manager Jose Mourinho had an obvious problem with.

The 25-year-old pressed the opposition sporadically, sometimes pushing up to pressure Marshall in his penalty area or putting an unconvincing foot in when he dropped back. In the end, he won one tackle and committed three fouls.
His debut ended after 84 minutes, when Adnan Januzaj – a player Mata should relish linking up with for years to come – was given his place. He earned a Performance Score of 30 points. As was said, though, these are just the early stages. Once he settles in and United improve the squad around him, expect him to have more of an influence on matches. http://www.squawka.com/news/2014/01/29/juan-mata-v-cardiff-city/2014012961583
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A decent analysis of his performance. I bolded that part because we definitely need to make more runs off the ball to get the most out of him. Far too static atm.
 
Every player needs movement in front of him. Hardly groundbreaking stuff.
 
That last picture looks like Jones is dreaming about Mata and having an imaginary wank. Look at his hand!
 
I am in serious consideration of getting a United kit with his name and number on it, or maybe i'll wait for Kroos as well
 
I know Mata isn't the tallest, but feck me Phil is huge.
 
relx said:
From those pictures alone, I'm pretty sure he's not 5'11" as listed on some sites
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I'm 5'11'' and i'd come up to Phil's belly button i reckon.

EDIT: Your tagline never fails to make me piss myself. :lol:
 
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