Juan Mata: The ladder to Manchester United’ s top four finish?

The Manchester United policy of producing the most unexpected form of joy was never in question, until David Moyes arrived. The promise to Sir Alex Ferguson -”In Moyes We Trust” was perhaps the only solace a passionate Red Devil would give himself.

Marouane Fellaini, the lanky Belgium international joined United for £27.5 million exceeding his original £22 million buyout clause, which clearly was classed as a panic buy and thus began The Moyesey Era at Old Trafford, with uncertainties. Fellaini was unfamiliar with his new role playing alongside Michael Carrick as he was enjoying the number 10 position with Everton. With no success and no change in formation he started looking as yet another failure in pursuit for Roy Keane’s successor.

Even Though United splashed some considerable amount of money to lure in Fellaini from Goodison Park, many tutors believed United’s quest for stars have ended in jeopardy.

Here is when Manchester United and their old rule stands tall-Never give up. Be it on the football pitch or outside, this teams philosophy has made sure the team enters the elite group of teams which are ‘just more than a club’.The capture of the sensational Juan Mata, the headlines of every newspaper. Fed up from rumours regarding the likes of Fabregas, Lucas Moura, Alcantara and many more joining Manchester United, this news is for real.

Juan Mata arrives at Carrington training Ground to discuss his contract.

A Chelsea reject , but ask any football pundit to know what Juan Mata is. Unfortunate to be born in this Spanish era, he has been deprived for chances from his international team given their first choice players being Iniesta and Xavi. And after a disappointing season with Chelsea, Mata will be relishing this opportunity to prove his worth once again.

Ozil being this season’s biggest summer signing, has helped Arsenal to reach the top of the Premier league, the question remains will Mata provide a similar source of output and a possible top 4 finish for United.

Eric Cantona remains United’s favourite winter signing. He helped united win Four Premier League titles out of the five seasons he was at United. Not to forget the duo of Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra who arrived at United in the winter transfer window of 2005-2006 and are still providing admirable service.

There is no doubt that Mata will be given massive attacking responsibilities. Expectations that the role if not taken as a burden will provide the fruits at United. To accommodate Mata in a typical 4-4-2 will be difficult and in the absence of Rooney and RVP, it is clear Juan Mata will be given a number 10 role behind Hernandez or the hardworking Welbeck .

Probable United Line up 4-4-2(1-1)

6 points behind Liverpool, Tottenham and 5 points behind Toffees with 16 games in hand, the race for the fourth place in the Premier League still looks realistic and a fresh objective. FA Cup third round and Capital One Cup semifinal exit were unforgettable experiences for Moyes and his team but can well be a blessing in disguise as United has only Premier League to focus on the domestic front. 12 points behind Chelsea, 13 behind Manchester City and 14 behind Arsenal, United must be aware that is asking for too many points to drop and a rootless goal in a bid to retain the premier league title.

The Absence Of United’s Final Ball Playing Midfielder:

Carrick has been an integral part of United over the years. The first name on United’s team list for the past 2-3 years. Even David Moyes feels the system that revolves around Carrick needs no change for now, is it?

The injury news to the most under rated player at United is not what they would’ve liked at this moment as Carrick has been their most consistent player season after season. Carrick’s key role is touted by many as the main force behind United’s midfield. This reason brings a believer that Carrick at some point will be the answer to United’s midfield search for worldwide domination. Stats about him replies affirmative to that argument, then where is United going wrong? – Even with 2 league titles in the last 3 years, United have been awful in Europe. Competing against the big guns, United no longer possess the same threat and sadly that screenplay has followed up in England as well. To sum up Carrick is a fine player but in that central position he is never the player he can be.

Carrick’s Distribution.

Carrick’s distribution is miraculously inch perfect, but he chooses the wrong part of the field, hence asking the United flanks to do the maximum work in providing the goals. Some would say typical English game but let’s be honest, a team whose wing supply mainly depends on Valencia needs more from its midfield. United’s counter attacking game was at its best with the likes of Ronaldo and Tevez, but since their departure United have never quite seen the light at the end of the tunnel, the way it used to shine before at Old Trafford. It is difficult for many players to reach inside the opposition penalty area with the required pace, making the wing game play of no use. Lack of players in the six yard box during attacking play from united makes the use of wide wing play minimal.

Carrick’s diagonal long ball’s starts giving goose bumps in memory of Paul Scholes but that is limited to only the right flank. While his short passes are mainly directed towards his own defence making very less contribution to United’s attack. The other worrying sight is, Carrick plays the ball towards his goalkeeper too often only to see De Gea making a wild dash at it, which randomly reaches to any player on the field, what is the game plan in it! In other words United with Carrick looks to wait for mistakes to happen from the opposition defenders rather than looking for holes in the defence line. Carrick’s passing involvement in the attacking is limited to either on the flanks mainly on the right or towards strikers and not in empty spaces, only to see the ball getting back at him.

The ideal way to utilise the maximum out of Carrick is to sandwich him between a proper defensive midfielder and a more attacking minded midfielder .Well United got the latter in Mata, they still require a ruthless defensive mid who isn’t clumsy like Carrick, for now Fellaini can be experimented with, if he is fit again. Carrick given the freedom in this triangular midfield can be deadly. His Partnership with Mata can shut the entire critic’s around United’s midfield display.

[Carrick seen in the triangular sandwich formation ]

With Carrick getting injured for at least 3-4 weeks, this might well be the emergence of Kagawa. Kagawa’s physical presence has been disappointing but partnering Juan Mata may well bring the same attacking sense once he had with Mario Gotze at Dortmund. Both Gotze and Kagawa continuously swapped position in order to get the best shooting space along with providing the decisive pass to Lewandowski. This ideology worked well and was successful, as Dortmund won the Bundesliga and Kagawa earned the Dortmund player of the season award with his instrumental play.

Another formation in mind to accelerate United in reaching the top 4 by the end of this season is the 4-3-3 used at Barcelona by which, Kagawa and Mata can make a union of attacking moves while Fellaini or Fletcher sits in front of the back four. A valid solution as Fletcher has been impressive ever since he has returned to action after his recovery from ulcerative colitis. Be it Fellaini or Fletcher,this role is very important for United’s success in this formation as the player playing at this position needs to cover a lot of ground specially on the left hand side of the field. Fellaini has tremendous ability in breaking the opposition team’s attack as seen in his role with Belgium.

It is also a good time to push Phil Jones back to his favoured position as a centre back. With Vidic coming back shortly after his suspension gets over, Jones may well form a formidable partnership with the United skipper. It is important for United and Moyes to groom Jones at a position which he likes the most. With three players up front United will bring back the concept of inside strikers, limiting their play from the flanks and focusing more from the centre of the field.

4-3-3

The Return of Rooney and Van Persie is by far the most exciting news one can hear and the opposition can fear. The acquisition of Juan Mata from Chelsea is the current hot topic and imagining him playing alongside Rooney and RVP simply adds cherry on the cake. The all season emergence of Januzaj cannot be forgotten as he has looked impressive every single game and with added weight on his shoulders at such a tender age he did not disappoint. The above formation of 4-3-3 looks alien with United . Although Rooney is all set to move right because of his great crossing, pace and work rate, it is still believed United will be more comfortable with 2 midfielders sitting in front of the defence with the current options as Cleverly, Fellaini and Fletcher, while Mata to enjoy the number 10 role even in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

4-2-3-1

Midfield was not the only question United had to fix. Even if acquiring Mata does increase United’s chances of finishing in the race for the top 4, playing Patrice Evra does not. The great servant and one of the greatest left back Old Trafford has seen, is certainly not even playing half of what he used to be. Evra’s defensive positioning has not at all been upto the mark. The one good thing about Evra even when he faltered defensively was his sudden outburst on the wings and his crossing, which too looks out of place these days. Although he has been scoring some goals, he has been the source of contribution to many in his own net. Either Buttner or Fabio deserves regular first team chances to prove their worth and it is high time that Evra is moved to a 2^nd choice left back role.

The next 16 league games are probably exciting times at Old Trafford. The worse has been seen and now enters the transition phase. The famous Class of 92 started its impact with giving a chance to the legendary Ryan Giggs. This was two years earlier than inducting the likes of Scholes, Butt and Neville Brothers in their ranks.1992 was the same year they signed Eric Cantona from then rivals Leeds United.

Can 2014 be the year, they have already figured out Januzaj is a star in the making and signed Mata from Chelsea. Will history repeat itself? Football fans often tend to be superstitious and with the occurrence of event vaguely similar to what happened all those years back in 1992, can this be the start of something new. The beginning of the biggest comeback this club and history of football has ever witnessed.