If Mata can do it there's absolutely no reason that someone with Martial's pace can't. Just needs to add it to his game
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If Mata can do it there's absolutely no reason that someone with Martial's pace can't. Just needs to add it to his game
Martial's only major flaw is his positioning and movement. For a winger / wide forward it's so important. If we can compare the difference's between him, Neymar, Ronaldo and Robben; it's really only that I would say he majorly misses.
I wouldn't say he doesn't have the desire to score goals, but he needs to remain alive around the box and sniff out chances. The main thing for me though is he needs to remain higher and keep his fullback pinned. When he drops deeper to receive the ball he's so much easier to mark.
I wouldn't say he doesn't have the desire to score goals, but he needs to remain alive around the box and sniff out chances. The main thing for me though is he needs to remain higher and keep his fullback pinned. When he drops deeper to receive the ball he's so much easier to mark.
Very good point. Same goes for Rashford. However, I wouldn't write it off on desire but rather the lack of natural striker's instinct?
I'd second the lack of power from range, anytime I've seen him hit one from outside the box its either snailed wide or a tame shot right into the keepers arms
That curling shot worked a treat for Thierry over the years.What has his physique got to with long range shots?
He has the power as most footballers do but his technique is terrible. He basically knows how to curl it and that's it.
Honestly i can't believe some of the stuff I'm reading about 'long range shooting' it's made me chuckle.I agree It is mostly about technique but i couldn't care less about his long range shooting as mostly it's a pot luck thing. Also if he is constantly taking long range shots then for me we have a problem as he isn't getting in to the positions we want where he is most effective. If I recall last year he did actually take most of his shots from outside the area.
Out of say our 4 strikers I'd say he is either the best or 2nd best at finishing. Lukaku is a good finisher but he doesn't seem as aware of his surroundings as Martial is when through on goal. Martial makes it look like he has all the time in the world. I had to put Zlatan first due to the way he can finish. I rate a good finisher by what they do and for me a sign of a good finisher is having the ability whilst under pressure having the awareness to lift a ball over a keeper in close proximity. It's like they have a 6th sense.
Like Pogba against Leicester?
Absolutely.
Yep, undoubtedly a great finish, but I was more just pointing out that it's a very narrow thing to use to decide on who is a 'good' finisher. It's a skill thing, and a speed of thought thing that a midfielder like Pogba can have, it's not limited only to great strikers, and just because a player like Lukaku might not regularly show such finesse it doesn't mean that he is not a great finisher.
Some people on here are just so obsessed with chipping the keeper.
Not quite like that as the only pressure he is under is from the keeper but yeah for me that takes awareness. I'm trying to think of what game it was in but Lewendowski lifts a ball over a tackle with one foot before striking with the other but the touch is so delicate and deliberate and to have the awareness of mind to do something like that keep his calm is what I was trying to point out.
A lot of strikers rush that and just hit it where others seem like everything has slowed down for them and they have all the time in the world when they really don't.
I think Zlatan last year also scored a goal where he is in close proximity to the keeper and stretching but he has enough awareness to hold off his man and just lift the ball ever so slightly. If he doesn't he doesn't score. Other strikers in the same situation just prod that forward to make sure it goes on target.
I doubt Gary Lineker scored many goals like that but he was a bloody good striker/finisher...
Thierry had more than a curler in his toolbox, he was famous for it but he could strike it with force in the middle, he had an outside of the foot shot, he could volley it. Much more complete when it comes to striking the ball.
That looks like a side foot as well. Awesome bit of play for the goal as well.
We haven't seen enough of Martial to say he doesn't. To say he only has that when he has scored headers or slotted balls in the far corner or tried drives or that curler to the top right ala Thierry is just a misrepresentation of him.
4 years of watching him is more than enough for me I suppose. I'm not saying he won't improve it btw, just that at the moment he doesn't possess enough variety in striking the ball.
I'm pointing out that it's the ability to make everything look easy within split seconds. I used the chip as an example as it's something that takes planning in a split second. Calmness under pressure and the ability to make intricate decisions and execute them is what for me makes a good finisher as well as finding the back of the net.
When Martial is under pressure or goes through on goal I feel confident he scores that goal. Don't have the same feeling with say a Rashford who is more of an instinctual finisher. The less time he has to think about it the better. He's better when he just reacts or hits it.
But if the space is there and the only realistic place he is going to score is the far corner since he more often than not comes from left to inside the place he is most likely to score is the bottom right and the most efficient way of scoring at that angle is putting a bit of curl on it to the bottom or top corner.
What other types of finishing do you want to see?
I haven't said anything about wanting to see other finishes at the moment. Whatever works for him the best is fine, just simply saying that when he tries to shoelace it, he ends up shooting the ball awkwardly. Clearly something he needs to work on. More tools to score can only help.
Am I imagining things or is someone naming zlatan as a great finisher?
The Zlatan we had at Man Utd was amongst the worst finishers I have seen at the club and surpassed only by rashford IMO
The Zlatan we had at Man Utd was amongst the worst finishers I have seen at the club and surpassed only by rashford IMO
There's no doubt in my mind he'll become world class. When that is it less clear, because his confidence seems to easily deteriorate. Definitely seems a bit shy.
He's only 21, he's at the best place to succeed. Don't understand why people don't rate him.
He's only 21, he's at the best place to succeed. Don't understand why people don't rate him.
What I don't understand is why a defence of Martial so often involves criticism of Rashford. We are so lucky to have them both and for me are both equally as exciting (with Martial having a slightly higher ceiling potential imho).
You've got to be in the positions to showcase what different types of finishing you have. I don't see anything wrong with the way he strikes a ball or the power he generates and for me that's not something I really care about. He is a wideforward or striker and he should be doing a lot of his striking from within 18yards. Pogba and the likes fare enough but that video just a little further off shows he can generate power and strike a ball.
If I had a critiscim of Martial its that I'd like him to have a bit more of a selfish streak or more eagneress to get in positions. I feel like he hangs back a lot other than making the runs to really be a 20-25 a season goal man which I do think he is more than capable of doing with just a few adjustments and the team getting the ball to him quicker so he can isolate people unlike last year where he had to beat 3 or 4 people to make an impact.
Quoted the wrong quote. It was the first one you replied with.
Like I said in that post, I've seen personally enough of him in different positions leading to different finishes required than the one he currently masters and it wasn't nearly as good. He's still young and has so much time on work on things.
Exactly my thought. And thats why it's disheartening to see such destructive criticism.
He has a good shot from range. The implication that he can only finish one way is a bit exaggerated. Placing the ball in the bottom corner is the best way to finish when faced up in front of goal. That's why 80% of penalties are low towards the bottom corner.
The bove clip is a very deft and clever finish with his weak foot. He's had some very good efforts from range too, and scored a brilliant diving header from the penalty spot away in Moscow for us too.
Around 30 seconds. That's about the only time I can remember him having a proper lash.
He doesn't do it often. That was good shot, slightly overhit
Still think he should leave United?
Maybe wait a little longer, but for his own good, he should certainly consider it. The sort of role and profile he would probably want to have, doesn't appear to be the one he has here. If he had joined say Liverpool in the summer (never happening of course) instead of Salah, I imagine he would have been an integral member of Klopp's attack. He's more a rotation option here, who appears to have a very short string in terms of earning and keeping a regular place in the XI.
He's been left out of recent French squads, and I don't see him getting back in on time for the World Cup in a season where any goal/assist Rashford makes will probably consign him to the bench for a few games. Goes without saying that I WANT him to stay, of course. I want him to stay and play though, in the manner that Lukaku, Pogba and Valencia play, not how Lingard or Fellaini feature. I'd expect him to excel and get 20 goals in such a set up.
He can't hit them?
I hope he starts today.
He started the last game??
Those are the exact reasons i dont want him to leave. His ablity to break defenses with his skill is better than Rashford. Martial is a Player all the Posession based top teams would Die to have. He could fit in barcelona bayern city liverpool with ease. And i kind of ant united to play the same way in big games which we have done all season last season except two months and this.
I want to see he and Lukaku in a 2 again upfront. That Galaxy game they were awesome. Just the way they worked together.
If you're not going to play him and Rashford on either side (my preferred option) then you have to continue the rotation. He got his chance at a start, didn't really take it. So back on the bench, and he can have another go at scoring as a sub in the second half.
Rashford is the one who plays well and works hard whether he scores or not, so at the moment he makes more sense as a starter.
Rashford is the one who plays well and works hard whether he scores or not, so at the moment he makes more sense as a starter.
I thought he was one of our better players against Leicester do to say he didn't take his chance is a bit harsh.
Was arguably our best player. I thought he played exceptionally well that day. Did a lot of what I guess was unnoticed stuff then.
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