It's Official - The Juan Mata Thread

Jose looks to have found a niche for Mata as one of the first offensive options off the bench when needed. And it's one that may suit Mata, especially when dealing with opponents who may be tiring a bit. He definitely can be a spot starter when players are hurt or need to be spelled.
It is great to see him be a solid contributor to the team, especially when considering the fact that it was widely believed he'd be one of the first players to go when Jose came on board.

 

He is a very cerebral player too, so reading the game and looking for exploits comes naturally to him.

 

And he's great for team spirit I think. He's close to DDG and Ander and mhik apparently, and never rocks the boat about playing time. Model professional.

Given hes a sunk cost, hard to find many teams with quality as a rotational player.

 

The sole positive artifact from the Moyes era ?

 

Besides the fantastic memes?

 

Two straight games failing to score point blank, open net chances. We'd be in 5th if he had any composure whatsoever.

 

Perhaps a bit harsh, but your broader point is well taken. Mata and others have missed too many "big chances" this season.

And here we are, likely to finish 5th or 6th in the table after having spent something 500m total and maybe 400m net in transfers over the last seasons.

 

While our finishing today was shite Mata has been the winning goalscorer multiple times since he's been here. To bring up this thread just to single him out is bullshit.

 

Well I did it. And I am singling him out for two wide open misses in a span of a few games.

So ******** you.

 

For a guy who most think to be slow (me included) and some who think not first 11 material, he has scored his 9th goal this season. Second only to Zlatan.

 

Would still prefer a pacy dribbling RW over him, that would improve us alot.

 

His quality is not the issue for me. He's a decent enough player but he's a playmaker at heart and works best in a more central position. He worked on the right for Van Gaal because we played in a really low tempo, one that suited him well.
But under Jose, playing him on the right is an impediment because he's not quick enough to play on the wings and will tend to drift in, in a more central position. It works because as mentioned in the match thread, Zlatan leaves the box way too often, which leaves Mata the opportunity to ghost in and put himself in position to get opportunities, but it leaves the right flank completely unattended as well.
The problem with playing him centrally, in his favored 10/playmaker spot is simply that in our setup, Miki is simply the better option because of his athleticism and ball carrying abilities.
Mata is not bad to have in the squad, but if the plan is to use him on the wing to move Miki inside, then we need to be looking at another option to play there. But Mata is not a bad player to have in the squad.

 

Both Zlatan and Mata need replacing when we need to make that next step up. I think we will do that in the next 2 summers.

 

The sooner Mata returns to Spain the better. He gets goals by abandoning his flank and exploiting space but it weakens the team, congests the middle and leaves the right-back exposed.

 

It's a shame Mata isn't faster. His movement and runs behind the defense are brilliant he just doesn't have the speed to capitalize on a lot of them.

 

Before I ship out Mata, I would ship five other players and get wingers while having Mata orchestrating the hole with Mkhitaryan.

To ship out:

Young
Rojo/Smalling (one of)
Rooney
Fellaini
Schweinsteiger

In:

Winger (dribbler)
DLP prospect top potential/Saul/Koke and change the way we play
Fabinho
Griezman

Promote:

Pereira
Mensah
Tuanzebe

all with more prominent roles.

Starting eleven:

De Gea

Fabinho
Bailly
Jones
Shaw

Saul
Pogba

Martial
Mkhitaryan
Dribbler

Ibra

 

No.

 

If Saul is going to be the play then it has to be in a mid 3. A mid 2 of Saul and Pogs is just "lols"....
Also, apparently in Jeff's world, we're going to spend around/close to £100mil on a player (Griezmann) and he's not going to start on a regular basis??!? Yeah sure, why not... Been very vocal as well about my concerns of where he'd fit in the team, but if we buy him, of course he will be a regular for us.

 

It's spooky/uncanny the amount of times this season, and last that Juan Mata scores(oft very important) goals when he's just about to be replaced.....

Now if only we could come to some understanding with the 4th officials to stand there with his number permanently up on the board, we'd be laughing

 

Disappointing in terms of trying to sell him.

 

Don't see how. If we're talking about a player who relies on his physical tools or athleticism, then yes, it would be. But Mata is one of the least athletic players there is and his game is entirely predicated on instincts and mental acumen.
Should he make a full physical recovery, that should be enough to prove he's still the same player he's ever been.