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Max Mata (St Patrick's Athletic | Ireland)

457 replies · 130,064 views
about 3 years ago


At the double 🎯
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Endorsed by
newzealandpower
about 3 years ago
Hat-trick! Another penalty converted.
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Endorsed by
carlindcoochieenewzealandpower
about 3 years ago
Sligo win 3-2. Nice work Mata
Both Kiwis with full games
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newzealandpower
about 3 years ago · edited about 3 years ago · History
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.
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Endorsed by
carlind
about 3 years ago
Wusty Wab
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. 
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about 3 years ago · edited about 3 years ago · History
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
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about 3 years ago
A compilation of Mata's hat trick this morning.

Shout out as well to The Niche Cache for finding these too. Legends 👏

#1


#2


#3
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Endorsed by
HattyCWnewzealandpower
about 3 years ago
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.
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about 3 years ago · edited about 3 years ago · History
Both Kiwis starting 

Edit - a 1-0 loss. Both Mata & Pijnaker full games
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about 3 years ago
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.

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about 3 years ago
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.

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Endorsed by
MoSk
about 3 years ago
Full games Mata & Pijnaker in a 0-1 loss.

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about 3 years ago
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Endorsed by
carlindcoochieeHattyCWMi+1
about 3 years ago
Plenty of Kiwi goal scorers overnight in Europe. Finished a 2-1 win to Sligo to go 3rd. Full games both Mata & Pijnaker.

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almost 3 years ago
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.”
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Endorsed by
MoYoungHeartHM
almost 3 years ago
coochiee
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.
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almost 3 years ago · edited almost 3 years ago · History
Grabs goal #7 of the season, as he continues his excellent form.

With that he keeps his place at the top in the golden boot race too.



Screenshot_2023-04-16-11-20-35-36_955f68c4df44ad6a86e46b05cf65099a.jpg 86.43 KB

Screenshot_2023-04-16-11-21-17-43_955f68c4df44ad6a86e46b05cf65099a.jpg 97.93 KB

Next match is against rock bottom outfit UCD next weekend.


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Endorsed by
newzealandpower
almost 3 years ago · edited almost 3 years ago · History
Mata with the first goal in a 3-1 win. Another header.
He was off at 88 mins (3-1). Full game Pijnaker.


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almost 3 years ago
Is Mata scoring like this in the LOI something to be excited about or is this Greg Draper in Wales all over again?
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Endorsed by
Gooner 4 Lifemartinb
almost 3 years ago
RR
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
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Endorsed by
dunnixRR
almost 3 years ago


That's 9 goals in 13 appearances this season, and equals his record of last season (UECL included).

We're just over a ⅓ of the way through the season.

Sligo take home a valuable 1-0 too.
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Endorsed by
coochiee
almost 3 years ago · edited almost 3 years ago · History
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.

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almost 3 years ago
Does anyone know what level this football is at relative to say the A-League? I presume it's worse but is more of a shop window to Europe?
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almost 3 years ago
Monto
Does anyone know what level this football is at relative to say the A-League? I presume it's worse but is more of a shop window to Europe?
Correct - A-League is well above as a whole
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almost 3 years ago · edited almost 3 years ago · History
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.

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Endorsed by
Me
almost 3 years ago
Mullin - Palmer - Mata front three?
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Endorsed by
dunnixnewzealandpower
almost 3 years ago
Mata 81 mins (0-0) and Pijnaker a full game in a 0-1 loss.

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