@JaffyJoe
I disagree with pretty much everything you write. Effectivity is a skill in itself,
if you can keep it consistent at the highest level. If a striker apparently sucks at everything but scoring goals and assisting, then he'll still be considered the best striker in the world if he scores and assists more than the other strikers.
Silva is quicker, and better at dribbling and finishing.
That's his edge over Mata. But Mata has better set pieces and awareness(he has a knack for being at the right place at the right time). Their overall level(and fotball brain for that matter), is fairly equal. Silva is just currently having a better season.
If the great qualifier. You can use if to justify anything. I enjoy debating the game so I don't mind if we disagree.
As good as Henderson looks for Liverpool (their best midfielder over the course of the season), ability wise I don't rate him that highly. The system Liverpool plays allows him to be EFFECTIVE, despite what his game lacks. Picking out players who are good in particular system and are thus having great form and picking out players who are thriving due to their ability is why so many signings fail.
Your effectiveness point only rings true for me if a player is doing it in various teams/systems. Someone like Thomas Muller. If you are only effective in one particular system that is because it suits your attributes.
Only Ozil and Iniesta are on Silva's level when these no.10's at their best. Mata is on the same level as Cazorla. There is a reason he couldn't get into the last Spanish squad ahead of an out of form Cazorla. There is a reason even at his peak for Chelsea Silva kept him on the bench. He isn't on Silva's level technically or tactically. He doesn't see the game the way Silva does,the game isn't as easy for him as it is for Silva. He can't influence the game like Silva does for Spain.
The technical ability these guys have is higher than that of Mata. Silva has always been better than Mata in a way you only notice if you watch them both play. The way Silva keeps the ball, makes things easier for others, distributes the ball, he keeps moves and attacks going or even starts moves that Mata isn't capable of doing.
Silva isn't a good finisher and he isn't fast those are odd things to pick out about his game. Awareness is more than being at the right place at the right time. It is about the passes you make, your vision, knowing what is going around you. Silva does these things better than Mata. Mata has a good brain, but his ability to see the whole pitch in comparison to the very best guys is lacking.
Mata gets 20 goals and 20 assists at his peak which is great but i'd rather Silva for what he brings, it is harder to find.
Back to thread title, if you have Mata as one of the very best no.10's yes he is overrated. He's the level below for me. He is a luxury signing but if we bring in some pacy attacking players it will be worth it. Then Mata can do what he does best. He is a very creative player, playing him as a 10. with intelligent movement around him will have him playing at a very high level.
