Red Rants |
- Jones: “Mata-effect already kicking in”
- Five things we have learnt from United – Cardiff
- Three men that will lift United
| Jones: “Mata-effect already kicking in” Posted: 29 Jan 2014 11:46 PM PST
Mata’s debut against Cardiff on Tuesday coincided with United getting back to winning ways in the Premier League and Jones described the Spaniard’s signing as the sort of exciting news capable of lifting the players’ morale and delivering fresh impetus for the remainder of the season.
“It makes an impact in the dressing-room when you sign a player of that calibre,” said Jones. “He’s such a talented player on the ball. “He’s definitely lifted spirits in the dressing-room – especially in training. “We want to impress and show him that we are what we are – one of the best teams to be at. “He’s come in, done well and I’m sure he’ll be a huge asset for us. He will be a fantastic player for Manchester United, hopefully for many years to come. He sees the pass that sometimes no-one else sees. “If he continues to make them, I’m sure we’ll soon be climbing the table.” Despite the 2-0 win over Cardiff, Unite remain six points adrift of Liverpool currently in fourth place, but have closed the gap on Spurs and Everton to three and two points, respectively. The possibility of missing out on a Champions League spot for the first time in 19 years is all too realistic, but Jones insists United must focus on the short-term future for the time being. “It’s a positive result but we need to build on it,” said the United centre-back. “There’s no point getting a positive result and not doing that. We’ve won, but we need to build on it. “It’s a game-by-game situation now. All we can afford to do is look at Saturday. We have Stoke this weekend. We need to go there and win. Then we need to follow that up. We need to maintain a run. “Daft as it sounds, we try not to take any notice of what’s going on around us and concentrate on improving and getting the things right we needed to address. Slowly but surely, I’m sure we’ll do that and come back stronger than ever.” With Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney also back in the team after overcoming injury problems, the mood within the United captain is probably as positive as it’s been all season and Jones is determined to make it last. “Robin has worked hard to get back. We’re delighted to have him, Wazza and Juan. Bar [Maroune] Fellaini and Michael Carrick we’ll hopefully be at full strength on Saturday,” said the former Blackburn man. “It’s no excuse but when you do miss players of that stature you need to find it elsewhere. I think we’ve done it in certain areas but not in the areas we’d like. “We’re just delighted to get them back and firing again.” |
| Five things we have learnt from United – Cardiff Posted: 29 Jan 2014 09:01 AM PST
From the moment he signed, last night was always going to be about a man and one man only: Juan Mata. The atmosphere as he entered the pitch was one of febrile anticipation, one we hadn’t witnessed at Old Trafford since Robin Van Persie made his debut in a red shirt last season and while the expectations were only partly met, Mata’s first game for United was a largely positive one.
Considering that he hadn’t played for almost a month and that our midfield comprised a 40-year-old man, a centre-back deployed in a central midfield role and two wingers who do everything wingers shouldn’t do, Mata did reasonably well, even though he flickered only occasionally and seemed some way off of grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck. The pass that started the move that led to the first goal was outstanding and Mata’s eagerness to combine with Van Persie – and Rooney when he came on – was pleasing to see, but the sooner United ditch their archaic 4-4-2, the sooner Mata will settle into the team. United’s record signing is at his best when he can deliver short, sharp passes to like-minded players, rather than when he’s surrounded by acres of space with no teammates in sight. Still, he definitely lifted the fans and his teammates and there’s definitely more to come. 2) Welcome back, Robin It took Robin Van Persie just six minutes to show us what we’d been missing over the last 11 games – a striker who only needs a chance to get on the scoresheet and one with the ability to participate to the build-up play, thus involving his teammates into the game and facilitate their lives. RVP’s return provided a calmly influence in the final third of the pitch, something Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez, for all their qualities, have delivered only intermittently during the Dutchman’s absence and seeing Van Persie on the team sheet seemed to galvanise the fans as much as it lifted the team. Speaking of lifts, Robin had never looked so happy this season as he did when he linked up with Mata and he looked genuinely pleased simply at having the Spaniard entering the pitch alongside him. Promising signs all around. 3) A soft core Those who thought Mata’s arrival would solve our midfield problems, were left bitterly disappointed last night. At best, the former Chelsea man can masquerade the staggering paucity of midfield options at David Moyes’ disposal, at worst the shambles that duly unfold in United’s middle third could stifle Mata’s attacking skills. With Adnan Januzaj and Wayne Rooney on the bench, Moyes didn’t take the tactical leap many expected and wanted him to take as he set United out in a 4-5-1 formation, with Mata roaming behind RVP, while Ryan Giggs and Phil Jones were tasked with patrolling the middle of the pitch and Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia spent 90 minutes hugging the touchlines. Valencia and Young were their usual mono-dimensional selves, but while the latter at least scored a cracking goal and whipped in the odd interesting cross, Valencia was at his frustrating best, ponderous in possession and scared to take his man on, let alone getting to the byline and put a cross in. The feeling is that Moyes wants to move towards a 4-2-3-1 formation with Januzaj, Rooney and Mata behind RVP but to do that he needs two quality midfielders given that, of the current crop, only Carrick can be trusted in that role. Freeing the team from the shackles of 4-4-2 could finally spell the end for Young and Valencia, neither of whom, hard as they might try, is United quality. On the other hand, for the first time this season, United have been able to make like-for-like substitutions in terms of quality, as Rooney replaced Van Persie and Mata departed for Januzaj. A small step, perhaps, but definitely one in the right direction. 4) Attack, attack, attack After the game, Moyes spoke of how he had hoped for a better performance and that he wanted his men to go for a third goal, rather than sit back and control the game. Moyes’ attitude was refreshing given the terribly dire stuff we’ve played this season and supported the thought that we will, gradually, see a different and more attacking United, once Moyes has brought in the players he wants and deems necessary to improve our squad. While last night was hardly the sort of game that will live long in memory, United looked more fluid than they had done in the majority of games this season and they finally started a game on the front of foot, like they were used to. That Van Persie’s goal was the first time United scored in the first 25 minutes of a Premier League game at Old Trafford this season spoke volume of how much ground we still have to cover. 5) 20LEGEND It was heartwarming to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being welcomed to such a fantastic reception at Old Trafford and it was exactly what Ole deserved. One gets the feeling that by choosing Cardiff, Ole might have jumped straight into the dragon’s den – pardon the pun – but it was also hard to think that, at some stage, he will not return to United. Suggesting he should replace Moyes it’s simply ludicrous given his limited managerial experience, but don’t bet against Ole returning to his spiritual home in the future. You wonder, if he had the same thoughts as “You’re my Soslkjaer” thundered around the ground. |
| Three men that will lift United Posted: 29 Jan 2014 06:21 AM PST
Mata, a £37.1m signing from Chelsea, made his long-awaited debut against Cardiff last night, while United also welcomed back Robin Van Persie after a 11-game spell on the sidelines, with Wayne Rooney also returning to the first team fold after overcoming the groin injury that had forced him to miss the last three weeks.
Van Persie was back on the scoresheet within six minutes and looked comfortable throughout, before being replaced by Rooney with an hour gone and United already 2-0 up. The England striker showed no sign of rustiness as he twice went close to extend United’s lead, while Juan Mata lasted 83 minutes on the pitch on his Manchester United debut and while he only seldom flickered, his first game in a red shirt was a largely positive display. David Moyes was delighted to have his strikers available and he believes Rooney and Van Persie together with Mata will turn United’s fortunes around in the remainder of the season. "To have Robin on the pitch after his injury, Mata on his debut and Rooney on the bench, I think everybody could see that things look much better already now than it had been over the past few weeks," said the United manager. "I think Mata will be a great addition. He can play off the left, off the right and behind the striker, but at this moment in time I'm not really too bothered where he plays, as long as we can fit him in, get him playing and get him making chances, which he did [last night]. "He created some brilliant opportunities, especially in the first-half. He'll be great for us, especially once we get Robin and Wayne back up to full match fitness. And Juan himself, he hasn't played much in the last month or so. "With Wayne and Robin coming back into the squad, and the addition of Mata, hopefully they'll make us much better."
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