What is the latest with his boot deal? When he is getting colour boots back ?
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 36
- Goals
- 7
- Assists
- 5
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Whats funny? I bet you think its bruno.
That pass was really good to Cavani, really crisp and past two players.
Makes it look so easy.
Makes it look so easy.
Martial is indeed brilliant outside the box and plays very well in between the lines linking up with your Pogbas, Rashfords, Brunos etc. However, he can still improve in the box, where his timing and movement is more static.
It's true we don't play in a way where you can get those square passes in the box (e.g 90% of Sterling's chances at City) but there's something he can learn there. As can most of our forwards.
I don’t think any player is the glue for everything attack related
We have combinations.
Assist and a goal, good to see him get on the score sheet as his all round game as the attacking pivot has been quality.
Funny enough, Biesla actually said something similar about Martial and called him the most pivotal of our attackers. Well at least for the Leeds game.
Yeah, in that one game.
Against Southampton it was Cavani, against Everton in the league it was Bruno, against Leipzig at home it was Rashford.
I agree that the team need all its parts to function at 100% which is why I've never subscribed to this notion claiming that 1 player makes the whole team.
This is why I roll my eyes at the media when they keep parroting that we're a Bruno team because they can only remember the games he was vital but not the ones he wasn't and other players were.
I watched us struggle against Southampton with Bruno then the Cavani sub changed everything and he won us the game. Likewise I watched games where we struggled without Bruno and his introduction changed everything. Same with Rashford against Leipzeig where he won is the game, same with other integral players of our team.
I've just seen how this team is the sum of all its important parts that I get annoyed listening to the media push a specific narrative and trying to create their story's protagonist, in this case Bruno who gets attributed everything good about us while everyone's else integral and vital contributions get overlooked.
Can't even get color boot offers. not famous enough. sack antho. sell olly.
One of the best, most composed finishers in the league. He never seems to miss 1v1's. 75 goals in 237 games for us now. Petty good record that considering he's probably most often played LW
Tony has begun a hot streak. If it can last 8 weeks I’d very pleased. 4 months is too much to expect, but two months of white hot form while Greenwood pulls it all together would be mint.
Hmm, interestingly a lot of football pundits said that about his bad off-the-ball movements.
I don't know whose opinions to be valued anymore
I recall people praised his 17/18 performances, in 2017 of course, the first half of that season.
People mentioned his semi-playmaker skills from the left wing, feeding Lukaku and combined with Mata well creatively creating many chances. The praises is as far as comparing him to Hazard, who is also a semi-playmaker and similarly a damn good dribbler. I think people know about this already. He has less chances to show that creative skills of his when he play CF in congested spaces. Not saying he can't, he did but just fewer in comparison to when he play LW with greater spaces to maneuver.
CF is just not his best position, even though admittedly he's growing in it. Martial is always at his best facing defenders or facing goals then playing at his backs.
People mentioned his semi-playmaker skills from the left wing, feeding Lukaku and combined with Mata well creatively creating many chances. The praises is as far as comparing him to Hazard, who is also a semi-playmaker and similarly a damn good dribbler. I think people know about this already. He has less chances to show that creative skills of his when he play CF in congested spaces. Not saying he can't, he did but just fewer in comparison to when he play LW with greater spaces to maneuver.
CF is just not his best position, even though admittedly he's growing in it. Martial is always at his best facing defenders or facing goals then playing at his backs.
Just because he wants to use his right foot doesn't mean he's not two footed. Being two footed is not always about having a great lace shot with the weaker foot.
He can pass, dribble, take excellent touches with his left foot but prefers to bring the ball to his right foot before shooting - which is fine because his touch and close control is exquisite.
Remind me again, which attacker can do this with his weaker foot.
Last edited:
I didn't criticise him, I just said it was a bit worrying as an indicator of shared success of the sum of the parts rather than the team. More to do with his form at the minute rather than how I perceive his attitude. Something that has been pretty long standing with him at United and in contrast to his performance against Everton where he had a big hand on turning the game and direct influence in making and scoring goals, it seems you've even acknowledged that as well so not so bizarre I guess.what's 'wrong' is you thinking that 10 seconds worth of player celebrations can provide indications in to a player's attitude without knowing anything else. What's more bizarre is you criticized him for not celebrating Bruno's goal without actually making it clear what you're implying from it. Martial barely celebrated either of the two goals he scored himself in the last week (including one against Sheffield which put us in the lead)
The good thing a bout him he seems to have a very good understanding with virtually all the other attackers in the club. His game never seems to be detrimental to any other player. It's a sign of a proper player.
He's not a typical number 9. More of a 9 and half. The closest player I can think of is Benzema. His back to goal okay is very underrated. Comes deep, gets the ball with his back to goal, turning his man and launching an attack. You often see like three other attackers running off him. I think peoole underestimate how important that quality is to our play.
I know people are clamouring for Haaland and don't get me wrong, Haaland is a amazing player. But imo, Haaland is not in Martial's class with his back to goal or in the third quarter of the pitch. Haaland is at his best running on to the ball. With Haaland, the team will face a lot of the problems we had with Lukaku imo.
He's not a typical number 9. More of a 9 and half. The closest player I can think of is Benzema. His back to goal okay is very underrated. Comes deep, gets the ball with his back to goal, turning his man and launching an attack. You often see like three other attackers running off him. I think peoole underestimate how important that quality is to our play.
I know people are clamouring for Haaland and don't get me wrong, Haaland is a amazing player. But imo, Haaland is not in Martial's class with his back to goal or in the third quarter of the pitch. Haaland is at his best running on to the ball. With Haaland, the team will face a lot of the problems we had with Lukaku imo.
Quite a few of them, in fairness. Martial is one of the most technical players we’ve had in years and I really like him. He just has a comparatively rubbish weaker foot. Scuffs things much more often than many of his historical competitors.
Just because he wants to use his right foot doesn't mean he's not two footed. Being two footed is not always about having a great lace shot with the weaker foot.
He can pass, dribble, take excellent touches with his left foot but prefers to bring the ball to his right foot before shooting - which is fine because his touch and close control is exquisite.
Remind me again, which attacker can do this with his weaker foot.
that airshot he did the other night against everton
if he was an english player or someone unfashionable with the eReds ala Harry Maguire or McTominay it'd be forever and never be forgotton be on the internet
if he was an english player or someone unfashionable with the eReds ala Harry Maguire or McTominay it'd be forever and never be forgotton be on the internet
What’s your issue with non English players?that airshot he did the other night against everton
if he was an english player or someone unfashionable with the eReds ala Harry Maguire or McTominay it'd be forever and never be forgotton be on the internet
You go ahead and hang on pundits words, they only talk bollocks 95% of the time. His movement in behind still has some improvements that can be made but people fail to recognise the good work he does getting into positions in between the lines helping build attacks.
Quality player and only getting better, might never be a 25 goal a season player but we’ve had loads of strikers who haven’t got to that level before but have been seen as key cogs in the machine.
His best attribute, and others have mentioned it, is that he works great alongside any of our other strikers, playing along the front line, dropping in deeper and feeding balls through as well. No chance we should sell him.
His best attribute, and others have mentioned it, is that he works great alongside any of our other strikers, playing along the front line, dropping in deeper and feeding balls through as well. No chance we should sell him.
Biesla pointed out three players. McTominay, Fred and Martial.
Exactly, he especially indicated McT’s second goal which Martial produced an impossible pass even though their players at the same time made almost perfect movements and shape.
Fred also carried ball forward several times and made a really difficult reverse pass resulting our third goal. Some people here after the match still complained Fred was shit in the game because he cannot contribute to attack and pass.
It is amazing I quite often wonder people are watching different game. Well, by nature, it is common that people always have different options. It is actually good to have that kind of diversity in thinking. Hope Fred, McT, Martial and the other players continue their improvements and impressive forms to prove critics wrong and earn the support from every of us.
Everyone has an opinion. Biesla thought James was a defensive move. Now I understand why he thinks like that. It's defending from the front. To stop them developing the attacks from that side.
Any other day McTominay may have not moved into that space and Bruno may never have passed to him for the first goal and same for the second goal. What i like about Martial is he moves the ball quickly. Players need to move it quickly or else the defense would have time to get set.
He came deep to create the space for Cavani against Everton too. Yes we play better when he plays. I don't understand this fetish for a goal scoring number 9?
Isn't it a team game?
You would think people could look past that stereotype given the manner in which the scousers won the league last season
I remember Gullit saying that when he came to Chelsea he started playing as a sweeper and when the ball was kicked by the opposition keeper the CF of that side and the opposing CB was supposed to go up together and the CF would try to flick is past the CB. Gullit just dropped back and the opposing CF just flicked the ball to him. They were surprised that he did not go with the CF to contest the ball. This is the stereotype that you mentioned. In UK a CF has to be someone who has to score 20 plus goals every season. I do not care if he never scores a goal so long as he contributes to our victories.
Interesting anecdote. Cheers mate
Exactly. Too many people, especially our fans, have outdated misconceptions about what each player on the pitch should be doing. United has always had those talismanic strikers so it’s to be expected, but hardly any of those players are around these days that can both score 30 goals a year and also provide creativity and mobility along the front line.
Martial without scoring goals still provides an excellent focal point and ability to retain possession that is vital in instense games, and he also is generally a very good finisher. His biggest weakness has always been his instincts inside the box without the ball, but even without that he’s a very good 9
Yes he is wearing number 9 because I guess he could be a character who is superstitious? I remember when Netherlands came to play England at Wembley during the peak of Kevin Keegan and the rest at their peak. I think it was in 1977. Cruijff was the maestro and supposed to be their CF but England got right royal thrashing as midfield player Jan Peters scored both goals. They tore England apart by dragging their defenders and markers away from the zone they were supposed to be in and the midfield players coming through to score.
Its why he is my favorite player at the club. What he does for the team no one else can. Before Cavani arrived there was no other attacker that can start attack's in the middle without getting dispossessed so easily. That ability to either lay it off or come deep for the ball as the trigger for our other attackers to get forward is irreplaceable. He is a very complete player when he gets involved. Its why he has a basic understanding with all our attackers.
It's outdated to score goals? Goals that win games or give you the lead?
It doesn't matter who score as long as the team score. It's an outdated thing to say the number 9 or who kicks off the match has to score the most number of goals.
The number 9 is the closest to the opposition's goal, he should be the one who scores the most. Just common sense. It's a basic expectation. Just because we have a player who hasn't lived up to the hype, we can't abandon common sense.
What about Firmino?
He will dodge the question of course.
This a very simplistic opinion and whereas it may seem common sense to you, it is very outdated and no longer common. Here, Euro '12 finali - Spain Vs Italy deployed Pep's tactics from Barca. Then Pep was playing Cesc as a 9 to fill in for Messi. Spain boasting traditional strikers in Torres, Llorente and Negredo, instead chose to play a modern 9 in Cesc. Italy played a traditional 9 in Ballo and an SS in Cassano. The finali ended 4 - 0, with Italy being outclassed.
The game has progressed so much now with keepers initiating attacks through slow build-ups. It's no longer the time of hoofing it up to your big striker to flick it on as Bielsa recently mocked in his press conference.
In the past that was almost always the case. However as time goes on there are more and more teams preferring strikers who may score a bit less but who enable the team as a whole to score more. We ourselves were in that position when we dropped Ruud (arguably the best pure #9 in the world at that time) for Saha. Saha obviously was never going to score as many goals as Ruud would, but he worked better with our other attackers and ultimately we scored more goals and were more successful because of it.
Both styles can work, there's no 'correct' way. It's just about what works best for the team, the system and the players that you have.
And it's not like Martial doesn't score goals. Obviously he started this season in poor form but it has to be remembered that he was still our top goalscorer last season, scoring more league goals than what the 'proper #9' Lukaku did in his best season despite Martial playing two games less. He also scored the same amount of league goals as what Zlatan did in his season (and got two assists more), although Martial did play two games more himself. All of this in the first full season Martial has ever played in the position.
- Status