[ti vu]

Gutless is the word I use to describe this performance. He doesn't seem to try. Nani maybe braindead, but he would put in effort at least. Martial this game just got through the motion. If he's a player from other team, and the first game I see him, I would have thought he has no pace. For a pacy player, somehow he looks like one of the most sluggish players on the pitch. And he didn't have to play with NT during the international break...

If anything he's playing like Berbatov. You know he can pull some magic if he really tries, but he just rarely tries.

He's like Nani. He has all the attributes of quality players but lack in decision making and intelligent play. Nani did come good but it's gonna be a long windy road along the way.

This ain't true with Martial. Griezmann on wing means that he needs to run more to get the shot or need to beat the defender one on one to create something. Playing centrally he can just make small movement, shorter sprint to lose his marker, get into shooting position... Griezmann doesn't disappear on the wing though. He's just lack that extra of yard to be an top class wide player. Still he is very good player with his movement.

Martial doesn't just halves his ability, it simply disappears for most part.

You don't turn a striker into a winger just by snapping your fingers even when he is eager to make that change. Also people should remember that for example Griezmann on the wing is half the player that he is in the middle and also that most players aren't Cavani.

 

[Zlatattack]

Relax people. Right now the person who needs to step up is Mourinho. Young players can get thier heads down at times, they need an arm around the shoulder. He's clearly suffering from second season syndrome. We need Mourinho to pick them up and prep them for the next game.

 

[Sterling Archer]

He's like Nani

Unfortunately not, dead serious. He excites and disappoints in equal measure. Naniesque.

Excitement and inconsistency aside, Nani's output, especially in assisting and linking up with teammates was quite good. Maybe my memory makes it better than it was.

The counter attacking goals v Arsenal, that one two goal against Liverpool...I just can't imagine Martial being in that kind of interplay at least in his current form.

 

[Isotope]

Gutless is the word I use to describe this performance. He doesn't seem to try. Nani maybe braindead, but he would put in effort at least. Martial this game just got through the motion. If he's a player from other team, and the first game I see him, I would have thought he has no pace. For a pacy player, somehow he looks like one of the most sluggish players on the pitch. And he didn't have to play with NT during the international break...

If anything he's playing like Berbatov. You know he can pull some magic if he really tries, but he just rarely tries.


.

Nah.. Berbatov was even immobile than current Rooney.

 

[DWelbz19]

It's almost like he doesn't know what to do when he isn't in possession of the ball. His movement when other players have the ball always seems confused, as though he's not quite sure where to position himself.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

I complained about him not getting in the team, so by the same token I've got to say that he has been very poor this season and has seriously disappointed. He really needs to kick on next season or it could be his last for the club. We are carrying far too many passengers in the attack, and the likes of Martial, Rashford, Lingard etc all need to start delivering as it's hindering us massively.

 

[freeurmind]

After he gets knocked down, he goes into his shell. Has good physical strength but never uses it. With his current mentality, he's never going to be a success in the Premier League. Craig Dawson is a decent fullback but if he marks you out of a game then maybe you aren't good enough to play for Man Utd.

 

[sunama]

Do people here honestly think Bale would perform for us if he played in Martial's postion?

Yes. It's what separates a normal player from a Galactico class player.
Galactico class players like Ibra, will come in and immediately start firing and performing better than a normal player.
If Bale joined us, he'd immediately take us to the next level, just as Ibra did this season and RvP did in his first season, for us.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Yes. It's what separates a normal player from a Galactico class player.
Galactico class players like Ibra, will come in and immediately start firing and performing better than a normal player.
If Bale joined us, he'd immediately take us to the next level, just as Ibra did this season and RvP did in his first season, for us.

Ibra has done well but hasn't taken us to the next level.

 

[sunama]

i wasn't trying to compliment him. just surprised at the bulk of the activity i've seen on the forum today being here considering there were players that did worse than him.

Martial has more natural ability than a lot of our other players.
Furthermore, most of us expected him to improve, after last year's breakthrough season.
This is the reason why many fans are frustrated.

Sadly, Martial has regressed. Same goes for Shaw, btw, who IMO, will not be a MUFC player next season.
I think Martial will remain with us next season, though if he has another poor season, he'll be sold.

 

[sunama]

Ibra has done well but hasn't taken us to the next level.

Without Ibra's goals, what position in the table would we be? IMO, around 10th.
I'd say his goals have definitely pushed us significantly up the table.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Without Ibra's goals, what position in the table would we be? IMO, around 10th.
I'd say his goals have definitely pushed us significantly up the table.

Bringing us to the next level suggests improving our league position significantly, we are 5th just like we were last season, ergo not gone to the next level.

 

[Zoo]

He's best when high up the field committing defenders one v one. That's what Van Gaal ideally wanted to do with his possession game. Guardiola does it at City with Sane and Sterling. At the moment he looks a bit lost and I do worry about his future under Mourinho.

 

[ti vu]

Bringing us to the next level suggests improving our league position significantly, we are 5th just like we were last season, ergo not gone to the next level.

His goals were spreaded in other competitions, too. Compare to last season, we already win League Cup, proceed further in EL, possibly closer to second place & fourth place with the game in hand than last season. Let's not forget the league is tougher than last year.

He's best when high up the field committing defenders one v one. That's what Van Gaal ideally wanted to do with his possession game. Guardiola does it at City with Sane and Sterling. At the moment he looks a bit lost and I do worry about his future under Mourinho.

Half true. Thing is now even with chance to go 1 vs 1 with defender, he's just reluctant to have a go at defender. Seen it with Bournemouth & couple times today where he had chance to go in 1 vs 1 situation, he picked a cross early to nobody/ opposition' defenders. His a

 

[Frank Grimes]

His goals were spreaded in other competitions, too. Compare to last season, we already win League Cup, proceed further in EL, possibly closer to second place & fourth place with the game in hand than last season. Let's not forget the league is tougher than last year.


He has done great but we haven't gone to the next level in any interpretation of that phrase.

 

[ti vu]

It's up to each person's interpretation I guess. I believe we would be much worse if he is not here. I meant the better performers last season have been worse this season = at least 1 level down. We're still in the contention as I put it, closer than last season = at least 1.5 level up. In case the performers in last season stepped up to their last season form. We would have been much better.

 

[bosnian_red]

He just seems clunky when he plays this season. It's weird. Not sure if he put on more weight or something but there's something weird about him and there's nowhere near the same sharpness that we saw most of the time last year. Today he just looked very average with a couple of good sparks. He has huge potential, but what he isn't is a classic winger. Not sure he'll develop best as a classic striker either, but somewhere between those 2 is where I think he has the most potential. But he still has to individually perform better then he has for the most part this season.

 

[Frank Grimes]

I'm shocked Martial has an average rating of 6.0 this season, I have him at 5.4 and I really want him to do well.

 

[Frank Grimes]

It's up to each person's interpretation I guess. I believe we would be much worse if he is not here. I meant the better performers last season have been worse this season = at least 1 level down. We're still in the contention as I put it, closer than last season = at least 1.5 level up. In case the performers in last season stepped up to their last season form. We would have been much better.

He hasn't brought us to the next level, through no fault of his own really but our problems are more deep rooted than getting a prolific striker.

 

[roykeane19]

Hes able to dribble and go past players with ease, especially with his change of pace in the box, , but he hasnt tried and run into box much, which he used to do last season, where he would pick an excellent pass, which would usullay result in a goal. All these useless crosses with no one in the box and noe of our players getting near it, are an absolute waste of an attack

 

[Cliche Guevara]

We're having a big problem this season against teams parking the bus. Martial and Rashford are too inexperienced and Mhki too inconsistent to deal with it.

Either our style of play (Jose) or these players aren't good enough. At the moment Martial just seems to have too much to do and is struggling a bit. I've been a bit disappointed with him this season.

 

[Garethw]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if he leaves in the summer.

 

[Arka_BleedingRed]

Not tearing into this guy or anything, but Martial is yet to show the most important characteristic of a World Class player. Mental Resilience. The sheer grit, determination or drive which can turn a talented player into World Class. When the going gets tough, he usually goes missing. Versus West Brom, Rashford at least tried near the end, and improved as the match went on.
Anthony, on the other hand, needs a very specific set of environment to perform at his best. If something goes wrong, he gives up very easily. Not the sign of a player who can be relied upon. People keep comparing him to Cristiano, who was wasteful and selfish at the beginning, here at United, but he had that huge sense of drive and determination which propelled him to become the player he is now. All I see in Martial is his scowl, every time something does not go as planned.

 

[Footyislife]

We're having a big problem this season against teams parking the bus. Martial and Rashford are too inexperienced and Mhki too inconsistent to deal with it.

Either our style of play (Jose) or these players aren't good enough. At the moment Martial just seems to have too much to do and is struggling a bit. I've been a bit disappointed with him this season.

Exactly. You don't play young forwards as LM. You simplify the game for them and play them as LW with an inside forward duty. Sure i'm disappointed Martial hasn't been able to step up, but i'm more disappointed in our coach not knowing how to develop young players. Just another in a long string of perplexing decisions by our board picking random managers with play and coaching styles that doesn't suit our club. Can't do anything but stick with Mourinho and give him the next several years to build us back up.

 

[Adisa]

He's beginning to annoy me. he's so fecking quick but one wouldn't know because he refuses to run without the ball at his feet.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if he leaves in the summer.

Not this again. Has said it many times that he's not going anywhere. The season is a write off for him. Hopefully he comes back for pre-season fully fit, head in the right place and starts firing.

 

[Z_Wolf]

Bringing us to the next level suggests improving our league position significantly, we are 5th just like we were last season, ergo not gone to the next level.

Last season, quality of teams was really poor. Chelsea finished 10th, Leicester 1st.

 

[Jazz]

He needs to get with the program a bit more. Shocking how he seems to have lost his confidence. Again, I believe some of this is down to Mourinho's training, but Martial also needs to get a hold of himself.

In any case, I have great faith in his abilities, and I'll give him a pass this season, but he must step up next season.

 

[Garethw]

He's beginning to annoy me. he's so fecking quick but one wouldn't know because he refuses to run without the ball at his feet.


Not this again. Has said it many times that he's not going anywhere. The season is a write off for him. Hopefully he comes back for pre-season fully fit, head in the right place and starts firing.

It might not be his choice mate. Mourinho will eventually run out of patience with him (rightly or wrongly).

 

[Frank Grimes]

Last season, quality of teams was really poor. Chelsea finished 10th, Leicester 1st.

We still haven't 'gone to the next level'. To suggest we have is to apply a very loose take on that phrase.

 

[alanjohnson]

I was saying earlier how I doubt Bale would perform well for us on the left and people think i'm mad.
Most teams playing against us play a pressing game. Martial get's marked out of games and people think it's because he has a lack of ability. You put 2-3 players on Bale everytime he touches the ball, he won't perform well.
One of the best ways to play against pressing football, is Fast direct passing. Some of the best football we've played in recent years involved Mata and Herrera. We've seen glimpses this season involving Mkhitaryan too...notice what happens to Martial in those instances? space opens up for him because we stretch the opposition quite easily.

Basically we need a DM and an out and out striker who's got the legs.

 

[VeevaVee]

He needs to get with the program a bit more. Shocking how he seems to have lost his confidence. Again, I believe some of this is down to Mourinho's training, but Martial also needs to get a hold of himself.

In any case, I have great faith in his abilities, and I'll give him a pass this season, but he must step up next season.

I would agree, but the problem is if our attack is limp again next season we're still going to struggle. The longer we struggle the harder it will be to attract players that can help stop that.

 

[Womp]

He's best when high up the field committing defenders one v one. That's what Van Gaal ideally wanted to do with his possession game. Guardiola does it at City with Sane and Sterling. At the moment he looks a bit lost and I do worry about his future under Mourinho.

He was isolated against his fullback multiple times last game but didn't do feck all with it. People need to stop thinking every player being in shit form is down to Jose. If fecking Lingard can play well and dribble his way into the box, there should be no excuse for someone of Martial's ability. Fecking Fellaini who was the biggest lad on the pitch was driving at defenders and moving the ball quicker than Martial who's supposedly one of our fastest players.

Was quite amusing how everyone was having a global sook though when Jose benched him because he wasn't hungry enough, coming out with ridiculous statements like, Martial is too talented and eneds to play regardless of how shit he is, well we saw what happens when Jose stopped being a dcik to him. In fact, he was playing much better when Jose was being a dcik to him, his first performance back in the team for us he looked hungry and like his last year self, but it seems to have gone back to shite ever since he's been back in the team.

 

[Zoo]

He was isolated against his fullback multiple times last game but didn't do feck all with it. People need to stop thinking every player being in shit form is down to Jose. If fecking Lingard can play well and dribble his way into the box, there should be no excuse for someone of Martial's ability. Fecking Fellaini who was the biggest lad on the pitch was driving at defenders and moving the ball quicker than Martial who's supposedly one of our fastest players.

Was quite amusing how everyone was having a global sook though when Jose benched him because he wasn't hungry enough, coming out with ridiculous statements like, Martial is too talented and eneds to play regardless of how shit he is, well we saw what happens when Jose stopped being a dcik to him. In fact, he was playing much better when Jose was being a dcik to him, his first performance back in the team for us he looked hungry and like his last year self, but it seems to have gone back to shite ever since he's been back in the team.

He was collecting the ball far too deep for my liking and drifting too much inside. I'm not solely blaming Mourinho, just pointing out that he looks a bit lost as to what his role is this season. The style is vastly different with everything revolving around Zlatan. Hopefully he'll come good again.

 

[Womp]

He was collecting the ball far too deep for my liking and drifting too much inside. I'm not solely blaming Mourinho, just pointing out that he looks a bit lost as to what his role is this season. The style is vastly different with everything revolving around Zlatan. Hopefully he'll come good again.

I agree with the Zlatan statement, but I genuinely think that's due to the fact that we'd be fighting relegation without him. It's gotten to the stage where I can tell if we're not going to win a game 10 minutes in, because the players just bottle chance after chance. No-one else seems to know how to score and I'm going to admit I've given Zlatan stick for bottling easy chances too and I honestly though Rashford up top would be better due to pace but how wrong I was. I'm assuming Jose predicted as much himself too.

 

[kundalini]

Not tearing into this guy or anything, but Martial is yet to show the most important characteristic of a World Class player. Mental Resilience. The sheer grit, determination or drive which can turn a talented player into World Class. When the going gets tough, he usually goes missing. Versus West Brom, Rashford at least tried near the end, and improved as the match went on.
Anthony, on the other hand, needs a very specific set of environment to perform at his best. If something goes wrong, he gives up very easily. Not the sign of a player who can be relied upon. People keep comparing him to Cristiano, who was wasteful and selfish at the beginning, here at United, but he had that huge sense of drive and determination which propelled him to become the player he is now. All I see in Martial is his scowl, every time something does not go as planned.

I noticed last season that Martial seemed to be one of the first players to give up when a match seemed to be drifting away from us.

Very disappointed by his performance against West Brom. Expected him to made a big effort to take players on throughout the match.

 

[OL29]

I noticed last season that Martial seemed to be one of the first players to give up when a match seemed to be drifting away from us.

Very disappointed by his performance against West Brom. Expected him to made a big effort to take players on throughout the match.

I'd refer you to the semi final of the FA cup if you're looking for an example of resilience from Martial. Not just the goal but his whole performance that day was a great show of determination. West Ham away too, where at one point it looked like he was going to drag us into the champions league single handedly. Or our final knock out game of the CL, against Wolfsburg where he was again let down by his teammates.
I know these are games from last season though, I'm not sure if some of you are capable of remembering that far back so maybe better examples would be his stunning late goal against Stoke this season which should've been a winner but for a late defensive blunder. There's plenty examples of Martial showing grit and determination if you look hard enough but I guess it's easier to follow a narrative that doesn't exist.

 

[Offside]

He lacks that hunger he had last season. Simple as that. He seems like he would have a bad attitude too, his body language gives that vibe so much. He still has had his periods this year but needs a strong word from someone if he even wants to stay.

 

[Boycott]

Not tearing into this guy or anything, but Martial is yet to show the most important characteristic of a World Class player. Mental Resilience. The sheer grit, determination or drive which can turn a talented player into World Class. When the going gets tough, he usually goes missing. Versus West Brom, Rashford at least tried near the end, and improved as the match went on.
Anthony, on the other hand, needs a very specific set of environment to perform at his best. If something goes wrong, he gives up very easily. Not the sign of a player who can be relied upon. People keep comparing him to Cristiano, who was wasteful and selfish at the beginning, here at United, but he had that huge sense of drive and determination which propelled him to become the player he is now. All I see in Martial is his scowl, every time something does not go as planned.

I agree completely. He doesn't get involved enough for a player of his talent.

 

[Mike09]

I was saying earlier how I doubt Bale would perform well for us on the left and people think i'm mad.
Most teams playing against us play a pressing game. Martial get's marked out of games and people think it's because he has a lack of ability. You put 2-3 players on Bale everytime he touches the ball, he won't perform well.
One of the best ways to play against pressing football, is Fast direct passing. Some of the best football we've played in recent years involved Mata and Herrera. We've seen glimpses this season involving Mkhitaryan too...notice what happens to Martial in those instances? space opens up for him because we stretch the opposition quite easily.

Basically we need a DM and an out and out striker who's got the legs.

It's definitely mad. I won't disagree with those people. Bale is completely different level compare to Martial in that kind of situation. Bale is a better decision maker than Martial and he's more intelligent than Martial. Bale's dribbling is relying on power, speed and strength, while Martial relies on speed and closed ball control and Bale has another asset if dribbling doesn't work which is an ability to do long range shooting. If 2 or 3 players are closed him (Bale) down everytime he touches the ball, Bale will probably try to beat one of them with power and pace and then shoot the ball from long range distance.

 

[Philadelphian]

Won't know what club he plays for in 3-5 years. Don't think he enjoys the game.