Max Mata (St Patrick's Athletic | Ireland)

YellowAndBlack

One would assume he would go straight back to afc but yes I would also take him

They replaced his role with Cosgrove and have Randell as back up. So unlikely tbh.

More chance that we pick him up tbh.

MetalLegNZ

How bad is his injury?

A badly torn hammy apparently. Should be fit again sometime this month

Mutual consent release so you would think Mata has a new club lined up. If not the Nix another ALM club looking for a cheap visa striker?

coochiee

MetalLegNZ

How bad is his injury?

A badly torn hammy apparently. Should be fit again sometime this month

Mutual consent release so you would think Mata has a new club lined up. If not the Nix another ALM club looking for a cheap visa striker?

Return to LOI perhaps?
If he quietly pops back up there, it might be a sly go back?

coochiee

MetalLegNZ

How bad is his injury?

A badly torn hammy apparently. Should be fit again sometime this month

Mutual consent release so you would think Mata has a new club lined up. If not the Nix another ALM club looking for a cheap visa striker?

8-10 weeks from the time of his injury back on July 24th was the last bit of commentary on his injury.

So anywhere from about mid September to early October is the timeline. 

I'd take him at the Nix, but that injury timeline runs him awfully close to the start of the season with two months on the sidelines behind him. If we didn't sign Chico, who has since found a new club, because of his background injury, then the Nix will probably be weary of going in for Mata. I only say this given his current injury was linked back to the latter part of his loan stint in Auckland.

YoungHeartHM

coochiee

MetalLegNZ

How bad is his injury?

A badly torn hammy apparently. Should be fit again sometime this month

Mutual consent release so you would think Mata has a new club lined up. If not the Nix another ALM club looking for a cheap visa striker?

8-10 weeks from the time of his injury back on July 24th was the last bit of commentary on his injury.

So anywhere from about mid September to early October is the timeline. 

I'd take him at the Nix, but that injury timeline runs him awfully close to the start of the season with two months on the sidelines behind him. If we didn't sign Chico, who has since found a new club, because of his background injury, then the Nix will probably be weary of going in for Mata. I only say this given his current injury was linked back to the latter part of his loan stint in Auckland.

Chico was meant to be our core playmaker to replace the guy our squad was "built" around which I feel is why his injury was a huge dealbreaker despite how good he was and him wanting to return. 

Mata would be a good signing who you'd want to play every game, but we wouldn't be as screwed if he got injured compared to Chico or Rojas last year. 

We have signed players coming off injuries before and we have world class facilities so if his injury is not worse than reported and he is open to come here, surely take the risk for a kiwi goalscorer who wants to make the WC especially when we have been looking for another attacker and don't have proven goalscorers.

Chico being a visa and Mata not greatly lowers the damage if he isnt fit enough to contribute - missing minutes from one of 5 visa players (especially when he's one of the more capable ones) is a much bigger deal than a domestic depth striker, who'd also likely demand much less pay wise.

I'm not opposed to it at all, would be a better depth option than Supyk if he's not crocked but im also not convinced he's in the Barba/Eze mold of running in behind and pressing - which has its own strengths and weaknesses.

dick le roc returns

coochiee

MetalLegNZ

How bad is his injury?

A badly torn hammy apparently. Should be fit again sometime this month

Mutual consent release so you would think Mata has a new club lined up. If not the Nix another ALM club looking for a cheap visa striker?

Return to LOI perhaps?
If he quietly pops back up there, it might be a sly go back?

I wouldn’t pop the cork just yet. 
His missus has signed up at Go Media. 

Yeah he will sign for Auckland.

Sighted at the AWs game in Penrose on Tuesday apparently.

coochiee

Sighted at the AWs game in Penrose on Tuesday apparently.

If it's not too late in the piece Wouldn't be opposed to a sighting at the AB's game in Welly this weekend.

Was surprised when AFC did the confirmed players video Mata wasn’t in it, to be honest haven’t kept up much on him, was/is his injury so bad it’s a season missing injury?

YellowAndBlack

Was surprised when AFC did the confirmed players video Mata wasn’t in it, to be honest haven’t kept up much on him, was/is his injury so bad it’s a season missing injury?

He left Auckland FC when his loan deal expired and returned to Shrewsbury Town, where he suffered the injury in late July, before being released in August. His return-to-play timeframe was said to be eight to 10 weeks from then.

As someone posted above
 
"8-10 weeks from the time of his injury back on July 24th was the last bit of
commentary on his injury. So anywhere from about mid September to early October is the timeline."

It really doesn't look like he's wanted back at Auckland. I mean if they did want him they would have done a deal with Shrewsbury Town to extend his loan, or even pay a smallest transfer fee. That's all pre this latest bad hammy tear.

But AFC have now signed Cosgrove. They also have young Jonty Bidois (who now has a year's experience in a pro envirnoment) on their books, and apparently Kian Donkers has been trialling there. You'd think they would announce their Auckland II OFC Pro League squad Oct/Nov, and will be interesting to see who the strikers are in that squad.

Mata - a trial and fitness testing at the Nix?  
Could another ALM club like the Jets or Mariners be interested?

coochiee

As someone posted above
 
"8-10 weeks from the time of his injury back on July 24th was the last bit of
commentary on his injury. So anywhere from about mid September to early October is the timeline."

It really doesn't look like he's wanted back at Auckland. I mean if they really wanted him they would have done a deal with Shrewsbury Town, to extend his loan, or even pay a smallest transfer fee. That's all pre this latest bad hammy tear

But AFC have now signed Cosgrove. They have young Jonty Bidois on their books, and apparently Kian Donkers has been trialling there. You'd think they would announce their Auckland II OFC Pro League squad Oct/Nov, and will be interesting to see who the strikers are in that squad.

Mata - a trial and fitness testing at the Nix?  Could another ALM club like the Jets be interested?

I gather they did want him at the time but weren't interested in paying a fee.

Hey AV, any rumors around the Nix and Mata?

HattyCW

Hey AV, any rumors around the Nix and Mata?

None that I've heard.

Quite worrying that our 2 best young ish strikers after Wood - Waine and Mata are not even wanted at League 1/2 level. 24 and 25 years old now too heading into their best years and not playing. 

They both might end up back in the A League for the next few years of their prime. 
Mata has always had some sort of homesickness aswell iirc? Has spent a lot of time abroad in fairness the last 7 years. 

Sh817

Quite worrying that our 2 best young ish strikers after Wood - Waine and Mata are not even wanted at League 1/2 level. 24 and 25 years old now too heading into their best years and not playing. 

They both might end up back in the A League for the next few years of their prime. 
Mata has always had some sort of homesickness aswell iirc? Has spent a lot of time abroad in fairness the last 7 years. 

Ben should have dropped down to L2 and built his way up from there. Better to be playing then not playing.

Max on the debut season 2 of the unused subs, says he’s fully fit now, without a team but got the impression he may be in talks with a team but know idea who, other then it didn’t sound like AFC, could be anywhere in the world but he made a point of saying he’s a free agent so isn’t locked by transfer windows

Heard that. I would have thought it would have been the Nix but you think if he was to happen it would have happened by now. 

AucklandPhoenix

Heard that. I would have thought it would have been the Nix but you think if he was to happen it would have happened by now. 

Agreed, just speculation by me but I feel if it’s a ALM team it must be someone who’s got a striker injured but they are waiting to see how bad it is before committing? 
Or it could just as easy be a team somewhere else in the world.

Aleague is a day away from kicking off, if he is still not with a team now then he's not likely to appear for either the Nix or AFC anytime soon. He'd be well of the pace in terms of playing style and game time.

theprof

Aleague is a day away from kicking off, if he is still not with a team now then he's not likely to appear for either the Nix or AFC anytime soon. He'd be well of the pace in terms of playing style and game time.

What do you mean, clubs sign players mid-season, late-season, etc, all the time

i got the opposite impression, sounded more like he was fit and ready to catch a move but no biters yet sort of thing

YellowAndBlack

Max on the debut season 2 of the unused subs, says he’s fully fit now, without a team but got the impression he may be in talks with a team but know idea who, other then it didn’t sound like AFC, could be anywhere in the world but he made a point of saying he’s a free agent so isn’t locked by transfer windows

Ninja

theprof

Aleague is a day away from kicking off, if he is still not with a team now then he's not likely to appear for either the Nix or AFC anytime soon. He'd be well of the pace in terms of playing style and game time.

What do you mean, clubs sign players mid-season, late-season, etc, all the time

please note I said appear, niot sign for. If he siogns for any team in the aleague then he wont liely make an appearance for a few weeks, he hasnt beent rainign with any team, not played a game for ages.

Good news he's found a club.
Bad news it's back to the LOI, which doesn't start again until February next year.

✍️ We are delighted to announce the signing of New Zealand international Max Mata, subject to a work permit and international clearance

Read the full story & Max's first interview as a Saint on our website 👇

▶️ https://t.co/QBlZ3z5m3k#StPatsFC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/8oCqSuEQrU

— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) December 1, 2025

coochiee

Good news he's found a club.
Bad news it's back to the LOI, which doesn't start again until February next year.

✍️ We are delighted to announce the signing of New Zealand international Max Mata, subject to a work permit and international clearance

Read the full story & Max's first interview as a Saint on our website 👇

▶️ https://t.co/QBlZ3z5m3k#StPatsFC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/8oCqSuEQrU

— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) December 1, 2025

Big call incoming from me - If he can stay fit after his recent injury troubles and get amongst the goals when the new season kicks off in Ireland, then I'd probably take him to the World Cup over Waine.

Big call incoming?
Waineo a Nix return?

Waine’s something of a jack of all trades. Certainly good enough for league one imo, if he was able to settle. 

But we want someone who can attempt to hold up or occupy top league CBs physically, as a back up to Wood. We know that’s not Waine in our current formation. And the we have a few other quick forwards or players who run in behind and can play wide across a front 3 in Kosta, McCowatt, Just, Garbett, Randall, Singh and our WBs. 

If he’s playing and in reasonable condition - get on the phone to Boxy!- he’s our next best target man after Wood. 

Don’t think that’s remotely controversial, but I am concerned a little about how long he’s taken to get playing and his injury record. 

Edit: I think he means Mata as second choice 9. I think it’s logical, barring some unforeseen breakout season! 

coochiee

Big call incoming?
Waineo a Nix return?

Lol, not what I meant - Waine has to start playing somewhere as he's at serious risk of dropping out of the fray, especially if someone like Mata gets into some form.

Waine to the Nix? Well im not sure he even takes Eze's spot at this rate.

Yes see what you mean now re a 'big call'. 
Plenty for Randall, Mata & Waine to play for.

Waineo always goes best as part of a twin striker formation. But then the Nix now have Piper slowly building up his mins, plus Supyk on the books. Would AFC have a better need for BW?

The coaches of Plymouth, Mansfield & Port Vale would likely all say Ben's not currently good enough for L1. 


PV are rock bottom of League One, have only scored 11 goals in 18 league games, and yet Waine is ranked 6th/7th on the attacking player peaking order there. That's bleak reading. If he was a young Australian he would be back in the ALM for sure. 

But for some reason Kiwis rarely return to the A League after failing in Europe. They prefer to keep hanging in there. Maybe it's because there is only two (and until recently just one) NZ club to go to as a non visa player. More difficult to find the ideal club fit that will guarantee you good ALM mins??

coochiee

Yes see what you mean now re a 'big call'. 
Plenty for Randall, Mata & Waine to play for.

Waineo always goes best as part of a twin striker formation. But then the Nix now have Piper slowly building up his mins, plus Supyk on the books. Would AFC have a better need for BW?

The coaches of Plymouth, Mansfield & Port Vale would likely all say Ben's not currently good enough for L1. 


PV are rock bottom of League One, have only scored 11 goals in 18 league games, and yet Waine is ranked 6th/7th on the attacking player peaking order there. That's bleak reading. If he was a young Australian he would be back in the ALM for sure. 

But for some reason Kiwis rarely return to the A League after failing in Europe. They prefer to keep hanging in there. Maybe it's because there is only two (and until recently just one) NZ club to go to as a non visa player. More difficult to find the ideal club fit that will guarantee you good ALM mins??

coochiee

Yes see what you mean now re a 'big call'. 
Plenty for Randall, Mata & Waine to play for.

Waineo always goes best as part of a twin striker formation. But then the Nix now have Piper slowly building up his mins, plus Supyk on the books. Would AFC have a better need for BW?

The coaches of Plymouth, Mansfield & Port Vale would likely all say Ben's not currently good enough for L1. 


PV are rock bottom of League One, have only scored 11 goals in 18 league games, and yet Waine is ranked 6th/7th on the attacking player peaking order there. That's bleak reading. If he was a young Australian he would be back in the ALM for sure. 

But for some reason Kiwis rarely return to the A League after failing in Europe. They prefer to keep hanging in there. Maybe it's because there is only two (and until recently just one) NZ club to go to as a non visa player. More difficult to find the ideal club fit that will guarantee you good ALM mins??

I've been fortunate (if you can call it that) enough to have seen a fair few of the struggling/weaker league one sides live this season - Argyle, Posh, Rotherham, Burton, Mansfield too on the weekend just been - all of them have forwards who are comfortably better suited to league one football than Waineo, which isn't ideal because none of them have particularly good forwards apart from maybe Plymouth. 

He just doesn't have the hold up play to be a 9 in this league I don't think, not yet anyway. To shift things back on topic, if Ben doesn't get a move I'd absolutely have Mata over him in the WC squad. Could be a moot point though if Randall continues pulling up trees, or if Piper starts having a blinder season

Niche Cache. Like Mata, Keena had a failed stint in UK League One

Mata scored 22 times (with 7 assists) for Sligo Rovers in 64 matches across two stints. He’s got a great reputation over there and will even be reunited with his old strike partner Aidan Keena from those Sligo days – he’s at St Pat’s too.

The manager of St Pat’s is Stephen Kenny who previously had a spell coaching the Irish national team. Results weren’t so great so he didn’t last very long and his last game in charge was... a 1-1 draw against New Zealand in 2023. Matt Garbett scored the goal for the All Whites and Max Mata was the first man up off the bench that day. He also once scored the winner in a 1-0 victory away to St Pat’s in that same year. This should be fun.

Max Mata’s first half goal assisted by Aidan Keena & second half strikes from Sam Rooney & Kian Leavy, both assisted by Billy Canny, help us to a good pre-season win here in Bray#StPatsFC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/efFUdraF2q

— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) January 16, 2026

Scores in a Friendly 

St Patricks travel to Bohemians.

Massive month ahead for Mata. Frustrating time fort him since leaving AFC.

But he bangs in the goals and he's back in WC reckoning with the doubts over the Woodsman.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/bohemians-zHEZJ8Wc/st-patricks-hhPUKlHi/?mid=EgRbQlSp

Norm Garbett's Dundalk had their first LOI match postponed

If Woodsymisses the WC then 100% we need Mata. Hopefully he gets back into good form and starts banging in goals. The AWs with an ageing Costa or Waine leading the line is not a great prospect

0-0 draw.
No Mata.

Ryan Edmondson ex Mariners started for St Patricks.
St Pats have Edmondson and the experienced Aidan Keena (has played L1/L2 in the UK) as other centre forward ptions, so Mata could have a battle on his hands for playing time.

Game was at the 52,000 seater Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with 21,472 in attendance.

Niche Cache.


...while Max Mata, heralded by many in the local media as one of the best signings of the offseason, missed St Patrick’s 0-0 draw away to Bohemians with an unspecified injury. That’s no fun. Here’s a video of him settling in a few weeks ago...

https://youtu.be/bo5kOH8qUJQ

St Pats host Galway

Match postponed