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Post by Sméagol on Aug 22, 2016 9:14:13 GMT
Hi everyone, Once again I’m writing to you after a good week, when we have been working well to get another victory. Last Friday’s win was special, not only because we played on a Friday night, which is quite unusual when you are involved in a European competition, but also because it was the first official game in Old Trafford this season. As you can imagine, the atmosphere lived up to the expectations. Once again we could feel the support of the crowd; it is vital if we want to make of every game in Old Trafford a special day. It is also vital, in my opinion, to generate that ‘chemistry’ with our fans in order to make of our stadium a very tough place for the other teams. We played a solid game against Southampton to get the second win out of two games in the Premiership. It’s still August and that means we are still working on a few adjustments. We know there’s still room for improvement. We are laying the foundations of the team for this season and, you know, those wins help us to create an optimistic atmosphere and make things go well. Last Friday we deserved the three points. The only bad news was my friend Oriol Romeu’s injury, luckily it’s nothing serious. It’s always a pleasure to see you again, Ori, you are a phenomenal player and one of the best persons I’ve ever met in the world of football. We have a tough game ahead on Saturday at Hull City. It’s never easy and they are one of the four teams that have won the first two games this season. They are back in the Premier League this year and are having a surprising start. We will try to win and keep our good streak. La Liga kicked off in Spain this weekend. Barcelona played an impressive game and defeated Betis with yet another great game from Messi. If he starts the season like this it’s not easy to foresee how far is he going to get. Real Madrid also won in Anoeta with two goals from Bale and one from Asensio (this guy is very talented). It was also the first week in the Second Division. Unfortunately, Real Oviedo lost in Valladolid but we all have hopes in this project. Michu has been the latest addition to the team and I’m really happy for the club but also for him, because he’s been very unlucky with injuries. I hope he can help the team go back to the First Division! Good luck, ‘crack’. Lastly, I’d like to say something about the Olympic Games in Rio, that are now over. It’s been great to enjoy so many sports during these two weeks, I really love the Games. Congratulations to all the participants and specially to the Spanish medallists. They have made history again and have produced exciting and unforgettable moments. You guys are great! The effort and sacrifice of all the competitors is commendable. Aside from medals or diplomas, the feeling of being part of the Games is really worth it, I know that from my own experience! But the true champions have been the #TeamRefugees in their first Olympic Games. You are the true winners and deserve a big applause! Have a nice week. Hugs juanmata8.com/en/blog/the-theatre-of-dreams-never-disappoints/ |
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Post by Jayrannasaurus on Aug 26, 2016 17:07:34 GMT
Delighted it seems like he's staying, at least for this season, I was genuinely worried when Jose initially took over.
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Post by Sméagol on Aug 29, 2016 8:26:37 GMT
Hi everyone, Today I’m writing from Spain, getting ready for the first training camp of the season with the national team this Monday. This time it’s going to be special because there have been major changes, as you know, including a new manager, and it’s the kick off for the Russia’s World Cup qualifiers. I notice there’s excitement in the football fans in my country ahead of this new stage and, of course, all of us are looking forward to do well and to enjoy again these few days with the team. As I already said before, I feel privileged to be called up and to be a part of the national team. Being here is always very exciting to me, it’s a special feeling. The first of the two games is a friendly one, yet a top level game: against Belgium, a squad full of great players and also with a new (and Spanish) manager. This is a game that had to be cancelled in November last year but luckily we can play it now. It’s meant to be a tough test ahead of the first qualifying game against Liechtenstein in León, where I’m sure our fans will give us a warm welcome. As you can imagine, we reach the international break with plenty of energy and optimism after the third win in the Premier League. Last Saturday we suffered a lot to beat Hull, but Marcus Rashford’s late winner did justice to our performance. We tried everything during the 90 minutes and it was very exciting to celebrate the victory at the end with the team-mates and the fans who were there supporting us. Winning in the added time always leaves a special taste; however, next time we will try to close the game earlier 😉 In Spain, la Liga is already into the first two weeks of the calendar. Real Madrid won again although it was really complicated against Celta, a team that is doing a great job. I like their football proposal, always with a daring style of play. Meanwhile, Barcelona won against Athletic, another team that is fun to watch, always trying to play good football and who maintains a very clear pattern. It was a very nice game, with a few alternatives and chances on both sides. It was in a collective play that the visitors grabbed the three points and their second win so far. Atlético hasn’t started so well though. They couldn’t defeat Leganés, a club that is new in the first division and hasn’t lose a game yet in this historic season for them. I’m sure that some of these topics will be discussed in the next few days with my team-mates in the national team… It’s going to be great to see them again! I hope you have a nice week. Hugs! PS: Today I’d like to send a very special hug to all of you who are reading this from Italy, a country that I have visited plenty of times and is now suffering in many towns and villages the consequences of a horrible earthquake. juanmata8.com/en/blog/an-exciting-new-stage-is-starting/ |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2016 16:51:25 GMT
redvoicesmufc.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/juan-matas-continued-presence-at-united-is-worth-savouring/It felt inevitable that Juan Mata would be unceremoniously kicked out of Old Trafford as soon as Jose Mourinho was unveiled as Manchester United’s new manager in May. What an indignity, to be sold by the same manager twice in the space of two and a half years at two different clubs. But nevermind, eh? Guess no man, no matter how disarmingly cool they may be is worth keeping around if their boss doesn’t fancy them. This caveat has been used often when it comes to discussing Manchester United players who had looked to be all but finished at the club earlier this summer, and it’s worth repeating again here; we’re only three games into this league season, and who knows where this team and the players that are a part of it will be next May. But Mata’s continued presence at Old Trafford feels like a tiny victory, a small yet significant and pleasing aspect of the Portuguese’s time in charge at United so far, given that his career at United was marked for death at the exact moment that The Special One took over from Louis van Gaal. This turnaround is all down to the player himself. When Mata was sold in January 2014, Mourinho noted that he preferred the industry and work-rate of Oscar behind Diego Costa for his Chelsea side. Fair enough; one £37.1m transfer later and United’s new record signing is being dropped off in a helicopter at Carrington, offering a temporary and flashy distraction from the developing train wreck that was United’s season under David Moyes. Mata’s been good, if not excellent at his time at the club so far, and has carved out something of a role for himself as United’s go-to right sided attacker despite ostensibly not being suited to playing out wide. Over the course of his time under Van Gaal, Mata looked more and more like a player willing to work hard off the ball, someone better drilled in what to do if his team isn’t in possession, even if he isn’t blessed with the same storming pace as some of his colleagues to go chasing down every lost cause. His goal against Bournemouth in United’s first league fixture offered a great example as to why Mourinho may be more willing to utilise him this time around; he chased down Ander Herrera’s off-target long ball, was well placed to capitalise on Simon Francis’ error and gobbled up the resulting chance to score gleefully. This an example of the gritty stuff, essentially, which isn’t something that Mata has ever been famed for during his career, and the more moments like these mix with his clear ability in front of goal, the harder it’ll be to remove him from the first team equation. Whilst the resurrection of Messrs Fellaini and Valencia having been pleasing so far this term, and Daley Blind’s developing partnership with Eric Bailly reaches new heights of wonder with every passing week, there’s something special about seeing Mata remain at Old Trafford that isn’t necessarily football related, partially because he seems like such a decent human being. We don’t generally expect footballers to be great thinkers, or particularly eloquent when a microphone is placed in front of their mouths, and often, the answers we hear are from a safe, modest database of stock replies. To be fair, in many ways, Mata is about as dangerous and provocative as a stuffed flamingo at a fight club, but he’s something that we often don’t see too much of in football; he’s nice. His weekly blog is oft-derided, but when was the last time you saw any footballer take time during their week to keep a diary, to update you on what they’ve been up to, to offer even a tiny glimpse into their lives? It’s humdrum stuff, sure, but Mata as a person offers a nice change of pace to the common perception of a footballer by simply being an honest, unremarkable yet likeable guy in a sea of bravado, privacy and disconnection. There are plenty of proper footballing reasons for United to retain Mata’s services, too. He’s arguably United’s most capable number 10, for a start, and would be this writer’s first choice to depose Wayne Rooney in the position if the England captain’s output continues to deteriorate. Even as a right-sided attacker, Mata can offer vision, neat passing, great touches and most importantly, goals. The suggestion of the Spaniard being a ‘fraud’ bristles a little, because whilst few players have excelled in a red shirt since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, Mata is one of few who can offer a fairly solid defence of his output whilst simultaneously playing away from his favoured position. If we’re talking specific moments, then you could look at goals in tight matches against Crystal Palace two years ago and a sumptuous late free-kick against Watford last season, both of which resulted in 1-0 wins; there’s the nutmeg of Joe Hart in a 4-2 derby demolition and that incredible brace at Anfield in 2015 earning United their first win away at Liverpool in seven years; there’s also a crucial late equaliser against Palace in last May’s FA Cup final to consider, celebrated wildly by a team that had struggled to break their opponents down in what amounted to United’s biggest single game for years. In summation, Mata has delivered. Not every week, certainly, but there’s no doubt that he has provided special and particularly important moments in his time at Old Trafford, and whilst suggesting that a player “gets” the club is becoming somewhat trite, the genuine affection he reserves for United is most definitely welcome. Whether or not you believe the reports that he was told by Mourinho that he could leave the club, there’s no denying that Mata could’ve used this summer as an opportunity to jump ship, and few would have begrudged him such a move. A lack of Champions League football, a new manager who disposed of him a few years previously and potential competition with new signings? It would’ve been easy for Mata to draw a line under his United career at May’s game at Wembley, a delightful high to sign off with and start searching for a new opportunity. But he hasn’t, not because he has lacked suitors but because he seemingly wants to stay and fight for his place. Given how the circumstances are stacked against him already, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan eventually expected to depose him in that role to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s right and with Rooney woven so distressingly into the fabric of the club’s starting XI, the odds don’t necessarily favour Mata having an effective season, and you’d still be hard-pressed to see a role for him at the club beyond this season under the Portuguese’s leadership. Still, it seems silly to write him off just yet, especially when you consider that it was a little over 18 months ago that Mata was out of Van Gaal’s side, then took his chance when Angel Di Maria was suspended and remained a constant in the Dutchman’s starting XI for the rest of his time as manager. Despite having crossed the line from manly respect into exceptionally mushy territory during the course of this piece, it still feels like having Juan Mata at Manchester United is a privilege for more than just his capabilities on the pitch. He’s genuine, honest and more unabashedly affable than he has any right to be. His departure when it eventually comes will be strongly felt, just as much for the person he is as much as the player, which might seem like an overly emotional way of looking at the departure of a footballer. This sport by its very nature is transient, as players come and go endlessly. Then again, if you ignore football’s emotional aspects and don’t allow yourself to care about the people that help to make it special, then what’s the point of caring about it at all? 
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Post by grandpaTJ on Sept 1, 2016 5:54:22 GMT
^ An outstanding, and damn sure spot on. Juan is so much more than just a footballer, and if he departs (may he retire in United kit!)
it won't just be football fans who will note his moving. Though, knowing Juan, I could see him coming back to Manchester just to hand
out some hugs over the holidays.
He is a special person.
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Post by Sméagol on Sept 5, 2016 12:02:58 GMT
Hi everyone, This time I’m writing to you from Leon, a beautiful town in Northern Spain close to Asturias, my home. As you know, this Monday we start the qualifying stage for the 2018 World Cup that will take place in Russia and we notice there’s a lot of excitement around, both in the team and the fans. Last Wednesday we played a friendly game against Belgium in Brussels and the team left a very good impression. I think we showed character and we put into practice all the ideas that we had been working on before the game. Everything was just perfect. The time goes by and some key players of our football style have left the national team; however, we still have many footballers in Spain that are able to take the initiative of the game and that’s the idea. Obviously, in modern football there are many aspects that you just can’t overlook, but we want to lead the game, keep the ball possession and be offensive. Our new manager, Julen Lopetegui, is very clear in that regard and his first few conversations with us have been very positive. People in Leon have given us a very warm welcome. I never get tired of thanking all of you for your words and support. Wherever we play in Spain we feel a lot of affection from the crowd and that’s why we always want to play well and give some good football and wins to our fans. This qualifying stage is going to be very long and difficult. Our group is one of the toughest ones in Europe, but we know that we can make it to the final draw and our only goal is to be in the World Cup in two years time. Many times you ask me about the atmosphere inside the team, both in Manchester United and here. With Spain, for instance, we travelled by train from Madrid to Leon this Sunday and the journey was as usual. Some guys were playing online video games with each other (making fun of everything), some others were playing cards non-stop, a few here and there watching movies or series, and the rest of the players either chatting, reading or even having a nap… Although these days, if you do so, you are likely to find a picture of yourself fully asleep posted on a team-mate’s social network, so you always have to keep an eye open… And that’s how our journey was. After the international break, there is a game coming next Saturday that I’m sure many of you are waiting for: the Manchester derby. All of us are fully aware that this is a very special game, yet we have to understand that these are three points and don’t get too crazy. Both teams have started the Premiership well and the expectations are high, as everybody can imagine. David de Gea and me have been joking with Nolito and Silva in the last few days, although the truth is we are now focused on the games with the national team. After that, we will have plenty of time to think about this exciting derby. Have a nice week. Hugs! PS: This week I read with special interest Totti’s farewell letter. It’s a moving text that explains very well the importance of the family in every athlete’s career. He’s a football legend and he will always be remembered. juanmata8.com/en/blog/the-road-to-russia-2018-begins/ |
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Post by Sméagol on Sept 12, 2016 9:33:11 GMT
Hi everyone, We have suffered the first defeat of the season and, after the initial disappointment, I think there is no time for mourning. On the contrary, it’s time to analyse the aspects of our game that we need to improve, and carry on with hope and motivation. It was an important game, but let’s be realistic: the season has just started and there is still a long way to go. Obviously, the result was painful for us, both for the fans and for the team. Losing a derby is always something tough to take, but I’m sure there are many good moments for us to enjoy in the next few months. To summarise the game before moving on, I would say that City were better than us in the first half, but after Zlatan’s goal and our improvement in the second half, the game was pretty much alive. When things became more box-to-box they took advantage of it and also had chances to get more goals, but finally the score didn’t change and the three points slipped away from us. Yes, three points, because in the end, and despite the game being a peculiar one, it wasn’t a final or anything like that, since we are in September. We have to remain positive and, as from now, think about next Thursday. On Thursday we’re going to play the first game in the Europa League, away against Feyenoord, a classic in European football. They have one European Cup in their trophy cabinet and they are having a great start of the season, with five wins in five league games. It’s going to be a very demanding debut in this competition. The Premier League will be back next Sunday with a visit to Watford. Last season we struggled a lot to beat them, both at home and away, so I have no reason to think it’s going to be easy this time. They just won at West Ham after a good comeback and they have scored in every game so far. It’s meant to be a tough game and if we want to get the three points we will have to be at our best. In La Liga, the big surprise was Alaves, a historic team, winning at the Camp Nou. They are just back in the first division and have shown how competitive the league is. Every single club in Spain has talented players who are able to make you win every game, as we could see this week. Real Madrid had a solid win against Osasuna and they are the only team with three victories out of three games. Atletico, meanwhile, got their first win, a convincing one, in Vigo against Celta. Of the other games I’d like to highlight the fans of Valencia giving an ovation to Joaquin when he scored for Betis, despite the local team was losing. I hope my former team win the first game soon and they can start a good streak to climb up the table quickly. By the way, the Paralympic Games in Rio started last week. Beyond medals and results, I want to show my support and admiration to all these athletes because they are a leading example to us and show how good sports can be to society. They are true examples of self-improvement. Thank you for your support, especially after a defeat. Have a nice week. Hugs juanmata8.com/en/blog/still-long-way-to-go/ |
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Post by Sméagol on Sept 13, 2016 15:48:00 GMT
A Juan Mata book of poetry may well be the perfect gift for some Manchester United fans this Christmas. Juan Mata PoetryOn the back page of Tuesday’s edition of Spanish newspaper Marca, above what appears to be a random fitness update, is a sentence which will please those fans of Mata who like the star’s cultural interests. The Manchester United footballer is apparently hoping to release a book of poetry for Christmas. That’s all the information Marca have managed to share on the topic, and there’s no explanation elsewhere in the Spanish media. Mata and poetry is nothing new, it’s something which the footballer has spoken about on several occasions throughout his career. When still at Valencia, the then 21 year old read poetry at a ‘Aula de Poesía’ event at the Palau de la Música. It was a series of events which invited notable people from various walks of public life to read poetry to those who attended. Earlier this year, the now 28 year old appeared on Spain’s La Sexta to speak about his love of poetry and read a line from Charles Bukowski’s Bluebird (40 seconds in). Mata’s weekly blog has proven a big hit with fans, and if Marca are correct then the Spanish international wants to share some of his own poetry later this year. sportwitness.co.uk/juan-mata-poetry-book/ |
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Post by RAZ on Sept 13, 2016 17:54:49 GMT
A Juan Mata book of poetry may well be the perfect gift for some Manchester United fans this Christmas. Juan Mata PoetryOn the back page of Tuesday’s edition of Spanish newspaper Marca, above what appears to be a random fitness update, is a sentence which will please those fans of Mata who like the star’s cultural interests. The Manchester United footballer is apparently hoping to release a book of poetry for Christmas. That’s all the information Marca have managed to share on the topic, and there’s no explanation elsewhere in the Spanish media. Mata and poetry is nothing new, it’s something which the footballer has spoken about on several occasions throughout his career. When still at Valencia, the then 21 year old read poetry at a ‘Aula de Poesía’ event at the Palau de la Música. It was a series of events which invited notable people from various walks of public life to read poetry to those who attended. Earlier this year, the now 28 year old appeared on Spain’s La Sexta to speak about his love of poetry and read a line from Charles Bukowski’s Bluebird (40 seconds in). Mata’s weekly blog has proven a big hit with fans, and if Marca are correct then the Spanish international wants to share some of his own poetry later this year. sportwitness.co.uk/juan-mata-poetry-book/not many footballers around who seem as smart as mata. glad to have the lad at united. |
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Post by Rustin Cohle on Sept 15, 2016 7:52:44 GMT
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Post by Bestie on Sept 15, 2016 8:17:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2016 11:36:09 GMT
Rooney has just finished his first ever colouring book |
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Post by grandpaTJ on Sept 15, 2016 12:11:21 GMT
Rooney has just finished his first ever colouring book I saw that, thought it would be kind of hard to color between the lines on stick figures, so I didn't buy it  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2016 12:14:57 GMT
Rooney has just finished his first ever colouring book I saw that, thought it would be kind of hard to color between the lines on stick figures, so I didn't buy it You read it wrong..... |
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Post by Rustin Cohle on Sept 15, 2016 13:10:10 GMT
Rooney has just finished his first ever colouring book  |
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