Juan Mata | Official: Signs two-year contract with option of a third

sullydnl

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This part is confusing. Why should we just prolong the inevitable? Good functioning clubs move on from these players who offer very little as quickly as possible and replace them with younger and better options. There is literally no reason to spend further years paying these guys wages when we could clear up space for others. Mata and Young will have little no no impact on the upcoming season and we should have moved on from both years ago.
Because we're limited in how many players we can bring in by both time and money.

We're going to try to bring in as many replacements and upgrades as is practically possible this summer. If you want to add Mata to the list of players who gets replaced, someone else drops off the list. It's as simple as that. If we had unlimited time and money to spend this summer it would be different but we don't, so some shit players will be staying for a few years yet.

Why pick Mata as one of the shit players we have to pragmatically keep? Partially his experience, partially his personality, partially because we wouldn't recieve a transfer fee when he goes.
 

VidaRed

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I’ll support the club but I’ll not watch a single united game.. Mata given an extension is the line in the sand for me.
I haven't watched a single utd game since fergie retired. I just looked at the squad and i dont know wtf is going on.

What did i miss ?
 

Cloud7

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What’s the point in this signing? Mata brings so little to the team these days that we wouldn’t be worse off if we played one of the youth players, and at least those players have a potential upside.
 

sullydnl

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What’s the point in this signing? Mata brings so little to the team these days that we wouldn’t be worse off if we played one of the youth players, and at least those players have a potential upside.
It's going to be such a long and arduous season that we will likely need to have Mata and those young players knocking about. I think some people are underestimating how many bodies we'll actually need (assuming the likes of Sanchez and Lukaku go too). We're not going to be short on games to play people in.
 

clarkydaz

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What’s the point in this signing? Mata brings so little to the team these days that we wouldn’t be worse off if we played one of the youth players, and at least those players have a potential upside.
Likely means we are not signing a better player
 

ivaldo

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Why am I not surprised to see the massive overreaction to this?
 

LeftyBlaster

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Why am I not surprised to see the massive overreaction to this?
Because it’s warranted.

1. Represents our willingness to put up with mediocrity once again.
2. Possibly means that we’re settling for not signing a proper player in that position for the foreseeable future.
3. It follows the same theme of us giving yet more chances to mediocrity when hear the reports of us keeping Smalling and Jones in defence.
 

Bastian

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I think this is in great part about the dressing room and professionalism. If Pogba is off, we are a lot more tactically flexible so there can be games for him as a #10. Hopefully as a squad option and we go buy a high calibre #10.
 

Fıstıkçı Şahap

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Terrible news if we intend to use him as a RW. Indifferent if played as an AM. He's an AM and the pace of James around him would only be good for his assist stats. I hope we never see him on our right wing though. That's a nightmare.
 

Dargonk

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I'm in two minds over this one. On one hand when he plays it creates a large hole and lack of threat down the right side, which has been a major issue that we need to address. And extending his contract makes it more likely that this won't be addressed. On the other hand Mata is unlikely to kick up a fuss and is professional enough to play a much reduced role, and if used well can have impacts on games.
 

Web of Bissaka

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Confirm?

I'm fine with it only if these 3 conditions are fulfilled.
  • Seriously stop playing him as right wingers, so that role is open for our other younger players to grab.
  • Maintain being a squad player, and play less and less games.
  • Play him only as CAM, or CM in 3 man midfield.

Assuming Pogba is leaving and no similar player to Paul we're getting, then I can see Ole change to 4-2-3-1 and #10 setup rather than the usual.
----CAM---
CDM--CDM

Example
-----Mata------
--Fred--McTom​
No more lazy excuse = 'out of position' for Lingard and Mata.

Mata also played fine as CM in 3 man midfield, if we have to use it. Better not but who knows, it maybe more useful.
---LCM--RCM---
------CDM-------

Example 1
---Fred--Mata---
-------McT-------

Example 2
---Mata--Pereira---
-------McT-----------

*Mata, Pereira and Fred are fine playing at either side.

Mata, Pereira and Fred playing together are too lightweight.
Mata, Matic and Pereira are too slow.
Mata, Matic and Fred is dreadful to think about.

Mata, McTom and Fred is best balance.

Mata = passer, playmaker
McTom = screening, physical and passing from deep(?)
Fred = energy and build-up
 

jem

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Great news. One of the only players on this team I actually like.
 

Norris

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I am ok with us offering him a contract, just not a long one. Should have been a year long and evaluate at the end of the season his performance.
 

SecondFig

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I'm in two minds over this one. On one hand when he plays it creates a large hole and lack of threat down the right side, which has been a major issue that we need to address. And extending his contract makes it more likely that this won't be addressed. On the other hand Mata is unlikely to kick up a fuss and is professional enough to play a much reduced role, and if used well can have impacts on games.
Plus we've already lost Fellaini and Herrera since January, Pogba is agitating for a move away, and Matic is going to need replacing in the not too distant future. So, while I think we could probably improve upon Mata, he remains a good squad option and we need some squad players because God knows we can't replace 10 players this summer
 

Ekeke

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Big wage earner, not as good as the creative players starting for our rivals. He creates more than most of our players, but thats the only thing he really brings to the team and hes not as good at it as those same types of players at the other clubs around us.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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Sad. What has he done that he deserves the new contract?

I’m praying for Gomes & Greenwood development now, hopefully they get involved lot next season despite of this sad decision from the club.
 

Seij

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Sad. What has he done that he deserves the new contract?
"nice guy", "handsome", "huggable", "love his blog", "locker room influence", "doesn't complain", "not the first guy on my list of players who should leave", "need someone older for the younger players"

Numerous reasons to justify his new 3 year contract with salary more than most starters for other top clubs.
 

devilish

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Shouldn't a club ambassador has a track record to have been a great player at the club? What's next? Should we make Taibi, Blanc, Darmian, Prunier or Bebe club ambassadors as well?
 

devilish

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I haven't watched a single utd game since fergie retired. I just looked at the squad and i dont know wtf is going on.

What did i miss ?
Id wish I could do that.
 

Raees

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Amazing how heavily people are criticizing this when we have no idea what our squad will look like at the start of next season.

If we're losing Pogba, Sanchez, Herrera, Lukaku and whoever else, then keeping around Mata as a squad option is a good bit of business...

Seriously, if Mata is being kept on to be a squad option for number 10, then why are people getting so pissed? He was actually pretty decent there towards the back end of the season whilst almost everyone else was playing like dog shit.
You’ve always had a massive soft spot when it comes to the man and it makes you not see his flaws as a player. There is no way a team looking to reset its squad and looking to win titles should be offering this guy a three year extension.

A one year rolling contract I could live with but even then that is pushing it - this clearing out deadwood myth is simply not going to happen this season or any other season. Really does not look good from a United perspective at this moment in time.
 

simonhch

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James Rodriguez is going for 40m euros. And we resign Mata. If we wanted that sort of player, James would be a massive upgrade at a steal of a price. He was a wand of a left foot, and would instantly improve us either in a midfield 3 as the most attacking option, as a no.10 in a 4-2-3-1, or off the right in a 4-3-3.
 

R'hllor

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I get the impression many on here just want to do a rage quit, sell the entire squad and start again.

To be honest, I can relate to that. Although I do at least appreciate it’s a) not going to happen and b) fecking madness.
Majority is aware of it, nothing special in that.
 

freeurmind

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Great deal for the club. Still in his prime, he can play on the right or as a 10. Will be there for the next few years as a bridge to Chong, Gomes and Garner when they are ready. Given that he was expected to leave, this is as good as a new signing.
 

ivaldo

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Because it’s warranted.

1. Represents our willingness to put up with mediocrity once again.
2. Possibly means that we’re settling for not signing a proper player in that position for the foreseeable future.
3. It follows the same theme of us giving yet more chances to mediocrity when hear the reports of us keeping Smalling and Jones in defence.
It's impressive you managed to turn one point into three.

1. This isn't Football Manager, we can't buy a new squad in one window.
2. This squad is sorely lacking in experience. Mata is a consummate professional with a winning pedigree.
3. In no way is this an indication we are 'settling for not signing a proper player.'
4. He's clearly going to be a peripheral player, used as an anchor point for this transition period.
 

Welbeckham

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The only reason he’s staying is that no one wanted him. He’s a nice guy, but if we are interested in doing any progress that shouldn’t be enough. Now watch us selling some under contract players for absolute peanuts instead.
 

kouroux

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It's going to be such a long and arduous season that we will likely need to have Mata and those young players knocking about. I think some people are underestimating how many bodies we'll actually need (assuming the likes of Sanchez and Lukaku go too). We're not going to be short on games to play people in.
I haven't heard anything about Sanchez, have there been rumors ? I don't think he'll leave, no would want those crazy wages for a player like him
 

roonster09

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Offering him a new deal is a mistake, good chance for us to rebuild when we could have let go under performing players but somehow we made it hard for ourselves.
 

flappyjay

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It's impressive you managed to turn one point into three.

1. This isn't Football Manager, we can't buy a new squad in one window.
2. This squad is sorely lacking in experience. Mata is a consummate professional with a winning pedigree.
3. In no way is this an indication we are 'settling for not signing a proper player.'
4. He's clearly going to be a peripheral player, used as an anchor point for this transition period.
Our squad is already bigger than most as it is. Players for the front 3 positions Mata, Rashy , Martial, Lukaku, Sanchez, Greenwood, jlingz, Daniel James. If we end up signing a striker/winger that's 9 players. We definitely have to move on two. Lukaku is the easy one, Sanchez is going to be difficult. I imagine he will be with us start of the season.
 

jackal&hyde

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Good news. I know a lot of people were big on Herrera and i wanted him to stay too, but between him and Mata, Mata is the more important one IMO because him along with Pogba are our only midfielders that can unlock defenses. Not so good when played on the right, but at the tip of the diamond he is a very classy player. A very likeable personality also that must be good to have in the dressing room.
 

Deery

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Can you imagine the team in 2 years still with Mata, Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Darmin, Sanchez and Lingard with everyone of them on big money, Absolute Joke!

Think United will lose a lot of casual fans over the next year or so will be no longer be the biggest club in the world. All because of this board and the Glazers not investing properly, what ever happened to speculate to accumulate?

Real Madrid putting us to shame yet again after winning 4 champions leagues do you see the difference in ambition with the 2 clubs?

I wonder how long into the season before the green and gold scarfs come out again?
 

FireballXL5

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Good news. I know a lot of people were big on Herrera and i wanted him to stay too, but between him and Mata, Mata is the more important one IMO because him along with Pogba are our only midfielders that can unlock defenses. Not so good when played on the right, but at the tip of the diamond he is a very classy player. A very likeable personality also that must be good to have in the dressing room.
Mata and Pogba couldn't even unlock the Huddersfield defence.
 

Enigma_87

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I'm not opposed to giving Mata a new contract. But 3 years? What happened to one year deals for players in their 30's?