Just meant that there has been a lot of angst on here often directed at Mata in a lot of the tough away games especially that the team got thumped in in the last couple of years and that's why Van Gaal often opted for more dynamic physical players sometimes in the games in the place of Mata. Mata has definitely been performing more consistently though this season than at any time before so maybe we'll see the best of him this season...He's a joy to watch when he's on song
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Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 42
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 5
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Nice words for our little magician from Jose.
I'm guessing we also lost to City cos we had the EL on our minds too?
Thats not true at all. He's scored in plenty of big games for us... Liverpool and City for example.
I thought that was a strange criticism. Mata's generally performs well in big games.
Mata was our best player away at Spurs in 14-15... the first half in particular he ran the show.
The term "luxury player" does my head I to be honest. Surely Mata's primary job is scoring/assisting goals? He seems to do that quite well.
Is a luxury player someone who cannot defend as well as he attacks? Or is it a player who only performs when playing certain positions in certain systems?
Is a luxury player someone who cannot defend as well as he attacks? Or is it a player who only performs when playing certain positions in certain systems?
Man Utd 1:0 Zorya
What a player 
.
.He is just a De Bryune on steroids.
The amount of ground he covers since he came here is quite impressive. I don't remember him working off the ball as much when he was at Chelsea.
Fellaini should have buried that cross.
Him and Rashford are the only ones who has showed up so far
He's everywhere but not in a Rooney kind of way
Luxury player (almost exclusively attributed to attackers), according to me, is someone who looks good when the whole team is playing good. But when the team is under pressure and/or is trailing, the player doesn't have it in him to step up and do something out of nothing and change the game. Mata does suit that definition very perfectly. Over the years he has almost always been the first one to be substituted when the team is trailing and that is for a reason.
He is having a good game out there. His touch is good and is keeping the team ticking. I am not criticizing his performance at all. I am only giving you the definition since you asked for one. As long as Pogba is hitting those pin point balls, Rashford and Lingard are moving around and creating space and Zlatan with his great first touch is helping the build up, Mata will give us nothing to complain about and will excel at his job.
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I thought he was okay. Missed a golden chance to score, did not create any clear cut openings. I would expect more from my #10 in an Europa league match.
Much like with Pogba his game was effected by having to keep coming deeper, but overall I thought he had a decent first half.
Did his disappearing trick again, forgot he was on the field after half time honestly.
You should have kept more attention then.
In fairness the game was so bleak I kept zoning out for periods.
Yeah, because Fosu-Mensah used The Force and pulled that ball to himself when he made the cross that resulted in our goal.
Thats on you because Mata was involved in the 2nd half too and played a key part in our only goal.
I thought he was man of the match, had a couple of really nice bits of play and nothing poor, that's about the best anyone did tonight.
A pretty good outing with some neat passes, one of our best players tonight imo.
Thought he had a corking match. Is being utilised really well by Mourinho.
I'm liking his link-up play with Pogba, another good performance.
Will perform as long as you surround him with pace on both sides. Compensates what he lacks in physical pace with quickness of thought.
In a team with rashford(mkhi) martial on either side and Herrera behind him he will constantly perform I think.
In a team with rashford(mkhi) martial on either side and Herrera behind him he will constantly perform I think.
He looks much more mobile and has bulked up a fair bit. He even looks quicker and makes more runs both on and off the ball.
Saw only the 1st half, felt he was better than most players on the pitch
Quote the Mata
"My relationship with Mourinho has never been bad," the 28-year-old explained on Cope on Thursday night.
"Many lies were told about me and Mourinho when he arrived at the club this summer and it bothered me that every day I had to read and listen to rumours that weren't true - with him I'm fine.
Shows what the press know aye? Always figured he wouldn't be going anywhere this summer, and I'm really glad he hasn't.
"My relationship with Mourinho has never been bad," the 28-year-old explained on Cope on Thursday night.
"Many lies were told about me and Mourinho when he arrived at the club this summer and it bothered me that every day I had to read and listen to rumours that weren't true - with him I'm fine.
Shows what the press know aye? Always figured he wouldn't be going anywhere this summer, and I'm really glad he hasn't.
Needs to start on Sunday in the same position, no more of this RW shit, his link up with Ibra and Pogba is starting to grow.
Thought he was underwhelming.
Been left out of the Spain squad which benefits us
Thought Mata was the only player who could have made things happen last night. Was my man of the match.
He's been very good this season. I really like him in this role where he basically drops back into midfield to form a three but also creates. It's given a certain authority to his game and makes sense how safe he is in possession.
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Amazing. Such a lovely guy, reminds me of Solskjaer....
Brilliant gesture. Pretty sure if he wasn't a footballer, he'd be Santa Claus
Man Utd 1:1 Stoke
I have no idea why we took him off, I thought he was playing well and kept us moving quickly in the final 3rd.
Exactly. Of the front 3, if there was someone who should've been subbed, it was Rashford!
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