Mata is a great player in an advanced role but they still need someone in the engine room alongside Carrick - and that someone isn't Cleverley or Fellaini.
Majority of mancs i know want Moyes out, some are understanding and want to give Moyes a chance....But over all they are fickle bastards! I'm thinking Mata in Rooney out
If Rooney leaves he'll go abroad. United just won't sell him to Chelsea unless they offer stupid money (in footballing terms of course).
I think they need someone like you say plus a creative influence ie. Mata. Fact is Moyes spunked £28 million on Fellaini who's neither use nor ornament. They look half a dozen quality players short on Man City or Chelsea. Brilliant.
There's not many United players would make City's bench. I'd say it was worse than 6 short. After Rooney & Van Persie they're struggling for world class talent, some would argue that that pair aren't world class.
The problem they have if they sign Mata is that he, Rooney and Kagawa share an ideal position sitting in behind Van Persie. Rooney is at his best when he can drift around in that area, link up with midfield and burst into the box when there's space. Mata can craft chances out of nothing in that same role but when he plays out wide he's less effective and it's the same with Kagawa, though he's not as good. Of course the rumours of Rooney wanting to leave have been around for a while so as has been pointed out this could be them planning for that already and aiming for a front four like this: ------- Van Persie ------ Januzaj - Mata - Valencia That's not a bad front four as Valancia likes to stay wide (similar to Navas at Hunter) and Januzaj both cuts in and crosses from wide so they have different dimensions there. Once Van Persie is fit the main problem for Man Utd is further back. Carrick is good but Cleverley and Fellaini aren't what they need next to him. They have no stable right back - Rafael is the only real option and he's too petulent. Their main centre backs are now too old and can't command the team. Left back they only have Evra who's still good but he's only going to decline with age from this point. Their whole back four needs restructuring. The only plus they have at the back is De Gea. Mata will be a great buy but they need to use him the right way (in the hole) and then they need 4-5 more signings to challenge for the title again while clearing out the dead weight.
Fellaini for me is too one-dimensional. You get four wide players good at crossing, play Fellaini behind a striker and keep throwing crosses into the box (also winning corners from any deflections for more aerial chances). At Everton he was quite effective doing that. At Man Utd he's been bought to play central midfield in perhaps the most important role maintaining tempo, dictating passing etc. the way Scholes did before retiring (again) and Gerrard and Lampard do. That's not Fellaini's strength. They need a new Scholes.
That's not easy to find. I saw him in Aberdeen once when Manure played a testimonial, and even though it was a friendly, watching Scholes you wouldn't have thought so, he was outstanding.
Mata could make a huge difference to ManU in mid-field where they are weakest. They massively overpaid for Fellaini (and Zaha) and Cleverley is not even Prem quality (never mind England). Along with Carrick Mata will provide the opportunities for van Persie, Welbeck, Januszak, and Rooney to capitalise on. Could transform ManU's season and save Moyes as manager.
Rooney and RvP are still missing tonight. They do need someone creative considering Rooney seems to be the only one doing it for them. I can see them attempting to do a swap deal with Kagawa and Reus in the Summer.
I think Darren Fletched has been a big loss to them until his recent return. Other than a hugely overrated Fellaini, he's pretty much the only strong, ball winning midfielder they've got.
Based on tonight I can't wait to go down to London and cover the League Cup final now, it'll be a cracking day watching Man City beat United.
