Max Mata (St Patrick's Athletic | Ireland)

Gets back from U23s and given 30 mins off the bench in a 2-2 draw.

Scores 1 min after coming into the game to tie it up 2-2.

Starting and has grabbed himself a double as Nomme Kalju cruise in Estonia, 5-0 up over Tallinna Kalev with quarter of an hour left.

Scored 7 in 6 in the Meistriliiga so far. 

cant ask for more than that if your his parent club. 

While the standard is questionable, Mata has been making the most of his opportunities in Estonia. 

Started off playing up front after being loaned out, but seems to have been playing on the LW as of late. Been in good form no less, has scored or assisted in each of the last 6 games in the Meistriliiga. 

5 games left for the season in Estonia, before his loan finishes. Not sure how close he would be to the first team picture back in Switzerland with Grasshopper fighting to gain promotion back to the Super League. Perhaps might be off for another loan deal - Hopefully to a league of a higher standing.

Scores the winner in a 1-0 victory over Paide, helping Nomme Kalju jump to 3rd and more importantly, into the Europa League qualifying places. 4 games left in the Estonian season. 

Good to see Mata carry on his good form, basically doing all that could've been asked of him from his parent club back in Switzerland.

Highlights from last week's match, incl his winning goal

Nomme Kalju had a 2-1 win on the weekend. Mata full game.

Kalju consolidate 3rd spot, and an Europa League qualifying place. 3 games left. 

Credited with the assist for the 2nd Nomme Kalju goal in their 2-1 win over Flora.

Has scored or assisted at least once per game in the past 9 competititive matches - (8 League & 1 Cup game)

Taking on Levadia on Thursday morning in another Cup game. Good to see the games coming thick and fast toward the back end of the Estonian season.

Looks like the league will be over on 10 November. I wonder what's in store for him after that.
Maybe a recall to his parent team in Switzerland or maybe another loan?

As he's done well recently, I wonder if the likes of Vaduz/Aarau etc (mid table 2nd Division Swiss teams) would take a punt on him, especially on loan where they only need to pay his wages?

New Estonian season starts March 2020.

You would think Mata is back in Switzerland for the moment. Probably with a FC Grasshopper (his parent club) youth side (Grasshopper II?). Though winter break has already started for Grasshopper II (Swiss 4th tier).

Grasshopper 1st team are currently 2nd in the Swiss 2nd tier. Top team gets automatically promoted and 2nd spot goes into promotion playoffs.

Swiss 5 week winter break for Swiss top tiers goes 15th Dec to 23rd January. 

A month now for Mata at a NZ beach, loitering around Eastern Suburbs?

Already back in Switzerland... hoping this means the team needs him :)

The first team at Grasshopper? Hopefully.

But probably just mapping out a fitness regime for the winter break/off season. Plus maybe negotiating another loan deal somewhere for 2020.

Hopefully he gets to play first team.

By memory, he scored well for their second team and has carried that form to Estonia. Not sure what more he needs to do in order to earn a 1st team chance.

Be better than the other strikers in the first team squad, or get a chance through injury.

First team are tracking pretty well in 2nd place.

He may go out on loan again. He wasn't always starting for his mid table team in Estonia, so not sure his form was always that red hot in a pretty average league. Who knows for sure.

It's just important at this stage that he is playing, rather than bench warming. Patience required and the long game. 

Worked for Boyd as an example. Portuguese 2nd tier for a few seasons, loan deal to a lowly Portuguese top tier side (Tondela), then a mid table Turkish side, and now at one of Turkey's biggest clubs. Each new move an upwards one.

Best chance I reckon would be do to well with the reserves when the league resumes and hope to get a look in for the first team through injury or suspension.

Swiss leagues restart next Friday.

Grasshopper are 3rd in the 2nd tier (Challenge League).

Mata hasn't been playing in Estonia (their league has been playing since May), so presume is back in Zurich with Pijnaker.

Went back 26th May

yep has been in New Zealand during the pandemic, but he returned to Grasshopper at the end of 2019. Promoted to their first team, given number 15

Played in GCZ U21's first two games back. A start and 65 mins in a 2-0 loss to Muttenz, and subbed on in the 62nd minute in a 2-1 loss to Buochs

Grasshopper beat Stade Lausanne-Ouchy 2-1 in Schweizer Pokal (2nd round).

No Mata in match day squad.

Swiss 2nd tier new season begins this coming weekend.

Grasshopper (1st) with a 1-0 loss at Neuchâtel Xamax (7th)

Grasshopper still remain top of the Swiss 2nd tier, after 3 wins from 4 games (first points dropped this morning).

Mata not sighted in a match day squad, nor loaned back to Estonia or anywhere else it seems for the moment. Presume with GCZ U21's.

Grasshopper U21 squad and scored penalty on 3 Oct

From this week's Flying Kiwis. Hopefully a good move for him. 

AWs need to a backup striker to Wood, at some sort of pro level scoring goals.

Mods please update his club.