Mateta Conundrum

[cardiff eagle]

Clearly he’s an amazing player for us, helps us link play and is fundamental to our system but this season has been really poor. His one on ones are shocking. Fredrikstad, Liverpool, today and dynamo kiev as well. And that’s without mentioning the two open goals (today and Millwall) he’s badly missed. Looks a shadow of himself and with Nketiah looking sharper there is a debate to be had. However Nketiah doesn’t offer the hold up play and physicality so not sure what we do!

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Clearly he’s an amazing player for us, helps us link play and is fundamental to our system but this season has been really poor. His one on ones are shocking. Fredrikstad, Liverpool, today and dynamo kiev as well. And that’s without mentioning the two open goals (today and Millwall) he’s badly missed. Looks a shadow of himself and with Nketiah looking sharper there is a debate to be had. However Nketiah doesn’t offer the hold up play and physicality so not sure what we do!

His hold up play is excellent but he's having to come too deep to do it. He shouldn't have to be back on the halfway line when his job is to lead the line

 

[sprites]

Yes it's super tough, but the reality is with two games a week, we'll genuinely need both of them firing.
As we know with strikers, it's a confidence game. He just needs one to trickle in off someone's arse and he'll be firing again.

 

[DenTyler]

I think I’d be more worried if he was not getting into the situations he’s missing. Somebody brought up that our midfield just does not score. That needs to change. JPM brings so much to the shape and his hold up play is immense. that it’s a real conundrum because without the midfield scoring and when JPM is not firing who is going to get the goals.

Hopefully a bit of a change in scenery with his first international call up will do him good.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

I think I’d be more worried if he was not getting into the situations he’s missing. Somebody brought up that our midfield just does not score. That needs to change. JPM brings so much to the shape and his hold up play is immense. that it’s a real conundrum because without the midfield scoring and when JPM is not firing who is going to get the goals.

Hopefully a bit of a change in scenery with his first international call up will do him good.

Yes, he's getting in the right positions and when he doesn't have too much time to consider his options he's excellent but, not sure how to explain this thought properly, it seems we seldom actually look for him when he's there but wait for the ball to find it's way to him somehow.

 

[DANGERCLOSE]

Clearly he’s an amazing player for us, helps us link play and is fundamental to our system but this season has been really poor. His one on ones are shocking. Fredrikstad, Liverpool, today and dynamo kiev as well. And that’s without mentioning the two open goals (today and Millwall) he’s badly missed. Looks a shadow of himself and with Nketiah looking sharper there is a debate to be had. However Nketiah doesn’t offer the hold up play and physicality so not sure what we do!

Could Uche be the answer?

 

[Team of the (20)80s]

I think he has been playing too long as the only option. Eddie is back now and looking sharp, which means more rest for Mateta. Confident he will recover and find form again.

Re midfielders not scoring it is an area for improvement but there are goals elsewhere in this side. Guehi and Mitchell both nearly scored today and have scored recently. I think Munoz could score 10 in a season. Yeremy will hopefully start chipping in soon.