Come on, he’s started 6 out of the last 10 games.
'Come on', what? 'Come on' where? You made a statement and I answered it with what my opinion was. So he has started six out of ten games, he will continue to start as long as Jose feels that his attitude warrants a place in the team - as he is the manager and the one coaching him, we aren't. He's just a kid, he's being thrown appearances here there and everywhere for a particular reason. In my opinion it is his good mentality that Jose feels an affinity with to give him the appearances in other positions. He's not going to get the start up front as long as Lukaku is fit and ready to go (beyond form reasons), when he is fit and doesn't need resting Rashford won't get a chance to lead the line. That is just how it is when you're trying to put together a squad. Now if we bought two left and right wingers/wing forwards and Rashford and Martial went to the bench to deputize for the ST and the W/WF spots, would that change the structure of the team? I think it would. The appearances on the flanks would change from "first choice, first up" to a position where that might suit his current pedigree. 'Young emerging talent'.
I’m not trying to say he’s shit and doesn’t deserve patience, but to say he’s been thrown scrap appearances is a bit farfetched. If he was having long periods in and out of the team that would make more sense. But he’s playing regularly enough, in a variety of hard and easy games, on paper.
No you misunderstand what I mean by scrap appearances, by 'scrap' I mean not up front as the main striker and having the team built around him as the main forward. (Because he is a ST, a 20yo emerging ST.) As in, he is making it into the lineup because there is room for Jose to force him into the lineup for whatever reason he chooses. Like I said above, I think it is because of his mentality. The kid obviously has the right mentality, the dedication to training and the ability to be relentless in his play. If there are holes that he can fill then why not give him the opportunities? (Same goes for Martial) For what it is worth I agree that they both need to improve, maybe their mentality has relaxed slightly over the last month, but as for dropping them or sanctioning them for their play? That is up to Jose, I am not sure what he can do as there aren't many other capable wide players in our squad.
One thing we can say is both he and Martial have been very dry in terms of their output in the last 10 games. I believe it’s something like 4 goals and 3 assists combined. That needs to be improved.
Well I would say that neither of them are wingers, both are being deployed in roles that are much outside their comfort zone. They both definitely need to improve, that doesn't mean the nuances to their game can't be fleshed out and discussed in civil conversations?
They are young and we need to be patient with them, there are holes in this squad. Big ones that their shoes aren't yet big enough to fill and it takes time. Part of the enjoyment of football is being able to appreciate the growth of these players, it doesn't happen overnight.