I totally agree but I feel José gets turned on by the one that can defend more.
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 45
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 11
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
Not sure who you were on about since he is rotating Rashford just as regularly. It's Lukaku who is starting game in game out.
Though I think Jose when he feels the team is under cosh, yes his instincts are to go for the player who will defend more.
He'll drop Mata and play them both, which to be honest is exactly what we should be doing.
Can't people just praise him without taking digs at Jose or Rashford ? This thread has become ridiculous atm.
Great game today and he should have at least got another assist. He murdered them and they couldn't find any solutions for him.
I was surprised he asked to be subbed. I just hope it's not injury because we need him even as a sub.
This. Bloody lunatics
By the way, mods should update his stats, it's 5-5 goals and assists not 5-4.
He surely has to at some point.
One of those occasions when the fans can see what the manager can't I think.
Or what manager can and the fans can't or don't want to.
We're playing Palace at home, so he has a very good chance of starting.
Honestly Mata as well as Mhki should join the "Not guaranteed a start" zone like Martial and Rashford. They should have to fight just as much as the other 2 and earn their places if they have to start.
These talks of x player is in there because he brings balance or some other intangible attribute can only work for so long if other players are putting in better performances as well numbers than them.
If Mata doesn't start producing he should be dropped for more in form players. Martial and Rashford shouldn't be the only ones in and out depending on their performances.
So if they go on a consistent run of form while other attacker produce less, would it still be fair that they're the only ones to be rotated? Don't think so. Time to extend this completion between all our attackers rather than only Martial and Rashford.
Honestly Mata as well as Mhki should join the "Not guaranteed a start" zone like Martial and Rashford. They should have to fight just as much as the other 2 and earn their places if they have to start.
These talks of x player is in there because he brings balance or some other intangible attribute can only work for so long if other players are putting in better performances as well numbers than them.
If Mata doesn't start producing he should be dropped for more in form players. Martial and Rashford shouldn't be the only ones in and out depending on their performances.
So if they go on a consistent run of form while other attacker produce less, would it still be fair that they're the only ones to be rotated? Don't think so. Time to extend this completion between all our attackers rather than only Martial and Rashford.
This is probably right. But would love to be a fly on the wall to understand what's the concern with Martial starting is. There should be 4 people rotated on the basis of their performance, Mkhi, Mata, Rashford. That seems fair and probably ideal. Mata as a #10 seems too in our faces to not even give a shot at.
I think it has to do with control and creativity. The idea is that Mata is practically another extra midfield and brings in creativity.
I was alright with it and to some extend still am but we're starting to reach a point where Jose would have to think differently because he can't keep ignoring more deserving player for this scenario.
Losing Mata's control for more attacking threat and pace is something Mou should start seriously thinking about at this point. The truth of the matter Mata hasn't produced so far this season and the only argument for him right now are all these intangible about him giving us control(through his tidiness) and creativity(which he hasn't been so far this season).
When Martial is in his top form, he's our best attacker.
His dribbling on form really is delightful, I love how he slaloms between defenders leaving them for dead.
Glad he took the penalty also, he's clearly feeling confident and happy, that's showing on the pitch.
I'm not a huge fan of 3-5-2 but he really seems to excel at that striker/winger hybrid position. If only we had a flying LWB to really make the pitch wide (Young/Blind are doing a good job) then I would be happy to play this more regularly.
I really think though a 4-2-3-1 with Martial,Rashford,Lukaku and Mkhi is possible. Jose HAS to try this.
His dribbling on form really is delightful, I love how he slaloms between defenders leaving them for dead.
Glad he took the penalty also, he's clearly feeling confident and happy, that's showing on the pitch.
I'm not a huge fan of 3-5-2 but he really seems to excel at that striker/winger hybrid position. If only we had a flying LWB to really make the pitch wide (Young/Blind are doing a good job) then I would be happy to play this more regularly.
I really think though a 4-2-3-1 with Martial,Rashford,Lukaku and Mkhi is possible. Jose HAS to try this.
I think it’s clearly a defensive issue with Mourinho, in the Everton game he was brought on as soon as the second goal went in whereas he wasn’t brought on at all in the Southampton game that ended 1-0.
Can see him and Rashford starting versus Palace considering how bad they are going forward.
In theory yes, they even might be already, it's just that we don't really know what Mou expects from particular players/roles. Narrowing it down to goals/assists due to them being attacking player, albeit logical, is short-sighted I guess. Jose has his reasons to play Mata even if statistically speaking he's produced feck all, just like he has his reasons to I think always take him off around 60-70th minute.
So far I think that the picture is clear that it's Rashford/Martial competing for the left, Miki being #10, Lukaku/Rashford for #9 (no reason to drop the former), right is mostly Mata. Maybe keeping Martial/Rashford sort of pissed off at not starting every game is his plan, to keep them competing and pushing one another? Maybe he knows that they might burn themselves if both play all the matches? Maybe he wants a pacey winger to get onto the pitch on the tired legs so one of them is always going to inevitably sit on the bench, because an impact sub is a very important part of his game plan? Maybe it's the mix of all really.
I don't know if Martial will start against CP, I'm sure that Rashford and Mata will though, both rested against CSKA.
This is also what I'd like. The rotation should be among all 4 behind Lukaku, not just restricted to only Martial and Rashford.
Miki and Mata are having it easy with guaranteed starts while Martial and Rashford the only ones going through uncertainties despite being in better form than Mata.
There should be an option where if both Martial and Rashford delivered, they can both look forward to starting the next game, not just be hopefull to be picked despite having performed brilliantly in the previous games.
Players should be assured of a start after coming off brilliant performances.
You would think so. It may take a little longer to happen as Martial isn't English, but soon the media will be scratching their heads wondering why we are starting our best forward on the bench if his performances continue.
It will start to become the question Jose is asked every week. I'm seeing a player who could do what Hazard and Sanchez do for us. Benching him is inexplicable.
I agree to the assessment that there are some defensive responsibilities due to which Martial is at an disadvantage. But considering that the other two (Mkhi & Mata) aren't renowned for their defensive responsibility, it seems unfair to draw the line for one player and let the others go.
This is the concern honestly. We seem to have two players for each position. Rotation in the left wing is fine, you probably give more opportunities to the one you have on your primary tactical formation (Which was Martial at the last of last year before he lost his place to Rashford). But its unfair on both Rashford as well as Martial to have to be rotated while there is security for other positions on the pitch irrespective of how they perform.
This is all the more surprising since we were only ever reportedly after a left winger than a right sided player. Was the plan to have Mata play the right wing for the entirety of the season. Honestly Mkhi is actually worse on the wings than Mata is.
I quite agree to your points. But then again, I'm not too alarmed at the minutes or lack thereof for Martial/Rashford. They're quite young, I think people actually forget how young these kids are. Martial, the supposedly more developed player is 21 and the player with whom he's competing is 19 turning 20. These two players have contributed 10 goals and 10 assists so far. How insanely awesome is that !
Amazing performance.
I'm not sure it is the best plan in terms of rotating Martial and Rashford long term for their motivation. They will start to feel there is little hope of establishing themselves and playing every game. Either that, or one of them fails. Imagine we only had one slot in the team for Rooney or Ronaldo? It's a ridiculous scenario and only spiting ourselves.
I think you make a fair point too that perhaps Jose is worried starting both every game may burn them out, but I don't think it has to be like that. Firstly, I don't think anyone is advocating just starting both every game for the sake of it. I think it is because their form is the best. That may change though. If one isn't playing well, he can be brought out of the side, so they won't likely always both play. Then, they can also simply be rested. They could be first-choice, but Lingard and Mata will still play often enough. Even if Martial and Rashford start 60% together, that will be better than never going with our better forward line-up due to fear of burn out.
Also, I think Lingard can provide pace from the bench, and if not, he is pointless and should be sold. If he's not good enough to impact from either the start or the bench, then he should go.
Mourinho should start rewarding him for his performances as it's getting ridiculous. If these types of performances since the start of the season are not worthy of a starting spot then I dread to think where Martial will find himself when he inevitably hits a rough patch of form.
He was awesome last night, we're lucky to have a player of his talent in the team. This is his form since he joined us, better than his first season I reckon. Jose made a good point, playing 3 at the back allowed Martial a lot more freedom, he was drifting out wide, coming centrally and coming deep for the ball, the Moscow defenders couldn't get near him. He seemed to have a very good understanding with Lukaku too, which is great.
Think it's time for him to kick on and establish himself as a regular starter, hopefully Jose gives him a run of games now.
Think it's time for him to kick on and establish himself as a regular starter, hopefully Jose gives him a run of games now.
Agree. I think Matic, Pogba and Mkhi give us enough control. It's time to start firing on both wings.
They can't do anything. Only two who can are Niall and me but the matchday backend isn't loading for me @Niall so he's the only one who can change it.
Everyone's stats at the moment:
Not a mod mate.
Statistically (which I know is not a good way to pick a team, but just playing devil's advocate for a second) the front four picks itself, and makes a mockery of rotation. Lukaku, Rashford, Miki and Martial have 21 goals and 13 assists between them. Mata has none.
Always thought you were.
Mata has 0 goals&assists 
We'll find out in 20 minutes whether he's made the France squad or not.
That's the most surprising stat I've seen this season. Mata is usually very productive, surprised he hasn't popped up with goals or assists by now.Mata has 0 goals&assists
He's been our worst attacker by a massive distance and I'm a huge Mata fan.Mata has 0 goals&assists
He needs to be dropped.
He'll make the team and not play is my prediction.
Mata is doing the work mkhitarayn cant do whilst mkhitarayn is doing the job that mata used to do for us - stats don't show sh*t
What job is that? Mata has not been good enough. Period.
Martial will be fine I think but he needs to become much more consistent before I'd put him up there with what Hazard or Sanchez do for their teams.
He is the one who passes the ball from deeper areas and transitions the ball from midfield to attack; mkhitarayn keeps losing the ball compared to mata - yet mkhitarayn is the one who has been more lethal in terms in goals and assists.
In a 4231 - mata & Mkhitarayn help each others weaknesses; in a 352 this is not needed. If we are going to drop mata then we must change formation to retain possession across our midfield and have them play further forward; which can be done since we would have 3 defenders.
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