http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1530935/manchester-united-keen-sign-chelsea-juan-mata?cc=5901&update
I guess its obvious that we are keen on Mata and a possible swap with Rooney could very much happen. Mourinho apparently does not particularly rate him as he apparently favours more athletic players for his counter attacking style.
For me I think he would be an ideal player for us. Our only real creative players in the squad are Kagawa/Nani. Having a trio of Nani/Kagawa/Mata all playing behind RVP and interchanging would be Fantastic. All are highly technical players, are comfortable on the ball .We would be able to keep possession of the ball significantly better in the final 3rd plus create a host more of goalscoring chances.You put a solid CM to get them the ball consistently and we are primed to defend the PL and at least reach the semis of the CL
One thing that is incredibly annoying though is that we could have easily got Mata 2 years ago. Valencia were in serious financial problems and having a fire-sale. He was right there available to us. We opted for Ashley Young instead for just 5mill less ***smh***!!!
I don't understand how SAF could have watched both Mata and Young play and come to the conclusion that Young was the better player just mind-boggling. Young was never really great on the ball and at least 70% of his assists came of set pieces with Heskey and John Carew at Villa. Unless we were going to play the longball/set piece game to score goals, he never made sense for us. The big man did really seem to turn senile in his last couple of years with us as he made some absolutely costly mistakes (not stregthening the CM despite it getting worse by the year, playing 40yo Giggs there, Selling Pogba e.t.c)
Anyway ppl saying that Rooney gone would leave us light in attack need to consider we still have Hernandez and Wellbeck. Now i dont fully trust Wellbeck but he is clearly still improving. So if RVP ever gets injured, I am more than confident that Hernandez will score goals for us. Chica will always score goals as long as the team creates chances (which it will with Mata/Kags/Nani and a solid CM)
I say we do the Mata - Rooney swap, buy a creative CM and a holding CM(wouldn't necessarily mind Fellaini for this position) and then we good to go
Frustrating thing about Mata
posted on 23/8/13
Bit harsh putting us in the lucky category. In 2008 we were the best team in Europe, while 1999 there was definitely a hell of a lot of luck but over the season along with Bayern we were the top 2 teams in Europe.
But I agree with your points.
posted on 23/8/13
In 2008 we were the best team in Europe
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Hands down we were. Didn't we go through the whole campaign undefeated too? We were a far superior team to anyone. That year I think Liverpool even spanked Real Madrid 4-0.
posted on 23/8/13
That was the year after, Dark. It was that season they beat Real 4-0 and us 4-1 but won fack all.
posted on 23/8/13
- Yeah, sorry! Remember how high and mighty they all had got after those two wins. They thought they had just won the world cup!!
posted on 23/8/13
Bit harsh putting us in the lucky category. In 2008 we were the best team in Europe, while 1999 there was definitely a hell of a lot of luck but over the season along with Bayern we were the top 2 teams in Europe.
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We were probably the Best team overall in Europe in 2008 but we can't ignore how we were completely outplayed by Barca home and away. I'd say they knock us out if not for them having internal problems with Frank Rijkaard, Ronaldinho e.t.c. Not to mention Messi just coming back from injury for the OT game. I mean they did end up embarrassing us in the finals the next year with pretty much the same team.
posted on 23/8/13
I remember when Torres, Reina, Arbeloa and Alonso won the world cup. They thought they'd won the world cup.
It's funny to LAL, but credit where it's due that Liverpool team was very good. They were a worthy adversary.
The football we played in the two seasons prior was more attractive than that year but it was so sweet beating Liverpool to the title.
posted on 23/8/13
Young was never really great on the ball and at least 70% of his assists came of set pieces
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I love how you picked a random number out of thin air. I would imagine it was less than 10%, you really don't need to invent stats to get people onside about Young. Group mind was activated long ago.
posted on 23/8/13
comment by ole_20_legend (U14722)
posted 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
That comes across as pretty arrogant, you’d certainly have a chance but Manchester United are not the only attractive club to join.
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Not to sound arrogant but if I remember correctly we tied up the Ashley Young deal by late June. Chelsea didnt have Mata signed till August. I know he was suppose to go to Arsenal at first, but again I see no reason we could not have competed with Arsenal. Especially given he didnt go there because they kept haggling over the price.
I am just saying that he was clearly for sale and really had no preference on where he wanted to go, yet it seems we made no inquiry and opted for Young effectively taking us out of the sweepstakes. That was clearly a monumental mistake.
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Fair enough, you explanation has appeased me greatly That said I think practice Chelsea would just make their move sooner and Mata would have his pick of options.
posted on 23/8/13
Chelsea look like they are getting Willian possible
Jose when asked about Roo, he suggested Willian was a plan B
He also insisted Mata is going nowhere in his on way
Roo's staying
posted on 23/8/13
I love how you picked a random number out of thin air. I would imagine it was less than 10%, you really don't need to invent stats to get people onside about Young. Group mind was activated long ago.
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Not at all. Young was top of the assists charts in the PL at the time. A villa fan made a youtube compilation of his assists then. Can't seem to find the video but I remember clearly that majority of the assists where from set-pieces and crossing.
He had absolutely nothing else to his game in terms of all round ability. Watching the Villa games also backed this up to. I remember Gerrard Hollier taking over Villa and trying to play Young as an AM behind the striker. It was a disaster because again his game is strictly about crossing.
He been here 2 yrs now and once again my beliefs have been reinforced. He can't get those assists he used to with Villa because we don't play that style of Football (at least we are trying not play like that) and we dont have target men like carew/heskey either. His short passes and all round game leave a lot to be desired.he struggles to beat his man. I just think it was a terrible move getting him esp given Mata was available