Matagawa must shine - let it be so Moyesy!
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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That is wonderful.
More like moonwalking
It's like he's moon walking
Jesus.
I wonder whether Mata will make Spain's World Cup squad...
He has 5 games left this season to make an impression on Del Bosque.
He's probably started hitting form at a good time - if he can take his productivity and form of the last two league games into the remainder of the season, he surely has a chance.
Anyone got any insight on his prospects?
He has 5 games left this season to make an impression on Del Bosque.
He's probably started hitting form at a good time - if he can take his productivity and form of the last two league games into the remainder of the season, he surely has a chance.
Anyone got any insight on his prospects?
Competing against I guess Iniesta, Fabregas, Isco, Cazorla, Silva, Navas and Pedro for the two wide midfielder spots. He's nowhere near Iniesta who's 100% guarenteed to start for obvious reasons. Silva's had a better season and Navas and Pedro offer a lot more variety from the bench where as Mata is more of the same that they have from Iniesta/Silva.
Del Bosque always prefers Spanish based players too so I'd expect those 7 to go before Mata does and I can see why. Spain have incredible depth.
It's a shame for Mata, but I tend to agree with all of that. He's been a victim of unfortunate timing - the World Cup has come at a time that he fell out of favour at his former club and then he's come into a struggling side.
Not the worst thing for United - he'll get a proper break over the summer and then will probably be playing with a real point to prove.
If he is hitting his usual 15 goals and 20 assists next season, he'll be back in - he's a better player than the likes of Navas, Cazorla and Pedro, for instance.
He's got a chance, especially now with Thiago out (he is expected to be back around mid May though). And it also depends if Del Bosque takes 3 or 4 strikers with him, if he takes 3 then there is another space for an attacking mid. But the competition in midfield is stronger than ever and Koke will additionally for sure be there this time, and deservedly so. All in all won't be easy but he has a better chance with his current form than he had some months ago I would say.
Really hope he makes it!
Really hope he makes it!
Would be criminal if he doesn't make the squad.
Well he has made their tournament squad every time since the confed cup in 2009! If we take the last Euros and the Confed Cup he was there despite Iniesta, Fabregas, Pedro, Navas, Cazorla and Silva also being there. Also, Del Bosque sometimes puts him and Silva as forwards on the official list instead of midfielders. He was not a starter though. But his problem this season has been that he had an unfortunate season while new faces (Koke and Thiago) have had an excellent season.
Koke will be in there as well. It's not like Cazorla has had a brilliant season either though so if Mata finishes the season in better form then I could definitely see him sneaking in there ahead of him.
I don't disagree at all that Mata is better than Navas or Pedro if you were building a team from scratch, but when you've already got Iniesta and Silva I'd rather have pace (Navas/Pedro), dribbling (Navas) and a goal threat (Pedro). Mata's never going to be a big player for Spain, they've just got too many options.
For Cazorla, in the PL Mata's definitely always been considered the better player but Del Bosque seems to rate Cazorla as being better and always has. It's hard to disagree with a guy who's managed sides to 2x Champions League's, 1x World Cup and 1x European Championship.
Isco has been inconsistent this season as has Carzola.
Again, I don't disagree with that. But, Mata is a good age and has a chance in the future to become integral. Iniesta is getting on, as is Cazorla. If Mata settles at United the way we expect, he will get his chance in the Spain squad, you'd have to think.
He will get his chance, especially when after the WC Xavi and Xabi Alonso probably leave the team and Iniesta might probably take Xavi's place. With Spain you never know, even someone like David Silva only got around 50 mins altogether in the WC 2010 (Mata got 20 mins in the same WC) but now Silva is playing regularly. And Mata already got much more playing time in the Confed Cup 2013 than in previous tournaments.
Koke will be in the squad. Mata, Cazorla and Isco are not guaranteed.
Cazorla's ability to play a multitude of positions well make's him more of a shoe-in for me. He wasn't playing very well before the last Internationals and still got in. Isco doesn't start for Madrid but when he plays and when he comes on is always so impressive. The kid has so much talent. I think he will miss out in this world cup. Pedro and Navas are also shoe-in's as they offer something very different from all the other midfielder's. Mata my unfortunately miss out on this world cup which is great for us but for him....
In the final third we have a lot of quality and quite a few different combinations we can play. I would like us to bring in one very quick wide player with more quality on the ball than Tony V. (Who's workrate I believe is integral against big teams). Again for me and I have said it from the beginning it has to be Mata + one in the top two roles. It will be an interesting Summer, i'm happy that he is getting back on his feet. Should be a quality player for us.
In the final third we have a lot of quality and quite a few different combinations we can play. I would like us to bring in one very quick wide player with more quality on the ball than Tony V. (Who's workrate I believe is integral against big teams). Again for me and I have said it from the beginning it has to be Mata + one in the top two roles. It will be an interesting Summer, i'm happy that he is getting back on his feet. Should be a quality player for us.
Agree 100%
How did mata perform for Spain when he was playing his best football at Chelsea?
Well that's the thing, in 2011/12 he only got 6 minutes against 10 men Italy in the final when they were already leading 3-0. Tbf to him, he made the most out of it and scored their 4th goal in that final. But he is not the only one who suffers, Javi Martinez has hardly played in tournaments for them either as in defence Ramos and Pique are ahead of him and in DM Xabi Alonso and Busquet are ahead of him.
You could actually say Mata got the most valuable minutes in the WC 2010 when he was only 22 and playing for Valencia. Spain lost their first game against Switzerland and in the second they were leading 2-0 when he came on for a bit more than 20 minutes.
In the last Confed Cup he played well against Tahiti (lol) and had a decent game against Italy. Wasn't good in the final against Brazil but hardly anyone was!
Not easy at all with Spain, De Gea has still not played for the 1st team and someone as talented as Inigo Martinez isn't going to play anytime soon as Ramos and Pique are still very young. Well well, I guess a nice problem to have and the reason why they have been dominating for a while now!
What a gif!
That's awesome the way Mata grins and Kagawa looks nervously over his shoulder.
Mata: "See you in the shower."
Kagawa: "Huh? What?"
Mata resembles some kind of moonwalking demon, ready to brutally murder Kagawa when he least expects.
This is my new favorite reaction gif.
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Mata's better than Cazorla and Isco. Not sure any of the three of them will get minutes though.
He just oozes class. Definitely needs to be played in the no.10 role more often. Obviously that'll mean dropping or getting rid of Rooney or Van Persie, but I honestly feel that's the best decision for the team.
Scoring against Villa seems to have been a release. for him. He was relaxed, expressive, and enjoying his natural game again at Newcastle.
Now back to the studio.
Now back to the studio.
He is better than both the anteater and Isco, somewhere on Silva's level (although his form is brilliant at the moment). I know Pedro and Navas can give you different dimensions throughout the game but you don't leave a player of Mata's quality out of the WC squad. Even more so considering he won't be arguing if not playing.
Hope Del Bosque takes him. And De Gea. And Shinji.
Why on earth would we need to get rid of one of those two just to allow Mata to play?
We play over 60 matches in a season and obviously we need to keep our strikers as fresh as possible ,or do you envisage playing the same two players up front for 60-odd games. What happens for instance if one of the 3 is injured and you've already sold another? VP and Rooney are both injured at the moment.
Come on folks....think these things through, please.
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