Di Maria isn't a number 10.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
He's not really got a defined position for me. He almost plays everywhere.
Some of the through balls (some with outside of his foot) have been sublime this year. He's got everything in his game to be able to play number 10 easily.
Better than Mata too.
----------------De Gea--------------
Rafael---Smalling--Rojo---Shaw
-----------Carrick---Herrera---------
--------------------Mata-----------------
-------Rooney----------Di Maria----
--------------------RVP-----------------
We've played our best football with the diamond formation, have Mata play behind Rooney and RVP. Herrera, Carrick and Di Maria in the midfield.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wouldn't mind seeing that at all......although it would be incredibly harsh on Blind who has probably been the best so far out of all of our new players.
De gea
rafa smalling rojo shaw/young
herrera carrick blind
rooney di maria
throbbin robin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Say we could have kept that 11 on pitch most of season, I reckon we'd have gone really close to, if not win the title.
-----------------
Aside from the fact that several of those players weren't even at United last season.
I like Blind but I prefer Carrick and IMO we only need to at 1.
As often happens with injured players I feel Blinds performances are being overrated because he's injured, still a valuable member of the squad.
When Di Maria proves himself as a number 10 then you can say he's better than Mata in that position.
Until then you're just guessing.
He's also looked better playing in a deeper midfield role in the last 18 months than he has anywhere else in the pitch in his career.
Let's chance his position.
That is true Stretty, but I've been so impressed with Carrick since his return and he's been one of the reasons we've won 6/6. It'd just be harsh to drop him, and I understand why Van Gaal was so gutted he got that pre season injury.
I meant this season Ripley.
With us not being in Europe, we could have easily 'done a liverpool' but actually won it.
We've had ridiculous luck with injuries. Our very best 11 is pretty damn good when you think about. We just haven't got anywhere near to fielding it yet.
Mata hasn't been playing well either tough. He has good stats but he's hardly effecting games at all in what he's supposed to be good at.
Didn't think he was all that today either.
Mata looks better when Herrera plays. RVPs improvement has helped mata too.
I meant this season Ripley.
---------------
Then do try to speak in the present tense.
Last 4 games other than the Saints game Mata has played really well I thought. Especially along side Herrera.
Mata was good second half. No surprise as Herrera was on the pitch.
Di Maria influences play in a different way. Just because he can create chances doesn't mean he'll be any better than Mata as a number ten. Especially as it's an alien role to him.
In midfield with a diamond is the best way to use Di Maria, or on the wing. Mata, Herrera and Rooney are better fits for the number 10 position as they've performed well in that position.
And bar Di Maria's class games to start with Mata has had as many good games as he has and influenced the final third just as much.
Obviously he's not playing as good as he can but you seen intent on playing down his contribution just because he's not quick and doesn't run around loads.
I have been saying it all season but I don't think it's even number 10 the way we're setting up in 3-5-2. Mata hasn't been playing in number 10. He's been a lot deeper.
Not in every game.
To be honest I don't think it matters who we play there as long as we continuing playing the way we have because the forwards aren't receiving the ball high enough up the pitch.
The thing is though......when we play with two up top there is more onus on the 'number 10' to do his share of the defensive side of the game which Mata really struggles with.
Mata excelled at Chelsea as a number 10 behind Didier Drogba. It wasn't behind two strikers.
comment by Rock Steady ⚽™ Philosophy > Football (U9953)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
.........De Gea
Rafael.. Smalling..Rojo.. Shaw
.....Carrick
Herrera.. Di Maria
.......Mata
RvP ...Rooney
____________________
^ This. When we are on the front foot anyway.
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 8 hours, 24 minutes ago
Di Maria isn't a number 10.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think Utd have had a true number 10 for decades (bar Veron, whose a short term in Utd surely didn't like). Both Mata and Di Maria can but not actually played #10 enough, and certainly not their best position, especially for ADM.
But it really depends on formation and manager, Ferguson's way didn't play with #10, he only worked on 2 wings, and needed some solid MF like Keane/Carrick, and only sometimes a #8 (Scholes).
LVG's tactics are quite different though (as for Holland, Barca, Bayern with some notable number 10). But he also caused some bad experience, like what he did to Riquelme at Barca.
I think Man Utd have a good squad currently, but the discussion could be about 2 best 11s, one against weak opponents (Swansea, Arsenal), and one against tough ones (Chelsea, City...)
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posted on 14/12/14
Di Maria isn't a number 10.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
He's not really got a defined position for me. He almost plays everywhere.
Some of the through balls (some with outside of his foot) have been sublime this year. He's got everything in his game to be able to play number 10 easily.
Better than Mata too.
posted on 14/12/14
----------------De Gea--------------
Rafael---Smalling--Rojo---Shaw
-----------Carrick---Herrera---------
--------------------Mata-----------------
-------Rooney----------Di Maria----
--------------------RVP-----------------
posted on 14/12/14
We've played our best football with the diamond formation, have Mata play behind Rooney and RVP. Herrera, Carrick and Di Maria in the midfield.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wouldn't mind seeing that at all......although it would be incredibly harsh on Blind who has probably been the best so far out of all of our new players.
posted on 14/12/14
De gea
rafa smalling rojo shaw/young
herrera carrick blind
rooney di maria
throbbin robin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Say we could have kept that 11 on pitch most of season, I reckon we'd have gone really close to, if not win the title.
-----------------
Aside from the fact that several of those players weren't even at United last season.
posted on 14/12/14
I like Blind but I prefer Carrick and IMO we only need to at 1.
As often happens with injured players I feel Blinds performances are being overrated because he's injured, still a valuable member of the squad.
posted on 14/12/14
When Di Maria proves himself as a number 10 then you can say he's better than Mata in that position.
Until then you're just guessing.
He's also looked better playing in a deeper midfield role in the last 18 months than he has anywhere else in the pitch in his career.
Let's chance his position.
posted on 14/12/14
That is true Stretty, but I've been so impressed with Carrick since his return and he's been one of the reasons we've won 6/6. It'd just be harsh to drop him, and I understand why Van Gaal was so gutted he got that pre season injury.
posted on 14/12/14
*change
posted on 14/12/14
I meant this season Ripley.
With us not being in Europe, we could have easily 'done a liverpool' but actually won it.
We've had ridiculous luck with injuries. Our very best 11 is pretty damn good when you think about. We just haven't got anywhere near to fielding it yet.
posted on 14/12/14
Mata hasn't been playing well either tough. He has good stats but he's hardly effecting games at all in what he's supposed to be good at.
Didn't think he was all that today either.
posted on 14/12/14
Mata looks better when Herrera plays. RVPs improvement has helped mata too.
posted on 14/12/14
I meant this season Ripley.
---------------
Then do try to speak in the present tense.
posted on 14/12/14
Last 4 games other than the Saints game Mata has played really well I thought. Especially along side Herrera.
posted on 14/12/14
Mata was good second half. No surprise as Herrera was on the pitch.
Di Maria influences play in a different way. Just because he can create chances doesn't mean he'll be any better than Mata as a number ten. Especially as it's an alien role to him.
In midfield with a diamond is the best way to use Di Maria, or on the wing. Mata, Herrera and Rooney are better fits for the number 10 position as they've performed well in that position.
posted on 14/12/14
And bar Di Maria's class games to start with Mata has had as many good games as he has and influenced the final third just as much.
Obviously he's not playing as good as he can but you seen intent on playing down his contribution just because he's not quick and doesn't run around loads.
posted on 14/12/14
I have been saying it all season but I don't think it's even number 10 the way we're setting up in 3-5-2. Mata hasn't been playing in number 10. He's been a lot deeper.
posted on 14/12/14
Not in every game.
To be honest I don't think it matters who we play there as long as we continuing playing the way we have because the forwards aren't receiving the ball high enough up the pitch.
posted on 14/12/14
The thing is though......when we play with two up top there is more onus on the 'number 10' to do his share of the defensive side of the game which Mata really struggles with.
Mata excelled at Chelsea as a number 10 behind Didier Drogba. It wasn't behind two strikers.
posted on 14/12/14
comment by Rock Steady ⚽™ Philosophy > Football (U9953)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
.........De Gea
Rafael.. Smalling..Rojo.. Shaw
.....Carrick
Herrera.. Di Maria
.......Mata
RvP ...Rooney
____________________
^ This. When we are on the front foot anyway.
posted on 15/12/14
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 8 hours, 24 minutes ago
Di Maria isn't a number 10.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think Utd have had a true number 10 for decades (bar Veron, whose a short term in Utd surely didn't like). Both Mata and Di Maria can but not actually played #10 enough, and certainly not their best position, especially for ADM.
But it really depends on formation and manager, Ferguson's way didn't play with #10, he only worked on 2 wings, and needed some solid MF like Keane/Carrick, and only sometimes a #8 (Scholes).
LVG's tactics are quite different though (as for Holland, Barca, Bayern with some notable number 10). But he also caused some bad experience, like what he did to Riquelme at Barca.
I think Man Utd have a good squad currently, but the discussion could be about 2 best 11s, one against weak opponents (Swansea, Arsenal), and one against tough ones (Chelsea, City...)
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