A THREAD about Juan Mata away at Norwich.

#2. Mata touch and pass to Bruno.

#3

#4 Mata to McTominay

#5

#6 Mata to Lingard on the run.

#7
Mata to Shaw. Could be a chance if Shaw’s touch is sure.

#8 Dalot’s cross should be better.

#9

#10 Mata to Lingard. Possibly a free kick should be given. If he didn’t get fouled, he should have done better.

#11 Mata tidying up beautifully.

#12 Plenty of easy passes like this going on obviously. Only showing clips of good passes or where a good touch or a bit of skill or guile is required.
PS. I said McTominay was involved in this, apologies, it’s Dalot.

#13

#14 Mata works his socks off to win the ball back, makes a great run to give Bruno an option and Bruno slides a lovely ball through for Ighalo.

#15 Mata lays off to McTom then moves forward. On another day Ighalo’s lay off to him might be better.

#16

#17 Mata lucky touch to Dalot. Races forward to join attack. Mata passes to Lingard who shoots over at the end.

#18 Two slack passes by Bruno. Mata gets it and gives a simple ball back to Bruno, then makes himself available. Is Mata consciously trying to get the simple passing going? Bruno goes long again. 3 incomplete passes in 20 seconds, about the same as Mata does in an hour.

#19

#20 Mata doing a passable impersonation of a right back.

#21 Could easily end up making a chance here if Baily’s pass is better.

#22 Mata is on the touch line playing a long-ish pass. Follows his pass to get it back, then passes to Bruno. Both Bruno and Mata end with hands on heads, suggesting they BOTH think Bruno could have done better.

#23

#24 lovely first time ball back to Fred.

#25 Juan trying to show for the ball across the front line until he makes a near post challenge for a left wing ball in.

#26

#27
Brilliant pass to Dalot in his own half. Gets forward into the box but is a yard or two short as the keeper gets it.

#28 As the keeper collects it, they go to replay on screen. The second the replay stops you see Mata win the ball back in his own half. Unbelievable effort. Starts a move well into his own half, almost makes a challenge on the 6 yard line, wins ball back in his own half.

Of all the midfield and forward players Mata has recieved more criticism than others, or it appears that way. Take them one at a time, Ighalo as a striker has a tough job and just can’t get involved in the play as much as others.

McTom worked hard, played some decent passes, but generally safer ones, passes that don’t require as much skill or guile. Still lost it just as often and didn’t affect attacking moves anywhere near as much.

Fred, very similar to McTom. Hard working, simple passing. Nothing wrong with that, but as safe as his passes are, he still gets as many wrong as Mata does. No where near as effective with the ball.

Lingard, again lots of energy, loads of effort, can’t fault him for that. Not enough quality on the ball though. Well behind Mata.

Finally Bruno. The only other bright spark on the ball. In the hour Mata was on, he only played as many good balls as Mata did, definitely no more. They both worked their socks off, Bruno for 2 hours too. It’s unfair to look at play while Mata isn’t even on the field though.

Bruno gave away possession quite a bit more often than Mata did. Sometimes sloppily too. There’s no doubt in my mind that in the hour he was on, Mata was the pick of Utd’s attacking players. It’s not even close. It’s beyond me why he received more criticism than others.