Looked a bit casual at times today - caught the Rooney disease of utterly discounting the possibility that if he walks slowly toward the opposition area with the ball, somebody may run up behind him and tackle him.
Juan Mata | 2013/14 Performances
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He hasn't played for 2 weeks so probably lacked sharpness a bit. Anyway, Mata and Kagawa seem to work better together when Rooney is not on the pitch.
We know his quality so I'm not really worried about him. I think next year he'll be amazing for us, of course with a different manager.
When he received the ball he had no options anywhere. Like usual, when he has "a bad game" its not really his fault, imo.
Massively underwhelming for me so far, other than set piece skill, I've always come out thinking that Kagawa is a better player in that role. The circumstances are not ideal but he's been pretty hit and miss so far. I'm just writing it off as just a reflection of our squad than his quality because he genuinely made me worry whenever we played Chelsea.
Maybe he's the curse of the shit striker? Wherever he goes, they can't control a football.
Mata is a win-win signing for me.
If he succeeds, then we have gained a wonderful player.
If he fails, then the "PL proven" myth can finally die. I'm sick and tired of players having to be "PL proven" as if it's some sort of magic league. A player needs to be top level proven. Period. If you're a superstar in Germany and Spain, then you ought to be a superstar in England as well. More often than not it's the setup and the manager that is to blame, not the player.
If he succeeds, then we have gained a wonderful player.
If he fails, then the "PL proven" myth can finally die. I'm sick and tired of players having to be "PL proven" as if it's some sort of magic league. A player needs to be top level proven. Period. If you're a superstar in Germany and Spain, then you ought to be a superstar in England as well. More often than not it's the setup and the manager that is to blame, not the player.
Anyone in particular you're talking about? Manchester United play in the Premier League and, unfortunately, don't play like Dortmund so it's no use to us to have someone who was brilliant in the Bundesliga 2 years ago but has been largely underwhelming for us. Mata's been a bit of a disappointment so far, he's clearly a class act but in the tougher games so far he's not contributed much and there were times yesterday where his touch looked off which is strange for someone with such outstanding technical ability.
Regarding his singing I think we overpaid for a position that's the most abundantly available in world football right now, there's no shortage of good #10s and we already had a couple within our squad who were needing game time. I'd much rather we overspend on a position that requires a skill which is rare to find like a genuinely good CM or a great full back.
Kagawa is one obvious example, but I've heard the argument many times before. A PL proven player is like a god. People always said that Mata and Silva were miles ahead of Kagawa, and there was no way to dispute it, because they had done more in the PL. Now we have Mata, and he's not looked anything like himself at his best. In fact, I think Kagawa under Fergie was better than Mata has been for us so far. I also think that he's only barely ahead of Kagawa right now(only because of his assist/goal count. His general play has definitely not been better).
It's still early, but if it continues like this, then it proves that it's meaningless to be PL proven if the coach/tactics don't fit. For all we know, Kagawa would have been just as good for Chelsea as Mata was.
The bottom line is that we need to change. We need to change the way we approach the game, add some new top players, and change our manager. It's heartbreaking to see classy players like Mata and Kagawa only being able to show us a fraction of their potential.
He was poor. He was against City too (I think it was that game). Anyway, it isn't good enough. The whole team was poor though. He gets more time than the others, as he should. Needs to play well against a good side though.
If Jurgen Klopp replaces Moyes, Mata may as well pack his bags. 
Jokes.
Be interesting to see what he would actually do with both players without dropping or playing one out of position, especially as Klopp said he was in tears when he found out Kagawa was playing on the wing for us.
Jokes. Be interesting to see what he would actually do with both players without dropping or playing one out of position, especially as Klopp said he was in tears when he found out Kagawa was playing on the wing for us.
According to Telegraph Jim White . The new regime are not to keen on Mata.
Which new regime?
I wouldnt worry about Mata, Kagawa, rooney. Whoever is in the best form should play.
Sorry misuse of words .I meant the class of 92.
This is exactly what I feared: jobs for the boys, and new faces need not apply.
Paul Scholes has said several times that he's a huge fan of Mata - called him the best player in the league even before he came to United.
What did our lovely Spaniard post on his blog last monday?
That has to be absolute bull.
Scholesy loves Mata. Gary Neville did an interview with him at the end of last season and he said that Mata was the best player in the league (or his favourite).
It'll probably be in his blog thread.
The only problem with Mata is he's not a threat off the ball. Wonderfully gifted obviously but he poses less threat on the counter and isn't as good as a player of his stature should be with his pressing etc.
That could see him relegated to the bench against the best teams. Don't know what somebody like Van Gaal would think though
That could see him relegated to the bench against the best teams. Don't know what somebody like Van Gaal would think though
Neville clearly doesn't rate Mata, you can see it every time he commentates one of our games not to mention he was against signing him in the first place.
He's not in any decision making position at the club at the minute though.
Well, I also actually don't understand why we signed this guy. We have 4 strikers and should play 442 by signing a better winger and midfield. Even if we want to play 4231 or 4411 with number 10 role, it's still nonsense signing to me since we have Kagawa and Januzaj who can play in that role. Just because he's such a class player doesn't mean we need him since we already have class players in the same role as him.
I'm not sure if he was what we need in Manchester United playing style philosophy. If he doesn't mind playing as a winger then that should be okay signing. Because it's weird that we have 2 or 3 number 10 role with 4 strikers and yet Moyes wanted to play with wingers.
Mata is much better than Kagawa and Januzaj.
If the talk about getting pace back in the side, then I wouldn't be surprised if Mata and/or Kagawa are left-out from the start today. I would be against that since I've been one that has liked the developing partnership between the two.
We shall see.
We shall see.
In my oppinion Kagawa would be better than Mata if used properly, but at this point Mata is much more efficient for us. More "adaptable" I would say.
Yes agree. But "better" doesn't always make a better team. It's all about balancing the squad to make a great team.
Clearly we have 4 strikers. And from all the position those 4 strikers are our strongest position. And we should focus on 442 by signing a better winger and a better centre midfield to support them. But we signed Mata. A centre Attacking midfield which we already have "Kagawa, Januzaj or even Rooney". Even if we want to play with number 10 role then where do we keep our four strikers then? I feel it's like a waste of money. We could use the money to buy a midfield like Cabaye who is available or someone else or even winger.
Well, it's too late anyway. So we might need to decide either play Mata as a winger or number 10 role. If we are going to play him as a number 10 role then say good bye to one of Rooney or RVP (Neither want to be bench for Mata number 10 role). If we are going to play him as a winger then Rooney and RVP can stay up front together but we are playing Mata out of position.
Maybe it's me but the idea that people question this signing beggars belief? We watched enviously Mata at Chelsea be one of the best players by a country mile in the league for last 2 seasons. I'm of the belief if a quality player becomes available you sign them irrespective of whether you need them or not. Look at Bayern, it's not hurt them. I've watched Mata and he's one of those players that could play in any side or league in the world.
I just feel you can't judge anything or anyone this season. We could have signed Ronaldo, and he would have struggled this season in this team.
Put 3 or 4 united quality players and let's judge him then. It's a squad game so they'll be always be rotation. Also RVP isn't going to be here forever if at all or maybe at all.
I just feel you can't judge anything or anyone this season. We could have signed Ronaldo, and he would have struggled this season in this team.
Put 3 or 4 united quality players and let's judge him then. It's a squad game so they'll be always be rotation. Also RVP isn't going to be here forever if at all or maybe at all.
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Agreed.
However, and I say this agreeing fully that when a player like this becomes available, you have to consider it. I think the people who question the signing look at it from the point of view that we had/have other areas which need urgent fixing. An attacking midfielder wasn't a priority and for that price, it could have been spent somewhere else to fix the real problem.
No one would ever questioned Mata's quality. He's probably our third best player as an individual player. But it's not about the quality in football team, Football is a teamwork play, it's about how to balance the squad.
We have 4 strikers with 2 centre attacking midfield. It works only if we play diamond. And I never see Moyes used diamond with us. But it seems our former manager even including the candidate one Van Gaal likes to use wingers. Our philosophy is wing play too. We strength out centre attacking midfield and leave the wingers and centre mid weak. van Persie was available only for 20 million + some bonus. While Mata was 37.1 million. If we could use 37.1 million for Mata, we could signed a quality winger with that amount of money even cheaper for Cabaye as a centre midfield because I think in January we need wingers or centre midfield more than a centre attacking midfield.
Why would you want to spent 37.1 million for another centre attacking midfield when you have 4 strikers and you could make the best out of squad with 442 formation. No wonder Hernandez and Welbeck are crying for the games. When you have 6 players try to get 2 spots of starting eleven.
That will be fine if Mata can play as a winger or wide position. Because our current squad right now have 6 players wanted their prefer position. And that position only available 2 spots. The only question is where are we going to play Mata. Winger? Then we should sign winger instead of him. Number 10 role? Then we need to sell some of our attackers. Not to mention we have James Wilson waiting for his debut.
But like you said, players available. The quality of mata does not come up in a jan window often. The players we need are limited to say the least. Sometimes you have to act on what you know now and less what might or might not happen in the future.
That is exactly what I'm saying. No one doubt of Mata's quality. But we could make the best of the money on a position which we need to fix first. RVP was cheap consider with that price for a world class player. So we went for it.
Under Van Gaal, I think RVP (fit), is going to be the first name on the team sheet. Also Van Gaal will perhaps know a little more about Kagawa from his Munich days, than he will Mata & may fancy him behind RVP. That would leave Mata as a bench player although I dare say he'd get starts in the less combative games & plenty of last 20 minutes.
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But your making the assumption that what we saw this season was the longer term plan. It clearly wasn't and won't continue to be. We know where we were but We have no idea who is coming and going. Even lesser so with a new manager. What we know is he's been signed, what we don't know is what the plan is going forward. With coming up against modern 3 man midfield, can see us using traditional wingers anymore in the same way IMO.
I'm pretty sure every manager out there knows the quality Mata possesses. He will be a starter for us for the next few seasons, I can guarantee you that. He is an excellent player and we are very lucky to have him. He underperformed in some matches when it was clear everybody was struggling under David's tactics. One of our best scored goals this season was Mata's backheel assist to Januzaj, highlighting once again what a player potentially he could be for us.
Fair point. But if it's not for longer term then for what we signed Mata? I thought it was a panic buy from Moyes. As a short term, we have 5 players including him 6 are fighting for 2 spots only. While those 5 are very quality players.
While for a long term.. Who knows.
But I feel like that Garry Neville was right that Mata's signing was too expensive for a position which not the main priority we need to sign.
Maybe the new manager doesn't prefer a 442? Or maybe he will play different formations depending on the opposition and players available? And what if RvP and Rooney miss some months due to injury? Has already happened in the past.
We are not the only team with so many attacking players. City also have 4 strikers + Silva/Nasri/Milner/Navas. Madrid have Benzema/Jesse/Morata/Di Maria/ Ronaldo/Bale/Isco and will most probably buy at least one striker in the summer. Let's first wait and find out what an experienced manager can do with our attacking players before deciding if we need Mata or not.
Well, no, you can't really
Agreed
Again agreed, a top Club needs strength in depth.
Real world class lifts a team, as RVP did so often last season.
Great goal, true, in a dead rubber.
Welbeck is proven that he can score goals when he plays in his prefer position during Rooney and RVP absent. Not to mention we have Chicharito. And also Wilson and us are looking forward for his debut. We could get a winger instead to improve our wingers I thought if we signed Cabaye (cheaper) we could fill in the position of set pieces if RVP and Rooney injured and centre midfield was exactly what we need to improve.
Di Maria is a winger originally. Jesse has a quality to be winger because he's quick and can beat players. And not to mention Morata and Jesse consider as a great young players which don't mind to sit on the bench for Ronaldo and Bale. I can see Wilson want to sit on the bench but I can't see Kagawa, Welbeck and Hernandez want just sit on the bench.
As for Isco. That's why they sold Ozil. Even Bale too. They even sold Higuain as well. We didn't sell our attackers and just put them like a huge mountain of attackers try to get a same spot of starting eleven
No wonder why Jovetic didn't get enough playing time even when Aguero got long injury. City also usually play with two strikers to be partner with Aguero and play 4411 or 442 with Aguero. Navas is most likely a natural winger. While Nasri is like Adnan Januzaj. Attacking mid but has the quality to play as a wingers or wide players. I consider Milner as a centre midfield or wide midfielder.
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