26 Sep 2014 11:19:40
A question for you guys, is Mata too good to be used in a swap deal for say, Strootman? Would you be happy to see him leave? I think he is a brilliant player, but does he go enough? Possibly not. It would also mean that there is one less player ahead of Januzaj for the number 10 spot.

1.) 26 Sep 2014
26 Sep 2014 12:09:40
In the short term it could work well for us, but long term Mata would need to be replaced. You can't lose a player of Mata's quality going forward and not replace him. In the short term the team would have better balance between attack and defence but it will lose depth going forward.

It just depends on where LvG wants to go with this team.

2.) 26 Sep 2014
At the moment we are so top heavy I could see Januzaj leaving so it depends how bad everyone wants him to stay, someone will have to be culled from our "forwards"

3.) 26 Sep 2014
26 Sep 2014 11:49:29
If you want a player out of the way to let Januzaj get a chance, Rooney should be that player for me, as he seems a square peg more and more. Mata and Januzaj could then compete for a number 10 type roll.

4.) 26 Sep 2014
He would be too good if we played a formation that got the best out of him, but we don't so best to move him on.

Rooney is preferred in any case. So wasted just like Kagawa. If we can get a player we actually need in a 4-3-3 as part of that then perfect.

5.) 26 Sep 2014
26 Sep 2014 12:53:12
Mata fits in to the 3412 but no one else looked comfortable. He also fits into the diamond we've played the last two games, and with Herrera and di Maria around him he looks more involved.

I would be disappointed if he left, especially if it was for someone like Miranda.

However someone is going to have to go. I know my preference though and it isn't Mata.

6.) 26 Sep 2014
I really am undecided.

On the one handed, he is scoring a lot and will get more and more assists as the team gels. He will also be really well suited to being the top of the diamond. However, it could well be the case that LVG wants to play Falcao and RVP up top which for me doesn't work as well. I think if anyone goes it should probably be RVP out of the lot. But we need some more pace as which ever three of Rooney, Van Persie, Falcao, Mata or Januzaj are picked, none are quick enough and Di Maria is playing deeper. This is why I maintain we need someone like Reus as a second number 9 or as the number 10.

7.) 26 Sep 2014
Going by our recent sales, we'll probably end up selling mata for 10m and pretend to be happy.
Seriously we're like the graveyard of central attacking midfielders. Anderson, kagawa amd now mata. Perreira is next. Anf if januzaj doesn't turn into a winger then so is he.
I could argue that if we are going towards a 4-3-3, then we only need 2 strikers.

8.) 26 Sep 2014
For a 4-3-3 we would be absolutely fine with just Rooney, Falcao and Wilson. I don't think there is room for RVP as well (I don't really want to see him go though).

9.) 26 Sep 2014
Jose decided to get rid of mata and lvg might do the same .
As i have said before i can understand why jose did and i wouldn't be surprised if lvg did

10.) 26 Sep 2014
In 99 we had 4 top quality forwards competing for 2 places. Now we have Rooney, RVP, Falcao, ADM, Mata and Januzaj for 4 places. If anything there is less competition for places going forward than in 99.
An injury to one or more of the other 5 and we'd miss Mata big time.
Good post but I wouldn't want to swap a Mata for a Strootman, but still think we need a centre back as priority 1 and then either another centre back or a centre midfielder as priority 2. Right back can wait until after then imo.

11.) 26 Sep 2014
Teddy and ole where happy to sit on the bench

12.) 26 Sep 2014
26 Sep 2014 18:21:18
Teddy and Ole were unselfish characters, Teddy was glad to be at a big club with a chance of trophies at that stage of his career and Ole had chances to move elsewhere and realised it was a step down. Our current bunch strike me as more self centred. Now brand image means more and sat on the bench doesn't help the brand. Years ago someone like welbeck would have been content with his role at a club this size. Now he's had to move for regular game time for the brand.

13.) 26 Sep 2014
No player should ever be happy to sit on the bench. Allowing for injuries and Adnan probably playing less than the other 5, they should all be able to play most of the games they're fit for.

MrE you make a good point but by all accounts Danny was told by LVG that he didn't fancy him and Arsenal was a good move for him. An (almost) equally big a club off the pitch that aren't in transition on it, strong in other areas of the pitch and weak in his position.

I do think we need another couple of defenders and a strong centre midfielder but would hate to lose Mata. Whatever the lineup when everyone is fit, it's always nice to have a couple of potential match winners on the bench which is why I think we need all 6 of the players I listed.

All of our good sides have had game changers on the bench and we've won titles off the back of late wins as a result. Teddy, Ole, Berbatov, Tevez, Giggs and Scholes in their twilight years, etc.