Moyes faces a big dilemma over how he gets the best out of United's £37m man Mata

By Jamie Carragher

PUBLISHED: 19:01 EST, 21 March 2014 | UPDATED: 19:01 EST, 21 March 2014

Manchester United got a great lift when they beat Olympiacos on Wednesday with the kind of pacy, energetic performance you expect of them.

The displays of Ryan Giggs and Danny Welbeck in that 3-0 win, however, mean David Moyes faces a couple of big decisions, because their input came from positions Moyes has tried to strengthen by spending £27.5million on Marouane Fellaini and £37m on Juan Mata.

You could see the impact Giggs and Welbeck had on Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

Vintage display: Ryan Giggs was outstanding in midfield for Manchester United against Olympiacos

Vintage display: Ryan Giggs was outstanding in midfield for Manchester United against Olympiacos

Difficult start to life at Old Trafford: Juan Mata, right, has not shown his best form yet for United since moving from Chelsea

Difficult start to life at Old Trafford: Juan Mata, right, has not shown his best form yet for United since moving from Chelsea

Able replacement: Danny Welbeck put in an excellent performance for United against Olympiacos in Mata's absence

Able replacement: Danny Welbeck put in an excellent performance for United against Olympiacos in Mata's absence

United suddenly had pace and penetration in their movement, while Giggs’s brilliant range of passing gave them space to run into and opportunities in front of goal.

So it will be interesting to see how Moyes deploys his two major signings going forward and how he shapes his team, as you cannot imagine he has spent £65m for them to be bit-part performers.

Neither Fellaini nor Mata are quick and on a pitch as big as the one at Old Trafford, a lack of pace is always highlighted.

Man with the plan: United boss David Moyes will have to find a system to get the best out of Mata

Man with the plan: United boss David Moyes will have to find a system to get the best out of Mata

Costly purchase: United spent £27.5million on Marouane Fellaini but have not seen the best of the Belgian

Costly purchase: United spent £27.5million on Marouane Fellaini but have not seen the best of the Belgian

Mata reminds me of Dimitar Berbatov. He was brilliant for Tottenham and he looked every inch a Manchester United player before he signed.

But White Hart Lane has a smaller pitch than Old Trafford and Berbatov didn’t have the speed to get around it. Similarly, Mata stood out at Stamford Bridge, which is also tight.

There is no doubt he has talent but does Mata have the legs for Old Trafford’s wide open spaces?

Back in action: Mata may return to the United team against West Ham on Saturday

Back in action: Mata may return to the United team against West Ham on Saturday

 

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"Big Dilemma"? A bit over the top.

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I agree about power and pace; just look at Bayern Munich. However, Mata is the nearest thing to a desperately needed metrognome United have at the moment. He should play in central midfield with Carrick. Kagawa can play number 10 if given a chance and game time with Rooney up top and Wellbeck and Valencia out wide. Fletcher is a good experienced option on the hour and Cleverley can reinvigorate energy levels when needed too. Januzai needs careful handling and has been found out a bit by defenders of late while Nanai and Young seem to be expensive clutter. Rooney can always drop back and do his scoring from the half-way line.

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Now you know Jamie, why Mourinho didn't play him

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This time last season, David Moyes' Everton had 48 points from 29 games, having scored 46 goals & conceded 35 This season, David Moyes' MUFC side have 48pts from 29 games, having scored 46 goals and conceded 34 ... Go figure?!

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What a ridiculous observation, nothing to do with pitch size has everything to do with positioning & tactics

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Moyes will probably try Mata at centre back today and play Bambi up front with Rooney in the hole. I see West Ham beating Utd as this is their annual cup final

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Midfield diamond mata behind front two Carrick at the base problem solved

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would like to see fellaini, cleverley, and mata in the middle ...

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He'll play him at centre back! Twit!

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moyes got very lucky landing mata. had utd been higher up the table hed have had no chance of that deal. if he had any sense he would capitalise on his new purchase and sit mata in as no10, and rebuild the squad around him not the overpaid and aging rooney. kagawa would be a perfect backup for mata then sell rooney for a top price what with his contract. with the money rooney would command utd could buy 3/4 top players come summer... but we all know that wont happen because moyes is a clutz and would never let a player like rooney go. when mourinho let mata go everyone said he was mad, but not really. mourinho said that there can only be one no10 in any squad and utd are proving that point to a T trying to use two to no effect.

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