21 May 2021 13:49:28
Don't know what others opinions are but Juan mata?! His contract is up at the end of the season and we are apparently trying to get him to stay. why? He's a great guy but he offers nothing from a playing perspective and he's hardly featured this year. We have others like lingard and Donny who can play his position so I don't get why we would keep him. We won't improve if we keep handing out these sympathy contracts, am I alone in this thinking?

1.) 21 May 2021
21 May 2021 14:18:15
I was ok the first time round Mata stayed, thought having a pro like him around could only be positive for the team and younger players. Now though I think it’s time for him and right for him to move on. I think the mentality of the players and professionalism is better now and with Cavani and even Maguire stepping up and demanding high standards and setting strong examples, it seems silly for Mata to be taking up a place and a wage. He also deserves to end his career with one more chance to play more often than not. Great player, great professional and seems to be a great fella but now is a good time to move on IMO, sadly.

2.) 21 May 2021
21 May 2021 15:20:20
@Tim not only are you not alone in this thinking (i am fairly sure), you are also right on the money. He is such a lovely guy but he should not stay here nor should he be given an extension!

3.) 21 May 2021
21 May 2021 15:27:30
I expected hm to feature a bit more. He’s probably a very expensive role model, I guess we don’t see what happens behind the scenes but it does seem the right time for him to move.

4.) 21 May 2021
21 May 2021 15:43:06
I think Mata will block the bath of youngsters that are nearing game time. He is largely ineffective on the pitch. Perhaps off field he is a role model.

The aftermath of C. V 19 will surplus players leaving. Mata isn't a key player or performer. His loss wouldn't be felt. Freeing up wages to spend on players who will make a difference will count and go further to the club s chances of winning the EPL.

This summer Mata should be released and Matic allowed to leave. Mourinho wants him, so sell him. Promote Garner and but a top midfielder.

5.) 21 May 2021
21 May 2021 16:48:29
Nice guy. But look at the size of the squad. shocking really - and 5million saved per year is 5 million quid we need elsewhere--all clubs do now.

6.) 21 May 2021
21 May 2021 17:06:16
I'm in agreement with all in here on this one and with you MH on matic.
Jesse on loan, matic 4th choice, mata 5th choice, dalot on loan, jones 28th choice, and grant 3rd choice. That's 26m a year right there in wages PA. None of them made any significant contribution this year with the exception of matic.
26m in wages and potentially in the region of 50m in transfer fees.
Heaton is in on a free similar wages to grant i'd imagine
Laird already on books
Amad already on books
Tuanzebe already on books
Garner already on books
Can easily replace them in our squad.
It frees up a lot if money on the books to invest in cb rw cm cover rb which then in turn may mean we can loan garner and laird out again which would be ideal.

7.) 21 May 2021
21 May 2021 19:30:51
It's a tricky one. If you're basing purely on his impact on the pitch you'd let him go.

But depending on who leaves this summer he might be worth having around for another year or so.

Leader in the dressing room, perfect professional and ideal player to guide many of our younger players.

Also a great person to have around to help if you have an Spanish speakers sign for the club.

Apparently he has played a big role in DDG staying as long as he has.

At the end of the day we have a 25 man squad, not every one of them will play a vital role in the first team. Having a player who can play a role in the squad but also fulfils other roles within the team structure can be hugely beneficial.

Players like Lingard and Andreas Pereira will leave this summer if we can find buyers.

It's better to evolve a squad than revolutionise the squad. Change too much too quickly and you can easily lose the identity and balance. It happened under LvG.

With Mata I think it all comes down to what he wants. Is he happy to keep things as they are, or does he want to move somewhere and have a chance at a bigger role for the final few years of his career?

8.) 21 May 2021
21 May 2021 20:33:35
I wonder why they would extend Mata’s contract, it can only be as a mentor with a view to joining the coaching staff. Do we know if he is doing his coaching badges?

Is he worth a playing contract extension, no, because he has hardly played, however, does he connect well with the younger Spanish players, is there a bigger idea for him?

He has bags of experience and it depends if he can pass that on. We may offer but he also may choose to get some playing time elsewhere, unless there is a coaching path.

9.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 11:29:58
I hoped he would get involved in coaching the youngsters, Red Man, but I think when I asked Ed01 about this a while ago, he mentioned the possibility of him going back to Spain as he might be getting involved in some way with his first club, Oviedo. I think he'd be a good presence in the youth coaching set-up.

10.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 12:00:30
People always expect a mass overhaul every summer but it's unlikely more than 3 in/ 3 out is the reality. Although, on the other foot, Lampart bought in at least 6 first team players and even though it didn't work out well for him, look at Chelsea now. I think the moral is, if the right person is managing the team, anything is possible. Tuchel came in from a foreign league with only a few months remaining and completely flipped their season on its axis.

11.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 12:50:59
Is what the best coaches are capable of spenno.
Lots laughing at Chelsea when Frank was sacked and they were 9th.
Same players with a different coach play cl final next week.

12.) 22 May 2021
22 May 2021 12:53:16
Spenno, I think when you have a huge overhaul like that it makes the managers position very difficult.

Do you stick with the guys who did well for you in the previous season, or do you cast them aside for the new players?

Either way you upset either your current players who feel undervalued or you upset the new guys by them not getting in the team.

Revolution over evolution generally means the manager dies on his sword. As seen with Lampard.

I think you don't want to change more than 3 maximum first team players a year. You could bring in more than three, but they need to be either squad players or young players for the future. Personally I'm not a fan of signing "squad" players, you either sign someone for the first 11 thus pushing a current first 11 player into a squad role, or you promote a youth player into a squad role. At least that's my view.