Dare we say that, after a shocking start to the season, Manchester United are starting to pull themselves together? Well it’s only a whisper at the moment. The defence still looks as if it needs the old guard of Rio and Vidic back in there.
But it’s in the midfield where Manchester United have been most poor this season. David Moyes saw fit to add graft rather than craft in the summer in the shape of Marouane Fellaini. Well that didn’t work and Manchester United still patently need more of the latter in the engine room.
Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj could both do a good job as the main creative midfielder but, as yet, Moyes hasn’t deployed either in there.
Meanwhile rumours have today resurfaced about Chelsea’s Juan Mata being sold in the winter window – Mata chatter if you like. The Guardian today reports:
Talking of Premier League outcasts, Paris Saint-Germain are preparing a £35m January bid for Juan Mata, a story goal.com were so chuffed with when they put it on their site this morning that they launched it again 20 minutes later with all the figures converted to Euros.
Juan Mata is precisely what Manchester United need. A pass master with genuine trickery and guile who can also score lots of goals and generally link up the play beautifully. Surely Moyes and Manchester United should be interested in this sort of talent?
But the age old problem is that Chelsea may well be loathe to sell to (and therefore strengthen) a domestic rival. Despite his excellent performances, when he does get a game, he is being criminally underused at Chelsea. The fact that it’s a World Cup year may influence his decision about whether to stay or go in January.
After a brilliant, goal scoring appearance in midweek, Mata must surely be in Mourinho’s thoughts for the weekend. But the Spaniard deserves to be picked for the biggest games. If he continues to warm the bench he is likely to want a move.
However small the chances of Manchester United getting him, Moyes should at least make a bid for Mata, to show the fans that he retains good taste in players in the light of the Fellaini debacle.
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jimmymac62
Oct 31, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Cant see it happening myself….maybe if Rooney went the other way, but even then both clubs would probably feel that they were strengthening a direct rival in a critical area by sanctioning such a deal. I’m pretty sure Moyes wouldn’t want to lose Rooney anyway….as I said, can’t see it happening.