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Anthony Martial France flag

2016-17 Performances

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5.9 Season Average Rating
Appearances
42
Goals
8
Assists
8
Yellow cards
3
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I remember last season every time he had the ball there was a sense of expectation that he would do something. He would get straight at the RB.

This season he seems to lack confidence. Either his touch is letting him down or he's not as willing to run at players and plays a simple pass.

Consistent playing time and I'm sure he'll be back at his best.
 
Escobar said:
People didnt believe when I said that he will have a difficult 2nd season. Now it is up to him to find his form again and solve his private issues if that's bothering him. I like him as a wide left striker and as a player in general but he needs to up his game now
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Agree with this. On a side note, I recently discovered that the yanks have a slightly snappier version of "second season syndrome" which I may start using, seeing as both Martial and Rashford are clearly going through this well known phenomenon. Sophomore slump.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Agree with this. On a side note, I recently discovered that the yanks have a slightly snappier version of "second season syndrome" which I may start using, seeing as both Martial and Rashford are clearly going through this well known phenomenon. Sophomore slump.
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Like for all great talents before, opponents will study him now closely and shut him down. He has to get used to it and find new ways. That's the making of a truly great player
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Agree with this. On a side note, I recently discovered that the yanks have a slightly snappier version of "second season syndrome" which I may start using, seeing as both Martial and Rashford are clearly going through this well known phenomenon. Sophomore slump.
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And you guys claim to be the ones with the better English.
 
One of his biggest weakness that is vital in playing up front, ironically, is the ability to shoot. Don't get me wrong he's shown us that he can score, some sweet goals too but they mostly come from his signature inside curve. Apart from that, his shot is fairly weak in power and lacking in variety and technique.
 
Steven7290 said:
One of his biggest weakness that is vital in playing up front, ironically, is the ability to shoot. Don't get me wrong he's shown us that he can score, some sweet goals too but they mostly come from his signature inside curve. Apart from that, his shot is fairly weak in power and lacking in variety and technique.
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yeah he lacks the power but how about Henry? I can also recall only his side foot finishes, curves, not any big narrow drive from deeper positions.. But Marty needs to work on this for sure
 
Problem is he's too comfortable waiting for the ball to come to his feet. He's a great player on the ball and has proven he can skin his man, but to go up a level he needs to improve his runs in behind. Doesn't do it enough.
 
Thought Neville's assessment of him was fair. Underperforming, and needs to do better, but I think he'll turn it around. Maybe he has 'issues' right now?
 
He's not been anywhere near as good as last season but I hope he's only left out because he's going to start on Sunday. He's gonna be a great player if only his confidence gets a boost. Him and Rashford are the future. please don't ruin it Mou
 
Magnus said:
He's not been anywhere near as good as last season but I hope he's only left out because he's going to start on Sunday. He's gonna be a great player if only his confidence gets a boost. Him and Rashford are the future. please don't ruin it Mou
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Loads of examples of superb players who were in and out of the team at a similar age, with no impact on their overall career. Didn't Fergie send Ronaldo home for Christmas when he was the same age Martial is now?

The only problem we have right now is the lack of credible alternatives, seeing as Depay doesn't seem to be improving much after a very underwhelming debut season.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Loads of examples of superb players who were in and out of the team at a similar age, with no impact on their overall career. Didn't Fergie send Ronaldo home for Christmas when he was the same age Martial is now?

The only problem we have right now is the lack of credible alternatives, seeing as Depay doesn't seem to be improving much after a very underwhelming debut season.
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With Ferguson there was always a confidence that he was doing the right thing. With Mourinho, it's hard to be sure.

Dropping him as some sort of punishment, which is what this feels like, just doesn't really seem like the best approach towards getting one of our best young players back into form. Especially when other high profile members of the squad seem to be able to play however they want and get away with it.

Then again, he could have a knock.
 
As 31 year old has-been is showing him up ffs. He should be angry.
 
Slowly we can introduce him back into the fold. For now we can play with Mkhi and Mata on the wings as our experienced players. We shouldn't be relying on him this young, let him grow into the team slowly and then we can let him play more and more until he finds his feet again.
 
That's understandable, this was the pace I expected him to be developing at last season - but he surprised us all. Hopefully his performances will come in time.

Slightly more worrying is how Jose mentions Rashford alongside Martial, Mata, Mickey and Memphis as the wide options. It suggests that he sees him more as a winger, which I know a lot of posters here don't agree with.
 
I think he's best as a winger for now. His movement isn't great and you can mask this more when he's out wide, but it's starting to hurt him out wide too. He always wants the ball at feet and doesn't make many runs at all. Plus his greatest strength is taking players head on. More opportunities to do so out wide.
 
Martial isnt a winger but I see him more as a front three man, but I do think the front three needs to interchange (if that makes sense)

basically I dont think him out left in a 4231 works. But him as part of a 433 and the left side of the last three meas hes closer to goal and more of a threat.

Hes only 20 so theres no rush for him to play every game as long as he contributes and plays every game like he wants to prove something.
 
Irrational. said:
That's understandable, this was the pace I expected him to be developing at last season - but he surprised us all.
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100% agree with this

Last year was more of an outlier. Which isn't to say Tony is one of those dreaded 'one season wonders', but I think it's inevitable he'll come down to the level you expect from his age.
 
Irrational. said:
That's understandable, this was the pace I expected him to be developing at last season -
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My thoughts exactly.
Though from his perspective, it must seem that things are falling down around him.
His own form is declining (and has been since he was warming the bench for France in the Summer).
Then we have a great attacking performance against Feyenoord where attackers are queuing up to play at a good level, for us.
Lingard came on and in 10 minutes had 3 shots on goal. Martial generally gets 3 shots in a whole match.
You then have Rooney hitting form. Miki may also now begin to make appearances.

Martial won't be liking such stiff competition.
 
sunama said:
My thoughts exactly.
Though from his perspective, it must seem that things are falling down around him.
His own form is declining (and has been since he was warming the bench for France in the Summer).
Then we have a great attacking performance against Feyenoord where attackers are queuing up to play at a good level, for us.
Lingard came on and in 10 minutes had 3 shots on goal. Martial generally gets 3 shots in a whole match.
You then have Rooney hitting form. Miki may also now begin to make appearances.

Martial won't be liking such stiff competition.
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You're best mates with him and know what his attitude is like, do you? How Jose is handling most of our players is actually turning out to be vindicated, don't see why Martial will be any different.
 
I hope Jose handles this right. I have an awful feeling he doesn't know how to get the best out of him. If that's the case, the club better not allow him to alienate the lad. Regardless of his form this season, I guarantee clubs would line up to get this lad's signature. We'll bloody regret it, so Jose better know himself.
 
Jazz said:
I hope Jose handles this right. I have an awful feeling he doesn't know how to get the best out of him. If that's the case, the club better not allow him to alienate the lad. Regardless of his form this season, I guarantee clubs would line up to get this lad's signature. We'll bloody regret it, so Jose better know himself.
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He managed to get Hazard playing at another level by speaking about him in the media and expecting more from him at the start of his second stint at Chelski. If Martial can't handle a little competition he doesn't deserve to be at a club of this stature in the first place. Simply having talent isn't enough, Nani and Quaresma etc. amongst others is a clear indication of that. The best players are hungry and will fight to prove a point. Hell, even MickyT who everyone says is a right fanny took being frozen out and the criticism on the chin and just put in a top-drawer performance trying to force his way into the team.

I'm a big fan of Martial, in fact, he's my favourite player at the club (along with Ander) and the sky is the limit for the kid, honestly has the talent to be one of the best in the world in his position, but he needs to perform. It's a shame that he set the bar so high for himself last season because he was unplayable at times, but that just shows everyone what he is capable of, it's on him to aim to try and replicate and even improve on those performances.

Apart from De Gea, Bailly, Pogba and Valencia, no other players in our team should be guaranteed a first team place at the moment, they need to fight for their chances and then take the opportunity when it comes. As good as Martial is, and can be, he doesn't warrant being given special treatment, he is a player who still has everything to prove.
 
This is one Jose needs to get right. He's a phenomenal talent. And Martial needs to make use of said talent. I'm not worried. The young players will always have not so good periods.

Womp said:
He managed to get Hazard playing at another level by speaking about him in the media and expecting more from him at the start of his second stint at Chelski. If Martial can't handle a little competition he doesn't deserve to be at a club of this stature in the first place. Simply having talent isn't enough, Nani and Quaresma etc. amongst others is a clear indication of that. The best players are hungry and will fight to prove a point. Hell, even MickyT who everyone says is a right fanny took being frozen out and the criticism on the chin and just put in a top-drawer performance trying to force his way into the team.

I'm a big fan of Martial, in fact, he's my favourite player at the club (along with Ander) and the sky is the limit for the kid, honestly has the talent to be one of the best in the world in his position, but he needs to perform. It's a shame that he set the bar so high for himself last season because he was unplayable at times, but that just shows everyone what he is capable of, it's on him to aim to try and replicate and even improve on those performances.

Apart from De Gea, Bailly and Pogba, no other players in our team should be guaranteed a first team place, they need to fight for their chances and then take the opportunity when it comes. As good as Martial is, and can be, he doesn't warrant being given special treatment, he is a player who still has everything to prove.
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Two points here in response to the bolded bits:

1. While Jose got the best out of Hazard one year using public comments and his own style of challenging him, he also got a pathetic feck all out of him the following year. It shouldn't be seen as a huge achievement to get one great year out of a great player. Good management should be bringing that out year in year out. Jose failed in this regard with Costa too.

2. I hear this bit blunt line about players very often. However, I believe most managers should learn a thing or two from Sir Alex about this, who definitely treated different players differently. It wasn't bias per say, rather the ability to recognise how personalities had to be treated differently and prioritized based on talent. Which is why Rooney and Ronaldo being special talents were always prioritized and treated differently. Short term loss for long term gain if you will. Meritocracy is important, but so investment where the returns have an undoubtedly higher potential. It's why SAF stuck by Ronaldo through a lot of what I think Mourinho would have gotten fed up by. The no tracking back, the constant trickery that did sod all etc. was worth bearing with at the end of the day.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
This is one Jose needs to get right. He's a phenomenal talent. And Martial needs to make use of said talent. I'm not worried. The young players will always have not so good periods.


Two points here in response to the bolded bits:

1. While Jose got the best out of Hazard one year using public comments and his own style of challenging him, he also got a pathetic feck all out of him the following year. It shouldn't be seen as a huge achievement to get one great year out of a great player. Good management should be bringing that out year in year out. Jose failed in this regard with Costa too.

2. I hear this bit blunt line about players very often. However, I believe most managers should learn a thing or two from Sir Alex about this, who definitely treated different players differently. It wasn't bias per say, rather the ability to recognise how personalities had to be treated differently and prioritized based on talent. Which is why Rooney and Ronaldo being special talents were always prioritized and treated differently. Short term loss for long term gain if you will. Meritocracy is important, but so investment where the returns have an undoubtedly higher potential. It's why SAF stuck by Ronaldo through a lot of what I think Mourinho would have gotten fed up by. The no tracking back, the constant trickery that did sod all etc. was worth bearing with at the end of the day.
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Think you misunderstood my point, I'm fully aware that some egos should be massaged differently to others. What my comment was referring to was giving player's special treatment as in guaranteeing playing time or giving them the benefit of the doubt if they're not performing and other players are. This was something that was a constant with Rooney in the past few years that use to grind my gears, despite how he performed, his place in the squad would never be under threat.

Same goes for Martial, as talented as he is, he's still a kid. He's had one very good season and was relatively unknown prior. We have a stack of talent who can operate in his position, all of whom have their own strengths and weaknesses. Jose stuck it out with Martial, giving him time to get into form, but it just didn't happen, so it's only logical he gets dropped. How he responds is the difference between a good talent and a world class one.

I'm a firm believer that adversity can make or break a player's career. It defines just how good they can be, they will all run into difficult times, only the best players use it to improve themselves though.
 
I wish people would stop saying Martial isn't a winger because that's not the position he's been playing. He's wide left forward who cuts inside more often than not.

He's not expected to hit the byline and whip in a cross.
 
JJ12 said:
I wish people would stop saying Martial isn't a winger because that's not the position he's been playing. He's wide left forward who cuts inside more often than not.

He's not expected to hit the byline and whip in a cross.
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Agree with this. If he was to add crossing to his game he would be unreal though, a bit like Neymar. His build up play and his dribbling is immense but his crosses are usually quite poor.
 
This is the Mourinho way at times, confrontational, get stuck into a player and see how he reacts, done this with a few United players now. Think he does it to see if stings them into proving him wrong or go and sulk in the corner.
 
ZAGREB RED said:
This is the Mourinho way at times, confrontational, get stuck into a player and see how he reacts, done this with a few United players now. Think he does it to see if stings them into proving him wrong or go and sulk in the corner.
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I like Jose's way tbh. It's time our squad got a kick up their butt and if he thinks Martial needs one too, it's fine for me. It needs to be clear that only those play who are in form, and Jose proved that with Rooney. Time to step up
 
Womp said:
Agree with this. If he was to add crossing to his game he would be unreal though, a bit like Neymar. His build up play and his dribbling is immense but his crosses are usually quite poor.
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His movement is miles off Neymar though, that's the biggest area of improvement needed.

He needs to watch How Ronaldo/Bale/Ribery and the rest of the best inside forwards made their movement, we have players like Pogba and Carrick who can pick a pass no problem he just needs to make the forward runs. If he makes more runs like he did to win the Penalty against Fenerbahce then it will make a big difference.

Too often he comes deep to get the ball at his feet and then dribble, but by that time they've doubled up on him and it's difficult to beat 2 defenders.
 
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I remember saying to some mates before the season had started that i worried for his future. He just doesn't strike me as a Mourinho type player.
 
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