Juan Mata's blog

Livvie

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Solskjaer did an interview basically stating that he firmly wanted Mata to stay.
Yet didn't play him yesterday - the player who came out of the Huddersfield fiasco able to hold his head up, and the first player in how long was it, to actually score?

Despite comments to the contrary, I'm not a 'blind' Mata supporter - people far better qualified than me have said he is the most intelligent player at the club, and the most creative. So he can't last a full game without his legs going (not 100% certain of that), but he puts in the effort and can make things happen - I'd take that for half a bloody game.
 

Rhyme Animal

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Nonchalantly scoring the winner...
Yet didn't play him yesterday - the player who came out of the Huddersfield fiasco able to hold his head up, and the first player in how long was it, to actually score?

Despite comments to the contrary, I'm not a 'blind' Mata supporter - people far better qualified than me have said he is the most intelligent player at the club, and the most creative. So he can't last a full game without his legs going (not 100% certain of that), but he puts in the effort and can make things happen - I'd take that for half a bloody game.
I like Mata, I think he's a very, very useful player if used right, and don't think keeping him is a mistake from Solskjaer.

I think the Young, Jones, 'Rashy', Smalling clique that has developed under Ole, the endless starts they've enjoyed, and the contract extensions that have occurred under him are mistakes...glaring ones, but Mata is a quality player. Again, if used correctly.
 

Livvie

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I like Mata, I think he's a very, very useful player if used right, and don't think keeping him is a mistake from Solskjaer.

I think the Young, Jones, 'Rashy', Smalling clique that has developed under Ole, the endless starts they've enjoyed, and the contract extensions that have occurred under him are mistakes...glaring ones, but Mata is a quality player. Again, if used correctly.
Nutshell
 

ayushreddevil9

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Apologize every fecking week. Do feck all on the pitch.

Rinse repeat.
 
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Livvie

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I like Mata, I think he's a very, very useful player if used right, and don't think keeping him is a mistake from Solskjaer.
Nah. Better if used left :D

Totally agree - old inside-left position is what suits him.
 

Hoof the ball

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To be fair to Mata, this isn't some empty platitude. You can't really compare Mata's apologies with his colleagues since Mata is continuously blogging the fans each week and apologising as and when it is necessary. At the very least, his motives aren't selfish.
 

Roboc7

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Even as a number 10 he isnt that good anymore, will make little difference whether he stays or goes. Suspect he will stay as we can’t let everyone go and he won’t have teams queuing up to match his wages.
 

thedano

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I have no problem with Mata in fact he’s one of the few likeable guys in our side. He does seem to care and actually when he gets a game has quite a decent goal/assist return.

However he isn’t a RW not even a right forward. If we are not playing him as a #10 he’s not worth playing.

I thought we learnt after Kagawa that we can’t fit a #10 in but we tried again with him.

Would love to see him given a go at the top of a diamond or support striker in a 3-5-2.
 

el3mel

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Couldn't complete reading. I'm done with all these apologies and talking. Talk talk talk, nothing else do we get from our players.
 

Chesterlestreet

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To be fair to Mata, this isn't some empty platitude. You can't really compare Mata's apologies with his colleagues since Mata is continuously blogging the fans each week and apologising as and when it is necessary. At the very least, his motives aren't selfish.
Agree with that.

He seems like a genuinely decent guy. And he writes the stuff himself, as far as I know, it's not generic tripe cooked up by some social media team.
 

westmeath

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Yeah, give Mata a break. He’s the least of our problems. Lovely player in his day too.
 

Samid

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Hello everyone,

Today it’s Wednesday and time for our cup match, so I don’t want to write too much.

The truth is that I am still feeling frustrated and disappointed from Sunday. It was a really painful defeat. Let’s hope that the outcome of today’s game will be entirely different, but honestly it is a horrible feeling.

I want to take the opportunity with this post to publicly thank Jürgen Klopp for joining Common Goal and the way in which he did it, in front of the whole footballing world. Obviously we are big rivals out on the pitch, but this movement doesn’t look at rivalries as off the pitch we are united by the same objective. I also want to congratulate Megan Rapinoe, another teammate from the movement, who was named the best female player at The Best awards. Wow! Congratulations to you all.


Thank you for the positive messages about my book ‘Suddenly a footballer’, which goes on sale tomorrow and in which I have modestly put together all of my experiences and reflections during these years in which I’ve kicked a ball around. I hope that you enjoy it, and that you can identify with it in one way or another.


Hugs,
 

Livvie

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I read he's giving 99% of the sales to the charity? Obviously he can afford it but nice gesture. Hope he stays at United in an ambassador role.
 

Samid

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WANTING TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC
16 OCT 2019

I’m returning to the blog today after a few days of rest during the international break. A necessary ‘break’ to see everything from another perspective and to recharge our batteries for everything that we have ahead of us.

We are now returning to the daily routine with our teammates coming back bit by bit to prepare for Sunday’s game… the international fixtures at least offered up some good news (for me): Spain were able to confirm their place at the next European Championship after the point they picked up in Norway and another which they took last night in Sweden. The bad news from that game was that David wasn’t able to finish the match due to an injury problem after making some great saves. I hope that it won’t be anything major and he can be back with us soon.

The worst bit from the last few days was what occurred in Bulgaria to various players from England’s national team, players that I know well – some of them teammates. I will never stop repeating that racism has no place in football, nor in society. It is a shame to have to keep talking about this topic in this day and age. Hopefully in the not-so-distant future terrible occurrences like these won’t happen.

Returning to the present, on Sunday we have a great chance to change the dynamic and we are all very motivated to take the win. We are United, we are playing at home and we will give everything to be able to take the victory that our fans deserve in such a special game.

I hope you all have a good week.

Hugs,
 

jem

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WANTING TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC
16 OCT 2019

I’m returning to the blog today after a few days of rest during the international break. A necessary ‘break’ to see everything from another perspective and to recharge our batteries for everything that we have ahead of us.

We are now returning to the daily routine with our teammates coming back bit by bit to prepare for Sunday’s game… the international fixtures at least offered up some good news (for me): Spain were able to confirm their place at the next European Championship after the point they picked up in Norway and another which they took last night in Sweden. The bad news from that game was that David wasn’t able to finish the match due to an injury problem after making some great saves. I hope that it won’t be anything major and he can be back with us soon.

The worst bit from the last few days was what occurred in Bulgaria to various players from England’s national team, players that I know well – some of them teammates. I will never stop repeating that racism has no place in football, nor in society. It is a shame to have to keep talking about this topic in this day and age. Hopefully in the not-so-distant future terrible occurrences like these won’t happen.

Returning to the present, on Sunday we have a great chance to change the dynamic and we are all very motivated to take the win. We are United, we are playing at home and we will give everything to be able to take the victory that our fans deserve in such a special game.

I hope you all have a good week.

Hugs,
I love this man so much. He's clearly in the twilight of his career, and I don't think he should be starting for us, but if every player had his passion for the badge, we'd likely be in a lot better place. In case you are reading this - I love you Juan!
 

Livvie

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I love this man so much. He's clearly in the twilight of his career, and I don't think he should be starting for us, but if every player had his passion for the badge, we'd likely be in a lot better place. In case you are reading this - I love you Juan!
Too right.

He's not quick enough to dictate the game, but with good players around him, he's got the best brain and can give a killer pass. Not to mention his free kicks.

There are players in the squad who are better defended than he is, yet deserve the criticism he gets a lot more.
 

Sir Scott McToMinay

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Too right.

He's not quick enough to dictate the game, but with good players around him, he's got the best brain and can give a killer pass. Not to mention his free kicks.

There are players in the squad who are better defended than he is, yet deserve the criticism he gets a lot more.
Theoretically he’s the bees knees, practically, he’s the worst player in the squad.
 

izec

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Mata is too much of a safe player and possession guy these days to play any sort of killer passes. He regressed in that department the older he got
 

12OunceEpilogue

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Theoretically he’s the bees knees, practically, he’s the worst player in the squad.
Not as frustrating as Lingard, not as insane as Rojo, not Phil Jones. He's down there now though unfortunately, losing physical presence with age from an already low bar isn't leaving much of use.
 

jem

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Theoretically he’s the bees knees, practically, he’s the worst player in the squad.
Like I said, I think he's past it, but I'd have him any day over the likes of Lingard, Pereira and Fred. I also think Matic has declined far more noticeably, and of course there is also Ashley Young. So no, I don't he's anywhere near the worst player in our squad.
 

Sir Scott McToMinay

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Like I said, I think he's past it, but I'd have him any day over the likes of Lingard, Pereira and Fred. I also think Matic has declined far more noticeably, and of course there is also Ashley Young. So no, I don't he's anywhere near the worst player in our squad.
Lingard, Young and Pereira can run all day, that by itself makes them more valuable players.
Matic can actually shield the ball and tackle.

He’s been past-it since he joined us.
 

Livvie

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Lingard, Young and Pereira can run all day, that by itself makes them more valuable players.
Matic can actually shield the ball and tackle.

He’s been past-it since he joined us.
That's ridiculous.

Were you saying that after his two goals at Anfield?

Or when his free kicks got us back against Newcastle and Juventus?

Even in recent games he's been the one trying to make things happen.

Headless chickens can run....
 

RedSky

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I love Mata and think we look more dangerous around the opponents box with him in the team. He might have slowed down and isn't as mobile as he once was but he still has excellent vision and ability to pick out one of our players in space around the edge of the box. He's much more effective than Lingard for example.
 

Sir Scott McToMinay

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That's ridiculous.

Were you saying that after his two goals at Anfield?

Or when his free kicks got us back against Newcastle and Juventus?

Even in recent games he's been the one trying to make things happen.

Headless chickens can run....
Oh right Liverpool and Juventus, he’s been here what, 6 years now?
I can’t remember the last time he played a defense splitting pass for us.

Trying to make something happen? He’s been absolutely atrocious this season, useless, slower than ever, softer than ever, horrifically out of his depth.

Rather a literal headless chicken played in his place, the chicken could nick a ball in the middle of the park and set us off on a counter.

What the hell does he do?
 

11101

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I love Mata and think we look more dangerous around the opponents box with him in the team. He might have slowed down and isn't as mobile as he once was but he still has excellent vision and ability to pick out one of our players in space around the edge of the box. He's much more effective than Lingard for example.
He has the vision but he can't use it anymore. He has lost the mobility to get away from his man to play those passes, and when we don't have the ball he is a liability. Opponents run past him like hes not there. All he does is slow the team down now.
 

Vault Dweller

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Mata is too much of a safe player and possession guy these days to play any sort of killer passes. He regressed in that department the older he got
You might be right but I also think that comes the fact the runners around him are clueless at times and don't make the right runs. Ergo, he keeps the ball safe as there really isn't another option at times.
 

Raees

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Mata is too much of a safe player and possession guy these days to play any sort of killer passes. He regressed in that department the older he got
You could say the same thing about his blogs.
 

Dr Fink

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Basically, his legs have gone. He was the best finisher in the first XI, now debatable with Greenwood (allegedly). As for losing his eye for a good pass, nope, he hasn't lost that. What he has lost is the movement in front of him, running for the pass. There's no movement at all. That's one of the many problems we have.

A great servant who deserves a swan song, albeit a bit part in this season.
 

ManuMou

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He has the vision but he can't use it anymore. He has lost the mobility to get away from his man to play those passes, and when we don't have the ball he is a liability. Opponents run past him like hes not there. All he does is slow the team down now.

This.

As much as I love this man, his ability and intelligence, and while slowness is not a big issue by itself, Mata is both small and is really, really slow. These two weaknesses further hinder his other capabilities, especially when playing for United who needs energy and pace.
 

Livvie

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Oh right Liverpool and Juventus, he’s been here what, 6 years now?
You claimed he'd been useless since he came to us. Sorry if pointing out that isn't true doesn't sit with your agenda.

Maybe you should read some of the comments from people who are obviously au fait with the technical side of football as opposed to the obvious things that only us lesser mortals pick up on.

Overall, Mata still offers as much, or more, than Lingard, Matic and Pereira, and I've still seen very little of Pogba's 90 minute contribution yet. He's the nearest we have to a creative player, bearing in mind that Pogba has it, but doesn't want to use it. I'm sick of people ambling round the pitch, making no effort to track back, or tackle, yet still being glorified based on their reputation. It happened with Veron. He was pretty ineffective here - some could see it, others refused to. Now even players like Keane are saying it.

Is Mata the answer for the future - obviously not. Maybe not even the present. But shouldn't be the bloody scapegoat either when hardly anyone in the team is performing, because he's one of the few who makes the effort and looks like the shirt means something.
 

Sir Scott McToMinay

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You claimed he'd been useless since he came to us. Sorry if pointing out that isn't true doesn't sit with your agenda.

Maybe you should read some of the comments from people who are obviously au fait with the technical side of football as opposed to the obvious things that only us lesser mortals pick up on.

Overall, Mata still offers as much, or more, than Lingard, Matic and Pereira, and I've still seen very little of Pogba's 90 minute contribution yet. He's the nearest we have to a creative player, bearing in mind that Pogba has it, but doesn't want to use it. I'm sick of people ambling round the pitch, making no effort to track back, or tackle, yet still being glorified based on their reputation. It happened with Veron. He was pretty ineffective here - some could see it, others refused to. Now even players like Keane are saying it.

Is Mata the answer for the future - obviously not. Maybe not even the present. But shouldn't be the bloody scapegoat either when hardly anyone in the team is performing, because he's one of the few who makes the effort and looks like the shirt means something.
What agenda are you talking about? all I want is to see the team doing well.

You’re basing your opinions on other people’s? I suggest you don’t do that, that’s absurd.
I base my opinions on players from what I see on the pitch, football is a far simpler game that you’re making it out to be.

What I see from Mata is someone who does practically nothing on the football pitch.
I could live with his lack of numbers as an attacking player it if as least he would’ve been able to contribute defensively, like Pereira or Lingard, but he is way too slow to close down areas or passing opportunities, dispossessed of the ball like a 10 year old kid.

There’s no need to sugar-coat anything just because he is a nice guy, what the hell does that has anything to do with football, and spear me with cliches about effort and caring for the shirt, they all care, they all want to do well, and they all put in the effort to do better, yes even want away Paul Pogba.

Mata is a pensioner with good touch, nothing else, wouldn’t get a game at Hull.
 

Livvie

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There’s no need to sugar-coat anything just because he is a nice guy, what the hell does that has anything to do with football, and spear me with cliches about effort and caring for the shirt, they all care, they all want to do well, and they all put in the effort to do better, yes even want away Paul Pogba.
Is that offer still open...

;)
 

andy dufresne

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Look , no one is arguing that Juan Mata comes across as a decent human being and genuine bloke because he most definitely does

However , his Performances on the pitch for us / United over the last 18 months to two Years have simply not been good enough
He does not have the ability any longer to get round the pitch and in so many matches I witness both "live" and on the TV , the game just seems to pass him by !

He and Matic , for me , should not be playing for our beloved Club anymore though I do , of course , wish him well , in whatever he does in the future