When you compare Mata's exclusion to those included - Hart, Silva, Rooney, Bale, Parker, Persie, Aguero - everyone else plays in a higher-placed team. League position in itself is irrelevant but the rest of the nominees benefit from having better players around them than Mata does, with the possible exception of Persie. In regards form itself, what have Bale, Silva and Parker done for the last couple of months? Where would Rooney be without all those obligatory penalties Man Utd get awarded? 6 goals, 11 assists for Mata - criminally ignored, just like the contributions of Krul, Vorm, Holt, Ba.