But why should we give a washed up player a year of salary (which is way higher then that of a gold standard coach) to ensure his services as an inexperienced coach whose on the job learning?
The coaching angle is a fan narrative which is heard when similar players at different clubs get contract extension.
He's just a united player that was offered a contract because the manager wanted to do so. The same manager was a massive hoarder of players.
He played just fine early last season before he went to Spain to his mourn his mother (wasn't he man of the match twice?). It's not unthinkable he could have had some value as a squad player if our squad wasn't so bloated. Which isn't Mata's fault but rather the hoarder manager's that's too scared of making hard choices.
He was decent last night and he was played completely out of position vs YB.
People constantly say he's finished, and it's obvious he's not at peak but whenever he has actually played he's done well enough to prove he's not finished. I guess the same people are mostly jealous of what he earns despite rarely featuring (as if being a pro footballer doesn't require effort at 33) and watch too many shitty fan channels/Mark Goldshite.
I have to debate that. I agree the squad needs mixed personalities but it doesn’t need passengers. The coaches are there to provide guidance, motivation and advice, that is not the job of the players.
When you can only have a 25 man squad it’s important everyone has their role and can contribute. As I said, you can get someone with an equally nice personality as Mata who will provide good vibes to the squad but can still actually play football. We aren’t supposed to be a retirement home or charity.
He's done well enough to be player 23-26 whenever he's actually played these last 2 years. The problem is he was player 30 because we had a massively bloated squad. He really hasn't played worse than the other fringe squad players, James, Lingard, VDB, Williams, what have you.
For now yes, but that deal is expiring this year. The next year, anything goes.
If Mata agrees cheap deal and agrees he will only be backup in case of injuries to the first team, he's welcome to stay. If he demands 200k a week, he can pack his bags.
I've always seen Mata as a sensible guy so I'm sure it's possible to talk this through.
You have very strange fantasies. In what universe would he demand 200k when he's on less and already took a pay cut for his current deal? It's as dumb a hypothetical as saying if Pogba pisses in everyone cereal we shouldn't offer him a contract. It doesn't happen (although it would explain our current form).
