We're simply shit without him.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 40
- Goals
- 3
- Assists
- 7
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
I don't rate him as highly as some but I think he should be ahead of Mkhi as our RW who drifts in as a CAM. He's shown to have excellent link-up play with Valencia and Herrera down that side in the past.
Best finisher, best final pass, moves the ball the quickest, concedes possession the least of all our forward players. Only thing he lacks is pace for those that have hard-ons for the Walcott's of the world.
His lack of pace isn't an issue for me. It's his reluctance to player killer passes and, when he does play said passes, he's not consistent with the weight of pass. He's a very safe passer of the ball in general for a 10. Plus, unlike the likes of Silva, Pastore and Isco who aren't the biggest of players themselves, he, like Mkhi, are very weak with the ball and cannot resist players who press.
I do think he should be trusted more, though. Has anyone in our squad (bar De Gea and Carrick) had a performance as good as his at Juanfield in such a big game? Probably Herrera with his performance at Juanfield last year, but that's probably it. That's the only time I've ever seen us not only play well at their ground, but completely dominate them, and he was a key reason as to why, though everyone, bar di Maria, played their part.
Man Utd 4:0 West Ham
Having a good game here. Makes all the runs that Lingard generally should be making.
I think playing against teams sitting deep you flat out require a player like Mata on the pitch if you have one. He's been great.
Mata>Mhkitaryan.
Iniesta-like today.
By some distance
Excellent runs today.
Yup. Unfortunately a lot of the fanbase get blinded by Mkhi being a big name signing last season, and forget that Mata was a big signing too at the time. Chelsea's POTY two seasons in a row. Such a great player, really is integral to any Man Utd team that wants to play good football until someone of similar quality is brought in.
Didn't notice the tackle from Valencia at the end. Quite clumsy.
He should have had a shot from that lovey pogba through ball. Been very good.
I find it funny that people always point to Lingard's movement when Mata's is far superior and he actually has the technical ability to match.
He makes those runs all the time, one of the few who actually run behind
Has to play when fit
Yep, not even close IMO.
Definitely.
Nice to see he's not being pushed out of the eleven. Still think he is arguably our best player.
I don't see how that's even a debate. Even back when Mikhi first signed and there were multiple threads on how he has everything Mata has and pace I was frustratingly arguing against that
How often has he actually finished a game he started under Mou?
Uugggh I hate when they take him off for someone like fellaini completely dominating this game fellaini just stops the football.
Mata was brilliant today. He literally must have had a million touches. His movement is possibly the best we have on the team. You can see how much pogba and matic and mata are on same wavelength they all think players should move the same way it's brilliant to watch.
Mata was brilliant today. He literally must have had a million touches. His movement is possibly the best we have on the team. You can see how much pogba and matic and mata are on same wavelength they all think players should move the same way it's brilliant to watch.
Hardly controversial or unpopular.
I like them both in the team. Two very creative players on the pitch.
As do I but I think Mata is better
Yeah i love mata. Glad we have them both.
I think miki has qualities mata doesn't, like his dtibbling at speed, but mata is clearly a more intelligent player, as he showed today.
When West Ham were sitting deep, Mata's runs were our main threat until Rashford hurt them on the counter.
He was quality along with Matic.
He's a very good player in moving and rotating the ball in the midfield to open spaces for his other teammates. I'll also go on and and say he's a better at the role Jose wants from his RW ( to drift inside the midfield and rotate the play ) than Mikhi.
Mikhi as number 10 and Mata as a RW and let them play a lot together and we'll see a formidable combo between both.
Mikhi as number 10 and Mata as a RW and let them play a lot together and we'll see a formidable combo between both.
Great work rate and technique , elevates our attacking play when he plays.
Even got a hug from Jose ,when he came off
Even got a hug from Jose ,when he came off
Very happy he's still around. Has been one of our best outfield players since he joined a few seasons back. I will never understand why so many people bash him - I really love him as a player and the human he is off the pitch. Real role model!
Its great to see him come central and look around and have 2 or 3 players with pace to work with. Think we will see the best of him with that too.
Think hes fantastic for a 4231 when we play at home.
Think hes fantastic for a 4231 when we play at home.
I like how he and Pogba work together, compliment each others play
He was very good in the first half, and then fell away a bit in the second half.
Such a clever player.
Such a clever player.
Fantastic performance. Just as I wanted to see him, given a free role.
Great movement. Clever player. A team player. A great player.
Ditto above comments
He is class and needs to play every week. We're simply better with him in the side.
This.
Todays side is basically what we need to see in the majority of games. Herrera comes in occasionally for tougher games but fights with matic for others. Martial and rashford fight out for left wing, but miki and mata together link up brilliantly and bring out the best in each other.
I thought he was decent, lovely first touch on the chance Pogba put him in for, shame he didn't take it on.
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