No not yet. But then Shrewsbury ain’t scoring goals full stop, so maybe he’s getting no service
Interestingly, he's averaging the exact same shots per 90 (2.44, to two decimal places) in League One as League of Ireland this season. He's averaging more shots on target in League One (1.04 per 90 to 0.93 per 90 at Sligo) and thus having a higher shot accuracy (42.86% at Shrewsbury to 38.18% at Sligo). He was also penalty taker at Sligo but not yet at Shrewsbury it seems, as he won a penalty against Derby several games ago but didn't get to take the penalty he won (it was sent over the bar but they still won 1-0 via an own goal).
I don't have xG for League of Ireland but he has accrued 0.86 xG in League One so is about due. He has 1.25 xGOT too, which shows his finishing is at least a little better (1.45 times) than the chances he has had, and that goalkeepers have done better than expected to prevent him scoring. Those two stats are coming at 0.15 and 0.22 per 90 respectively. For comparisons: Waine has 0.41xG/90 and 0.63xGOT/90, Greive 0.55xG/90 and 1.15xGOT/90, Wood 0.59xG/90 and 0.46xGOT/90.
The only team to score less goals in L1 this season than Shrewsbury (7 goals) is Cheltenham Town (6). One of CT's stikers is Aidan Keena who made the trip from Sligo to L1, 12 months before Mata.
Keena has 0 goals from 13 L1 games to date. He did score 6 in 19 L1 games last season.
Shrewsbury after only 7 goals in 16 L1 games, bag 3 against Bindon's Reading, in a 3-2 win.
Unfortunately Mata not on the scoresheet, but gets 62 mins starting. Shrews behind 1-2 when he came off. Their 2nd & 3rd goals post the 90 mins. Full game Bindon.
Shrews up to 16th & Reading, who were up 2-0, stay dead last.
Mata is probably in Athens, but Shrewsbury also have a League One game this weekend, one of only two L1 weekend games. So struggling Shrews might ask that he misses the Greece match.
He would have taken a lot of confidence from his performance with the AWs. He got himself in position to have a potential hat trick in that game, even if most of the chances were difficult ones and he rubbed shoulders with Cacace, Stamenic, Wood and others who play the likes of Man City and Napoli in their day job. While he didn’t perform at that standard, he didn’t look out of place or overawed. Great job Max.
He looks to be really popular with fans and teammates alike! Must be a nice feeling to get going again when you’ve been knocking one or two in most weeks in Ireland.
Stoked for him to score and I think assist for the other goal. Hopefully he can start scoring regularly in league one. That will put him in good stead for the all whites and that’s exactly what the all Whites need. If Ben Waine can start doing similar then I’ll be more chill about the fact Wood only has a few years left at the top level.
Edit - Mata on the pine. Newish Socceroos Kusini Yengi & Alex Robertson both start for Pompey. Saw a highlights video the other day of AM Robertson in a L1 game. The 20 yr kid can play (ex Man City academy), and destined for bigger things.
Shrewsbury (14th) travel to Cheltenham Town (24th/last). FYI - Mata's ex Sligo Rovers team mate Aidan Keena hasn't scored this season (19 games/11 starts) at CT in L1.
Keena was a prolific scorer in the LOI with Sligo. So Mata's (1 goal in L1) is doing better than him so far. Keena did bag 6 goals with CT last L1 season.
Crocombe gets the spoils as Burton Albion win 1-0. Mata got a start but like Waine pulled at HT. Crocombe with a big save late on.
https://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/2023/december/match-report--burton/ Then additional time, Bayliss went close to a goal on his return when he did well to get the ball out of his feet before getting a shot away from the edge of the box forcing keeper Max Crocombe into a brilliant full stretch save.
Looks like Mata had chances to score first half, to the coach's frustration. And Shrewsbury (17th) will try sign some new strikers in the Jan window. They are equal last in L1 in terms of goals scored, with a paltry 14 goals from 25 games. So Mata & his mates ain't performing fair to say. https://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/2023/december/matt-taylor-post-burton/ "The team worked really hard.
"But let's address the issues at the moment. We've had more shots than the opposition but they've only had to score one goal.
"We have centre-forwards who are getting chances, especially in the first half with Max and it just lacks that little bit of conviction.
