Haha, I thought exactly that when I read it back myself.
Juan Mata | Official: Signs two-year contract with option of a third
- Thread starter kouroux
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I remember when this guy had 20 goals and 40 assists in a single season for Chelsea...
No, it isn't less dumb. Jones is much younger and a better player in his position than Mata.
I'd rather he doesnt share anything with kids at this rate.
Exeperiences is overrated. It matters if youre legends of the game, not a bench warming smiling blogger who part timing as a footballer
Fully fit squad and Mata doesn't start the game. His inclusion and Matic's inclusion from the start is based on the amount of injuries we have. At most they are bench players and i expect them to come on for the last 15 minutes using their experience to see out a game.
Does anyone really believe that the manager or any of his staff wants to start these guys? Especially when you here them talk of being the fittest team and high pressing etc.
Fred should have started, however, i understand the managers point of view. The guy has only played one game in months. Probably easing him back in was the plan. I'm still not convinced that he will start once Pogba is fit and yes, we do need reinforcements in that position.
All in all, no injuries and we would have put up a better performance.
Does anyone really believe that the manager or any of his staff wants to start these guys? Especially when you here them talk of being the fittest team and high pressing etc.
Fred should have started, however, i understand the managers point of view. The guy has only played one game in months. Probably easing him back in was the plan. I'm still not convinced that he will start once Pogba is fit and yes, we do need reinforcements in that position.
All in all, no injuries and we would have put up a better performance.
What does mata have over Gomes both ability and physically wise because I cant see it?
Mata does not have much left of offer. He is already slow and weak in duels, and he´s not a dribbler. Passes - that was supposed to be his force. When he does not hit them, there is not much left. Mata of all United players, is the one that has declined most under Solskjær. I think he´s working hard in training and gives his best, but It´s not given for everyone to be sharp in early 30-ties.
Mata is no doubt a great guy, a lovely fellow, and he's my daughters favourite; but football wise I can count on one hand the number of really good games (whole games)he has had for us since he arrived and on two hands the number of passages of play within games where he has been top class.
Why we ever brought him here I don't know? Mata was reputedly a good No.10, but I haven't seen that in him, he was also (once) supposed be our attacking player down the right side, again apart from the Liverpool away game a few seasons back, he was much too slow and continually drifted inside. Some of his passing whilst accurate has usually been backwards or side-wards for the majority of times, but in fairness he has scored a few (a couple at least) of goals from fantastic free-kicks.
Whatever value he has in the dressing room must be fantastic for him to have lasted so long!
Why we ever brought him here I don't know? Mata was reputedly a good No.10, but I haven't seen that in him, he was also (once) supposed be our attacking player down the right side, again apart from the Liverpool away game a few seasons back, he was much too slow and continually drifted inside. Some of his passing whilst accurate has usually been backwards or side-wards for the majority of times, but in fairness he has scored a few (a couple at least) of goals from fantastic free-kicks.
Whatever value he has in the dressing room must be fantastic for him to have lasted so long!
He should have finished that chance. No way any recognized striker is missing it.
I think one of the most important attributes in a no. 10 is the ability to dribble into space and make the defense react. When the defense reacts that is when you make the pass that can break down a defense. All the best no. 10s have this attribute. If Mata finds himself with the ball and space in front and starts to dribble, well, the chasing defenders are able to catch him and thwart his advance. Therefore, Mata is forced to make an early, safer pass and the possibility of creating a good opportunity is lost.
His slowness makes him an ineffective no. 10 and winger. He should only be used after 70 minutes against fatigued defenders.
His slowness makes him an ineffective no. 10 and winger. He should only be used after 70 minutes against fatigued defenders.
Asset protection ended up in having to paywages to a liability. He is not the United level player these days. Nice person? Most probably yes. Good enough to play for United - absolutely not.
He’d be world class in walking football
I get uoset every time the commebtator says "creative". When he isn't scoring, he's useless.
Exactly. Some of these posts make it sound like Ole is selecting Mata and Matic over Isco and Xabi. There’s no one better available on the bench. Fred is better, but two games after a few days rest for a player who hasn’t played since last season is an injury waiting to happen.
And i still remember the two seasons in thirteen whole years when Theo Walcott actually looked like the man who could lead Arsenal's attack. He's playing for Everton now and that's where Mata should be too. They are about the same age too.
Commentators regurgitate clichés after clichés without even looking at the current form of a player
Ed was desperate to give the impression he was in control when we were floundering around in Moyes' terrible post-Christmas spell. Mata was out of favour at Chelsea and the press were all going on about how despicably he was being treated by Big Bad Jose. Just the sort of thing Ed can't resist..
At this moment in time anyone on the bench is better than Mata. At least they can run, tackle and head the ball. Honestly I would have Jones and Rojo instead of Mata now.
Yes I agree, you could say it was Woodward's first sortie into player transfers...and its got worse ever since!
Massive decline from him, Matic like.
Ed and United had highlighted Thiago Alcantra. Dithering Dave said he has not seen him play and didn't want him then. He wanted Fellaini and Coleman. I really don't think even Woodward is going to buy players that the managers have refused. He may refuse to pay for players managers want.
He's past it, its that simple. He's in a clear decline, has been for ages. Rather see Gomes try and potentially fail than see Mata starting for us in 2019, it's tragic.
Sorry have to defend Matic! (Maticmaker!!)
His transfer was one Jose wanted and for once Ed Woodward came through.
Matic's move was an obvious one, he was only destined for one or two seasons to shore up our mid-field and to be Mourhino's man on the pitch. Chelsea let him go because of his recurring back injury, he had the op last close season, but he's now not what he was in mobility terms and to be fair he was never a creative midfielder.
Matic had a great first season for us, but doubt we shall not see that level from him again, think he will go at the end of this season.
Once again another dumb decision. They just keep adding up.
Yes, I don't think anyone disagrees with that but what most of us are saying is that he's done at this level.
Yes, I agree, but at the moment Ole has no choice but to call on him; had Pogba and Fred in particular, done the business Matic would be gone now!
McTominay will be ready next season and possibly Pereira, but we still need strengthening in that area.
I know this is the Mata thread but what we needed to strengthen was the midfield and up front. The CBs could have held for one more season if we had done that.
This was a completely unnecessary extension and no other top club would have done this.
Imagine this - in the summer, we had thanked Mata and shaken his hand and wished him well. Woodward had signed off on allowing Ole to sign a new #10 for around £70-80m.
New signing first choice; Lingard/Pereira/Gomes as backups. With the intention being for the new guy to be The Man who played most games and contributed 10 goals a season.
Like a dream. A pipedream. Yet, a pipedream other clubs are capable of making a reality.
Imagine this - in the summer, we had thanked Mata and shaken his hand and wished him well. Woodward had signed off on allowing Ole to sign a new #10 for around £70-80m.
New signing first choice; Lingard/Pereira/Gomes as backups. With the intention being for the new guy to be The Man who played most games and contributed 10 goals a season.
Like a dream. A pipedream. Yet, a pipedream other clubs are capable of making a reality.
Nothing against Mata personally, think he is class act in every sense, i just dont wanna see him starting our games, dont mind he is taking wages for nothing, if Jones can why not others.
That's the problem unfortunately. The choice wasn't Mata or Eriksen... It was Mata or no-one.
With that choice and with an already threadbare squad it was the common sense (albeit frustrating) decision.
Yep.
It's been said before. Replacing a player is more expensive than extending that player's contract. For a club aiming for league titles and glory, the latter doesnt come into their thinking. But if the club simply wants top 4/CL qualification, extending a player's contract is cheaper and who knows, they might just find that little drop extra and help drag us to 4th. Jones, Mata, Smalling, Young, all these type of players have previously helped us grind out results and finish top 4, a couple of times. It's cheaper to hope they do that again than to replace them.
I also have the feeling that Mata s extension had to do something with DeGea s new contract, them being close friends. (Herrera, another close friend of him had already left)
As I said in another thread, after fortunately finishing second we should have invested £150m net in each of the following two summers. Instead we invested £110m total. That £190m difference is a Mata replacement, a Herrera replacement and a right winger.
Id have taken no one and given his squad place to Gomes
So you have nussing to say?
Yep, but that's the logic and approach of a board that are aiming to improve upon what was just achieved by finishing 2nd. Our board aren't interested in that, they are only interested in finishing top 4 and ensuring the season tickets get renewed. We finished second and the tickets were renewed, no need for them to spend much.