Lisandro Martinez, renew or sell?

[AnotherLondonManc]

Jones was also much better at Gurning

Goated alongside Cancelo. Both would slot into the 'bait as feck' XI

 

[NewGlory]

we wouldn’t be able to replace him with the fee we would end up getting for him.

So no.

Agree. The biggest question, for me, is not his quality. It is his fitness. If he can stay away from injuries, we definitely should keep him. Whether we start him all the time or not, is an entirely different question and depends on Heaven's development

 

[Scrappydog]

Always an option for left back. Between him and Shaw one would be hopefully fit. Played well there for Argentina there before. Height would be less an issue, and would then allow us to go get a fast hopefully first choice CB which I think we need.

 

[Lay]

I would get rid. For all his positives, he can become a liability and we can't be dealing with that if we want to win things.

 

[HookedOnAPhelan]

I would get rid. For all his positives, he can become a liability and we can't be dealing with that if we want to win things.

Yes, we should sign players who never make mistakes. Great plan.

 

[Lay]

Yes, we should sign players who never makes mistakes. Great plan.

It's not that. He's lost pace after his injuries and is suspect 1v1. He can still pass well from the back but he will also cost you a goal due to his lack of size and pace.

 

[Raoul]

Has he been linked with anyone?

Nothing vaguely credible. Just a Milan journo attempting to drum up support because Ruben likes Licha.

Maybe he can whip up a Mount rumor as well since Ruben does like him as well.

 

[HookedOnAPhelan]

It's not that. He's lost pace after his injuries and is suspect 1v1. He can still pass well from the back but he will also cost you a goal due to his lack of size and pace.

He's never had much pace, and never needed it. And he's usually excellent 1v1.

He's hardly ever cost us goals due to his lack of size and pace. But if he had lost the duel that Gabriel lost vs. Haaland on Sunday then I would bet my left nut that people on here would blame it on his size. It is what it is.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Ah yeah, that's a more interesting hypothetical...not sure that offer ever actually arrives, but!

He has 1+1 year left so 2 if you like, hmmm also Shaw only has 1 year...you'd have to take that £40M wouldn't you? and hope to not get ripped off buying a replacement.

we wouldn’t be able to replace him with the fee we would end up getting for him.

So no.

Thing is that you are not buying replacement for him directly. He is rotation quality defender.
Yoro, Heaven and De Ligt are 3 defenders who you have for the future. We already decided to keep Maguire for one or two years. So, we have 4 defenders plus Shaw if needed as 5th.

We could use that fee (plus extra funds of course) to buy a starting defender or invest in other areas.

But, of course that it is all hypothetical stuff. In reality, we will offer him new contract and he will stay.

 

[Ekeke]

I just don't rate him highly as most of you. Good player without any doubt. But his defending is just not at highest level. Sure, he is a beast on the ball but his main job is defending, no? And in that he has many flaws, from positioning and air duels to one on one duels. Also, his injury record is very bad.

Anyway, i would keep him in general as good rotation option but if really good offer comes, i would sell him.

In a system where you have to play out from the back, a ball playing CB's main job is half and half defending and ball playing. Yeah he's not the best at out and out defending, but he has the best or 2nd best record against the best striker in the world who also happens to be the most physical reliant striker in the world... And most point to Lisandro's physicality as his weakness. So you arent going to get any better than that from your ball playing CB. It is without question he has to play next to someone who is very strong in the air though

 

[pascell]

Would be cruel and unusual to reunite him with Amorim.

That's actually why they've been linked with him.

 

[Raoul]

Thing is that you are not buying replacement for him directly. He is rotation quality defender.
Yoro, Heaven and De Ligt are 3 defenders who you have for the future. We already decided to keep Maguire for one or two years. So, we have 4 defenders plus Shaw if needed as 5th.

We could use that fee (plus extra funds of course) to buy a starting defender or invest in other areas.

But, of course that it is all hypothetical stuff. In reality, we will offer him new contract and he will stay.

He’s not “rotation quality”. He and De Ligt are our best defenders and have many years yet ahead of them (see Maguire). Yoro and Heaven are still developing and can over time develop by playing alongside our experienced NT players.

 

[northernsoul74]

In a team lacking passing quality, and not linked to midfielders particularly known for their passing quality, dumping Lisandro would be bizarre.

 

[buckooo1978]

given Maguires age/contract, De Ligt fitness, Yoro and Heaven experience its not really a question

if we sold him, we'd have to replace him anyway and the way the market is

 

[Sea-Cow]

I would love it if he never wore our shirt again. I can't stand the fake tough guy nonsense, which is typically him being dirty and trying to pull someone's hair like a girl or trying to punch someone away from the ball or giving someone a little shove in the back as they get close to running out of bounds, and that was happening with more and more frequency this last season.

i dont like the feeling of hating our players, and he is one that I just cant stand.

 

[bosnian_red]

Given our struggles to sign midfielders and our struggles for reliability at the back, I wouldn't mind making him one of the midfield options on top of 2 midfielder signings and signing a CB this summer instead of 3 mids. Will always be a talented but flawed player who is also injury prone.

 

[Fenômeno]

Yeah he's been error prone this world cup but I can't recall him making too many errors for us. He's also been really unlucky with injuries, as soon as he starts picking up form he seems to get one.

 

[Robo7]

Renew.Licha is United through and trough.He's got that (United)DNA in him.He is bringing me that Roy Keane vibes.

 

[pocco]

I would love it if he never wore our shirt again. I can't stand the fake tough guy nonsense, which is typically him being dirty and trying to pull someone's hair like a girl or trying to punch someone away from the ball or giving someone a little shove in the back as they get close to running out of bounds, and that was happening with more and more frequency this last season.

i dont like the feeling of hating our players, and he is one that I just cant stand.

I know what you mean. He looks for the niggly shithouse stuff to build his reputation, which to me sometimes screams out that he’s not able to physically dominate where it really matters. It’s bravado. When you compare him to some of our CBs of yesteryear, he’s not in the same ballpark in terms of physicality, bravery and dominance. I actually reckon that most CFs fancy having a go against him as he can be exploited, whereas they probably dreaded playing some of our other CBs in the past. Hell even Maguire is probably a tougher opponent.

 

[lex talionis]

He’s not “rotation quality”. He and De Ligt are our best defenders and have many years yet ahead of them (see Maguire). Yoro and Heaven are still developing and can over time develop by playing alongside our experienced NT players.

You gotta love “rotation quality”. After another 10 pages of this madness Lisandro won’t even be qualified to walk the manager’s dog during matchdays.

 

[Maluco]

I think you sell if a good offer comes in and bring in someone more physically imposing with a better injury record. Fitness next season with such a small squad is going to be crucial.

 

[Ali Dia]

I know what you mean. He looks for the niggly shithouse stuff to build his reputation, which to me sometimes screams out that he’s not able to physically dominate where it really matters. It’s bravado. When you compare him to some of our CBs of yesteryear, he’s not in the same ballpark in terms of physicality, bravery and dominance. I actually reckon that most CFs fancy having a go against him as he can be exploited, whereas they probably dreaded playing some of our other CBs in the past. Hell even Maguire is probably a tougher opponent.

Agreed but he's a as close to a world class centre back that we currently have until De Ligt comes back. Let's see how they do in the CL next season. If Martinez can stay fit, huge if, the team always looks better with him especially after he settles down with a run of games. It's just Groundhog Day though.

 

[tenpoless]

I would sell if De Light isnt injury prone himself

 

[Himannv]

Surprised by some of the comments here. I think he's been quite good when fit and his passing alone is light years ahead of most other defenders not named Shaw. Have there even been any credible links?

 

[pocco]

Agreed but he's a as close to a world class centre back that we currently have until De Ligt comes back. Let's see how they do in the CL next season. If Martinez can stay fit, huge if, the team always looks better with him especially after he settles down with a run of games. It's just Groundhog Day though.

Do you think he’s better than Maguire? From a defensive aspect, I don’t. Although he’s obviously better on the ball.

If Carrick doesn’t freeze Heaven out again, I reckon he’ll have his spot before too long.

 

[Valar Morghulis]

I rate his defensive partner Romero higher than him. And I think Romero is cack. Would be more than happy to scam someone for him if we receive a decent offer.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I would personally sell

 

[Blood Mage]

In a team lacking passing quality, and not linked to midfielders particularly known for their passing quality, dumping Lisandro would be bizarre.

We need to raise money and his stock will be relatively high after his performance earlier. He's a good footballer but ill suited to the league and we can improve on him.

 

[JustOneMoreRebuild]

Can he be upgraded? Sure, but realistically, how much could we get for him? £30–35m at most.

And who could we realistically sign with that money that's better or at least similar quality?

I'd rather keep him and trust that his fitness will improve. We already have enough areas to strengthen, midfield, left wing, and left back before we start thinking about upgrading our centre-backs.

 

[NLunited]

Can he be upgraded? Sure, but realistically, how much could we get for him? £30–35m at most.

And who could we realistically sign with that money that's better or at least similar quality?

I'd rather keep him and trust that his fitness will improve. We already have enough areas to strengthen, midfield, left wing, and left back before we start thinking about upgrading our centre-backs.

There‘s no cb as good at progressive passing as he is, the answer is no.

Sure we can get someone faster and taller, but his passing is instrumental for us.

If we do not want to finish below Spurs, we don‘t sell players like him who make our team tick and have an elite mentality.

 

[scottydoesntknow]

He's got that dog in him which I absolutely love. We need his ball playing skills more than ever because we will probably end up signing sub standard midfielders. His injury record absolutely kills me but I cant trust INEOS to bring in a decent CB as a replacement so its definitely renew for me.

 

[christy87]

Sell, he'll be injured for a few months next season and this passing cb that's instrumental for our team will be on the sidelines again, the harsh reality is your no good for us if you're injured all the time.

 

[Florida Man]

Everyone has a price. But I’m willing to experiment him as DM. Who knows, maybe he’s less likely to get injured playing a different position. We need the depth too. Should hold onto for at least another year.

 

[Sky1981]

Everyone has a price. But I’m willing to experiment him as DM. Who knows, maybe he’s less likely to get injured playing a different position. We need the depth too. Should hold onto for at least another year.

Why should we try every player on a new position? The coach are coaching them on daily basis. If he feels he can cover there or could thrive if given a chance he would have tried it.

Just because he has never been tried there doesnt mean they never calculate that possiblity. Maybe the coach understand he's not good there, better than fans who just think "oh he looks like he can do a job there, let's experiment"

 

[NLunited]

Everyone has a price. But I’m willing to experiment him as DM. Who knows, maybe he’s less likely to get injured playing a different position. We need the depth too. Should hold onto for at least another year.

Has been tried and he‘s not at his best there.

 

[felix sanchez]

He is vastly overrated by some Utd fans, with some rather glaring weaknesses in his game. Notably his lack of pace, aerial ability and poor decision making. On top of that, he misses what must be circa 50% of our games. Being above average with the ball does not negate some of the basics that are required in the PL. Not a man to build a title winning defence around. I think he is one who benefits from his nationality. An English player with similar limitations would be getting constant criticism.

 

[Reds Under The Bed]

This never works. Remember when Ferdinand was tried as a midfielder and it ended badly with Robbie Savage, of all people, running rings around him.
Alan Smith was put in midfield which in fairness did have quite an impact… sadly it was a negative one on our title aspirations back then.

 

[Florida Man]

Why should we try every player on a new position? The coach are coaching them on daily basis. If he feels he can cover there or could thrive if given a chance he would have tried it.

Just because he has never been tried there doesnt mean they never calculate that possiblity. Maybe the coach understand he's not good there, better than fans who just think "oh he looks like he can do a job there, let's experiment"

Budget is apparently tight, and options are expensive for midfield, the one area we’re light on. Especially DM. Might require creative maneuvering if we can’t 1) find 3 suitable midfielders who can start immediately or rotate consistently, and 2) we can’t sell him for a good enough fee to cover costs of new transfers.

Maybe coaching staff thought of it too, we don’t know for sure. He’s got passing range, decent pace and read of the game, can head, can tackle. It’s not a bad suggestion if we’re still light on options with CL added into our schedule.

 

[Florida Man]

Has been tried and he‘s not at his best there.

When was that?

 

[Pickle85]

Budget is apparently tight, and options are expensive for midfield, the one area we’re light on. Especially DM. Might require creative maneuvering if we can’t 1) find 3 suitable midfielders who can start immediately or rotate consistently, and 2) we can’t sell him for a good enough fee to cover costs of new transfers.

Maybe coaching staff thought of it too, we don’t know for sure. He’s got passing range, decent pace and read of the game, can head, can tackle. It’s not a bad suggestion if we’re still light on options with CL added into our schedule.

Does he have decent pace? Always seemed pretty slow to me. He's a great passer of the ball from CB but would be afforded much less space and time as a DM. I don't think it'd work.