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2020-21 Performances


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5.9 Season Average Rating
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18
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3
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Annihilate Now!

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He started the season well - POTM in Sep, MOTM vs Newcastle, but his performances have steadily gone down ever since then.

Love him but just dont see how we'd be extending his contract
That's when he was constantly playing to be fair... Think he got more minutes tonight then in all of 2021 combined.

Still manged to be involved in our goal and almost created our best chance in the second half with some decent movement. But yeah, he looked knackered
 

kundalini

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Good long pass to Amad in the build-up to our goal. Apart from that, Mata offered very little. Gave away possession more often than he usually does.
 

youngrell

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Looked spent tonight for sure. Been a big fan of his, and I wouldn’t bet against him still having one good game for us left in him, but I think even he will have known tonight how far off his standard he was.
 

stevoc

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Finished at the top Level, could extend his career by moving to a retirement league like Serie A though.
 

SAFMUTD

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I hope thats the last we see of him in a United shirt, waste of space. He's been done for years, madness that we keep extending his contract should had shipped him at least 2 years ago.
 

Devil may care

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Started really sharply but was out of gas by the 30 minute mark, I was surprised he played the full 90.
 

ThehatchetMan

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I hope thats the last we see of him in a United shirt, waste of space. He's been done for years, madness that we keep extending his contract should had shipped him at least 2 years ago.
I'm sorry but I do not agree with this at all. There's alot more to being part of the squad than playing matches.

While contributing on the pitch is obviously the main job, there are still many other ways you can contribute. Juan Mata is a model professional and an all round nice guy who is a great influence for young players coming through.

You can tell that he is highly respected within the football community and has a close bond with many of the members in our squad.

He would be great to keep on as a coach or in some sort of capacity.
 

SAFMUTD

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I'm sorry but I do not agree with this at all. There's alot more to being part of the squad than playing matches.

While contributing on the pitch is obviously the main job, there are still many other ways you can contribute. Juan Mata is a model professional and an all round nice guy who is a great influence for young players coming through.

You can tell that he is highly respected within the football community and has a close bond with many of the members in our squad.

He would be great to keep on as a coach or in some sort of capacity.
Unless he's the manager then theres nothing he can be doing thats worth 160K a week.

He can be as nice as jesus himself but thats not worth 160K a week, that salary should be destined for a player that is key on the starting line up. Reality is football has passed through him, he looks several levels below of whats needed. Luckily for us his contract, finally, expires this summer and I pray to God that Ole doesnt make the same mistake of renewing his contract again.

I'll say it again, no matter how good of an influence he is to the squad we should not be renewing his contract.
 

Djemba-Djemba

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I'm sorry but I do not agree with this at all. There's alot more to being part of the squad than playing matches.

While contributing on the pitch is obviously the main job, there are still many other ways you can contribute. Juan Mata is a model professional and an all round nice guy who is a great influence for young players coming through.

You can tell that he is highly respected within the football community and has a close bond with many of the members in our squad.

He would be great to keep on as a coach or in some sort of capacity.
Sorry but that is nonsense.

You don't keep someone in the squad because they're a nice guy everyone likes.
 

Robindinho

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His legs have clearly gone, not that he was famed for his running anyway but would still get by with his brains/touch. Can’t play at this level anymore - certainly not 90 minutes.

Hannibal to take his place in the squad from next season.
 

simplyared

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He's been a great servant for the club. However never reached the heights I expected from him. Maybe he can play a roll for the club. However not on the pitch is my honest opinion.
 

Floyd

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No noises at all about his contract situation?

He's finished in the PL, he should go to Serie A and hand over his #8 to Bruno.
 

Annihilate Now!

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Its the same in this thread as in other post match/performance threads, but really, what did anyone reasonably expect from yesterdays game? In 2021 he's played a grand total of 24 minutes... how would anyone reasonably expect him to be good when a) he's not match fit and b) he's playing in a team of reserves. It's bizarre to say he's finished based off last nights game Now if you're saying it off other games, fair enough, though when he was playing regularly at the beginning of the season he was contributing.

Anyway, he always seems to come alive a bit more when Bruno is on the pitch (much like our whole team does) and it was the same yesterday.
 
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He’s obviously had some off the field difficulties this season.

Not based on yesterday’s game, but looks like his time is up. Would like to see him playing week in week out, and that’s obviously not possible at United.

At least he’s no longer shoehorned on the right.
 

Borys

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Nobody cares about his performance level, he's finished. Had a decent career here, not bad not excellent. Personally I think whenever he played we lacked balance. But he did pop up with a goal or assist out of nowhere.

Surely we're getting someone in if both him and Lingard are leaving. I hope it's a winger, no need for like for like replacement.
 
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FrankDrebin

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Mata looked spent in LVG last season. Sure he had a slight upturn in form in Jose's first season but I'm really surprised (or not) that he's still here.
 

Born2Lose

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He's been a great servant for the club.
This oft used phrase made sense 50 years ago when players were paid peanuts but can't undrestand how it applies to a guy earning £150k for sitting on a bench when no one else would have him.

He's doing United some huge favour? Really?
 

Conor

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Is he really on 150k a week currently? I'm not sure about that at all.
 

Hackman2210

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I've always liked watching mata play for Utd - but he's a luxury player and we have better players ahead of him. Would be better for all parties if he moves on to Spain, Portugal etc. Thanks for the memories Juan.
 

Abraxas

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A move to the MLS looks pretty logical. I'm not sure he's really in the game enough at this kind of level these days. There's very few opportunities for him to deliver something incisive with the way football is played in this league.

But if you can reduce it down to his ability on the ball he can still be a player.
 

ThehatchetMan

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Sorry but that is nonsense.

You don't keep someone in the squad because they're a nice guy everyone likes.
Sorry I think I didn't phrase my post well. I fully agree that we shouldn't be extending his playing contract any further.

What I was responding to more was the poster I initially quoted who suggested he's been a waste of money for the last couple of seasons which I think was a bit unfair.

Of course we shouldn't be spending 150k a week for someone to be a nice guy in the dressing room. But I don't think we should underestimate his contributions either, I'm sure his influence and professionalism has helped alot with developing the young players who have been coming through.

But I'm in full agreeance that we shouldn't be extending his playing contract further.
 

Djemba-Djemba

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Sorry I think I didn't phrase my post well. I fully agree that we shouldn't be extending his playing contract any further.

What I was responding to more was the poster I initially quoted who suggested he's been a waste of money for the last couple of seasons which I think was a bit unfair.

Of course we shouldn't be spending 150k a week for someone to be a nice guy in the dressing room. But I don't think we should underestimate his contributions either, I'm sure his influence and professionalism has helped alot with developing the young players who have been coming through.

But I'm in full agreeance that we shouldn't be extending his playing contract further.
Fair enough yeah I agree with you .
 
Wolves 1:2 Man Utd

Zoo

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Happy to see him get a goal on possibly his last appearance for the club. Model pro.
 

charlenefan

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Just said he wants to play football, safe to say that was his last game for us in the PL

Been a model professional while he's been here and a great ambassador for the club
 

Annihilate Now!

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Just said he wants to play football, safe to say that was his last game for us in the PL

Been a model professional while he's been here and a great ambassador for the club
Imagine he'll be an ambassador for the club when he does eventually retire.
 

90 + 5min

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100% Pro model. Someone who every young player should aspire to be. Not just talking about ability but as a human being and as a professional. Whatever he does after this year, he deserve it.
 

Eternitiy

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Why did he decline so early?

It seems like he's been a veteran squad player for a good 4 or 5 years at this point. A model professional, but I think, all things considered, quite a disappointing or at least underwhelming United career given his obvious ability.
 

FrankDrebin

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Looked like his last appearance for United in the PL when he went off.
Been a good servant and a great ambassador for the club.
 

Kag

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I’ve enjoyed his time here. We never really saw the best of him but he’s been a solid player for us. Pleased he got his goal.
 

Idxomer

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You can't really hate him because he always gave his all regardless of his form.

He should go to Italy next, I think he'll enjoy it there.
 

anant

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Think he was pretty decent in the 2nd half, was making himself available for the pass and while he was not going for any risky passes, he was ensuring that we retain possession for longer spells at a time Wolves were pushing up.

If this was his last game for us, I wish him the best and hope he does well wherever he goes.
 

Annihilate Now!

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Think he was pretty decent in the 2nd half, was making himself available for the pass and while he was not going for any risky passes, he was ensuring that we retain possession for longer spells at a time Wolves were pushing up.
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Yeah, thought he started sloppy but went on to have a good game and a particularly good second half for the reasons you said

He was also constantly talking and pointing to the young lads, which I'm sure helped them through the game.
 
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