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Spending almost £40m on him smacks of real desperation to make a big signing.

It’s as if they said, ‘The season is slipping away. We must show our fans that we mean business’.

But I don’t understand it. For one thing, he plays in Wayne Rooney’s position. To me that just suggests Rooney is leaving in the summer.

I suppose if that happens this becomes a good signing because United will have a ready-made replacement bedded in.

But until then the jury’s out. I think he’s a great player, but he’s not what United need at all.

They are crying out for a world-class central midfielder who is going to dictate and run a game – and they have bought a luxury player instead.

There is a reason Mata is not playing for Chelsea. Jose Mourinho doesn’t think he plays quick enough or does enough hard work.

It’s almost as if Jose is sending United a message – and it’s quite a disrespectful one if you ask me.

‘The Special One’ is saying, ‘We’re not worried about you. You are not a threat to us’.

And at the same time, he’s saying to Mata, ‘Go then. You can’t hurt me there’.

Look at it this way. Chelsea can afford to sell to Manchester United, but Manchester United can’t afford sell to Chelsea.

That shows how big the gulf between them has become. This is the biggest transfer since Mesut Ozil went to Arsenal, but the similarities end there.

Ozil suited Arsenal. He could step in and play straight away in his best position. He fits there. With Mata, I just don’t see it.

It’s more like when Manchester City paid big money for James Milner and then thought, ‘Hang on, where are we actually going to play him?’

Mata can’t play on the wing in a four-man midfield – he doesn’t track back and do enough defensively for that role.

You could push Rooney out wide and play Mata behind Robin van Persie in a 4-4-1-1. But Rooney doesn’t want to play there.

If United get a world-class midfielder in this window, they could change their shape to accommodate Mata and play a 4-3-3.

But then Adnan Januzaj has to sit out – and he’s been their best player. I just think it causes them a problem.

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I watched United against Sunderland and it was frightening how confident the Black Cats were at Old Trafford.

The fear factor has gone. United are not aggressive enough any more.

But don’t blame David Moyes. They are just not good enough.

Van Persie won them the title last year. Take him and Rooney out of that side and they are average. Moyes is an easy target, but it’s lazy to blame him.

Sir Alex Ferguson knew exactly what he was doing when he quit. He could see this coming. Why do you think United were trying to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Cesc Fabregas last summer?

Going out of the League Cup to Sunderland must be painful for United.

They are a bottom-three team. A top team would have punished United on Wednesday night.

Sunderland only actually had one shot on target in the 120 minutes – and four in the whole tie. But they still looked like the better team.

They were also some of the worst penalties I’ve ever seen. Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones are England players, and that should worry Roy Hodgson.

But you have to say Moyes is bang out of luck. What was David De Gea doing for Sunderland’s goal?

You can’t make mistakes like that.

Pressure

It’s mind blowing for United. Their players have never been in this position before, never been under so much pressure.

Even the veterans who came through the youth team all those years ago... it’s always been easy for them.

They have never had to go through this.

They are struggling to cope – and don’t bet on them beating Cardiff next either.

The Bluebirds gave Manchester City a game earlier this season and have a bit of quality about them.

United will try to spend some more money in this transfer window. They have to.

However, it could go from bad to worse before then.