Anthony Martial image 9

Anthony Martial France flag

2022-23 Performances


View full 2022-23 profile

5.6 Season Average Rating
Appearances
29
Goals
9
Assists
3
Yellow cards
0
Status
Not open for further replies.

Donut

Full Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2004
Messages
4,863
He was one of my favourite players, I even have his shirt. But he’s quite pathetic now, he moves like a tank, you never feel like his shot won’t get blocked, he never presses, makes no runs, just a nothing player really. And to top it of he’s sulking and being reported as one of the poor influences in the squad. He needs to go.
 

Roosney

Full Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2013
Messages
3,688
Location
Finland
I don't get the hate either, sure he looks half arsed at times but today he played fairly well. I'm pretty sure if Rashford was on his right he would look a lot better, compared to playing along Sancho who goes missing half the game
 

Solius

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Staff
Joined
Dec 31, 2007
Messages
86,466
There are strikers who struggle with injuries such as DCL and Wilson, but when they come back and do play they look great. Martial does not. Some good touches here and there but you want so, so much more.
 

KjaAnd

Full Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2012
Messages
917
Location
Betwixt and between
Can't tell if he's lazy, physically shot or both. Either way, he needs to be offloaded. He's a shadow of the player we signed from Monaco.
 

Valencia Shin Crosses

Full Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2015
Messages
6,764
Location
"Martial...He's isolated Skrtel here..."
I thought we regained more control of the ball with Weghorst. Martial was totally disinterested in pressing in the 2nd half, while WW came in and harried Bournemouth's defenders when they had the ball and they kept giving it back to us.
Really? I thought they looked their most dangerous the last 15 minutes of that game, and we obviously lose any sort of goal threat with WW on.
 

RedOrange

Full Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2015
Messages
1,124
Really? I thought they looked their most dangerous the last 15 minutes of that game, and we obviously lose any sort of goal threat with WW on.
The difference was we had forwards who were coming back to put pressure on them. Martial stopped running about 10 minutes into the 2nd half. If we'd left him on Bournemouth would have had more time and space to pick out passes into the midfield and final 3rd. WW helped take that away and our midfielders and defenders were able to intercept a lot of the sloppy passes and tackle their ball carriers when they hesitated.

You're free to disagree. I just think the difference in pressing when Wout came on was noticable and contributed quite a bit to Bournemouth's inability to progress the ball consistently.
 

Sylar

Full Member
Joined
May 15, 2007
Messages
40,462
I can't see anybody paying to take him. Maybe we keep him as a third choice striker if we bring in one established and one younger one?
 

Cassidy

No longer at risk of being mistaken for a Scouser
Joined
Oct 2, 2013
Messages
31,444
He knows hes not wanted anymore and so isn’t putting in the effort.
 

Abraxas

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2021
Messages
6,052
I was about to say I was semi surprised at the timing of his removal because he'd just made a good foray into the Bournemouth box and pulled it back. Yep, not especially exciting but within the context of our horrendous striking performances this season, we take what we can get.

But thinking about it, it seems to be EtH's default play to remove Martial. I don't think he trusts his work rate or pressing after a while, which is undoubtedly fair.

Overall it was extremely mediocre again. Perhaps worse than mediocre because as usual the effort was tepid at best.
 

Djemba-Djemba

Full Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
21,388
Location
Manchester
Usual shite from him.

He's so limp, he's almost no threat at all. There's zero buzz or explosiveness with him.

We're stuck with him for at least another year I fear.
 

Ted Lasso

Full Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2021
Messages
1,930
He's still got the foundations of a really good player, which is what we saw as a youngster first at Monaco and then United. His departure from that development trajectory is a real shame. I think it's a combination of factors including injuries. I'm hesitant to say it's all down to mentality, the easy scapegoat, simply because he got the Mourinho cold shoulder and instead of shirking, that lit a fire under him and he came back well. So he can handle tough love too.

So what is it exactly that's held him back beyond the physical side of the game? Is there a manager and team that can get him back into an elite category or is he just actually a terrific youth player that can only ever be a bang average one at the later stages of his career
 

Abraxas

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2021
Messages
6,052
He's still got the foundations of a really good player, which is what we saw as a youngster first at Monaco and then United. His departure from that development trajectory is a real shame. I think it's a combination of factors including injuries. I'm hesitant to say it's all down to mentality, the easy scapegoat, simply because he got the Mourinho cold shoulder and instead of shirking, that lit a fire under him and he came back well. So he can handle tough love too.

So what is it exactly that's held him back beyond the physical side of the game? Is there a manager and team that can get him back into an elite category or is he just actually a terrific youth player that can only ever be a bang average one at the later stages of his career
I'd argue the foundations he had as a Monaco player are not really there in the same way. He's fundamentally a different player. I remember Monaco playing away at Arsenal and he tore them apart with his dynamism on the break. He had the look of a young, fresh, pacey and talented forward of the French school that usually produces good technique.

He's got different foundations now. Unfortunately they seem to extend from his feet to 5 foot into the pitch, holding him firmly in place. For me he looks heavier, less explosive, I'm wondering if injuries have hurt him in that department because I don't see that same dynamic ability and dribbling is rare compared to what it used to be. The only thing that looks better is back to goal, at least to my eyes. I think he has actually regressed, not just failed to improve.
 

Ted Lasso

Full Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2021
Messages
1,930
I'd argue the foundations he had as a Monaco player are not really there in the same way. He's fundamentally a different player. I remember Monaco playing away at Arsenal and he tore them apart with his dynamism on the break. He had the look of a young, fresh, pacey and talented forward of the French school that usually produces good technique.

He's got different foundations now. Unfortunately they seem to extend from his feet to 5 foot into the pitch, holding him firmly in place. For me he looks heavier, less explosive, I'm wondering if injuries have hurt him in that department because I don't see that same dynamic ability and dribbling is rare compared to what it used to be. The only thing that looks better is back to goal, at least to my eyes. I think he has actually regressed, not just failed to improve.
More recently he has looked rather sluggish. I never thought his pace was anything special aside from the initial acceleration, which he still shows in flashes despite the injuries.

But all that aside, I'm curious about the psychology and what has happened.
 

AjaxCunian

vexingwijsneus
Joined
Mar 10, 2021
Messages
4,240
Supports
Ajax & United
He would struggle in the Championship and even the Eredivisie. Really a nothing player nowadays, tidy is the best you can get from him.
 

Strats

Full Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Messages
2,350
He was one of my favourite players, I even have his shirt. But he’s quite pathetic now, he moves like a tank, you never feel like his shot won’t get blocked, he never presses, makes no runs, just a nothing player really. And to top it of he’s sulking and being reported as one of the poor influences in the squad. He needs to go.
Where have you heard that?
 

tenpoless

No 6-pack, just 2Pac
Joined
Oct 20, 2014
Messages
16,326
Location
Ole's ipad
Supports
4-4-2 classic
A 19 y.o Martial is better than this version. I think his heart is not in it anymore. Seems to struggle finding motivation to play football consistently.
 

sullydnl

Ross Kemp's caf ID
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
34,063
Looked slower than usual. Other than that, the same as god knows how many lacklustre performances we've seen down the years from what is ultimately an extremely average player at this level.
 

Red00012

Full Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2018
Messages
12,191
Just keep him fit for the final .

Try move him on after although his wages will mean he’s going nowhere
 

Red in STL

Turnover not takeover
Joined
Dec 1, 2022
Messages
9,751
Location
In Bed
Supports
The only team that matters
More recently he has looked rather sluggish. I never thought his pace was anything special aside from the initial acceleration, which he still shows in flashes despite the injuries.

But all that aside, I'm curious about the psychology and what has happened.
That's easy, he's a typical Frenchman :D
 

VP89

Pogba's biggest fan
Joined
Dec 6, 2015
Messages
31,581
He would struggle in the Championship and even the Eredivisie. Really a nothing player nowadays, tidy is the best you can get from him.
What happened? He's been pretty bad it's crazy to think how good he could have been. Hopefully he can turn it around next season
 

Dempsey19

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
3,198
Location
Cork City
His anticipation level is below zero. It's like his mind only wakes up when the ball is in his vicinity. We are never gonna get anywhere with him as a starter or a sub.

No idea how we move him on though. I cant think of a club stupid enough to deal with him.
 

Ted Lasso

Full Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2021
Messages
1,930
That's easy, he's a typical Frenchman :D
What's the football stereotype there exactly? I associate French football with World Cups and being better than England. Unlike wars and such in which case the American trope is to make fun of them losing them.
 

redshaw

Full Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2015
Messages
9,689
Seems to be struggling physically more than anything else, completely off from his two brief but good spells this season. I don't think he's worth keeping for next season, he's had a while now but I guess we're stuck with him.
 

Red in STL

Turnover not takeover
Joined
Dec 1, 2022
Messages
9,751
Location
In Bed
Supports
The only team that matters
What's the football stereotype there exactly? I associate French football with World Cups and being better than England. Unlike wars and such in which case the American trope is to make fun of them losing them.
He's moody and half assed, not an unusual commodity for French flair players in English football
 

Bwuk

Full Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
17,340
He’s just not good enough anymore.

Out of the sides in the top 10, I’d argue he only starts for Brighton & Brentford. Even then I’m not convinced he would due to his complete lack of effort & application.
 

acnumber9

Full Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2006
Messages
22,290
I think he looks much heavier.
He’s definitely a lot slower, whatever the reason. He’s always been lazy but there were still times when he could beat a player. That’s all but gone and his movement isn’t good enough to get on the end of enough chances.
 

amolbhatia50k

Sneaky bum time - Vaccination status: dozed off
Joined
Nov 8, 2002
Messages
95,682
Location
india
He’s just spent as a footballer. Injuries, lack of intensity in general, loss of pace etc. I mean I still think he mostly plays fairly well whenever he does play - I didn’t think he was bad yesteday some very nice link up - but he’s never fit, in the modern game you can’t lag physically and he’s a striker - we need our strikers to have a cutting edge / dynamism.

I don’t see any point in having him as our second striker next season. He’s someone who likes feeling the love and he’s not got enough for that. Your 2nd striker should be someone who comes and brings that infectious energy to the team at the very least.
 

Raoul

Admin
Staff
Joined
Aug 14, 1999
Messages
130,183
Location
Hollywood CA
Time for Tony to move on. Buy a striker or two in the summer, plus Rashford should be more than enough for next year.
 

Castia

Full Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2011
Messages
18,403
I don't get the hate either, sure he looks half arsed at times but today he played fairly well. I'm pretty sure if Rashford was on his right he would look a lot better, compared to playing along Sancho who goes missing half the game
He was his usual mediocre self. Absolutely pointless player that offers next to nothing. His goal record is terrible, his injury record is terrible, his attitude and work rate again is just terrible.

Sevilla realised in a matter of weeks that he’s shite but somehow he’s still here years later stinking up the place on a massive contract.

Should be one of the first out the door.
 

RuudtheRed

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jun 25, 2020
Messages
285
This will probably be a controversial opinion but I agree that he played reasonably well today. Held up the ball well, good interchanges with the forward players and almost capped it off with the run just before he got subbed off. Sure, he looked disappointed with being substituted but it's not like he refused to go off the pitch.

Don't get the hate towards him when he was the best center forward out of Weghorst, Ronaldo and him this season. Might be a somewhat low bar given how badly stocked we are up front, but he does still make a difference whenever he plays. He might not press as maniacally as Weghorst but you could see he was working hard to cut off passing lanes. Of course, he's a shadow of his old self but he shouldn't be the first striker out the door for sure.
 

crossy1686

career ending
Joined
Jun 5, 2010
Messages
31,672
Location
Manchester/Stockholm
Zero off the ball movement. Zero anticipation for where the ball will fall or where his team mates intends to pass to.
He's been this way since Ole's time. Mourinho told him he wasn't a striker so he spent the next couple of years bulking up and trying to learn to play with his back to goal, all that did was made him slow and predictable, with zero movement. For some reason he fancies himself as a 9 when he's never been one.
 

Jev

Full Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
8,026
Location
Denmark
He’s definitely a lot slower, whatever the reason. He’s always been lazy but there were still times when he could beat a player.
That's an understatement. He was probably the best close-control dribbler in the league, he was unstoppable when he went on those mazy runs. That's disappeared entirely from his game.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.