It was thoughtless to say the least. Take someone else off, no need to embarrass Mata in that way. I hope it wasn't deliberate as it is another example of the bad things in José's armoury that I hoped he wouldn't bring with him. Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted he's at United and think he's absolutely the right man but want him to leave his Chelseaness behind. Mata (and Schweinsteiger) deserve better.
Can't see it being deliberate, as if it was then why would Mourinho say it was a tactical switch after the game? As you said above, he gains nothing from deliberately slighting Mata - people are expecting him to be sold so if Mourinho doesn't want him at the club then he could just sell him and people wouldn't really blink. I can only assume it was a genuine tactical switch and, as with Schweinsteiger, Mourinho is more concerned with doing what he thinks is right for the team and winning matches than what people think he should do. After all, the only players not subbed at that point were in the back five, Fellaini and Ibrahimovic. And if you are facing long balls and corners, you don't want to take off a defender or one of the tallest players on the pitch. I agree that Mata deserves better, but I wouldn't expect anything like this to be repeated in a competitive match with only three subs allowed. Don't agree than Schweinsteiger does tho, he's contributed nothing of note to the club other than watching his wife play tennis whilst injured and using us as a recovery platform for Euro 2016. If LVG hadn't given him such high wages, I think we'd have torn up his contract already.
It was grating he miraculously got fit for Germany. Many of our England players have done it though, usually with United's blessing. From Robson to Owen via Beckham and Rooney. Anyway, Bastian is no doubt leaving, shame it ended in such a way really.
This is true, although those England players usually had the good grace to contribute something to Utd's season other than watching tennis matches, putting in the occasional cameo and elbowing opposition players. It is a shame it's ended this way, but most of the fault for that is Schweinsteiger's imo. Out of interest, would you feel the same way if it was Fellaini who was banished to the reserves and told he had no future at the club?
At the point of my issue with it it was still all speculation and cryptic messages. It needed to be brought into the open, now it has. I still think he was made an example of, if he wasn't then that's how it has come across and that is the point. United should be way above such things. Leave that type of ****e to other clubs.
What were your opinion of the first kinda official game of the Mouriniho era? Was watching this game with a pure blooded Man Utd supporter and he didn't enjoy the game - said the first half gave him hope but the second half reminded him too much of LvG with Fellani staying on the field even though he was awful. The man is a liability at DM as proven by his great assist for Vardy. Still you've won - good luck for the rest of the season.
It is a shame that Mata seems to have been humiliated by Mourinho's actions on Sunday. I would give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he only did it because he had to. Against: It was ONLY the community shield. He could have subbed another player rather than a sub. It was 2 minutes from the end. For: Leicester were throwing long balls into our area and United needed tall players to head the ball. Schmeichel had added to the heading firepower. Mata was the shortest player. He is a winner and would do his utmost to prevent getting a draw especially in the last minutes of the match. With all the accompanying consequences and loss of that feelgood factor. He wants to win every single match. A draw is not good enough even for a charity match.
MY takehome from yesterday's (meaningless) match: There is more urgency with United's play now. Less sideways and backwards passing and doodling. fellaini has always a mistake waiting to happen in him. United has regained that unpredictability factor. That is can win as a result of a flash of brillance. We have missed someone like Zlatan who could do nothing for 89 minutes and score. The fear factor could return if we get Pogba and Zlatan in peak form. Rooney has to stick his fingers out and urgently as he is under serious threat. We have missed Shaw last season. We shouldn't draw too many lessons from a meaningless charity match
So was Rooney ****? Why persevere with him when he's been **** for two years? It's bad enough that Fellaini starts games.
I agree with @Chief about the unnecessary manner of Mata's substitution. But I also thought to myself... what would Fergie have done 30 years ago? Coming into the club, would he have done the same... even if it was to establish authority or ruthlessness? I think he would have to be honest. The way he dealt with certain players at the time is evidence of that. I'm going to be asking "what would Fergie have done 30 years ago" for pretty much every controversial thing Mourhino does... just to put things into perspective and to try and give Mourhino the bod.
