At the double 🎯
Max Mata (Shrewsbury Town | England) [Loan: Auckland FC | A-League]
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At the double 🎯
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.
From 2-0 down just after the hour mark, to 2-2 in added time. 3rd penalty so far this campaign.
Celebrates his All Whites call up with his 4th of the season.
You love to hear praise like that, hope it all eventuates too.
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
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.
At the double 🎯
Hat-trick! Another penalty converted.
Sligo win 3-2. Nice work Mata
Both Kiwis with full games
Both Kiwis with full games
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.
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.
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
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
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
Shout out as well to The Niche Cache for finding these too. Legends 👏
#1
#2
#3
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.
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.
Sligo (3rd travel to Drogheda United (6th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/03/ireland-republic/premier-league/drogheda-united-football-club/sligo-rovers-fc/4000608/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/03/ireland-republic/premier-league/drogheda-united-football-club/sligo-rovers-fc/4000608/
Both Kiwis starting
Edit - a 1-0 loss. Both Mata & Pijnaker full games
Edit - a 1-0 loss. Both Mata & Pijnaker full games
From 2-0 down just after the hour mark, to 2-2 in added time. 3rd penalty so far this campaign.
Celebrates his All Whites call up with his 4th of the season.
Great start to the new season
Yipe a 2-2 draw. Mata with the late pen to tie it up.
Full games both him & Pijnaker. Sligo sit 4th.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/11/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/cork-city-football-club/4000621/
Full games both him & Pijnaker. Sligo sit 4th.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/11/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/cork-city-football-club/4000621/
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.
Keeps this up and some League One/Two clubs will be sniffing around. That seems the pathway out of the Irish League.
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.
Full games Mata & Pijnaker in a 0-1 loss.
Plenty of Kiwi goal scorers overnight in Europe. Finished a 2-1 win to Sligo to go 3rd. Full games both Mata & Pijnaker.
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.”
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.
Sligo (6th) host Drogheda United (7th).
Mata (6 goals) remains the leading scorer in Ireland, though he has 3 pens amongst that.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/15/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/drogheda-united-football-club/4000646/
Mata (6 goals) remains the leading scorer in Ireland, though he has 3 pens amongst that.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/15/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/drogheda-united-football-club/4000646/
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.
Next match is against rock bottom outfit UCD next weekend.
With that he keeps his place at the top in the golden boot race too.
Next match is against rock bottom outfit UCD next weekend.
Full games Pijnaker & Mata in a 1-1 draw. Sligo stay 6th.
Sligo (7th) host University College Dublin (10th & last)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/22/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/university-college-dublin-football-club/4000651/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/22/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/university-college-dublin-football-club/4000651/
Mata with the first goal in a 3-1 win. Another header.
He was off at 88 mins (3-1). Full game Pijnaker.
He was off at 88 mins (3-1). Full game Pijnaker.
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
Sligo (7th) travel to St Patricks Athletic (5th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/01/ireland-republic/premier-league/st-patricks-athletic-fc/sligo-rovers-fc/4000660/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/01/ireland-republic/premier-league/st-patricks-athletic-fc/sligo-rovers-fc/4000660/
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Mullin - Palmer - Mata front three?
Mata 81 mins (0-0) and Pijnaker a full game in a 0-1 loss.
Sligo (7th) travel to Cork City (9th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/19/ireland-republic/premier-league/cork-city-football-club/sligo-rovers-fc/4000674/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/19/ireland-republic/premier-league/cork-city-football-club/sligo-rovers-fc/4000674/