Fwiw I don't think he'll ask to leave because of this. Still it's pretty poor from United. Regarding the no 9's at other clubs, he probably wouldn't "demand" the no 9 shirt. He'd leave United because of the club taking his number away without asking/telling, not because he has some obsession with having 9 at the back of his shirt.
Martial Number Change Fallout
- Thread starter Rozay
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Stupid from the club if true. Those saying that it's just a number are missing the point. Why do something that's so easily preventable to risk pissing off our best outfield player and prospect from last season? Fwiw, I do think it's a bit disrespectful if we stripped him of his No. 9 without consulting him.
Like previously pointed out in here Ronaldo went from R7, to R9, back to R7.
Just give him AM9 sohe can keep his branding on reflection to my old post. Give ibra the 8 mata the 11.
But surely the number changes were not unknown to Ronaldo.
Ronaldo branded himself R7 when he was at United, so I'm not getting your point?
He was R9 because of Raul so he couldnt take a club legends spot.
The numbers are subject to change I hope he gets AM9 back.
The difference being that Ronaldo changed clubs and chose no 9 because 7 was taken by Raul. Meaning that no club changed Ronnie's number without asking/telling.
Even the original R9 was R11 at Real.
"Love being here" is the same as someone replying his/her partner's "I love you" with "I love being with you". But that's nit-picking, had forgotten those quotes from Martial
Woah there, calm down. As we keep saying, Martial himself probably wont have too big an issue moving to 11. Its the fact that going forward, his agent will 100% percent use this against us to negotiate a better deal for themselves.
Bold part = That kind of thinking is what lost us Pogba. Number 11 is special to United fans not to people around the world. Number 9 is clearly the most favoured number amongst forwards. And him asking to leave cos of this would shine just as badly on us as it would on him seeing as we would have initiated it.
Did he go there with R9 and have it removed from him without being asked to a different number? No.
K. Was this by any chance at 2 different clubs?
If they just gave it to Zlatan without even asking Martial the club made a huge misstep. Shocking if so. Martial is our future. One of few bright spots last season too.
He was also praising Ryan Giggs back in 2014. So I think he's been a fan of Man United since he was a kid. According to the Monaco CEO it seems that way. He even snubbed Chelsea who outbid us just to come to United."Love being here" is the same as someone replying his/her partner's "I love you" with "I love being with you". But that's nit-picking, had forgotten those quotes from Martial
Sometimes I forget just how young he is. He probably thinks 11 is a legendary number of Real, Barca and Chelsea, not United 
Let's hope either Martial, Jose or the club come out quickly and explain it and we'll get to see a lot of years from Martial. To me he's still the most exciting player we've got and the one who could reach the level of the best strikers in the game.
Absolute non sense.
We live in times where players have a stupid amount of power over clubs. Usually we accept that an established players (although i hate to use the term for players of the age) of 23 are considered superstars and above any kind of repremand and discipline. This is why the english game has gone to the shitter.
I am probably one of the most realistic and up front football fans you will talk to and this utter mon sense about Martial leaving or being "upset" about a squad number change us utterly and embarassingly cringe worthy and if he even doesmt like it he should be shipped out.
I know I sound crazy but I can not accept a 20 year old throwing his toys out of the pram being in such a privledged position. Its lunacy. He must be an utter fecking baby. (If true)
We live in times where players have a stupid amount of power over clubs. Usually we accept that an established players (although i hate to use the term for players of the age) of 23 are considered superstars and above any kind of repremand and discipline. This is why the english game has gone to the shitter.
I am probably one of the most realistic and up front football fans you will talk to and this utter mon sense about Martial leaving or being "upset" about a squad number change us utterly and embarassingly cringe worthy and if he even doesmt like it he should be shipped out.
I know I sound crazy but I can not accept a 20 year old throwing his toys out of the pram being in such a privledged position. Its lunacy. He must be an utter fecking baby. (If true)
IF it is true, I doubt he cares about the number, more the fact we didn't actually tell him what was happening.
He's probably wasted money and time setting up the AM9 brand. Ibra will be gone in 2 years anyway so he can have it back then.
Shame we didn't give him a chance to argue to keep it though, but I guess they didn't realise - then again maybe players shouldn't make a number their own.
He's probably wasted money and time setting up the AM9 brand. Ibra will be gone in 2 years anyway so he can have it back then.
Shame we didn't give him a chance to argue to keep it though, but I guess they didn't realise - then again maybe players shouldn't make a number their own.
You might want a name change, mate.
Hang on a second. Martial doesnt have a beard.
Nah man love Martial. Favourite player at the moment. But this has to be rubbish its beyond stupid otherwise. If it is true he needs to go. Hell be replaced.
No one else that thinks that they changed the number to sell more shirts? Wouldn't put it past the club and I doubt Martial cares one bit what number he is.
Best U21 on the planet. Losing him isnt an option.
Yeah. He's my favorite United player. I am thinking of getting a Martial shirt with the number 9 on it.
His brand does. See his website and facebook.
I think it's more nonsense that a starter for us who we want to stay here for years to come loses his number to a 35 year old mercenary. If United is bigger than the player than they have to be able to tell narcissists like Zlatan "sorry mate, but that number is taken by a starter."
You are missing the point. This is nothing to do with being privileged or not. Taking something from someone without prior asking or agreement is justifiable reason to be upset. It doesn't show the club's confidence in him of the reports are true. So what if he is 20? This had nothing to do with player power or age but just professional courtesy and respect which transcends to all works of life. If we sign Pogba today and give him the #6 and in a year we take it off him without prior agreement, do you think that it is acceptable. Even if he does not have a brand, he has the right to feel valued by the club.
We are overstating the importance of these numbers. They may mean something to the fans but it doesn't have to mean much to the player as long as he is performing to the best of his ability as a professional. It may be a privilege to where the #11 but apart from Giggs I doubt many United fans know another United #11. It is the player that makes the number iconic. The #18 means a lot to United fans because of Scholes but I don't Young thinks of that when he steps on the pitch.
I wonder who told Zlatan what. Was he told he can have any number? Or any number apart from 10? You would think they would at least tell him apart from the number of our starting attackers.
Yeah I don't doubt that the stuff about him wanting to leave is bullshit and being blown completely out of proportion. That said, it's not worth potentially upsetting our best player over something so avoidable either.
He wore 8 for Inter and 11 for AC Milan. But yes lets call him a cnut
No im sorry butvwhat has Martial done to warrent that kind of power? We just stripped Januzaj after 2 years of wearing the 11 and gave it to Martial. To United to him as a fan (supposedly) it should mean more. Our numbers carry value. Ibra is coming in as senior player with nothing to prove and HAS proven before in the same league that Martial came from that he is currently miles ahead of Martial and Martial should consider himself lucky to play under or next to a player like Ibra.
Let me be clear. Before Ibra joined I was skeptical the bloke is OLD especially for the prem but hes also a freak. Physically he will be able to handle himself and even bully others. But he is technically amazing and can finish from almost anywhere on the pitch. Martial should learn from him. Be humble. Your 20 ffs look around you lad. No other player in any other team is claiming a number at your age. Be a sponge. Maybe one day hell become what we think he can be. But not leaving over something as mundane and essentially silly as a squad number. Deary me.
Did he ever actually follow the club? I remember people trying to use Pogba not following Juve's twitter as evidence that he was leaving, only to realise he never followed them in the first place.
Januzaj is a fringe player at best. I am not sure if he will even be on our bench this season while Martial is a starter and one of our best players. Starters always get to pick numbers from 1 to 11.
Zlatan is a mercenary with no attachment to this club. He is 35 year old and will be lucky to stay here past this one season. Furthermore, NO PLAYER IS BIGGER THAN THE CLUB. That means, no one gets to steal another starters number just because he has a bigger name.
I would also say it's Zlatan who can consider himself lucky playing next to Martial. Zlatan can barely run or dribble past any players anymore. He should thank God he now has players on each side of him as good as what he had at PSG. Without Martial and Mikhi he would be exposed as the overrated has-been he is. PL is not the French League, and Manchester United is nowhere close to being as good as PSG. So he should consider himself lucky to play along with the best U21 player in the world.
So, despite not kicking a ball yet in pre-season.. I guess we are all vicariously being offended on his behalf and arguing among ourselves about it. What a start for his performance thread.
You don't sound crazy.
I agree to all points you have made.
The story is so unbelievable, that I refuse to believe Martial is bothered about it.
And if Martial wants the number back, he can probably ask for it and he'll get it.
Zlatan will believe that he can take an unfancied number and make it great.
Zlatan will believe that he transcends the concept of a number. It wouldn't surprise me if he asked for No.1 or 0 or 100 or something outlandish.
If Zlatan is told, "Martial is upset that you took his number". Zlatan will probably tell him that he can keep his number.
This story looks like a storm in a tea-cup.
Probably not.
That's agent work and they can rebrand him. 11 is a better number for him anyways relating to Man. United. Taking over Giggs. Bigger shoes than the 7 imo.
Dude, I am going to assume that you are angry about something, because I refuse anybody can believe any of what you have written.
Zlatan is here two years at the most, Martial can have his number back after if he really wants it.