I wonder if Mata's goal scoring form from last season and so far this season will earn him a call back up to the AWs? Especially because we could be short on strikers with Grieve injured and the current uncertainty around Waine. Collier or Bevan are options as well.
Oh wait maybe not Collier, SDL play on the 20th and 26th March and they might not be keen on releasing him, Bevan's season doesn't start till the 16th of April.
I wonder if Mata's goal scoring form from last season and so far this season will earn him a call back up to the AWs? Especially because we could be short on strikers with Grieve injured and the current uncertainty around Waine. Collier or Bevan are options as well.
A possibility for sure, even if it is only for backup against China, but I think the main and immediate focus for him will be the responsibility that has fallen on his shoulders to now be the go to goal getter for Sligo, after last seasons top scorer Aidan Keena left for pastures anew with Cheltenham in League One.
Promising signs that he'll be stepping up to the plate on that front.
If there are a few unavailable as you mention he’ll be in the mix. Though AWs could just chuck some U23 players like a Kian Donkers onto their bench/wider squad in need. With the U23s playing in NZ at same time will be a chance to mix and max it, esp with age group Bazeley as coach
Why fly a Mata, Bevan or Dyer all the way to NZ if they ain’t likely to ever really feature in the team longer term. Others like Rogerson, De Jong, Collier are also likely to still be ahead of them. But Mata scores a few more hat tricks and he’ll be in the mix for sure
Bit fortunate with the pen (contact looked outside the box) but another slick take to send his team into the lead 👏 #FlyingKiwispic.twitter.com/6KYqSmbgf2
FYI - 23 yr old Aidan Keena has played 4 games for struggling Cheltenham Town (19th) in League One, over the Irish Sea. Yet to score, after joining CT on 29th January.
He scored 18 goals (from 32 games) last year for Sligo. The sort of move you'd hope either 24 yr old Pijnaker or 22 yr old Mata could make.
From Flying Kiwis. I think this is his 3rd team of the week selection already, after 5 rounds. Even in a small 10 team league that's an impressive season start.
Keeps this up and some League One/Two clubs will be sniffing around. That seems the pathway out of the Irish League.
This week's SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Team of the Week!
Mata's goal from 1-1 draw at Derry City. Should be confident coming into AWs camp. And if Wood is unavailable, could even start against China alongside Greive.
From Flying Kiwis. Keena is now in League One across the Irish Sea.
Sligo Rovers manager John Russell: “I think Max can play at a higher level, and if he continues to score goals in this league I’m sure he will. He’s flying it this year and it’s no surprise. People talked about Aidan [Keena] leaving and what would happen at Sligo because he was getting all the goals. He was our talisman last year and we utilised his strengths, and Max probably didn't see a lot of game time towards the end of the year because Aidan was playing.
But we knew the potential Max had and knew he was going to take flight this year. Having a year in the league last season and coming in and having the full pre-season helps. He’s got back into the national team in New Zealand now, and you see his attributes. We’re just thankful he’s in a good rein of form at the moment.”
From Flying Kiwis. Keena is now in League One across the Irish Sea.
Sligo Rovers manager John Russell: “I think Max can play at a higher level, and if he continues to score goals in this league I’m sure he will. He’s flying it this year and it’s no surprise. People talked about Aidan [Keena] leaving and what would happen at Sligo because he was getting all the goals. He was our talisman last year and we utilised his strengths, and Max probably didn't see a lot of game time towards the end of the year because Aidan was playing.
But we knew the potential Max had and knew he was going to take flight this year. Having a year in the league last season and coming in and having the full pre-season helps. He’s got back into the national team in New Zealand now, and you see his attributes. We’re just thankful he’s in a good rein of form at the moment.”
You love to hear praise like that, hope it all eventuates too.
Is Mata scoring like this in the LOI something to be excited about or is this Greg Draper in Wales all over again?
Players from LOI get scouted by L1-2 clubs in UK all the time. Sligo’s leading scorer last season is now in L1. It wouldn’t shock if Mata was doing better than Waine next UK season.
Mata ain’t the next Chris Wood but he’ll be on the radar now of UK clubs
Nice little touch by Mata to create some space in the goal leadup. He was off at 77 mins and full game Pijnaker.
Mata doing well to be LOI leading scorer, considering Sligo are only mid table 5th. He has 8 goals (3 pens), next best is 6 goals. Seems for Mata it's either a pen or a header.
There must be at least 50-100 Irish qualified players in the English Football leagues. That's a large chunk of your best players offshore, for a small country of 5M (7M including the North).
But Mata keeps scoring at this rate, he'll get some sort of offer from a L1-2 club. Good for him. It's been a hard slog without much success, since leaving the Weenix about age 16 (6 seasons ago). From memory he was homesick for Auckland and his family?? 2nd season in Ireland, and he really seems to be doing well.
