Rene Meulensteen urges United to replace Martial as starting CF

[InfiniteBoredom]

Tbf, Rene has a very set idea about what a striker should be, he was unhappy with the purchase of Lukaku as well.

The thing is, the best football we’ve produced in the last 15 years or so were without that sort of ‘propa strika’, and other teams like Barca or Liverpool have been successful without that formula, so I just don’t understand the obsession with it, especially when Martial is by and large doing what a good CF does i.e hold up play, pressing defenders, scoring

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

It’s a completely daft idea whatever way you look at it. The Martial and Rashford is blossoming and beginning to be worth more than the sum of it’s parts.

Agreed.

Meulensteen has had an issue with Martial for a while. He was calling for him to be sold in the Mourinho days, has criticised him for being lazy, and even during lockdown was talking about him not being good enough & saying Utd don’t need Sancho they need Kane etc.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

I’ve seen a few people say this & im not understanding how. He’s saying we need a top class striker like Kane or Lewandowski. Who currently occupies that position? Who would be losing his place? Even if it meant pushing Martial to the wing he’s still saying we need to replace him at centre forward.


He’s saying we need a top class striker. Who is currently our starting striker? Martial. Bringing in a top class striker means replacing Martial as starting striker. Why are so many people struggling to understand that?

The idea is to quote him. Not put words in his mouth.

It’s like me taking what you’ve just said and saying “Schmeichels Cartwheel says that Rashford or Martial are not top class strikers”

Very misleading and not at all what he’s said. I’d just quote him if I were you. But it’s your thread title, I’m sure this one gets more attention than it otherwise would

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

The idea is to quote him. Not put words in his mouth.

It’s like me taking what you’ve just said and saying “Schmeichels Cartwheel says that Rashford or Martial are not top class strikers”

Very misleading and not at all what he’s said. I’d just quote him if I were you. But it’s your thread title, I’m sure this one gets more attention than it otherwise would

He said we need a new top class 20 goal a season striker. Our current starting striker is Anthony Martial. You’re entitled to your opinion & I have slightly edited the title but I think it fairly reflects his interview. He is suggested we should replace Martial as our starting number 9.

 

[Mickeza]

I’m clearly in the minority on here but I’d rather sign a striker than an attacking midfielder with Sancho. All reliable journos are saying Ole wants Sancho plus a centre back and a striker. We need a better version of Ighalo, a different type of striker than Martial et al, not to replace but to compete and give us different options. Ole wanted Haaland in January, I don’t see anything that’s changed to suggest he wouldn’t still want an out and out striker. We knew Martial could be brilliant then, we knew Mason was coming through, all that’s changed is Ighalo who is clearly a stop gap hence why we’ve only extended his loan and not looked to buy him. Someone like a Jimenez would be an absolutely brilliant signing for us and they would all get 40 plus games a season because outside of Jimenez the rest can play in multiple positions. It would give us fantastic balance and so many options.

——————AM/RJ——————

MR/AM———BF/JS———JS/MG

 

[LawCharltonBest]

He said we need a new top class 20 goal a season striker. Our current starting striker is Anthony Martial. You’re entitled to your opinion & I have slightly edited the title but I think it fairly reflects his interview. He is suggested we should replace Martial as our starting number 9.

Quote me where he suggests that. Also quote me the bit where he’s “urging” United to sign one

He says a striker who scores 20 goals a season every season consistently would help us and (from what I take) help the other forwards.

If a 28 year old van Persie was available, I would take him, Solskjaer would take him, Sir Alex would take him.

We signed Verón when we had Scholes and Keane in their 20s and after 3 straight titles. Berbatov when we had Tevez after a Champions League win. Absolutely nothing wrong with suggesting that. We’re still miles behind Liverpool andif he thinks another striker helps then that’s not a ridiculous suggestion.

And a 20 goal a season striker would help every team. Nothing controversial here.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

I take it he hasn't watched much of us this season.

 

[11101]

He's right in that we need a consistent 20+ goal a season forward to challenge, but it doesn't necessarily have to be the 9. The front three need to get 40-50+ between them and the onus is on the striker more than the others to provide that. If the wide players can do 20 a season then great, there is less pressure on the striker, but if not then the goals need to come from somewhere. Right now they're all in good form, especially Martial, but they need to show they can keep it up long term before we can stop thinking about bringing new faces in.

There is also the benefit of having a player who can play a different style to the others, and the simple fact that if a truly top player comes available, you buy them regardless. I think that is more along the lines of what Rene is saying, not that Martial isn't good enough.

 

[Bebestation]

As world class as Lewandowski is, as guaranteed he is to score 20 goals a season- him starting in the first team means it changes Rashford and Greenwood's gameplan out wide.

They become players that wont be allowed to play as the wider deadly forwards in the team due to Lewandowski strict central play and will have to therefore create much more than they are to score.

Lewandowski is a scary striker for defenders - but the current front 3 are a more confusing tactic to defend against in my opinion.

Having said that - Sancho is a goalscorer forward as much as he is a creator from out wide; if Sancho comes here and doesnt score goals but creates for Martial who doesn't take these chances in the box, then he is going to potentially be our Plan B as a tactic to utilize Sancho's ability more so than Martials.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

I think Manchester United need a striker but it doesn't have to be Harry Kane or Lewandowski. That striker should be in addition to our current front 3, who are good in my opinion but if Martial got injured the dynamics change. I know people will say we have Ighalo, but am talking about a clinical sure thing here. Someone who could have buried the Rashford and Martial missed chances against Southampton. I think we should go back for Haaland. I want a strike force that strikes fear in opposition at Old Trafford before the match has even started. We are getting there at the moment. Lets get our fear factor back.

How about an older but still quality player as a squad option?

Possibly Vardy if Utd get CL and Foxes miss out...?

 

[Bastian]

I thought this was going to be an old thread or quotes used to make him look bad today, but he actually said it now? Mad.

We do need to have more than one though (Ighalo is not really it).

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

It might've been valid criticism a year or two ago, but there's clear improvement in Martial's play as a centre forward. He used to not make those near post runs or into the channels, and always tended to drift left. He stays more central now, stays on the shoulder, occupies the centre back and holds the ball up very well. We have a clear focal point with him up top for sure.

Lukaku was the out and out centre forward, and whilst he's a very good finisher, he's poor at everything else and it limited the attack. Martial is a much more rounded player and I'd certainly rather have him through the middle than Lukaku.

 

[gr3yham3]

I don't get the idea that we are miles behind Liverpool. I think it is a false narrative that has been painted due to our poor form in the first half of the season together with the rest of the Big 6 as well. I don't see how an attacking trio of Rashford, Martial and Sancho are worse than the Liverpool trio on paper - to me, it's just that the Liverpool trio have had more time playing together and more time playing under Klopp. Coupled with their relatively injury-free season, this allowed them to score tons of goals with their understanding, chemistry and the "fear" that opposing teams have of them. As we can see, Martial and Rashford are already striking up an excellent partnership and we are most likely going to add Sancho to that mix. Liverpool's wheels have also started to come off lately and more teams are figuring them out - in fact we should have won in the Old Trafford game too. I don't buy into the narrative that they are "way ahead of us" - we just need a couple of quality additions and more experience and team chemistry under our belt. I won't be surprised if we challenge for the title next season if we can keep current form and team chemistry going into next season.

 

[CM]

6 goals and 2 assists in 6 Premier League games since the restart, and most Premier League goals in 2020 I believe. There's just no pleasing some people.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Rene!...... you stupid man!

Coach in shock admission... Utd's front 3 are lethal but could do with an experienced striker to help...

In other news..Man Found Dead In Graveyard

 

[Sandikan]

Thought this was going to be a bump from ages back.
Imagine writing such guff now!

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

I thought this was going to be an old thread or quotes used to make him look bad today, but he actually said it now? Mad.

We do need to have more than one though (Ighalo is not really it).

We’re linked with another Nigerian. Omishen or something. Never heard of him but apparently he’s decent.

 

[Skills]

Meulensteen's increasing influence at the club pretty much coincided with the declining quality of football at the club in Fergie's last few years. He's not someone worth taking seriously.

 

[CM]

We’re linked with another Nigerian. Omishen or something. Never heard of him but apparently he’s decent.

Osimhen, looks like he's on his way to Napoli. Lille want £60m+ for him so he doesn't fit the budget for a backup striker. Ighalo is fine for the short-term.

 

[JPRouve]

We’re linked with another Nigerian. Omishen or something. Never heard of him but apparently he’s decent.

Osimhen. And he has had a good first season for Lille, after the first part of the season the hype was pretty big in France.

 

[SER19]

This opinion only holds based on martial previous style. He's been far better this season all round. Work rate, directness, physicality. Could easily become a 30 a season number 9

 

[RedRonaldo]

With Martial and Greenwood as no.9 options, the last player we need add to this squad is Kane.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

Not really. He’s saying we need a top class striker like Kane or Lewandowski. That’s replacing Martial.

I believe Martial has a higher ceiling than Kane, and Kane doesn’t fit our style of play. Lewandowski is on an entirely different level to Kane, them being in the same sentence is strange to me. Lewandowski or Kane, is like saying Fernandes or Grealish.

 

[Nep77]

Meulensteen's increasing influence at the club pretty much coincided with the declining quality of football at the club in Fergie's last few years. He's not someone worth taking seriously.

Trugid and zombie football was when he was under the charge of training. Oldies and their fantasy of having lanky tall guy poaching around the box . To think, We were best team in the world without having one and this nonsense keeps getting repeated once every month. How can people be this stupid and why should their opinion even matter.

 

[Green_Red]

First time I've read anything hes said and thought he was wrong.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

I believe Martial has a higher ceiling than Kane, and Kane doesn’t fit our style of play. Lewandowski is on an entirely different level to Kane, them being in the same sentence is strange to me. Lewandowski or Kane, is like saying Fernandes or Grealish.

Yeah I agree, you can’t even blame it on English bias here either seeing as Rene is Dutch.

 

[Bastian]

We’re linked with another Nigerian. Omishen or something. Never heard of him but apparently he’s decent.

Yeah, Osimhen. Think he's off to Napoli. I know it was a lazy Daily Mail made-up story, but Belotti would be a decent tactical option and in his prime. Apparently looking to move and they're not expecting the normal crazy Seria A triple valuation fee. A typical target man.

 

[Eire Red United]

I’d argue Martial is almost nailed on for 20 goals a year. Look at his stats this year whilst being injured and also playing in a shite time for a good part of the year

 

[horsechoker]

I'd rather we prioritise other positions first

 

[JPRouve]

I believe Martial has a higher ceiling than Kane, and Kane doesn’t fit our style of play. Lewandowski is on an entirely different level to Kane, them being in the same sentence is strange to me. Lewandowski or Kane, is like saying Fernandes or Grealish.

I think that a lot of people have pre 2018 Kane in mind, that version was as good as Lewandowski or at least pretty close.

 

[tenpoless]

Criticizing Martial when we've had no proper RW for 7 years.

The feck Rene.

 

[Striker10]

I just don't think so.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

Boomer.

 

[Chairman Steve]

Martial is going to be 25 come the end of the year. I’d say he’s entering the universally accepted peak stage of his career. Not exactly a kid anymore.

Lewandowski is going to be 32 in a month. He’s got a pretty chance of being the guy who makes Bayern the European champions again so why would he move? As well as which club is going to pay for him?

Kane is locked in real tight to his Spurs deal and there’s no way he leaves for another Premier League club and not many overseas clubs will want to pay the money for him. He’s going to be the 2nd coming of Shearer at Newcastle.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

I think Manchester United need a striker but it doesn't have to be Harry Kane or Lewandowski. That striker should be in addition to our current front 3, who are good in my opinion but if Martial got injured the dynamics change. I know people will say we have Ighalo, but am talking about a clinical sure thing here. Someone who could have buried the Rashford and Martial missed chances against Southampton. I think we should go back for Haaland. I want a strike force that strikes fear in opposition at Old Trafford before the match has even started. We are getting there at the moment. Lets get our fear factor back.

It would be tough to attract that kind of striker and not have them as our first choice 9, which is what Rene is saying we should do. For the role you're suggesting it would be perfect to sign a 30 year old Sheringham again.

 

[Rolaholic]

Being a pundit has to be the easiest job in the world, you never really have to think too much or do much topical analysis as you can easily resort to played out cliches everytime irregardless of whether they're still valid or outdated.

 

[Tiber]

He did a good job as a coach under Fergie, but I'm a bit tired of his running commentary.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Title is misleading

He never mentions replacing Martial and we need more than 3 top forwards.

Sancho

 

[Rozay]

Martial > Kanye

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Martial > Kanye

I don’t know about that, I couldn’t see Martial putting out a banger like Jesus Walks.