[Sammyjunn]

Why no Mata, Shaw?

 

[Nicklas]

Now watch Rooney become MotM and forcing Mata out of the first XI. But as long as the team is winning it doesn't matter who plays.

 

[Parry Gallister]

FFS, Mata's been our most creative player.

 

[VorZakone]

3 strikers? :O

 

[Jed I. Knight]

I said last week when he took Mata off that he was going to play this system to try and fit Rooney, VP and Falcao in the same team.

Yeah, I said to my mates who I was watching the game with that if he kept RvP on and hooked Mata for Falcao instead, it would mean that Mata was in trouble.

I'm not agreeing with letting RvP keep his place over Mata, but as long as the men LvG choose get us the results, I won't complain.

 

[luke511]

If RvP doesn't perform then he'll be dropped in the next match as simple as that. Mata was okay in his last match, scored a goal but wasn't that great apart from that.

His movement was excellent though, RVP was quite the opposite.

 

[izec]

You cant drop RvP, Mata was the obvious choice.

 

[Berbaclass]

Neville on Mata

 

[KM]

Rvp was crap last week and matter was one of our best players. Feck knows what's going on there.

Mata really wasn't one of our best players last week.

Di Maria, Herrera, Rafael, Blind, Rojo all had better games.

 

[The_Order]

If true, pretty much signals the end of Juan Mata at United, Falcao his replacement.

Not always starting doesn't mean the end of anything, stop over reacting

 

[Adnandos]

Mata

Definitely doesn't deserve this. Insanely better than Rooney behind the striker.

 

[RexHamilton]

It's one game, relax. Mata has played very well this season. He'll get back in there. You can't blame van Gaal for trying to see if you can play Rooney, van Persie and Falcao and get the best of them. He has to give it a go.

 

[Sixpence]

Carragher talking loads of sense.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

Van Gaal is probably rotating them a little bit. Mata will start the next game. He'll do the same with Blind, Herrera, Carrick and Felaini when they're all fit. No big deal.

 

[Ole'sbodyguard]

Like the look of this eleven. One advantage of leaving Mata out is that we have more pace in the attacking areas and plenty of technical ability.

Plenty of goals and ability in that front three as well.

 

[KM]

His movement was excellent though, RVP was quite the opposite.

Aye as I said if RVP doesn't perform, then he's fecked as simple as that.

 

[Zoo]

Not that surprised about Mata, I think Rooney offers more presence and is stronger defensively which has more importance in a tough away game. Van Persie can consider himself lucky though.

 

[Dobba]

Van Persie and Falcao. This will be a partnership the echo's through the ages.

"Get Mata on...get Mata on...get Mata on.."

 

[Highfather_24]

10/11.

For those asking why Mata has been dropped,isnt it obvious?

Rooney reckons he can play as a #10.And RVP and Falcao are world class strikers.Mata is just unlucky to miss out.If one of them does not perform,Mata can easily come in.No need to go AWOL over this.

Someone had to be dropped.

Guess we'll line up like this :
----------Blind
---Herrera---Di Maria
----------Rooney
-------RVP-----Falcao

I remember we lined up similarly against Newcastle in 12/13 with Rooney as the #10.It worked well.

 

[Orton]

Mata

Definitely doesn't deserve this. Insanely better than Rooney behind the striker.

Work rate might be more important today, as much as it hurts to see Mata drop out, he lacks presence when we don't have the ball.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

Is it 3-5-2 then?

 

[#07]

Thank you! People moaning about Mata. Fact is Rooney has higher work rate and defensive qualities.

That wasn't obvious in the second half against QPR last weekend. Without Mata we lost balance in midfield and the diamond started looking a bit like an inverted triangle. Mata made life a lot easier for Di Maria, Herrera and Blind by filling in for them when they made forward runs, that's not Rooney's game. Rooney thinks like a forward not a midfielder.

With our forward line its possible we will blow Leicester away quickly in which case the defensive balance won't matter. However, if Leicester rise to the occasion Rooney will have to show tactical discipline we haven't seen from him for a long time.

 

[Raees]

If it works we shall all be happy and if it doesn't - LVG will change it, he's not going to pick these guys if they don't perform - simples.

 

[Man-United]

Was Mata bad last week?! No way LvG.

 

[charleysurf]

Crazy that Rvp stays ahead of Mata. It's disappointing if VG is showing sentiment here.

 

[luke511]

Aye as I said if RVP doesn't perform, then he's fecked as simple as that.

Yep

 

[Shane88]

Absolute fecking joke leaving Mata out.

 

[united_99]

So Rooney thinks his best position is behind the striker (but why should it matter what Rooney thinks?) and LvG didn't like Rooney as a striker?

Strange altogether!

 

[Irrational.]

I think people Are overreacting over Mata, yes he has been awesome for us but I think we need runners today to combat Leicester's high energy game, and Mata doesn't give us that.

The amount of attacking options we have is crazy, and I still expect Mata to play a huge role for us this season, in the right games. It is going to be very difficult to keep all of our attackers happy, as Welbeck and Hernandez found out, so LVG will have to rotate very wisely.

 

[Manutd89]

Dropping Mata but kepping RvP. Smells like a dutch partnership rather then neutral jugdement of the players. I hope it works out but im suprised by the fact that hes trying to get all 3 strikes in one team. We may struggle to create enough creativity in front.

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

I absolutely hate Gary Neville these days, no wonder everyone other than United fans think he's a cnut!

Mata has 8 goals in his last 10 games along with a number of assists and all he cares about is running up and down the wing, box to box etc.... feck of Gary.

 

[Smoke On the Water]

It's a system reshuffle, it's not a 'dropping' of Mata? Away from home against a good hustling outfit, I think it's a good tactical decision.

 

[EliotTheRed]

Absolutely gutted for Mata, he has been very productive in terms of both goals and assists for us recently. Agree with most posters though, RVP needs a to a blinder up front to justify his selection. The loyalty in me would've stuck with the same starting XI from last week, with Falcao getting more minutes this time around.

I guess it just goes to show how much quality we have going forward, how many other teams can start with a front 3 of that ability with Mata arriving from the bench? Either way we line-up going forward, we're always going to have a top class player to bring on be it RVP, Mata, Falcao, Rooney or Januzaj.

Excited for kick-off now, gotta get my boring school planning out of the way as soon as possible so I can enjoy more of the build up!

 

[dannyrhinos89]

I'm a little disappointed in van gaal dropping mata. He does not deserve to be dropped but I can understand it maybe Rooneys energy and workrate will be more helpful in a game like this.

One things for sure, RVP certainly needs to have an amazing game today and get back amongst the goals.

 

[Yorkeontop]

Cambiasso has won more major honours than any Argentine footballer in history.

 

[Tincanalley]

Mata

Definitely doesn't deserve this. Insanely better than Rooney behind the striker.

Just forget the idea of being 'dropped' - team selections based on a squad is a matter of strategy and not a judgement or punishment of individuals.

 

[Anustart89]

Rooney as a no.10... Ugh, if it weren't for Di Maria and the fact that we're playing Leicester, I'd be genuinely worried.

We have Falcao and RvP up top and you're worrying because Rooney plays instead of Mata, get over yourself!

I agree it's not ideal, but let's not be drama queens about it.

 

[KM]

Absolute fecking joke leaving Mata out.

Over-reaction from you as usual.

 

[Highfather_24]

Why doesn't he just play Shaw. He'll never get match fit if he doesn't play.

Yes thats right but I guess LVG doesnt want to bring him in too quickly into an away match with high intensity just after he is back from a sensitive injury.He will start the next match I reckon and come on as a sub today.

 

[goin4glory]

Why does Rooney's opinion matter so much? He's not better as a 10 he's fairly mediocre in that role.