Juan Mata image 8

Juan Mata Spain flag

2019-20 Performances


View full 2019-20 profile

5.3 Season Average Rating
Appearances
37
Goals
3
Assists
7
Yellow cards
1
Status
Not open for further replies.

Devil may care

New Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
Messages
35,976
He picked up some good positions in the first half and fed in 3 or 4 decent little passes into the forwards, the issue is his brain often moves quicker than his body can react these days, faded as the half went on. Better than Lingard? Yes in that he has a picture of what's around him and more intelligent use of the ball, but the fact him and Lingard are our two main options for the #10 role is just another example of the mess we are in.

Did well enough, I am not sure why the feck was he replaced by Lingard when the Saints were defending deep...
I think he runs out of steam around the hour mark in most games these days, he rarely ever plays a full 90.
 

kiristao

Full Member
Joined
May 4, 2005
Messages
4,652
Location
Goa, India
He had a good game. Normally has a good game when he plays in the 10 role. Why he doesnt play there more often I don't know
 

Bwuk

Full Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
17,281
He had a good game. Normally has a good game when he plays in the 10 role. Why he doesnt play there more often I don't know
I agree. Until our squad improves I’d be playing him as the 10 every week.
 

Livvie

Executive Manager being kept sane only by her madn
Scout
Joined
Jun 5, 2000
Messages
41,716
He was below average, but still better than Lingard's performances in previous matches
He wasn't below average at all. He was the last one who should have been taken off - was the only one creating anything. Neither of the players who came on have done anything or did anything, to justify the change.

Just pointless player on the pitch. As pointless as United extending his contract.
I'll stick with the opinions of the pundits, and Paul Scholes, ta. (And mine)
 

R'hllor

Full Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Messages
15,414
Funny how we aint able to plan our future further than a year but in case of future ambassador role, nailed it.
 

Ekeke

Full Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
53,080
Location
Hope, We Lose
He wasn't below average at all. He was the last one who should have been taken off - was the only one creating anything. Neither of the players who came on have done anything or did anything, to justify the change.

Matic came on from the 67th minute and had 35 touches to Mata's 40.

Mata drifted out of the game like always only able to play on the fringes instead of providing a consistent threat
 

Livvie

Executive Manager being kept sane only by her madn
Scout
Joined
Jun 5, 2000
Messages
41,716
Mata
Matic came on from the 67th minute and had 35 touches to Mata's 40.

Mata drifted out of the game like always only able to play on the fringes instead of providing a consistent threat
We looked like creating something with Mata...who also had a big part in our goal...but Matic resembles a plank of wood. Might have had more touches, but did what? Its not the size of the boat but the motion of the ocean ;)
 

anant

Correctly predicted Italy to win Euro 2020
Joined
Feb 28, 2015
Messages
8,258
Matic came on from the 67th minute and had 35 touches to Mata's 40.

Mata drifted out of the game like always only able to play on the fringes instead of providing a consistent threat
Are you comparing touches of a defensive midfielder with that of an attacker?

Mata was clearly our best creator that day, and I'd go as far as to say among the front 6 that played, he was our 2nd best player. Any chance that we created involved him in it
 

VP89

Pogba's biggest fan
Joined
Dec 6, 2015
Messages
31,121
Matic came on from the 67th minute and had 35 touches to Mata's 40.

Mata drifted out of the game like always only able to play on the fringes instead of providing a consistent threat
They operated in completely different positions, and Matic came on when we faced 10 men. You can't just compare stats blindly.
 

Caesar2290

New Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2019
Messages
1,283
To me Mata needs to be used as a sub in the last 25-30 minutes of the game when we are struggling to break a compact defense or when we are chasing a goal. The man clearly can't last the whole 90 minutes.

Simple start Lingard/Gomes and if needed simply sub them with Mata.
 

red woppit

Full Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2017
Messages
2,229
Location
Buchebi
Supports
Northampton Town
Mata would be my 10 for the rest of the season, and I would gradually introduce Gomes into that role, and I believe by the end of this season Gomes will have made that position his own. The only other player, I feel, who could get minutes there would be Pereira. I'm amazed by the negative reaction to Mata by some posters on here, and yes, he is slowing down, but he never was that quick, but around the penalty area he is always making things happen, with his runs, little dinked passes etc. If Gomes can pick up some experience from Mata, then I think he could become a world class player.
 

romufc

Full Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
12,555
I don't really care how often or when he plays but every minute should be at 10 and not wide.
I think he played well when he was on the pitch. As with his age, you would be tired after 65 minutes, so wouldn't mind seing him rotated with Gomes?
 

Andycoleno9

matchday malcontent
Joined
Mar 4, 2017
Messages
28,576
Location
Croatia
I am so pissed that we spent all these years with rotating players on no10 while we had him. Sure, some big away games when we play defensive are not for him but in all other games he is perfect no10. And as said it above, him as a first choice and Gomes as second choice is a way to go this season. No more Pogba, Lingard or Pereira on no10. Lets use players who are natural there
 

Roboc7

Full Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2014
Messages
6,562
I am so pissed that we spent all these years with rotating players on no10 while we had him. Sure, some big away games when we play defensive are not for him but in all other games he is perfect no10. And as said it above, him as a first choice and Gomes as second choice is a way to go this season. No more Pogba, Lingard or Pereira on no10. Lets use players who are natural there
Hopefully we stop playing with a 10, when our options are Mata or Lingard there really isn’t much point.
 

Andycoleno9

matchday malcontent
Joined
Mar 4, 2017
Messages
28,576
Location
Croatia
Hopefully we stop playing with a 10, when our options are Mata or Lingard there really isn’t much point.
In general i don't like formation with no10. It is formation from old days and i prefer to see 433. But i disagree about Mata. He was excellent no10 before joining us. True class player. Passing, creativity, vision, finishing, technique...he has it all. He is joy to watch.
Is he that today? I don't know because he barely plays there.
 

Roboc7

Full Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2014
Messages
6,562
In general i don't like formation with no10. It is formation from old days and i prefer to see 433. But i disagree about Mata. He was excellent no10 before joining us. True class player. Passing, creativity, vision, finishing, technique...he has it all. He is joy to watch.
Is he that today? I don't know because he barely plays there.
At his peak he was an excellent player and even very good out wide which he played a lot before he joined us. Now he’s neat and tidy but creates little. A number 10 needs to be a real threat which he isn’t, it’s a huge error to be playing this formation if it’s dependent on Mata or Lingard as both aren’t very good.
 
Man Utd 1:0 Leicester

Santoryo

ripping the reward
Joined
Apr 10, 2014
Messages
6,301
I don't remember him managing to compete even a single pass. Lost the ball everytime he touched it.

He's quite literally utterly useless in our midfield due to his lack of presence and doesn't help getting the ball back. Every challange he loses. This could have been overlooked if he was producing the goods on the ball yet he's even worse with the ball. Even his godly touch had deserted him.

He was simply just feeding and gifting the opponents possession.
 

bosnian_red

Worst scout to ever exist
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
57,585
Location
Canada
Not suited to starting pretty much any league games these days tbh. Should be useful in the Europa league though.
 

NemanjaWhoah

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
22
He was terrible today. Watching a performance like that just shows we should give Gomes a chance - there's no way he would've been any worse.
 

Yagami

Good post resistant
Joined
Jan 27, 2013
Messages
13,472
I really don't like him playing. He's so rubbish.
 

Annihilate Now!

...or later, I'm not fussy
Scout
Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Messages
49,673
Location
W.Yorks
Was fine, didn't score or run at the speed of light so the moaners will get their knickers in a twist I'm sure.

That move for his chance in the second half was delightful, probably our best team move of the game.
 

AneRu

Full Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
3,065
Starting him, Matic and Pereira effectively left us playing 7 v 11.
 

#07

makes new threads with tweets in the OP
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Messages
23,258
Mata's a nice guy but, for a Spaniard, he takes a lot of needless touches that often lead to him getting caught on the ball. Also, he's another I look at think, is he giving the team massively more than Angel Gomes would? Yeah, yeah, yeah 'experience' but what did that 'experience' offer us today? Cos when Leicester took control of the game he didn't help settle the side. In fact he got subbed.

It pains me to say it but there's no way he should've got a new contract out of United.
 

RussellWilson

2020 NFC Fantasy League winner
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Messages
1,302
I'm done. Really we're not giving Gomes a chance for past it shite like this? Really, this is the plan.
 

Based Adnan

Full Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2014
Messages
4,063
Completely useless in a game like today where it's pretty open and we need mobility in midfield. How he lasted as long as he did I have no idea. Offers virtually nothing.

2+1 year contract though
 

Zlaatan

Parody Account
Joined
Oct 24, 2013
Messages
3,771
Location
Sweden
He might be one of the most creative players in the team but his legs are long gone. He shouldn’t be on the pitch unless we’re playing against a parked and tired bus.
 

Sandikan

aka sex on the beach
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
52,710
Supreme touch, technique, vision and passing, but just cannot get away, or even get a yard from anyone.
Which unfortunately means unless he's in acres of space, he can look like a kid against grown ups.

Europa and league cup for certain, but should be a special occasions job in the league - which in fairness today was - with a few out.
 

Yagami

Good post resistant
Joined
Jan 27, 2013
Messages
13,472
Was fine, didn't score or run at the speed of light so the moaners will get their knickers in a twist I'm sure.

That move for his chance in the second half was delightful, probably our best team move of the game.
I get that you're a big fan but he was far from fine. I think he gave the ball away at nearly every opportunity.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.