Yep, my preference would be Mata as well, but he seems to love whatever it is that Lingard is supposed to offer. I'd also guess that he probably thinks that he can do without Mata's creativity, with Rooney in that deeper role.

Carrick, Fellaini, and Mata, are not exactly the quickest of players, so Lingard does offer pace that those players do not have.

Carrick and Fellaini are irrelevant, as they play in a different position.

I can't say that I've seen much evidence of this pace, that Lingard is supposed to have. He doesn't seem particularly quick, to me.

Might sound harsh but it potentially being Carrick's final game means absolutely **** all right now. You play the best team, sod who "deserves" to play.

Also I'm not sure this should be his last game either considering none of our other midfielders has performed better this year.


Think it's the pace Van Gaal thinks offers. Or at least the pace he supposedly offers if/when he actually does anything. Could kind of understand trying it a month or so back as we can get way too one-dimensional when our attacking plan is just get it out wide to Martial on the left and wait for him to win the game single-handily. Don't understand the persistence with it.

I reckon we'd be better off with Mata out wide and Valencia overlapping. Not a fan of Valencia at right back generally but with our current full-backs I think I've lowered my expectations to just hoping they get through the game without going off injured and without giving the opposition chance after chance.

Watching Mata on Tuesday he's head and shoulders faster than Lingard.

I agree that I think Carrick should be here next season, but unfortunately that doesn't look like it will be the case.

For all that he has done without, I hope that he ends his time with us on a high not, going out winning the FA Cup.

As for the midfield options, Lingard does offer us pace, and a bit of trickery, (just his finishing and final ball can be lacking, which is annoying), so I would play him and Mata wide, with Carrick and Fellaini in the centre.

Well not in comparison to Martial, but as an attacking option, he is quicker with the ball at his feet then Mata, although, Mata is quicker in his head, and can make better decisions, so it is just what is more needed.

If Memphis can get his stuff together, I would gladly play him ahead of Lingard, but sadly that doesn't seem to be the case at the moment.

According to the Sun LVG has told players the team that started against Bournemouth will start in the final.

I don't mean to nit-pick, but what 'trickery' does Lingard offer?

He seems to get the ball, run infield, and then lay it off to one of the deep midfielders. I'm not saying that Lingard is rubbish, but what does he really contribute?

It's just a real shame that Memphis is shot to pieces. Whether that's down to him, the manager, or a bit of both is anyone's guess.

First off, it is nice that we agree on the Memphis situation, as I do think that there is a very talented player within him, but for some reason, it just has not come off for him this season.
Hopefully, he can find it within himself to improve, as an on song player with his talent, would be great to have as an option.

As for Lingard, perhaps I am still hoping and wishing that he would come out of his shell more often, as so far, he has done alright for us in the first team, but I think that there is still more to come from him.

I dunno, I think Fellaini will have earned a start after his semi-final performance. It would be nice to see Rooney finally get an FA Cup winners medal, it might be his last chance.

Van Gaal AND Mourinho at Old Trafford next season? I've heard it all now!

With Fergie as referee.

Ludicrous suggestion.

Especially as the story claims that Van Gaal would still retire, next summer.

Here is a different take, from The independent (17th May), on Mourinho and United to done deals and the like:

Jose Mourinho has rejected all reports that he has a deal agreed to join Manchester United, and admitted that he is yet to finalise a contract with any club as his future remains clouded in uncertainty.

.....

Despite previously claiming he will be in a new job next season, Mourinho has played down the reports of having a deal in place, and when asked by Sky Sports he simply shook his head to reveal he remains a free agent in the managerial market.

.....

Mourinho was asked if that even meant there was nothing agreed to take the United job in the future, to which he replied: “With nobody.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...ml#commentsDiv

I should point out the story seems to be written on the back of a few seconds 'interview' (video from Sky) while Mourinho is simply walking a few yards to a waiting car; such is the quality of reports on this matter.

This is what Mata does, all be it at about 10 mph slower. Mata has spells where he's very good, but these spells are like 3 or 4 games in a row, once every 4 or 5 months. He's been decidedly average to be honest. When he's good, he's certainly a "united" player, but other than that we wouldn't miss him. Even when given the chance to play in a central role he's never done it. If we got a decent offer for him, I'd let him go this summer.

The papers are just getting desperate for some news now, as that makes no sense whatsoever on any level.

At least Mata is always looking for the killer ball. All too frequently, it just isn't on. I wouldn't argue that he's been less than spectacular, but I'm not convinced that it's completely his fault.

Lingard wouldn't know a killer ball if it bit him on the arse.

For what it's worth, I don't think that either are the answer for that right-forward position, but I'd have Mata ahead of Lingard, all day.

I like Lingard, I like his effort to come back from last season and after all the loan spells he's had to even make the amount of appearances this season and become part of the team. It looked as if his days were numbered towards the end of last season. However I do agree we need better on the right.

Killer balls are all well and good, but Lingard offers better protection for our full backs, so it's swings and roundabouts in some ways between the two. Out of the two, and if things happen, I'd keep Lingard as a squad player next year, cash in on Mata whilst we can, and bring in a new wide right player.

I was thinking of adding to my original post, that Rooney's performance on Tuesday, is the sort of performance Mata should be producing on a regular basis. We just haven't seen that off Mata. It's a shame as when he's on top of his game and doing well he's a joy to watch, but we've not seen enough of it.

I'd show Lingard the door before Mata. He's a good squad player but shouldn't be in the starting eleven.

He's basically replaced Young who seems to have fallen out of favour despite offering more than Lingard.

Memphis should be that player that gives us that bit of pace, skill, and an eye for goal from wide areas, he certainly has it within him, we somehow need to coax it out of him again next season, whomever the manager is.

If we did that, we wouldn't need to spend money on an extra wide player, and we could use that money elsewhere to strengthen the team.

To be fair to Young, he has been injured for a fair while, and when he came back against Bournemouth he did score, so you can't really ask for much more than that from him.

However, and this isn't a defense of Lingard, and it can be evidenced that I've not been a huge Mata fan during his time with us. Mata would bring in more cash if we sell now, and Mata isn't going to get any younger either, so in the next year or so his value will diminish. As I said it's a case of if bids come in or we make him available. I would go for this, but I'd be happy to see both in the squad next year, as squad players.

Young isn't the option, he is far too injury prone and inconsistent. For me, he'd be shown the door this summer, he's so far down the pecking order now. 3rd or 4th choice wide left, 5 or 6th choice full back, and shouldn't be an option as a striker. He'd be a great signing for either of his former clubs.

Yeah he would be, but would he really drop down to the Championship? I can't really see it just yet,even with their new owner willing seemingly to splash the cash around.