🇪🇸 Juan Mata

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Doubt it's true, their board won't make such a move 6 months after signing him for such money.. It simply wouldn't make sense.

[nowhereman 7]

Interesting article, though it's unlikely to happen, I'd love to see him at Barca. With his passing skill, it shouldn't be a big problem for him to adapt to their style.

[Namika 922]

26/10, United v Chelsea. First time he'll play against us.

[The Chels 2,502]

26/10, United v Chelsea. First time he'll play against us.

Assuming van Gaal actually selects him

[mtowle182 79]

Assuming Van Gaal actually selects him

what if he runs into same issues with LVG. LOL

[Tomo 21,751]

what if he runs into same issues with LVG. LOL

The evil side of me wants it to happen, the backtracking would be hilarious.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

I miss this dude, im still pissed we had to sell him especially 2 united on top of that his supposed replacement has never performed 2 the high standards he set.

[stroey 2,525]

I miss this dude, im still pissed we had to sell him especially 2 united on top of that his supposed replacement has never performed 2 the high standards he set.

Cesc will let you forget Mata.

[EBH 283]

4 months after we sold him it still feels weird seeing him in the red shirt. Approximately an year ago he'd just won our player of the year award for the 2nd time and it looked like he was destined for greatness with our club. Just goes to show how quickly things in football can change. Kinda sucks he didn't stay to fight for a spot despite all the talks that he doesn't fit in Jose's system, but guess that's the difference between true legends like Lamps and Mata...

The two time running player of the season, at any club, should be an automatic selection unless there's somebody significantly better or injury or something like that. Binning him for Oscar was it? What was the point? As far as I'm aware he's been worse than what Mata was. Perhaps it's less apparent at Chelsea than at other clubs because there's a galaxy of other 'stars' to choose from, but a few years ago a 'luxury' player like Mata would have been accommodated for, even at Chelsea.

I can't get around how lol the drive towards bits and pieces allrounders in football is. An attacking midfielder attacks. That's the whole point. You play somebody behind him who's got a high workrate and some defensive ability so that the AM can do what he's supposed to do. Why would anybody want a number 10 to waste his time learning to position himself defensively and improve his tackling; or waste his energy running up and down the pitch? Create chances, score some goals. That's all there is to it.

You can add onto that the obsession with having 'ball playing' central defenders. Why on earth would a manager expect his centre back to carry the ball out of defence, ripp past half a dozen pressing opponents and then play a pinpoint long pass for the striker? Or more pertinently, how can somebody expect a centre back to be so talented in attacking skill and still be a solid defender?

[Reddish-Blue 2,677]

The two time running player of the season, at any club, should be an automatic selection unless there's somebody significantly better or injury or something like that. Binning him for Oscar was it? What was the point? As far as I'm aware he's been worse than what Mata was. Perhaps it's less apparent at Chelsea than at other clubs because there's a galaxy of other 'stars' to choose from, but a few years ago a 'luxury' player like Mata would have been accommodated for, even at Chelsea.

I can't get around how lol the drive towards bits and pieces allrounders in football is. An attacking midfielder attacks. That's the whole point. You play somebody behind him who's got a high workrate and some defensive ability so that the AM can do what he's supposed to do. Why would anybody want a number 10 to waste his time learning to position himself defensively and improve his tackling; or waste his energy running up and down the pitch? Create chances, score some goals. That's all there is to it.

You can add onto that the obsession with having 'ball playing' central defenders. Why on earth would a manager expect his centre back to carry the ball out of defence, ripp past half a dozen pressing opponents and then play a pinpoint long pass for the striker? Or more pertinently, how can somebody expect a centre back to be so talented in attacking skill and still be a solid defender?

Well written, totally agree

Oscar will always be a light-weight CM playing the attacking midfielder role

It was unfortunate to see Mata leave the club...hopefully the signing of Fabregas will help fill the creative void this season

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Well written, totally agree

Oscar will always be a light-weight CM playing the attacking midfielder role

It was unfortunate to see Mata leave the club...hopefully the signing of Fabregas will help fill the creative void this season

I agree.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Anyone else totally over him?

No, just me then.

Oh, and this guy:

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Anyone else totally over him?

No, just me then.

Oh, and this guy:

This kind of disrespect to Mata is what pisses me off more than anything else, its like people have forgotten what Mata gave us for 2 and a half years, which was 100% commitment and quality. That can not be said of Oscar his supposed replacement.

[iseah100 5,612]

Mata>Oscar

[Fernando 6,725]

Mata>Oscar

Yes but Mourinho thought that Oscar is greater then Mata.

Mourinho opinion is greater than anything else as long as he's our manager.

[bababoom 4,478]

Mata was never really good at dribbling though, that wasn't his game. Someone like Silva has it all, Vision, Close control, Dribbling etc he's a wonderful footballer.

The thing with Cesc is that he's more of a pass and move type player, especially when he's playing further up the pitch. Also the thing that sets him apart from both Juan and Silva IMO is that his long passing is just as good as his short. Juan and Silva both have excellent short passing i.e little through balls, but you hardly ever see them do a Pirlo-esque long rang pass from deep, where as Cesc does it all the time.

Edit - Sorry wrong thread, this should be posted in the Cesc thread, don't mind me.

Edited July 20, 2014 by James

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Mata was never really good at dribbling though, that wasn't his game. Someone like Silva has it all, Vision, Close control, Dribbling etc he's a wonderful footballer.

The thing with Cesc is that he's more of a pass and move type player, especially when he's playing further up the pitch. Also the thing that sets him apart from both Juan and Silva IMO is that his long passing is just as good as his short. Juan and Silva both have excellent short passing i.e little through balls, but you hardly ever see them do a Pirlo-esque long rang pass from deep, where as Cesc does it all the time.

Edit - Sorry wrong thread, this should be posted in the Cesc thread, don't mind me.

Agreed, that's probably what made him a Villas-Boas type of player. It's the sort of fluidity AVB went for and he built his tactics around that sort of play.. it's what made Mata so important.

Mourinho is going for a more hardworking team, defending and attacking as a team. which is why Hazard is consistently fouled more than anyone else. Where Mata looked for the pass before he received the ball, Hazard looks to run at the opposition when he receives the ball. ergo, working harder for the attacking play.

With the signings of Cesc and Costa especially, Mourinho isn't looking the to build a team around an individual. The consequences of doing the latter is highlighted by Tottenham-Bale and soon Liverpool-Suarez.

Yes, you need individual brilliance to fit around those tactics but the biggest plus is if said individual leaves they can be replaced. As Mourinho has/will demonstrate.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

This kind of disrespect to Mata is what pisses me off more than anything else, its like people have forgotten what Mata gave us for 2 and a half years, which was 100% commitment and quality. That can not be said of Oscar his supposed replacement.

How the FUCK is somebody saying they're over Mata leaving being disrespectful? Saying Mata is a judas wanker and was fucking shit, now that's being disrespectful. Saying that I'm over him is hardly being offensive. I suppose you go and revise your definition of the word because you clearly don't have a grasp of its connotations.

Nobody has - or should - have forgotten what Mata did for this club. But I don't know if you've realised, he's left the club now. Players come and go. People get over them leaving. Deal with it. If you want to stay attached to Juan then I'm sure there's a spare seat or two at Old Trafford.

[Korea 734]

Mata needs to worry about starting for man united....

[laura90 556]

Juan Mata is a player who pretty much screwed his career by making wrong decisions. He would be better off if he had chosen Arsenal in 2011. He is perfect Arsene type of player: give him to play and he is happy. If trophy comes, good, if not, nevermind. He just wants to feel accepted, successful and important and that can only be achieved by playing.

It would be much easier if players took their capabilities and style of play into consideration before opting for the next club. In his case anyway.

Since he left it has become hit to talk about his flaws and limitations. Some in order to explain what we wont miss, other to highlight how superior option Oscar is. And I don't have problems with highliting his limitations, I'm aware of them myself, however I do have a problem with explaning how poor player he was without taking into consideration how hard it was for him to play his best football here. Yes he was given free role which helped him score more goals or make more assists, but he also is attacking midfielder who played entire two seasons with us without a striker to pass the ball to. He was under poor managers when it comes to the League( although fabulous manager in CL) almost entire two seasons . In the second part of the first season our players only cared about CL, it was so visible on the field but ended up in heroic triumph. That season was about CL not the League and who says otherwise is wrong.

And our team wasn't good enough for both fronts.

Juan Mata is about end product, but it's not like he had all the conditions to make the best impact in terms of end product here as some suggest. His limitations are to blame but lack of reliable striker/winger isn't ?

Man United is another terrible decision . He won't fit under Van Gaal. I certainly hope he will be sold as soon as possible.

It won't be easy for him to be benched again. It will be another fail for him, new blow to the player who thrives for recognition.I won't be coming here either and read all those mean posts 'ha, he's benched again! ' type. I will be gratefull to him for everithing he's done and I will keep my fingers crossed for him to somwhere along the line find a club where he will feel like important part of the team and where he will get recognition he craves for again.

Meanwhile I will watch Hazard and Oscar playing with striker. Luxury that Mata never had here.