Anthony Martial
First things first, aged 19 debut season 17 goals and 12 assists. By way of context, Insigne (once got 20 goals a season but generally under 14 goals) Bale only managed to beat this in the season he earnt himself the move to Real but generally hovers around the 20 a season mark, Robben similarly so and only once he went to Bayern and matured fully and it took Messi when he was 22 to breach the 20 goal mark and Ronaldo aged 21.
So if we are just looking at it statistically one of the most productive teenagers of all time for a wide player - certainly in modern era. Looking at his game then vs now, there is feck all difference. There are some who might argue he is 'tracking' back more but it is not like he wasn't tracking back then either, it is just compared to a workhorse like Lingard of course he isn't going to match that but he offers much more going forward to make up for that.
So anyway first thing Jose does instead of trying to build the team around this weapon of huge talent is to cut him down to size by making him give up shirt number for an old favourite who isn’t going to last here long (where was the long term planning behind this move? Where was the awareness that something like this whilst objectively means feck all but to a young player might piss them off for no perfectly good reason? Imagine taking 7 off a young Ronaldo after he’s had a good season because we’ve decided to bring in an ageing forward elsewhere - would he not throw a strop too?). Perhaps this was just designed to test him or perhaps Jose didn't particularly care whether or not it mattered regardless sloppy man-management and hurts the feelings of a key key player for us even at that very tender age.
Then to make matters worse, Mourinho subs him off 4 games in a row at the start of the 16/17 season (in all games we were winning by the way) and then leaves him on the bench for our game against City which we lose 1-2 at home. Our best player from the season below doesn't start a game against our biggest rivals? nonsensical. He is then pretty much in and out of the side the rest of the season and even after cracking performances such as his 2 goals v West Ham - he's dropped.
By the end of the season, after 31 starts (only 18 in the league) he is subbed off 12 times including 4 before half time and yet results wise, he usually featured in sides which won 18 wins, 8 draws, 5 losses (one of which was the Watford game where he is taken off at 37 minutes and where even in his absence, we still go on to concede two more in a 3-1 defeat).
Season after we see the Martial v Rashford battle which Jose creates to get the best out of the two, and it becomes clear as day that Martial is the better player and is forcing Mourinho's hand. When he starts, we win and even off the bench he influences games in our favour. By November he's become the de facto starter on the left flank but even then Mourinho continually subs him off by the 60th-70th minute. By December even Jose seems convinced at this stage or so it seems as he enters into brilliant form going into the January Transfer window.
Martial scores 3 goals in 3 games in January and is electrifying and then shit hits the fan when Sanchez is signed and Martial is pushed onto the right flank where he has never played. United are awful, but he still remains our most potent threat albeit he isn't on point with his decision making and things don't quite go his way - it happens.
Which brings us to the infamous Newcastle game where he once again played on the right (see above). After this game he didn't start consecutive games for the rest of the season and only started against teams like Brighton, Bournemouth. Yet look at this performance.. he's our most dynamic attacker by a long stretch, twice he hits good through balls putting in Sanchez who fails to control and the two biggest opportunities are created through his movement and yes he didn't finish the two big chances, but both times they were on target and ffs are we going to criticise Martial of all players for lack of finishing ability? he's one of the most clinical finishers in Europe, let alone United.
So now this brings us to this season where pre season, the 'baby' issue and Mourinho wanting to swap him for Willian yet results have forced Mourinho's hands, and the players have probably demanded that Martial is reinstated and we are witnessing him play consecutive games again - and surprise surprise he has proven to be our most dangerous and effective attacker.
Shaw I can possibly forgive but the way Martial has been treated is an utter disgrace and not defensible in any way shape or form. The very definition of vindictive.