[Rozay]

Mourinho not starting him is starting to get silly now in my opinion. It's obviously not a straight choice of who is better. He doesn't even particularly rate Mata. It's just like him getting sacked from United, and coincidentally turning up managing Schweinsteiger's next club. Of course, there will be questions immediately, and Jose will probably start playing him and acting like he rates him all along, but the reality is - he's already shown what he thinks. Just like he has with Mata. He didn't sign Mata for Chelsea, and as soon as he came, he got rid. Now he's not only central to his team, he's even a winger too (obviously playing him ahead of Rooney would be a step too far just to prove a point!).

For me, we all know Mata will not be in Mourinho's first team. Almost like Mkhitaryan is paying the price so Jose can show some huge faith in Mata, but Mats will eventually be out of the team. Mkhi was signed by Mourinho, Mata wasn't. Not to mention that Mkhi is obviously fecking better than him, and the team is now being held back due to politics in my opinion.

 

[Cheekiey]

Not only should he be starting but he needs to be playing through the middle.

Yes 1000% this, when he came on he mainly played central and drifted all over the place and showed us what he is truly capable of, Yes Rooney got the assist but that doesn't take away the fact Micky outshone him in 30mins as a 10 than Rooney has this season.

Would love to see this XI tested at OT, the speed and control we would have over the game, especially with front 4 that can interchange would be a superb spectacle to watch

Ibra
Martial - Micky - Rashford
Pogba - Blind
Shaw - Bailly - Smalling - Valencia
David
​

 

[Steven Seagull]

Mourinho not starting him is starting to get silly now in my opinion. It's obviously not a straight choice of who is better. He doesn't even particularly rate Mata. It's just like him getting sacked from United, and coincidentally turning up managing Schweinsteiger's next club. Of course, there will be questions immediately, and Jose will probably start playing him and acting like he rates him all along, but the reality is - he's already shown what he thinks. Just like he has with Mata. He didn't sign Mata for Chelsea, and as soon as he came, he got rid. Now he's not only central to his team, he's even a winger too (obviously playing him ahead of Rooney would be a step too far just to prove a point!).

For me, we all know Mata will not be in Mourinho's first team. Almost like Mkhitaryan is paying the price so Jose can show some huge faith in Mata, but Mats will eventually be out of the team. Mkhi was signed by Mourinho, Mata wasn't. Not to mention that Mkhi is obviously fecking better than him, and the team is now being held back due to politics in my opinion.

Just relax. It's game 3/60 in this season. It's working so far and we don't need a load of gobbledygook clogging the success pipe up

 

[sammsky1]

Not sure why such urgency to get him into 1st XI. We've won 4/4 with a settled team and he is new to the country, league and club so has alot of adjustment to deal with.

I'm very happy at how responsibly Mourinho has integrated him into the club: without the responsibility for losing but with enough match time to gain crucial experience and confidence that comes from influencing victories.

He'll soon get plenty of starts and be match fit and full of self belief. Lets hope he can use this platform to make himself undropable. We saw with Depay how a bad start to a Manchester United career can wreck an entire season.

All that being said, he looks like a cracking playmaker: reminds me abit of Cantona

 

[King Kendrick]

All of you in the transfer thread saying he's slow

In this game you saw his strengths and weaknesses all at once. Gets into great positions, fantastic playmaker on the ball, just isn't too great of a finisher. What I've been saying from the very beginning.

 

[Perrick Dubois]

Love his drive. I think he has benefited from being slowly introduced and coming on against tired legs while he settles in. I am not sure if I see him as having enough grit to play centrally I think he'll get more space and more time to run with the ball from the right. A shame he didn't sit that guy for his chance where he blasted at the onrushing player. He'll know for next time to take full advantage of a hard press in front of goal. Most of the time those charge down type tackles go flying at the player can be sidestepped with a little speed of thought and skill.

 

[Rozay]

Just relax. It's game 3/60 in this season. It's working so far and we don't need a load of gobbledygook clogging the success pipe up

Which is my point. Yes, it's just game three. The whole world knows that by the time we're in full swing, Mkhitaryan will be in the team. This is just some exercise for another purpose.

 

[Rozay]

Not sure why such urgency to get him into 1st XI. We've won 4/4 with a settled team and he is new to the country, league and club so has alot of adjustment to deal with.

I'm very happy at how responsibly Mourinho has integrated him into the club: without the responsibility for losing but with enough match time to gain crucial experience and confidence that comes from influencing victories.

He'll soon get plenty of starts and be match fit and full of self belief. Lets hope he can use this platform to make himself undropable. We saw with Depay how a bad start to a Manchester United career can wreck an entire season.

All that being said, he looks like a cracking playmaker: reminds me abit of Cantona

We have other new players though, and when he has played, he's looked ready.

I also disagree he's been given enough time. Before yesterday, he's brought on with like 10 minutes to go, and then looks better than the starters again. It's a little odd to me.

Mourinho keeps making statements about how Mkhitaryan doesn't need 90 mins to show he's a super player. The point is, you give him 90 minutes 'because' he's a super player!

 

[Ish]

Not sure why such urgency to get him into 1st XI. We've won 4/4 with a settled team and he is new to the country, league and club so has alot of adjustment to deal with.

I'm very happy at how responsibly Mourinho has integrated him into the club: without the responsibility for losing but with enough match time to gain crucial experience and confidence that comes from influencing victories.

He'll soon get plenty of starts and be match fit and full of self belief. Lets hope he can use this platform to make himself undropable. We saw with Depay how a bad start to a Manchester United career can wreck an entire season.

All that being said, he looks like a cracking playmaker: reminds me abit of Cantona

Not sure about the cantona bit but agree with pretty much the rest. I'm as excited as the next guy, to see him start but we have a settled team, picking up the points.

The international break could influence the team quite a lot and as the season progresses, the matches will pile up.

 

[itso 7]

We have other new players though, and when he has played, he's looked ready.

I also disagree he's been given enough time. Before yesterday, he's brought on with like 10 minutes to go, and then looks better than the starters again. It's a little odd to me.

Mourinho keeps making statements about how Mkhitaryan doesn't need 90 mins to show he's a super player. The point is, you give him 90 minutes 'because' he's a super player!

I think you're right when you say Mourinho is playing politics with Mata, I think without their history at Chelsea he would be out of the door alongside Bastien. But because he sold him once he is using Mata to sell himself as someone willing to give everyone a chance. Mkhi is suffering as a result because there are two politically undroppable players atm and Mourinho intimated as much when he explained why he was leaving Mkhitaryan out before the game.

 

[SwansonsTache]

I think you're right when you say Mourinho is playing politics with Mata, I think without their history at Chelsea he would be out of the door alongside Bastien. But because he sold him once he is using Mata to sell himself as someone willing to give everyone a chance. Mkhi is suffering as a result because there are two politically undroppable players atm and Mourinho intimated as much when he explained why he was leaving Mkhitaryan out before the game.

This argument only works as long as Mkhi doesn't come into the team and prove himself a better option, which he now has imo.

I think Mata will loose his place to Mkhi against City, and once Mkhi has made the spot his own Mata will see very little game time outside of the EL \ league and FA cup.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Blind really impressed again - think Dickson mentioned it in commentary, he covered Bailly a couple of times when he was caught out. I am scared to say I am becoming a believer in him at CB!

Miki is class - you can see how sharp he looks and always probing. For now Rooney looks set to continue at 10 so let's have Miki out wide right. Then you have some great subs to cover across the front with Depay (who I still believe in), Lingard, Mata who can all play in multiple positions.

 

[Brwned]

His vision, technique and acceleration are all very impressive but his balance is really immaculate.

 

[itso 7]

This argument only works as long as Mkhi doesn't come into the team and prove himself a better option, which he now has imo.

I think Mata will loose his place to Mkhi against City, and once Mkhi has made the spot his own Mata will see very little game time outside of the EL \ league and FA cup.

Yeah I get that but his limited opportunities in the last two games indicated that he was kept out deliberately, maybe to introduce him slowly to the league or to appease Mata and his band of supporters both within and out of the dressing room.

 

[Nick7]

Yeah I get that but his limited opportunities in the last two games indicated that he was kept out deliberately, maybe to introduce him slowly to the league or to appease Mata and his band of supporters both within and out of the dressing room.

Or, Mata has been in better form through pre season and the opening. Just a thought.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

If he's fit after the international break then he should start in the Manchester derby........he was really good against Hull yesterday.

 

[VanGaalEra]

Encouraging that he went to the number 10 role. Guess that's where Jose sees his best position.

 

[Jacky Quacky]

So much more direct than Mata.

 

[Minimalist]

Thought he was excellent yesterday. Somewhat desperate to see him start against City.

 

[Chorley1974]

Thought he was excellent yesterday. Somewhat desperate to see him start against City.

This

 

[Ricardo de la Vega]

Yes 1000% this, when he came on he mainly played central and drifted all over the place and showed us what he is truly capable of, Yes Rooney got the assist but that doesn't take away the fact Micky outshone him in 30mins as a 10 than Rooney has this season.

Would love to see this XI tested at OT, the speed and control we would have over the game, especially with front 4 that can interchange would be a superb spectacle to watch

Ibra
Martial - Micky - Rashford
Pogba - Blind
Shaw - Bailly - Smalling - Valencia
David
​

will be nice to see this team when it eventually gets rotated into at some point this year!

 

[We need an rvn]

As much as I like what you're all saying, I think it's safe to say there's no way Jose will drop his captain for the home game against city.

 

[Sunny Jim]

So much more direct than Mata.

Mata is not the issue, Wayne is.

 

[carlosp]

 

[Jacky Quacky]

Anyone noticed that game by game hes getting more minutes? Definetly close to adapting fully to the league now and I think its time to start. His quality is there to see.

Also the weight and vision to find Valencia on the right when Valencia was quite far behind was really something. If anyone could find a clip of that that would be great.

 

[Rockets Redglare]

Anyone noticed that game by game hes getting more minutes? Definetly close to adapting fully to the league now and I think its time to start. His quality is there to see.

Also the weight and vision to find Valencia on the right when Valencia was quite far behind was really something. If anyone could find a clip of that that would be great.

That really impressed me too, Valencia hadn't even came into shot on the screen yet when he'd played the pass.

 

[surf]

It's definitely getting to the time where Jose should consider taking out either Martial or Mata and bringing in Mkhi on the right. He makes things happen and his speed and trickery put defenders on the back foot.
Rashford I like coming on from the bench. Hopefully Ibrahimovic will resume normal service next game after a below par outing against Hull.

 

[Jacky Quacky]

That really impressed me too, Valencia hadn't even came into shot on the screen yet when he'd played the pass.

When i saw it i thought that the defender would immediately snap it up, but it just curled further away from the defender that he couldnt get near it. I havent seen any of our players have a weight and vision of a pass like that to predict the man in the past few seasons. Kagawa comparisons are clearly stupid.

 

[nick2004]

Is this supposed to be a great game for Miki? I don't see anything exceptional here. The best of that was at 0:48. and look how Rooney is moving. If Miki could release a good pass, that could create something - but he didn't, he just earned a foul that led to nothing. And the couple of times he got the ball in dangerous positions, he was too slow to shoot.

I still hope he will become a good player for us. He has to get a start in place of Martial. But probably not against City. That game is too important for experiments that might fail.

 

[harms]

I still hope he will become a good player for us

You still do? One has to admire your patience

 

[nick2004]

You still do? One has to admire your patience

Yes, I know, it's too early! However, every time I see him he reminds me of Kagawa, I don't know why. And he is already 27, too old to really grow, he is the finished product...

But really, it is still too early. And I am an optimist! I do hope that he will become a great player for us!

 

[jungledrums]

Is this supposed to be a great game for Miki? I don't see anything exceptional here. The best of that was at 0:48. and look how Rooney is moving. If Miki could release a good pass, that could create something - but he didn't, he just earned a foul that led to nothing. And the couple of times he got the ball in dangerous positions, he was too slow to shoot.

I still hope he will become a good player for us. He has to get a start in place of Martial. But probably not against City. That game is too important for experiments that might fail.

Did you watch the game? He injected pace into the game. He played forward passes, he made good runs, he occupied dangerous positions, he used the ball well... All off the bench, too. It's very hard to change a game off the bench, some players need to grow into the game, like Mata. He made an impact. That's about all you can ask for in a 30 minute chameo.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Yes, I know, it's too early! However, every time I see him he reminds me of Kagawa, I don't know why. And he is already 27, too old to really grow, he is the finished product...

But really, it is still too early. And I am an optimist! I do hope that he will become a great player for us!

Your honestly clueless if you think he's like kagawa

 

[Burrow]

Is this supposed to be a great game for Miki? I don't see anything exceptional here. The best of that was at 0:48. and look how Rooney is moving. If Miki could release a good pass, that could create something - but he didn't, he just earned a foul that led to nothing. And the couple of times he got the ball in dangerous positions, he was too slow to shoot.

I still hope he will become a good player for us. He has to get a start in place of Martial. But probably not against City. That game is too important for experiments that might fail.

He did more for his brief few minutes on the pitch than Rooney has done for 3 seasons though.

 

[Nickosaur]

Yes, I know, it's too early! However, every time I see him he reminds me of Kagawa, I don't know why. And he is already 27, too old to really grow, he is the finished product...

But really, it is still too early. And I am an optimist! I do hope that he will become a great player for us!

He reminds you of Kagawa because United signed him from Dortmund and he's an attacking player.

Lazy, poor comparison.

 

[Jacky Quacky]

Is this supposed to be a great game for Miki? I don't see anything exceptional here. The best of that was at 0:48. and look how Rooney is moving. If Miki could release a good pass, that could create something - but he didn't, he just earned a foul that led to nothing. And the couple of times he got the ball in dangerous positions, he was too slow to shoot.

I still hope he will become a good player for us. He has to get a start in place of Martial. But probably not against City. That game is too important for experiments that might fail.

For feck sake he can't do everything right. Mata was hiding the whole game until a couple of occasions yet you want him to start because Miki is an "experiment". He's a much better player and I don't really know if your paying close attention to him because I thought he was one of our best players when on.

 

[Adisa]

Very good ball carrier. We need more of them in the team. That run when he breezed past 3 players was
Comparisons with kagawa again. Do people even watch football?

 

[Sam M]

Is this supposed to be a great game for Miki? I don't see anything exceptional here. The best of that was at 0:48. and look how Rooney is moving. If Miki could release a good pass, that could create something - but he didn't, he just earned a foul that led to nothing. And the couple of times he got the ball in dangerous positions, he was too slow to shoot.

I still hope he will become a good player for us. He has to get a start in place of Martial. But probably not against City. That game is too important for experiments that might fail.

Micki has physicality and pace to his game. He also flourished for a very talented Shaktar team that contained Premier League shakers Willian + Fernandinho.

Micki/Kagawa is a lazy comparison.

 

[nick2004]

Micki has physicality and pace to his game. He also flourished for a very talented Shaktar team that contained Premier League shakers Willian + Fernandinho.

Micki/Kagawa is a lazy comparison.

He is 5 10'' while Kagawa was 5 9''. But you are right, he seems stronger. Perhaps I am afraid that he is all fart no shit, like Kagawa.

 

[VanGaalEra]

Just so excited to see him play throughout the season.