Wasn't his best game by any means, but his technique in comparison to his competition for that position is evident to see. Just hope Mourinho cuts him some slack and lets him play through this poor spell of form, but I fear he'll be dropped for next weekend, which won't help him at all.
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 42
- Goals
- 8
- Assists
- 8
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
Ironically he was probably taken off because Mourinho reckoned Rashford would offer better defensive protection to the back line...
Not good enough at all. Position has nothing to do with it, last season he had his best performances from the wing. I wish some fans would stop rewriting history in some way.
Completely agree. He was fantastic on the wing last season. Either this is a tactical issue or a confidence issue. I think it's more the latter personally, he just hasn't looked right this season, but he's young, so he should be cut some slack, but like Mourinho said you expect more from a player of his quality. However, with his age and difficulties with his partner etc. It can take its toll on him. I hope he can come back into form soon!
Exactly. His bad performances can be explained by many things but not the position itself. It is frustrating because he doesn't seem like he has the same mentality as Rashford who isn't playing well at the moment but he just tries again and again. I may be talking complete rubbish but Martial seems shot in terms of confidence
I agree. The 2he's a striker" thing doesn't wash when hes played as a wide forward for 90% of his career. He's playing like a player who isn't sure of what he's doing on the pitch.
When I see Martial, I don't see a winger. To me he's a striker and he should be playing closer to the goal. The closer he is to the goal, the less he needs to worry about things other than pressing, attacking and scoring goals. If he's playing on the wing, it should be more like Neymar is playing on the wing - a wing forward. He's not the player you ask to run up and down the flank, cover up for the full back or to sprint full speed from a low defensive position to the opposite penalty area. Martial is just not that kind of a player, or person. If you want that, then play Lingard.
So the problem is not the position itself, it's the tactics for him in that position and his own mentality.
The way he's asked to perform now, is way too defensive and tactical for his likening, and for my likening as well. I'm sure he's not comfortable or confident with the defensive duties he's asked to do.
The same goes for Rashford. You don't play players like that in a defensive position, hindering them from performing at their best, where their contribution is greater than others.
Martial's not a winger. At best, he's a left forward but he's best when he's floating around between the channels (if not starting from center forward).
And this year, he's not a focal point of the attack when last year he was, then Rashford was. Martial has had to adapt playing without much of the ball and without overlapping runs from the left.
And this year, he's not a focal point of the attack when last year he was, then Rashford was. Martial has had to adapt playing without much of the ball and without overlapping runs from the left.
Thought he was ok today and an improvement on his average level from the season so far. Had a 5 minute 'hot' spell in the first half when he fashioned two good efforts on target and also liked his driving run into the centre in the second period albeit a poor execution with the shot.
So passive these days it's sad to see. With his magical ability with the ball at feet he should be taking defenders on and trying out stuff. Seems content to play almost like a CM at the moment, with the focus on holding his position and sideways passing.
I'd like have him as my starting left winger, though.
I'd like have him as my starting left winger, though.
FWIW, I don't think what he is asked to do now varies greatly from last season's role.
There are no excuses.
He has been awful this season. Shown nothing.
He has been awful this season. Shown nothing.
Fully agree. Would honestly prefer to see Memphis at this point (seeing as Mkhi is out of the question).
He got a few dangerous shots today which is positive although a few of them can be considered poor shots as well. But what happened with his dribbling and that amazing closed control? They were his best assets last season but it seems that he was struggling to beat his men nowdays.
Most young players have poor periods, generally they go away. Lets hope it happens soon.
Today he looked ok I think. He found his favourite positions a few times, had 2 decent shots and almost a tap-in.
He is actually quite diligent though, doesn't look uninspired or lazy. Just that his touch doesn't sit as well as it did at his best last season.
Today he looked ok I think. He found his favourite positions a few times, had 2 decent shots and almost a tap-in.
He is actually quite diligent though, doesn't look uninspired or lazy. Just that his touch doesn't sit as well as it did at his best last season.
Shame about his drop in form this season, the moment he'd reach his level of last year we'd be so much better as a team.
Why does he not run in behind more often? He seems to always wait on the touchline to receive the ball to feet. He is obviously well capable of beating his man with the ball but I think he would be far more effective making diagonal runs off the ball to try and get in on goal.
Is this instructions or is it just an area of his game that still needs development?
Is this instructions or is it just an area of his game that still needs development?
One of the major reasons we aren't doing much better this season imo. Even with all the talent we purchased, still think he's the most naturally talented player in our squad bar maybe De Gea and maybe Pogba.
He set the bar way too high for himself last season unfortunately. He was single handedly winning us games when we looked shite.
He set the bar way too high for himself last season unfortunately. He was single handedly winning us games when we looked shite.
If Valencia was a left sided player Martial would have seen a lot more of the ball and played a lot better.
Normally I'd agree. But he's only 20 and a drop in form can be expected. Actually thought he was better than Rashford yesterday, and I think he'll come good this season sooner rather than later.
Its not even his touch, its just he is too content to take a supporting role instead of looking for the ball all the time and being confident with it. He doesnt look like he wants to be the main guy out there like he did when he had a point to prove last season. So once he learns how to do that consistebtly and influence games more, he'll play much better. The same can be said of pogba a decent amount too tbf. Just feel like he can do more even if he is already playing well.
Agree with what Redknapp said - doesn't do enough foraging when he's not got the ball.
Doesn't look a Mourinho type player to me, January could be interesting.
Doesn't look a Mourinho type player to me, January could be interesting.
I would much rather see Jose leave than martial.
He isn't a winger. A perfect time to try martial & Rashford upfront today but no. Too scared to try something innovative - if you can even call it that.
Back to Ibrahimovic next game getting support from the deadly young strikers like martial & Rashford - who are suddenly supposed to learn how to cross the ball like giggs & Beckham.
Back to Ibrahimovic next game getting support from the deadly young strikers like martial & Rashford - who are suddenly supposed to learn how to cross the ball like giggs & Beckham.
There's only so much fans can do to support the manager. If Martial isn't a Jose type player, whatever that is, then the manager deserves to leave. Martial single handedly won us so many games last year and was phenomenal at times. He has quick feet, great dribbling skills and can actually finish. He's just short on confidence atm. It's the manager's responsibility to address such issues and bring players back to their best. Specially when we already know he's proven at this level.
Just because Mourinho has got a bigger personality he gets lot of slack on these issues. He gets away with selling really good players just because few players don't fit his idea of an ideal player. Sometimes it's justified but not always. It'll be crazy to let Martial leave so easily when he showed the world what he can do already. We have nothing to gain if we spend huge on relatively unproven talents and then let them go after they have a small dip in form.
Just because Mourinho has got a bigger personality he gets lot of slack on these issues. He gets away with selling really good players just because few players don't fit his idea of an ideal player. Sometimes it's justified but not always. It'll be crazy to let Martial leave so easily when he showed the world what he can do already. We have nothing to gain if we spend huge on relatively unproven talents and then let them go after they have a small dip in form.
The player has to help himself though. Martial could be doing much more in terms of movement and chasing the ball down, the sort of stuff that isn't pretty but will keep everyone on side.
Where is this talk of selling him coming from? It is not like he's barely played like Mkhitaryan.
Couldn't agree more this was one of the main reasons I wanted Mane (summer) as I thought his running power in behind would benefit us greatly.
Just wait a bit more ...This dip of form was expected from him so not exactly worried right now . I guess By December mid we will start to the real Martial .
I'm not sure. For me he's one dimensional and offers very little when he's not scoring goals. Its amazing how some players are given the benefit of the doubt yet others don't. Let's be honest, not sure we are seeing a 50m player and his international manager agrees the same.
He shouldn't be starting games until he shows improvement when given a chance to come in from the bench. At the moment he lacks energy, movement, drive, aggression, precision, vision or any form of genuine threat. Basically everything is missing from the skill set we'd like to see in wide player. This awful form streches over at least full 4 months of this season.
There's the issue with his potential replacement, but in current circumstances it should be either Rooney or even Memphis, who's time is clearly running out although IMO he should be aforded an entry into last chance saloon with string of starts. This season is already a mess, if we want to salavge anything from it we need to find a working formula with in form players and Martial doesn't seem to fit into it as of now.
There's the issue with his potential replacement, but in current circumstances it should be either Rooney or even Memphis, who's time is clearly running out although IMO he should be aforded an entry into last chance saloon with string of starts. This season is already a mess, if we want to salavge anything from it we need to find a working formula with in form players and Martial doesn't seem to fit into it as of now.
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Thats for me his biggest problem. He doesn't run enough off the ball. Watch him when some has the ball, he stops and wants to receive it to fit when most players of his type would be running behind his full back. Like I always say in here, the day he watches how Neymar plays off the ball and learns, that's the day he will become an even better player. He is playing like a creative wide player (like Payet) instead of a wide forward.
What compounds his issue is he doesn't now get the ball as much as he did last year.
btw, This thread is turning into the Herrera thread of last year.
Agree. I can see next season some big changes. There are some serious question marks over some high profile players and let's be honest, for 50m we should be seeing more as he offers absolutely nothing when not scoring. His work rate is terrible and whist people are criticising Rashers defensively yesterday, I'd say Martial wouldn't even be in that position.
He cost 36 million.
IMO, his poor form started in the Summer when the France manager wasn't using Martial.
Martial then continued the poor form into the start of this season.
Many fans on here said it is due to his marriage break up. Maybe this is true.
Martial then continued the poor form into the start of this season.
Many fans on here said it is due to his marriage break up. Maybe this is true.
So France manager should play an injured player who wasn't performing in training?
Been shi*te this year. Not sure how he can keep getting starts with Lingard when there is another winger we paid a lot of money for cant even get a chance. Piss poor management
The feck is going on here?
Are some people suggesting he's sold?
Get a grip people. A 21 year old footballer going through a rough patch is not a new phenomenon.
Are some people suggesting he's sold?
Get a grip people. A 21 year old footballer going through a rough patch is not a new phenomenon.
- Status