[Born2Lose]

Played well, but that Lingard goal is the sort of stuff that £37m stars should be pulling off. Nice bloke, but won't be that sad to lose him in the summer, think we could do a lot better.

3 goals and 3 assists in half a season just isn't good enough for a team wanting to win trophies.

 

[mattsville]

He looked motivated, determined and focused today, unlucky not to score, rather than strolling around passing sideways and backwards and getting brushed off the ball, do it all the time? Talks a nice game too much rather than producing.

 

[meamth]

That one move he made at the end of the game when we were on counter. Casually avoiding players and keep the ball to pass. That was a thing of beauty.

I hope this kind of performance sticks with him for many games in the future. He made our attack last night ticking.

 

[Paxi]

He's playing well but still playing too deep for my liking. He needs to be in and around the final 3rd all the time! That's what made him such a great player at Valencia and Chelsea.

 

[criticalanalysis]

He's playing well but still playing too deep for my liking. He needs to be in and around the final 3rd all the time! That's what made him such a great player at Valencia and Chelsea.

That'd be a bad idea imo. Most of his ability is on the ball and in sharp turns and movements. There's plenty of space and opportunties for that to happen, not to mention ping one-twos around and move the ball faster in the middle of the pitch. In the final 3rd, most of the time he will receive the ball back to goal or worse, facing up a defender where he doesn't have the agility or pace to do anything other than turn back and pass from whence it came.

Most of our good play came when Pogba, Lingard, Martial, Mata and others (Herrera, Shaw, Matic) were in close proximity passing around and drawing the Everton players together then creating lots of 'isolations'.

 

[SER19]

He's a joy to watch, classic united player. It's a shame his time here has been so fruitless in terms of trophies

 

[freeurmind]

People spend so much time on here saying they want more movement and creativity from the attacking players and then turn around and criticize the players who run the most and play the most key passes (Lingard as well near the top in these categories). Played well again yesterday, was busy, looking to get the ball forward.

 

[Ashley R1+O]

First half he was absolutely dire, I've started to observe and realize that he drops so unnecessarily deep and gets in the way of the attack and he has started to do it more and more this season leading to a general stodge around our play in the final third when he starts on the right. In the second half we all grabbed our bollocks and pushed up the field more and he was able to influence the game properly in the final third. Love him to bits in general but I do think he'll make way at the end of the season. He needs to play much closer to goal by rule and design or he gets in the way of the rest of the attack leaving a huge hole on our right flank. Lately more and more I have noticed that he gets in and flattens Pogba's advance and moving Pogba to the left today and bringing Ander in as a second midfield worked a lot better, but I found that as Herrera pushed forward today in the first half, he wanted to advance the attack after pressing space but Mata has collapsed in almost on top of him making his ability to transition the counter almost be completely negated.

I think as we move forward the flank players need to stay out of the midfield three's way and we'll be golden.

 

[Distracted Steward]

He’s got to start when possible. He makes the attack better and puts in a shift. For several matches now things obviously work better around him. He’s a bright spot to build on and work our way out of this run.

 

[TMDaines]

The Guardian’s Footballer of the Year

 

[settembrini]

One fantastic shot aside he put in the same nothing performance as he has done for most of the season. To be on 3 goals at this time of the year is terrible considering his game time.

 

[AshRK]

I always feel he deserves to win at least one PL trophy or a CL with us before he leaves . Can never speak bad about him. He has been part of us during our worst times in last 2 decades. Will always remember him fondly. Would love for him to reach 50 goal mark for us, he is on 39 now. Looks tough but if we keep him for one more season then he may reach that and even win a PL before sayING goodbye.

 

[2cents]

Need a gif of that bit of skill to keep it in at around 35:00 - 36:00.

 

[berbatrick]

He and Herrera have been providing the impetus this half.

 

[Devil may care]

Started well and he did fade a bit as the game went on but given how poor Rashford was playing I thought he was unluicky to get the hook.

 

[Pacificgi]

Need a gif of that bit of skill to keep it in at around 35:00 - 36:00.

Yes where is this gif

 

[villain]

I thought he was great, shouldn't have been taken off so early either imo. He was popping up all over the place, and causing a lot of problems in the first half.

Some of his touches were just sublime

 

[berbatrick]

He was good 1st half, disappeared after.

 

[Obiorahking_]

Even if we bring in more firepower, he has to be kept.

 

[Brightonian]

I thought he was great, shouldn't have been taken off so early either imo. He was popping up all over the place, and causing a lot of problems in the first half.

Some of his touches were just sublime

He was visibly knackered. Which is fine, because he put such a shift in in the first half.

 

[Godfather]

Was good

 

[anant]

Need a gif of that bit of skill to keep it in at around 35:00 - 36:00.

@GifLord

 

[eat_grass]

Thought he played okay. At the moment it seems different players are rotating throughout the game which one is wearing the conductor's hat (Mata first part of second half at Everton, Pogba second part). So it seems like a player disappears for long stretches, but he's simply stepping back for a moment to let others run the show.

 

[GifLord]

@GifLord

Need the exact time stamp - or at least close. Went through 34-36minute and couldn't find that scene

 

[breakout67]

One of the reasons I value him in the team is that he will always put a shift in. He is a talented player that is willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of the team and this is very valuable to have. He also gets you 10 goals a season which is quite good for someone that rarely plays in his position.

 

[Bobski]

He is good when he has like minded players around him. Used to play well with Kagawa and you even see some elements of this with Mikitaryan. Just not the guy to be the key attacking hub to be built around, lacks that creativity or the courage to keep playing the difficult pass.

 

[eat_grass]

Need the exact time stamp - or at least close. Went through 34-36minute and couldn't find that scene

It was in the second half, not the first. 87:40. Ball isn't controlled fully by Fellaini, and Lingard keeps it from going out of play by using some fancy footwork, then gets it away to his teammate before the triple-team can collapse on him.

Wait, this isn't the Messe Lingard thread is it? Nevermind.

33:20.

 

[GifLord]

It was in the second half, not the first. 87:40. Ball isn't controlled fully by Fellaini, and Lingard keeps it from going out of play by using some fancy footwork, then gets it away to his teammate before the triple-team can collapse on him.

Wait, this isn't the Messe Lingard thread is it? Nevermind.

33:20.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Bloody hell thats lovely

 

[The No.10!]

I am seeing people wanting to include him in a possible (probable?) deal for Sanchez.

I don't get it. He's been performing for the last couple of months now, and yes he had a slow start, but you can so obviously see how amazing his movement is (which goes unnoticed many a times by our players, by the way), and he brings a touch of class whenever there's an opportunity. He does his defensive duties as well most of the times, and Mou seems to trust him so much now as well.

Will anyone be willing to explain why his name is being propped up instead of Mkhi, even if by a few?

 

[eat_grass]

I am seeing people wanting to include him in a possible (probable?) deal for Sanchez.

I don't get it. He's been performing for the last couple of months now, and yes he had a slow start, but you can so obviously see how amazing his movement is (which goes unnoticed many a times by our players, by the way), and he brings a touch of class whenever there's an opportunity. He does his defensive duties as well most of the times, and Mou seems to trust him so much now as well.

Will anyone be willing to explain why his name is being propped up instead of Mkhi, even if by a few?

Probably because his weaknesses are glaring (lack of pace, height, strength), and his biggest strengths are more subtle. I think he offers a lot more than he detracts when he's on the pitch, and he has a mental fortitude that belies his affable personality, so for me definitely worth keeping. If an upgrade were available, then like any other position it should be considered, but just getting rid of him makes no sense.

 

[joleb]

He's very good so far. I like his movement

 

[Minimalist]

Been excellent tonight. Really noticeable how much he's knitting things together.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Mata looks like a man on a mission, he’s been absoulutly everywhere. Man should be drug tested after this because I want to know what he is on so I can get some for myself. Been fantastic this first half.

 

[anant]

His movement is a joy to behold.Literally popping up wherever there is any space

 

[Raw]

If Sanchez comes in, Mata's gonna get dropped. Seems harsh the way he's playing.

 

[Devil may care]

Really good in the first half, picking up good positions and always looking for a runner.

 

[Brightonian]

I love his stickability. Stoke, playing to type, were all over him in the first half. I reckon they'd actually decided to target him. Pressing and fouling. But he's just too good in tight spaces.

Finishing left a lot to be desired, which is unusual for him. Should have had a brace.

EDIT: I honestly can't believe that anyone has ever wanted him to leave since he first came to us. Always guarantees quality, and this season particularly he's been really important. Even if he never quite owns a position in the XI I hope he retires with us. If nothing else he's a joy to watch.

 

[Art]

As good as juan's been, I think if Sanchez comes he will take mata's spot.

 

[bosnian_red]

As good as juan's been, I think if Sanchez comes he will take mata's spot.

Not so sure. For games like this, Mata provides loads of control and different style to Lingard and Martial, who play further up then him and are the more direct options. Games like today I'm pretty confident it'd be Mata still on the right, then one of Lingard/martial and the other being Sanchez, either on the left or through the middle. For big games obviously it's different, but Mata has his role and does it really well.