Juan Mata

[Tomo 21,681]

9 hours ago, Styl1994 said:

Could you imagined a 4231 

Kante De Bruyne

Salah   Mata   Hazard   

            Lukaku 

what could have been 

Swap Lukaku for Costa, put a DM/DLP in instead of Mata (who could be the impact sub) and make it a 4-3-3 then we're talking.

         DM/DLP

     Kante   KDB

Salah               Hazard

           Costa

[Mário César 812]

I almost forgot that he exists. 

Complety ruined is carrer when he joined United. What a waste of player

[OneMoSalah 8,614]

Interesting was thinking back on his time here  and what he’s done after when I seen him play earlier for United.

I know his career hasn’t exactly kicked on since he left us but he has nearly 100 goal involvements for United - 50 goals and 47 assists - in 271 games so basically a goal or assist every 2.8 games or 3 whatever your pick is. Not amazing but considering he hasn’t really ever been a regular there bar under Moyes prior to his sacking and Van Gaal for a bit but again in and out, it’s still not exactly been a career wasted so to speak, just has maybe underachieved (say that lightly though based on the trophies hes won still). 

It still does pain me to think what he could have continued to do here although he did have his limitations but at the same time the technical ability and quality that so many others didn’t have who lasted a lot longer than him here. For example Oscar and Willian. 

Overall though throughout his career, 618 club games, 137 club goals and 157 club assists. Basically a goal or assist every 2 games or close enoigh. Plus he’s won the World Cup, the Euros, the CL, Copa del Rey, 2 Europa Leagues, 2 FA cups and the EFL/Carabao Cup. So all in all not done too badly which is why maybe a waste of a career is a bit harsh although United being piss poor over a long period has largely contributed to a lack of medals. If he had gone somewhere else or stayed he’d have bound to have won more.

Would say his playing style and lack of athleticism has made him a victim to how football over the last 10-15 years has seen this continuous emphasis and rise on everyone being even more athletic and even more extremely fit to play in these top teams. The majority of them all now seem to be associated with this relentless gegenpressen or counter pressing approach or whatever you want to call it and doesn’t look like its going anywhere any time soon.

Edited May 11, 2021 by OneMoSalah

[Mário César 812]

he will left United in a couple of weeks. His contract will not be extended.

Its hard to believe that he left us in 2014. jesus christ time flys...

btw, he arruined his carreer joining United. So sad... What player he could be.

[nyikolajevics 2,422]

1 minute ago, Mário César said:

he will left United in a couple of weeks. His contract will not be extended.

Its hard to believe that he left us in 2014. jesus christ time flys...

btw, he arruined his carreer joining United. So sad... What player he could be.

Crazy how influental he was for us in 2 and a half years and how he remained under radar at United for 8 years. 
 

By the time, it really bothered me we sold him, but probably by that time it was over for classic number 10s in football. What he could offer was no more needed. Same like Oscar.

[Vesper 27,317]

25 minutes ago, nyikolajevics said:

Crazy how influental he was for us in 2 and a half years and how he remained under radar at United for 8 years. 
 

By the time, it really bothered me we sold him, but probably by that time it was over for classic number 10s in football. What he could offer was no more needed. Same like Oscar.

his 2012/13 season was one of the most wild statistically for a MF'er in modern football history

if he had nicked one more goal, it would have been a reverse image of Nkunku this last season, granted Nkunku did it in FAR less minutes and games

Chelsea played 69 games that season!

IF we had won the semis in either the FA Cup or the League Cup, we would have been the first major team ever in modern history to play 70 games in one season (71 if we made both domestic cup finals)

THAT would have been an impossible to break (I think even 69 is) record

as it involved BOTH the CL and then sliding over and playing MAX Europa league games (an insane 15 matches between the two European comps) plus 2 replay games in the FA Cup that are no longer played (in theory we could have played FIVE FA Cup replay games, not 'just' 2, so that total could have been a CRAZY, MAD AS ASS 74 games in one season!!!), plus the CS, PLUS we played in the Super Cup and also the FWWC

that combo of games has never been done before and likely never will be done again (as the EPL is the only league still with two cups, and it takes an insane confluence of events to play in the CS, CL, EL (and go max games there), Super Cup, and the FWCC ALL in the same season, plus max out on all games in two domestic cups