02 Oct 2014 20:52:51
In regards to the poll of the day, where do people stand on Mata and his performances in a United shirt? Are fans actually displeased with his play and willing to let him leave the club so shortly after he arrived? In my opinion selling Mata would be a massive mistake. Incredible professional and a very skilled and intelligent footballer. I suppose arguments could be made that United are stacked in the number 10 position, but given Rooney's fluctuating form and the sale of Kagawa, selling our best performer in that position seems foolish. Surely we want to keep our best players at the club, does anyone actually want to see Mata moved on??
How many times has mata taken the team by the scruff of the neck and been a game changer for us? I can't think of any!
People saying its good rooney is suspended as mata will be better are seriously deluded.
We're going to find out very soon how important rooney is to us.
03 Oct 2014 09:07:55
Taken the game by the scruff of the neck? Like Rooney did against Swansea, Sunderland, Burnley and Leicester in those emphatic victories? There are very few players around who can actually do this, it is more a team game now than it ever has been, for me, and all the pieces need to work together and in their correct positions. People are just looking forward to Mata getting a run of games in his preferred position fella. I'm never happy to lose any player, but Rooney did a stupid thing (and no more than that) and now Mata needs to take this opportunity to show what he can do. His goals/assist record for us is pretty good.
Which was the last game which any United player took by the scruff of the neck?
I would say give Mata these 3 games in his best position. If he continues to be a passenger then it is time for us to bring in Janujaz and Pereira instead of Mata.
If Rooney is going to start then there is no point having Mata sit on the bench when he is only going to stifle our two youngsters and is commanding a large wage and potential transfer fee.
He is undoubtedly class, but has not delivered anywhere near the performances expected (tap-ins aside).
I read an interesting article about Mata and his performances for us so far. The main point of the article was that while Mata is a very good player, his game has serious problems.
His positional play is lacking. Countless times I have seen him run into an area where the ball can not be played or passes aren't on forcing our players in possession to go backwards or sideways. For an attacking midfielder the ability to show for the ball is basic.
We all know he is not the fastest of players but this wouldn't be a problem if he moved the ball on quickly which he fails to do a lot may be due to our strikers (RVP in particular) being very rigid and offering little movement. Point being he seems to slow the play down.
His touch and short passing are better than Rooney's but against more physical teams, Mata is easier to dispossess or possession.
I know this post makes it seem like he is Sh*t, but his other qualities make up for it. His passing is superb and ability in small spaces is quite good. He does have a good record for us in terms of Goals and Assists and seems like a nice guy.
I do feel we over paid for him last January. I would rather see Januzaj get game time in that position against Everton on Sunday.
I agree Jamax - he doesn't suit the pace we need to play at and the size of Old Trafford shows his lack of pace as well. let's see how he does with Falcao & ADM around him, maybe he will click.
He can be of great benefit for certain scenarios, however he is a luxury we don't need at the minute especially with our best prospects competing with him for the same role. I'd be more exciting seeing Januzaj or Pereira on the team sheet at the minute.
He will get goals and assists, but to be fair most half decent players would playing for Utd in that position. I rate him, but he was sold by Chelsea for a reason, like Kagawa he just doesn't quite work.
I do think he brings much needed intelligence to the team and he could be more beneficial off the pitch than on it if you get my meaning, he is too good not to play, but should be for another team that has slow possession as their philosophy.
Agree Beast, let's see what he does in the next three matches.
Brendan, against Swansea, Rooney scored and got us back in the game, but then the defense had another lapse, so we can't blame that on him.
Against Burnley, the whole team wasn't good and Mata did miss an absolute sitter. So you can make out what you want, the fact is that Rooney is very influential and Mata is just another player.
Personally, I would rather see Januzaj, Pearson and Perriera ahead of him.
03 Oct 2014 14:18:41
It wasn't an attack on Rooney NM, and I have no interest in another debate. I was just saying that hitting Mata with a criticism like 'he doesn't take the game by the scruff of the neck', when there are probably about 5 players in the whole world who can do that, is totally unfair and invalid. The only player who has that ability at United is Di Maria. What happens if Mata plays the next 3 games, everything clicks up front and we get 3 great results? Will it be that Mata got lucky in that it clicked just in time and Rooney would have done just as well? Be interesting to see what happens. As I said, Mata has a pretty good goal/assist record at United and it's up to him to take his chance in the next 3 games.
Brendad.
If everything clicks up front ?
We have scored 9 goals in the last 3 games, would of maybe been more if rooney hadnt been sent of.
I think you could argue everything is clicking up front
Jred - I think we have a way to go before it clicks yet. We didn't create too much against Leicester or West Ham in fairness. Even the second half against QPR was pretty flat.
We look much better obviously, but it is scary to think there is so much more to come from RVP, Falcao & Rooney. I think they have been playing at three quarters of their ability at most so far. In a few more weeks we will be tearing decent teams apart again, but we still have a lot of work to do before that point, just being objective.
Beast
I think possesion and attack are built from a solid base .
Imo our attack is fine and once we sort out defence we will control possession better get the ball back quicker and put teams under more pressure.
I really have no issue with our attack
03 Oct 2014 16:48:54
Clicked isn't hitting a very poor QPR for 4 when it should have been 8, being outscored by Leicester even if our defence wasn't great and struggling to score 2 against West Ham when Rooney was on the field. If our forward line clicks we will be as deadly as Real in my eyes. They would have scored 15+ in those 3 games with their attack clicking and we should be looking at the same, whether Rooney is in the team or not.
03 Oct 2014 17:00:41
Beast,
When you mention the size of old Trafford, you do realise most premier league pitches are the same size now?
I agree Jred, it is hard to be critical of our forward play with such chaos going on behind them.
I do think that wave lengths need to be picked up though. That will turn us from a good attacking team into an immense one. Just imagine what we will do with attacking full backs creating space and midfielders breaking forward so our creative players can link. It will be a joy to behold, but we still are a few games away from our players adapting to each other which is why I think there is a lot more to come, even if the CB situation isn't resolved until Jan.
Beast
That my point to be honest a solid base to control games attacking fb etc, i really don't have any issue with our attack .
Brendan
If we continue to average 3 goals a game i will be very happy
Whatever happens, we will know more about mata and how he firs in the next three games. My worry is that defensively, he offers nothing, while Rooney works hard to win the ball back. The next three matches, we're going to be doing a lot of chasing, so let's see what happens.
03 Oct 2014 18:57:53
Jred, it is the opposition we were up against and how they played that means we should have scored more with an attack that had clicked properly. I don't expect us to get 5 against City, Chelsea, Liverpool etc, 3 or 4 will be plenty :-)
I we average 3 goals a game until the end of the season I will buy next year's united shirt with Rooney 10 on the back, whether he is at the club or not :-)
Brendan
I don't think there are any easy games in the epl. 4 against qpr is ok with me as is 3 against Leicester which would of be far more with a decent back 4.
Even 2 against westham who had just beat the scouse was ok, it would of been more with a decent back 4 and rooney not getting sent off.
I know you have your fingers and toes crossed we sell our captain this summer no matter how well he plays but if we do i will get a top with your name on it
Mata is the most skillful and technical player in his position that United can have. He has been scoring some goals lately as well but, the one thing that he lacks is pace which is going against him.
Nowadays most opposition teams play that high line and "pace and energy" is an important element in the midfield area and Mata lacks both those qualities. However with the likes of DiMaria, Herrera and Blind in around him, it would definitely work in Mata's favour.
Rooney is a big concern for Mata as he currently offers that energy in the middle of park and is also sort of a box-box player and LVG really likes those sort of players who can also fit into his tactical changes.
Nobody in here would want Mata sold and he would be vital in case of an injury to one of our front 3. Although the likes of Januzaj/Herrera and others can play there in case of an injury, Mata is a pure no.10 and one of the best in his position. The only worrying thing is how much game time Mata will get(he is too good to be sitting on the bench). Although United would need players of his quality, come next season when we are in the Champions League.
04 Oct 2014 19:58:35
I'll expect a photo on here Jred if it happens :-)
{Ed007's Note - No.}
{Ed002's Note - Khedira will be leaving at the end of his contract next summer.}