[MadDogg]

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.

I think it's more that ETH is protecting him and doing everything he can to make sure he gets through the last few games of the season without another injury.

 

[led_scholes]

He has another meh game and then he sulks. He had a whole year to prove himself and he did nothing.

Glad that this experiment has come to an end. 3 years late but it is what it is.

 

[M Bison]

Such a waste, and be glad when we're not relying on him. Cant wait to see a proper no 9 in the team, it feels like its been so long!

 

[lex talionis]

He knows hes not wanted anymore and so isn’t putting in the effort.

This could be it. We who opine here, all of us, can’t really know what goes through the minds of footballers. Most of would bite one of fingers off to be paid 250k/week to play for United but when you watch Anthony Martial put in no effort we’re all left wondering WTF. But the answer may be as simple as what you’ve just written.

 

[OrcaFat]

He is not fit.

Who knows exactly why but being injured most of the time can’t help.

If he could get fit and stay free if injury, I dare say he would be putting in much better performances - it’s not that long ago that he was looking really good.

It’s natural to doubt the likelihood of his getting and staying fit. Possibly it’s not in the club’s interests to persevere with the idea that he can contribute very much.

 

[dpansheth]

He is not fit.

Who knows exactly why but being injured most of the time can’t help.

If he could get fit and stay free if injury, I dare say he would be putting in much better performances - it’s not that long ago that he was looking really good.

It’s natural to doubt the likelihood of his getting and staying fit. Possibly it’s not in the club’s interests to persevere with the idea that he can contribute very much.

8 years he's been here. I am not sure how much time he needs to get fit & remain fit.

 

[Ali Dia]

There’s still a player in there. He just needs to stay fit and find that spark again. He was really poor yesterday though. We need players who play with much more intensity and desire. Either he develops that by the start of next season or he gets sold.

 

[VP89]

There’s still a player in there. He just needs to stay fit and find that spark again. He was really poor yesterday though. We need players who play with much more intensity and desire. Either he develops that by the start of next season or he gets sold.

Ha, how many times have we said this

 

[CallyRed]

Just needs time. Another 5 years and he'll show all his doubters

 

[Nou_Camp99]

He's playing like a player who knows his time has come to an end.

We are sure to sign one striker this summer and maybe even a second one too.

Martial Maguire Elanga n Donny all need moving on.

 

[roonster09]

He is not fit.

Who knows exactly why but being injured most of the time can’t help.

If he could get fit and stay free if injury, I dare say he would be putting in much better performances - it’s not that long ago that he was looking really good.

It’s natural to doubt the likelihood of his getting and staying fit. Possibly it’s not in the club’s interests to persevere with the idea that he can contribute very much.

I think for that reason club will sign first choice CF and also Martial will stay at club.

 

[RedorDead21]

Quality player on his day and certainly improved rashford in many games in the past. Less apparent these days. For me one to be sold to show where bar is in terms of consistency expectations here. If a players form drops into what we are seeing from him for 2 seasons I’d be selling to show that’s not acceptable. One season it happens, 2…can’t happen here.

 

[OrcaFat]

8 years he's been here. I am not sure how much time he needs to get fit & remain fit.

Wondering about that isn’t going to get us very far; does anyone think “time” is going to help? He is injury prone.

He gets injured. He recovers. Before he gets match fit he gets injured again. Not sure how much of that is bad luck or whether anything can be done to prevent it. History suggests we can’t rely on him and rarely get him playing near his top level.

I don’t agree with comments saying he’s lost it or never had it. When he is match fit he is a good player and you don’t have to look back very far to verify that. But it’s one of those scenarios where the club has to plan as if he will be unavailable because he probably will be.

 

[Abraxas]

Wondering about that isn’t going to get us very far; does anyone think “time” is going to help? He is injury prone.

He gets injured. He recovers. Before he gets match fit he gets injured again. Not sure how much of that is bad luck or whether anything can be done to prevent it. History suggests we can’t rely on him and rarely get him playing near his top level.

I don’t agree with comments saying he’s lost it or never had it. When he is match fit he is a good player and you don’t have to look back very far to verify that. But it’s one of those scenarios where the club has to plan as if he will be unavailable because he probably will be.

Is he that good anymore? I guess you can argue that injuries prevent him from getting into any rhythm and that doesn't help the way he looks.

Even if we could get him fit every week I would trade him for somebody like Ollie Watkins in an absolute heartbeat. I'd drive him down to Birmingham myself.

And Ollie Watkins is what I'd call a good, or very good player. Not even close to elite, but a solid upper mid table starter that has movement, decent hold up, okay finishing if not great. I'm not sure where that leaves Martial. He's simply poor compared to our near rivals and perhaps lagging behind many middling sides.

 

[Brophs]

The problem he has with being able to reach the required performance levels at all, never mind being able to consistently produce those performances, is now at least as big an issue as his inability to stay fit, even though a lot of people would have you believe that’s the only thing stopping him from being a brilliant player for us.

 

[Plant0x84]

There’s still a player in there. He just needs to stay fit

And there in lies the problem, and the reason why we should move on from him.

 

[Plant0x84]

Just needs time. Another 5 years and he'll show all his doubters

… that they were right all along?

 

[CallyRed]

… that they were right all along?

Left it open ended for a reason.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

There’s still a player in there. He just needs to stay fit and find that spark again. He was really poor yesterday though. We need players who play with much more intensity and desire. Either he develops that by the start of next season or he gets sold.

How many more years are we going to hear this from certain people?

It's been years since Martial was consistently any good or consistently fit. He's been rubbish for so long.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

The problem he has with being able to reach the required performance levels at all, never mind being able to consistently produce those performances, is now at least as big an issue as his inability to stay fit, even though a lot of people would have you believe that’s the only thing stopping him from being a brilliant player for us.

Plus the notion that he could reach the required performance levels only ever takes hold when he hasn’t played for ages because he’s injured. Crazy how all the underwhelming performances are ignored every time he’s been out for a few weeks. It’s about time we put this recurrent amnesia to bed. Fool me once etc

 

[OrcaFat]

How many more years are we going to hear this from certain people?

It's been years since Martial was consistently any good or consistently fit. He's been rubbish for so long.

He was very good earlier this season.

People are always looking at his average performance and claiming he’s never been good or not good for years. It’s inaccurate. Occasionally he is properly match fit and plays very well. The problem is that word “occasionally”. We can’t rely on him at all. I think it’s best for the club to move him on somehow but that’s not the same as saying he’s rubbish. (He does often play pretty badly for us when he’s not fit, which is most of the time, I’ll give you that.)

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

He was very good earlier this season.

People are always looking at his average performance and claiming he’s never been good or not good for years. It’s inaccurate. Occasionally he is properly match fit and plays very well. The problem is that word “occasionally”. We can’t rely on him at all. I think it’s best for the club to move him on somehow but that’s not the same as saying he’s rubbish. (He does often play pretty badly for us when he’s not fit, which is most of the time, I’ll give you that.)

That's not enough though.

He would come on for about 30 mins and look good then would get injured and miss months of football. And actually it has been years, he was awful in 20/21 and awful in 21/22. The only time in the last few years he's looked good was the start of this season and even that was only 4 or 5 cameos.

When did he last start a few games in a row and play really well? It's years ago. The rest of your post basically agrees with me anyway.

 

[Oscar Bonavena]

Needs to be one of the first to be shown the door this summer. Among several others. Would be a statement of intent from the club, we're no longer going to tolerate mediocre passengers for years on end.

 

[kafta]

He hasn't shown anything close to enough for him to deserve to stay. His injury record, his form and his attitude are all bad, on top of his actual ability to create and score.

His only saving grace could be that we might not be able to get two strikers in. But i hope we do, and he moves on.

 

[FootyGirl88]

He hasn't shown anything close to enough for him to deserve to stay. His injury record, his form and his attitude are all bad, on top of his actual ability to create and score.

His only saving grace could be that we might not be able to get two strikers in. But i hope we do, and he moves on.

Why do people keep repeating this like it’s a fact? If he had a bad attitude ETH wouldn’t have him anywhere near the team.

 

[kafta]

Why do people keep repeating this like it’s a fact? If he had a bad attitude ETH wouldn’t have him anywhere near the team.

Its not a fact, its just my opinion. Watching him play, it doesn't look like he's half arsed half the time. It doesn't look like he has the mentality of a player wants to win at any cost.

It might be his demeanor, but honestly, at this point, I don't really care anymore. The overall package he offers is not enough for a striker we can depend on if we want to challenge for major honors, in my opinion.

 

[Red in STL]

Why do people keep repeating this like it’s a fact? If he had a bad attitude ETH wouldn’t have him anywhere near the team.

ETH doesn't really have a lot of choice though, if Martial doesn't play the alternative is Weghorst

Martial has always had the look of a half-assed player with attitude, it's his normal state, but it looks worse now, he knows he's getting hooked after an hour or so and he knows the club is looking to bring someone in to basically replace him

 

[Gabriel Djemba-Bebe]

The conversation around Martial reminds me of when fans used to stick up for Anderson in the final years under Fergie. He was such an exciting prospect when we signed him as a teenager, had a promising first season, and has declined over the years due to poor form, injuries and seemingly not having the hunger to fulfil his potential.

Anderson was one of the very few players who Fergie wasn't ruthless enough to get rid of when they were underperforming. Since then, we've seen far too many players stick around for longer than they should have done because the alternative is to spend more money on a replacement. Hopefully that changes under new ownership.

 

[astracrazy]

The commentator this weekend mentioned Martial has never scored in two consecutive games since he has been at Utd. If its true, then that's piss poor on multiple levels if you ask me.

 

[NLunited]

He is now 27 and should be in his prime. He doesn‘t work hard enough and is not threatening enough. Belongs at a mid table club, time to move him on.

 

[Gabriel Djemba-Bebe]

The commentator this weekend mentioned Martial has never scored in two consecutive games since he has been at Utd. If its true, then that's piss poor on multiple levels if you ask me.

He scored in multiple back to back league games during the 19-20 season. Such a strange thing for a commentator to make up.

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

The commentator this weekend mentioned Martial has never scored in two consecutive games since he has been at Utd. If its true, then that's piss poor on multiple levels if you ask me.

He scored consecutively in his literal first two games at the club.

 

[moodyred]

There’s still a player in there. He just needs to stay fit and find that spark again. He was really poor yesterday though. We need players who play with much more intensity and desire. Either he develops that by the start of next season or he gets sold.

No. He needs to be sold pre season. How long does a player need to develop? He can't do it in 8 seasons, let alone start of next.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

The commentator this weekend mentioned Martial has never scored in two consecutive games since he has been at Utd. If its true, then that's piss poor on multiple levels if you ask me.

I don't believe that's what he said as that's clearly untrue. What I believe you are referencing is that he has not scored in back to back Premier League games in three years.

 

[McGrathsipan]

Just keep him fit for the final .

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

why keep him fit for the final?
He does feck all on the pitch

 

[glazed]

He needs to be replaced with someone much better. That's obvious.

 

[Nick7]

He scored in multiple back to back league games during the 19-20 season. Such a strange thing for a commentator to make up.

He didn’t say that. He said he hasn’t scored in back to back games since the 19-20 season.

 

[AjaxCunian]

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.

Welbeck, Undav, Ferguson, Toney are all easily better.

 

[Red00012]

why keep him fit for the final?
He does feck all on the pitch

Wout starts otherwise that’s why

 

[Gabriel Djemba-Bebe]

He didn’t say that. He said he hasn’t scored in back to back games since the 19-20 season.

Alright, cool. I was just taking the posters word for it that he heard exactly what was said.