Juan Mata | 2013/14 Performances

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LR7 said:
I'm not sure the problem is in where Mata plays. I think it's the way we play.

If we continue to rely on crosses as our primary means of attack, Mata will just be another means to spread the ball wide, or whip a cross in. We won't get the best out of him unless we gear ourselves more towards focusing on play through the middle which Mata can't do by himself.

The fact that we play quite spread out without 2-3 players immediately running into space to offer themselves as passing options for the person who has the ball means that play through the middle is always going to be more difficult. We really need to work on not only being more compact but better team shape, movement off the ball and always having players within close proximity to immediately make themselves available create good passing angles. Too often the person with the ball is looking, and looking and looking where to pass to and no one is showing themselves or they're all so far away.

I thought the addition if Juan Mata meant that we were looking to adapt and shift our focus from being mainly down the flanks but I've not seen anything to suggest that we're looking to make any changes in that sense, it seems more likely that like Kagawa, Mata will have to adapt to the invariable way that we play.

Rooney isn't the only problem, but him pushing up so high and making the same runs as RvP removes a central passing option for the CMs and the wide players. In the absence of people like Januzaj who will try to run past people with the ball, it means that there is often very little else to do but go wide and cross.
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We're analysing a tiny sample of games to try and work out whether our tactics have changed since Mata joined but I don't know how anyone can come up with the conclusion that we've approached each game in an identical, invariable way. The 81 crosses against Fulham has been discussed ad nauseum but did you know which team attempted the most crosses in our most recent fixture? Hint: Juan Mata didn't play for them.
 
I noticed that a lot with Valencia, he was trying to play through the middle as much as possible, clearly that was something he had been told to do because it isnt his natural instinct telling him to do it.
 
prarek said:
I understand that but its more to do with tactics than the actual formation itself. Silva starts on the left of a 442 as well but is allowed to cut in and do his thing because it is not a rigid 442.
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True but city play with a 244 formation with kolarov and zabaleta being basically wingers while everyone else pushes inside.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
We're analysing a tiny sample of games to try and work out whether our tactics have changed since Mata joined but I don't know how anyone can come up with the conclusion that we've approached each game in an identical, invariable way. The 81 crosses against Fulham has been discussed ad nauseum but did you know which team attempted the most crosses in our most recent fixture? Hint: Juan Mata didn't play for them.
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We didn't have much attacking impetus against Arsenal at all really (in both games against them tbf), so the fact that they crossed more than us doesn't say much. In the 4 games Mata has played in it's still been our primary mode of attack.

The nature of the cross isn't specified in stats either. There's little wrong with crosses in general tbh. People who have criticised the 81 crosses against Fulham don't particularly have anything against crossing when used sensibly and effectively and as one of several routes of attack rather than the exclusive route. City score from them an awful lot. There's just a difference between picking a team mate out with low crosses and cut-backs along the ground for them to run onto, and pumping high, early, aerial crosses into the box which we seem to prefer under Moyes, and which don't suit our strikers and are often easily cleared by defenders.

I agree that's its a small sample size of 4 games since Mata has joined, I was just stating that I haven't yet seen anything to indicate any sort of change. It could still happen.
 
mancan92 said:
True but city play with a 244 formation with kolarov and zabaleta being basically wingers while everyone else pushes inside.
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That's the thing. City start as 442 but it often becomes a 4222 with the inside wingers cutting in and occasionally 3142 with the fullbacks going forwards and Fernandinho dropping deep. My point being Mata starting on the left or right of a 442 is not a bad thing, its how we play out our tactics and what happens in the game that is the most important thing. People are too fixated on the starting formation and positions.
 
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prarek said:
That's the thing. City start as 442 but it often becomes a 4222 with the inside wingers cutting in and occasionally 3142 with the fullbacks going forwards and Fernandinho dropping deep. My point being Mata starting on the left or right of a 442 is not a bad thing, its how we play out our tactics and what happens in the game that is the most important thing. People are too fixated on the starting formation and positions.
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Yeah 100% its the tactics not the formation
 
iff between now and the rest of the season we continue to see Mata played as a winger, that between him Rooney, RVP and the rest there is very little intricate interplay, then I can see any targets giving a lot of thought against agreeing to come here because they know they are going to end up playing in a system that they will not excel in. Early days or not, as has been mentioned over and over, many managers have been able to put systems in place in a short time and at least it's visible on the pitch. We are not seeing Moyes get the best out of 3 supremely talented players so far and if he can't in the next 12 games then I fear for the type of talent we will be able to attract, even forgetting we won't be in the CL.

Lets just (desperately) hope that in Dubai they'll manage to put together a scheme that will start to show the world that Moyes and Co have a plan that doesn't involve negating his best players strongest features.
 
@boo posted this in a conversation thread... it deserves more viewings.

Mata gliding on one foot:


LividAccomplishedIvorybackedwoodswallow.gif
 
It looks dangerous. He could have torn or twisted something..
 
It looks amazing. I'll try to do something similar at practice tomorrow. I'll probably explode though.
 
I just showed my Leeds supporting friend that gif... I quote "Well... he's clearly slipped. And he obviously wanted to control the ball in front of him... in a way, you could say it's quite fortuitos"
 
Let's be real here. I get the Mata love in but the way people talk about this sort of stuff it's like they've never played a sport in their lives.

He is lunging for the ball. He is basically jumping forwards. He isn't gliding as gliding indicates that his foot is bearing his weight. His trail leg is simply dragging along. It looks cool and all, but let's not make it sound like he walked on water. His lagging leg is just dragging.
 
I think everyone realises that. It's just a coincidence that he only needs to jump high enough that his trailing foot skims the grass. Plus, the actual control is good but not amazing. He doesn't kill the ball dead or anything.

Like you say, though, it looks cool. Which is the main thing.
 
Recharging the batteries for the final stage


Hi everyone!

Today I’m writing to you from Dubai. The temperature here is fantastic, it doesn’t seem like February in this emirate! The reason for being here is that, following our game against Arsenal, since we didn’t have any fixture scheduled on the weekend, the club thought a few days of work far from Manchester would be good for us, in order to recharge our batteries with a view to the final stage of the season.

maradona-mata.jpg


This kind of breaks always help to make the group even stronger and to switch off a bit from the different competitions and the tight schedule. Also, it’s amazing to see how many fans the club has around the world.

Personally, these days are good for me to settle even more in the team and share these moments with my team mates. And also, obviously, to train hard and get used to the new working patterns after just three weeks in the club. These are long days, with training sessions and events with sponsors; we spend a lot of time together but there is free time too, so I can discover this country and its culture.

And it’s true that the weather here is great and every day has been sunny, so some of us will look more tanned after this break, for sure… Tomorrow we fly back to Manchester to get ready for our next game in the Premiership and we hope to start a good run of results.

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Our last game was a draw at the Emirates against Arsenal. It’s not a bad result, but the truth is we had chances to win and that is what we need. That’s what we are working for, now that the end of the season is approaching. The positive thing is that the team did good in defence and we didn’t concede a goal.

These days in Dubai I have watched many games on TV. Both of the FA Cup (congratulations to those who qualified) and the European ligues. In Spain, first Barça and Atlético beat their opponents to say once again how exciting the fight for the title is going to be. Moreover, Real Madrid won at Getafe so the top of the table is really tight! I believe nothing will be decided before the last two weeks.

I also kept an eye on the Sochi Winter Olympics. There’s a lot of amazing sport disciplines such as skeleton or bobsleigh. It’s incredible to see the speed they get. I could watch Javier Fernández, from Spain, in figure skating. He got really close to the medals, it’s a shame, but he did really great. Cheer up!

As I said, I have a Manchester United shirt at home that I want to raffle. So I have thought that you can send me photos with a number 8 on them. Whatever you want, not necessarily a number on a football jersey. Something different and funny. The one I like the most will get my shirt with my signature. Thank you in advance to those participating, and to all of you for your tireless support!

Hugs to all!

Juan

http://blogs.grada360.com/juanmata/en/2014/02/17/cogiendo-fuerzas-para-la-recta-final/
 
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