Team vs Aston Villa

Originally Posted by Billy Redface

NOT having a Mata debate with you again


He's far more effective through the middle than the right. It's more about Depay though. He's the only player with pace up there and it's just totally negated by playing him out wide. Even if it's not Mata in the middle, stick Herrera in there, Perreira, Januzaj....just get Depay wide.

If I'm wrong, why does he never play through the middle? Ever.

Herrera would be in for me.

Originally Posted by dunk

If I'm wrong, why does he never play through the middle? Ever.

Herrera would be in for me.

Why haven't we signed a CB? Why haven't we signed a player with pace? Why did he pump the ball up to fellaini for half a season last season? Depay didn't play there until LVG started doing it in pre-season either. There's plenty LVG does that doesn't make much sense that we could/do question.


I think Mata can be effective from the right, but putting him and Depay in those positions just naturally seems to restrict them both. I don't think Mata would give the ball away any more than Depay would in that area.


Like I said though, it's more about getting Depay on the wing as much as anything else. I'd be happy with Herrera off the front too.

Mata could work as a number 10 in a 4231 but only if he has quick attackers who make good forward runs like Depay or Pedro alongside him

Originally Posted by ZiggyStardust

Mata could work as a number 10 in a 4231 but only if he has quick attackers who make good forward runs like Depay or Pedro alongside him

Indeed, he would have better cover behind him now, too.

Originally Posted by ZiggyStardust

Mata could work as a number 10 in a 4231 but only if he has quick attackers who make good forward runs like Depay or Pedro alongside him

I think that's what we should be doing. Mata can be lightweight, no question. But I don't see the issue of him giving the ball away being any less of an issue on the right hand side than in the final third.


Depay and Young (hopefully to be replaced by Pedro....) are eager runners and will track back and then there's the protection of Carrick and Schneid behind and two actual full backs. Certainly more reassuring than poor only Daley Blind holding it together all by himself like early last season.

Mata doesn't play in the middle because his style is "high risk, high reward".

Van Gaal doesn't like giving the ball away, Mata will always look for the killer pass when possible. Mourinho didn't like his attacking instincts or perceived lack of work rate either. We can agree to some extent that the lad is now putting in a shift, & executing Van Gaal's tactical / defensive requirements (or he'd be not playing).

Sounds like over complicated %@#$&!s to me in this instance. Depay is better as a wide forward, Mata is better as a no.10.

At the very least they should be flexible enough to interchange regularly, especially if Depay can get 1-v-1 wider, he's at least got the tools to beat a man.

The side will be the same as the Spurs game

Originally Posted by Baron

Mata doesn't play in the middle because his style is "high risk, high reward".

Van Gaal doesn't like giving the ball away, Mata will always look for the killer pass when possible. Mourinho didn't like his attacking instincts or perceived lack of work rate either. We can agree to some extent that the lad is now putting in a shift, & executing Van Gaal's tactical / defensive requirements (or he'd be not playing).

Sounds like over complicated balls to me in this instance. Depay is better as a wide forward, Mata is better as a no.10.

At the very least they should be flexible enough to interchange regularly, especially if Depay can get 1-v-1 wider, he's at least got the tools to beat a man.

The side will be the same as the Spurs game

Pretty much this.


I wouldn't mind if they, as you say, interchanged, but it's all very rigid.

Originally Posted by Baron

Mata doesn't play in the middle because his style is "high risk, high reward".

Van Gaal doesn't like giving the ball away, Mata will always look for the killer pass when possible. Mourinho didn't like his attacking instincts or perceived lack of work rate either. We can agree to some extent that the lad is now putting in a shift, & executing Van Gaal's tactical / defensive requirements (or he'd be not playing).

Sounds like over complicated %@#$&!s to me in this instance. Depay is better as a wide forward, Mata is better as a no.10.

At the very least they should be flexible enough to interchange regularly, especially if Depay can get 1-v-1 wider, he's at least got the tools to beat a man.

The side will be the same as the Spurs game

Mata seems to specialise in the easy 3-10 yard pass more often than not tbh.

Originally Posted by dunk

Mata seems to specialise in the easy 3-10 yard pass more often than not tbh.

Absolutely bloody HATES Mata does Big Dunk....


(say 'I don't'...say 'I don't'....say 'I don't'....)

Originally Posted by dunk

Mata seems to specialise in the easy 3-10 yard pass more often than not tbh.

Yeah now he does, under Van Gaal, but when he was banging in 16 goals & equally as many assists in his Chelsea days he was all about the killer pass.

Beating the creativity out of a player isn't especially inspiring.

Originally Posted by Baron

Yeah now he does, under Van Gaal, but when he was banging in 16 goals & equally as many assists in his Chelsea days he was all about the killer pass.

Beating the creativity out of a player isn't especially inspiring.

He was shit under Moyes too, with the exception of the away game at a ridiculously poor Newcastle. And Mourinho £#%&!ed him off sharpish. I suppose in both cases that was due to negative management and beating the creativity out of him?

The players around him at United really don't help though.

He really is dull as £#%&! to watch, like Berbatov on mogadon. Dripping with talent and technical ability with all the movement of a glacier.

Originally Posted by Bunker Buster

Loving all these Memphis wing sages after NEVER seeing him play a minute of football before he joined united...


Telling Van gaal his best position like he's never met him before.


Don't care for a team, hopefully rained off.

He looked lost playing behind Rooney last week. Be interesting to see if lvg plays him there again tonight or puts him in a more familiar role. Hard enough adjusting to the league as it is without having to play an unfamiliar position.

M6 closed in both directions junc 6/7 till 6pm

This is getting called off.

Originally Posted by Bunker Buster

M6 closed in both directions junc 6/7 till 6pm

This is getting called off.

Can confirm this. Carnage out there today.

Originally Posted by Ethers

Can confirm this. Carnage out there today.

Torrential rain forecast till 7pm as well...

Empty villa park, water logged pitch.......not looking good.

Originally Posted by Bunker Buster

M6 closed in both directions junc 6/7 till 6pm

This is getting called off.

It is believed the HGV crossed the carriageway and first hit a pick-up truck before colliding into several more cars.
One driver is trapped and crews are using cutting equipment to free one driver.

Looks like reds will be venturing out onto the treacherous A roads

Not a fan of 'Friday Night Football' tbh, happy to see this postponed.

Originally Posted by dunk

He was shit under Moyes too, with the exception of the away game at a ridiculously poor Newcastle. And Mourinho £#%&!ed him off sharpish. I suppose in both cases that was due to negative management and beating the creativity out of him?

The players around him at United really don't help though.

He really is dull as £#%&! to watch, like Berbatov on mogadon. Dripping with talent and technical ability with all the movement of a glacier.

Everyone was shit under Moyes.

He is a player with a pretty specific skill set, pace & physicality aren't a part of that set. So why isolate him to get involved in battles that rely more upon those assets?

I like him in as much as he's got a great footballing brain, a great touch & doesn't need those physical attributes to compete - that's not to say I'd buy him or think he's going to be amazing. But it's £#%&!ing pointless moulding the player to the system in this instance. It's to the detriment of the side, & our enjoyment of the game, that he's played where he is.

The same way Berbatov should have had a Rooney / Ronaldo & Tevez axis around him, Mata should be in the middle of it all to get the best out of him.

Otherwise, sell him & buy someone with the attributes we actually need.

Agree with all that. Mata would've been brilliant with the 2008 team around him.

He just doesn't fit imo, said since we were linked with him, he's just not the type of player that thrives at United and we don't have the players to get the best out of him.

Originally Posted by dunk

He just doesn't fit imo, said since we were linked with him

YSHS pal.

Originally Posted by The Watcher

YSHS pal.

Said it once, will say it again, until we either use him right or £#%&! him off.