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2016-17 Performances


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Rocksy

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Nice flick to play Lingers in and was beaming at the end.
It was a great flick and he's the most talented player you have. Again though, why didn't he follow up on Lingard? He's quick enough to have made a difference there. When he starts doing that bit extra he'll move up a level. They'd be crazy to sell him though.
 

Womp

idiot
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Jun 23, 2013
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It was a great flick and he's the most talented player you have. Again though, why didn't he follow up on Lingard? He's quick enough to have made a difference there. When he starts doing that bit extra he'll move up a level. They'd be crazy to sell him though.
He's not. Pogba and De Gea are more talented.
 

Android1974

Incredibly anal about player positions in lineups
Joined
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Me thinks he's going to phantom Rashford in the striker position next season, as we'll play more and more 4-4-2. Perhaps in easier games and the full-backs cover he can play on the wing again, though.
 

Womp

idiot
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Strange to compare him and De Gea. Entirely different skillset. At least the Pogba comparison is somewhat more applicable...
No-one is talking about skill set though. In terms of ability in their given positions, De Gea is more talented.
 

jungledrums

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No-one is talking about skill set though. In terms of ability in their given positions, De Gea is more talented.
Fair enough. Hardly a bad thing though, as De Gea is one of the best in the world in his position.
 

Rocksy

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He's not. Pogba and De Gea are more talented.
Fair enough. Last season whenever I saw Martial he was the best player on the pitch. Looked like he'd get up to the level Griezmann/Dybala etc are.

Hasn't shown it this season and I think the main issue is he still hasn't added that bit of extra desire and running off the ball. The weird thing is he tracks back ok, I don't get why he doesn't run into space as much going forward.
 

BennyBlanco

fixated with Shaw's bum
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Jul 21, 2011
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He needs to be better next season, bottom line, nobody knows what happened this year but he was garbage for a boy of his talent.
 

sunama

Baghdad Bob
Joined
Apr 26, 2014
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16,830
Arguing about which player has more natural talent?
Come on guys....arguing with random people on the internet is not worth. State what you think and then move on.
I learnt a long time ago, not to get involved in petty arguments about silly things, with random people over the internet. It's got to a stage that if people ridicule my post, I won't bother replying, even if I have a great reply ready to go.
Life's too short guys.

And on the subject of talent - talent on its own won't make anybody a great player. Graft is an important factor. That's what made Ronaldo so great - natural ability + incredible work ethic.
Martial has natural ability for sure, but I just don't believe he can graft.
 

Mr Smith

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Fair enough. Last season whenever I saw Martial he was the best player on the pitch. Looked like he'd get up to the level Griezmann/Dybala etc are.

Hasn't shown it this season and I think the main issue is he still hasn't added that bit of extra desire and running off the ball. The weird thing is he tracks back ok, I don't get why he doesn't run into space as much going forward.
I am certain he will get to that level. It's important to remember he's only 21. Think about how raw Ronaldo was at that stage. Martial is pretty damn productive by comparison.

I'd agree that it's his off the ball movement that's the biggest thing he needs to add to his game, he hasn't quite got that instinct of knowing when to go. I'm certain it will come though, he's still easily one of the best players of his age.
 

Footyislife

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Dec 1, 2015
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Arguing about which player has more natural talent?
Come on guys....arguing with random people on the internet is not worth. State what you think and then move on.
I learnt a long time ago, not to get involved in petty arguments about silly things, with random people over the internet. It's got to a stage that if people ridicule my post, I won't bother replying, even if I have a great reply ready to go.
Life's too short guys.

And on the subject of talent - talent on its own won't make anybody a great player. Graft is an important factor. That's what made Ronaldo so great - natural ability + incredible work ethic.
Martial has natural ability for sure, but I just don't believe he can graft.
Agreed. He has so much talent and an excellent combination of physical and technical attributes for his age. But needs to work hard to develop mentally still. If he doesn't work hard, he'll never fulfill his potential. Jose sees this as a weakness and always holds Martial to a higher standard. There is a reason Martial gets benched after a great game, while Rashford and Lingard continue to start after mediocre performances.

Jose is hoping Martial will either take his challenge and put in he work to become great, or he'll look for the easy road out and fetch us a nice sum with a transfer. Clocks ticking, Martial.
 

The Man Himself

asked for a tagline change and all I got was this.
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Martial has to improve significantly next season. He is still only 21 and players do often experience slight dip after a season when they burst into scene initially like he did. After that, their temperament and attitude to improve continuously matters. Hopefully his off-field issues, if any, get sorted and he comes back fresh with better focused mentality next season.
 

kafta

Perpetual Under 11's Team Player
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My expectation of him this season were so much higher, still i'm convinced he's too talented to fail.

Hopefully next season, with a more balanced attack and some more time, he can have a killer season.
 

GM K

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José Mourinho will end up being one of the best things that happened to Martial. Either Jose's methods will make him sit up and turn into a great at United, or he will walk out angrily and channel that anger elsewhere to become an amazing player elsewhere. He'll either be an Ozil or a Debruyne.
 

GM K

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Honestly, I have never seen such a dip in form. Martial was immense 2 seasons ago. He was so good, I classified him as an X-factor player (one of those few players who make teams play like they are thirteen rather than eleven. That Hazard kind of category).

Last season was almost like the opposite. At a time, he even became a liability. It was shocking. He couldn't even do the most basic things well.

Something certainly went wrong. It was either his new manager mismanaged him; his personal issues messed up his mind or he simply gave us a glimpse into a career that would forever be defined as one with only a star quality season.

Despite their goals, he and Mikhi worry me a lot. To hinge next season on the hope that TWO key attacking players only had a slight dip and would return to their best, is so risky. What if both of them don't? What if we have seen their best? What if not changing at least one of them leaves us short once again?

On the flip side, both can return to their best and make you regret spending big money on substitutes. Etc. If Martial and Mikhi were in the form of their lives, we would not even be discussing some transfer prospects at all. We would have the number 10 spot totally locked down and the left wing (or center forward position). We'll only be looking for back up players.

Jose really has his work cut out right now. Let's see how he plays this.
 

VeevaVee

The worst "V"
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Despite their goals, he and Mikhi worry me a lot. To hinge next season on the hope that TWO key attacking players only had a slight dip and would return to their best, is so risky. What if both of them don't?
I know it's a rhetorical question, but the answer is that not much changes. And we need change. We need movement,creativity, and precision when it comes to finding someone or shooting.

Like you say, we can't risk them both being the same, so we need to buy one winger.
 

R'hllor

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Regardless of this season,he should stay where he is. They better not even think about selling him or some shit like that.
 

engulfing

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I would sell him if it was between keeping him and buying mbappe. Monaco would probably take him back. His dribbling technique is not very reliable, he doesn't seem to try to wrong foot the first defender before pushing the ball, just pushes it thinking he's faster and stronger and loses the ball alot.

Mbappe is technically superior, so elegant on the ball, can finish with both feet too, something martial hasn't demonstrated. Only weakness is a lack of size and power. This guy could turn out to be really special, we can't afford to not bid.

Martial isn't a lost cause, he can and probably will still improve, but some wingers find consistency some don't. It's a tough position where margins are slim and you need to harness every advantage available. Martials poor off the ball movement already simplifies the defenders job. This can be improved through coaching.

More worrying is his lack of quick feet to wrong foot the defender before pushing the ball. This can be improved but only so much. He also can't play on the right or as a 10 limiting his usability, not promising in the long term. This hints at technical and tactical deficiencies which may or may not be fixable.
 

Jaybomb

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Jan 1, 2016
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Think it's best if Martial plays as a striker from now on. He's simply not a winger for me.

Martial and Rashford as a two up top has potential.
 

peridigm

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Dec 3, 2011
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Just thought of something. If Zlatan does not return, give Martial the #9 back and maybe he'll get back to his better form from his first season. It could be like a new signing.
:wenger:
 

Lawman

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
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Think it's best if Martial plays as a striker from now on. He's simply not a winger for me.

Martial and Rashford as a two up top has potential.
@Jaybomb not sure he is cunning enough to be a top striker buddy. He seems like a reactive player rather than a proactive one. A bit like Valencia was on the right wing that used to wait on everyone giving him the ball to feet then power mode button got turned on. Martials off the ball movement is actually worse if he can fix this with some runs inside the full backs or across the line it would make him a very dangerous player.
 

kouroux

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I would sell him if it was between keeping him and buying mbappe. Monaco would probably take him back. His dribbling technique is not very reliable, he doesn't seem to try to wrong foot the first defender before pushing the ball, just pushes it thinking he's faster and stronger and loses the ball alot.

Mbappe is technically superior, so elegant on the ball, can finish with both feet too, something martial hasn't demonstrated. Only weakness is a lack of size and power. This guy could turn out to be really special, we can't afford to not bid.

Martial isn't a lost cause, he can and probably will still improve, but some wingers find consistency some don't. It's a tough position where margins are slim and you need to harness every advantage available. Martials poor off the ball movement already simplifies the defenders job. This can be improved through coaching.

More worrying is his lack of quick feet to wrong foot the defender before pushing the ball. This can be improved but only so much. He also can't play on the right or as a 10 limiting his usability, not promising in the long term. This hints at technical and tactical deficiencies which may or may not be fixable.
They really wouldn't. They have a much better and younger player. If they sell Kylian then I don't think they will want Martial. They could tbh, anything is possible but I see them buying another young striker or promoting one.
 

Hernandez - BFA

The Way to Fly
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Jan 5, 2011
Messages
17,290
I'm all for Perisic as long as it means Martial will become more of a striker. If it means selling Martial for Perisic then no deal.

Just hope Mourinho knows what he's doing.
 

Devil may care

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The article in it's totality is nonsense but I do think Martial is going to find it very hard to establish himself at United under Mourinho, the pursuit of Perisic means he wants an old fashioned winger on the left so the RW will be where the floater goes, should it be Mata, Mkhi or Griezmann. That leaves the striker role but he'll always be second fiddle to Rashford no matter how he plays as Rashford is the golden boy and Jose knows making sure he makes it is a priority, this will be doubly hard as I think Jose will bring his tradtional target #9 in as well.
 
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