[UncleBob]

Only reason he would need to control the ball was if he needed to slow down and wait for the rest of his team. In that situation he should have attacked the ball and just took it in his stride really and put his body in front of the defender. Has to make it harder for the defender there.

Controlling it doesn't mean stopping it.



Defender does well to get across, he also has the advantage of only needing to knock the ball away and not gain proper control of it which Martial has to if he's going to get anything out of the situation.

Bizarre to suggest he's pulling out of anything, just doesn't get there that one second earlier which would have allowed him to touch the ball and stay ahead of the defender.

 

[RedStarUnited]

Just watched the highlights back... Really weird how he went for the Ederson mistake (where he let the ball roll under his foot) with his left foot... if he had slid in and gone with his right he'd almost certainly have scored.

That's the weird thing about Tony... one minute he's being brave and sticking his head in somewhere rough, the other minute he's half pulling out of a tackle/sprint... Seems like his mood/decisions making on the pitch changes at the drop of a hat at times.

I dont think he was pulling out, I think he thought he could get there first and tap the ball in. In hindsight he should have slide the other way and tried to block the keepers clearance instead, that would have been safer and probably resulted into a goal.

 

[Nep77]

He has been very good on own box since Rashford Injury but people just started to get notice. There has been so much improvement on his game in last one year, his shooting ability from longer distance, use of the weaker foot more and more, getting better in the air, pressing and intensity and also the off the ball movement. If I am not wrong he has scored across 15 games this season and has scored winning goal in both Manchester Derby and Chelsea Away. Amount of abuse he gets over here is freaking ridiculous, people expect him to just turn up and be world class from get go on the position he hasn't played for whole 3 years. Looking forward to the end of season and upward trajectory in the next season with addition of more talented player who will play on same wavelength.

 

[Shark]

The addition of Fernandes has worked wonders for Martial, which is no surprise given they’re both quality players and his previous teammates in that position were gash. When Rashford and Pogba return he’ll be getting even more goals.

 

[kidbob]

Scored in 15 of the 30 games he's started in. Assisted in another 3. That's fairly consistent in a low scoring team. Once he starts converting a few of the singles into doubles , we've got a 2/3 or even 3/4 type of striker. And that's without penalties.

Nice stats, you'd have to think that with Bruno here, Rashford to his left and hopefully Sancho (or the next best) to his right then he'll go even further than that next season (hopefully more injury free too). Not to mention either that goals aren't the only aspect of his game either.

 

[MikeKing]

Controlling it doesn't mean stopping it.



Defender does well to get across, he also has the advantage of only needing to knock the ball away and not gain proper control of it which Martial has to if he's going to get anything out of the situation.

Bizarre to suggest he's pulling out of anything, just doesn't get there that one second earlier which would have allowed him to touch the ball and stay ahead of the defender.

I find it bizarre to argue this. He obviously could have gotten a touch, some part of his body if he attacked the ball more aggressively prepared to take it in his stride. The ball is going right past him man. He should get a touch and run straight ahead, not to control it softly to the left where the defender is. He has struggled a bit with his confidence on the ball lately, playing within himself at times so this is not unnatural to be a bit reserved and afraid of making a mistake. I don't blame him for wanting to properly control the ball, but in that position he really should have just gambled a bit and put his body in front of the ball and started running.

 

[Sayros]

Some of the people nitpicking his controls or how he approached the Ederson mistake and what he should have done in retrospect are ridiculous.
Of course, if another player (say a Rashford or McTominay) had put them ahead in the derby, you probably wouldn't be seeing any of that, but it's Martial and he's making a lot of people on here look silly in how they assessed him so there has to be some kind of criticism to save face. It's really gratifying to see how he's consistently proved people wrong on here, and no matter how hard some try to bury him, he's still here and doing the business. I hope he keeps it up, that United keep bringing creative and quality players because that's what players like Martial need to bring the best out of them.

 

[E-mal]

I find it bizarre to argue this. He obviously could have gotten a touch, some part of his body if he attacked the ball more aggressively prepared to take it in his stride. The ball is going right past him man. He should get a touch and run straight ahead, not to control it softly to the left where the defender is. He has struggled a bit with his confidence on the ball lately, playing within himself at times so this is not unnatural to be a bit reserved and afraid of making a mistake. I don't blame him for wanting to properly control the ball, but in that position he really should have just gambled a bit and put his body in front of the ball and started running.

This is just been petty, if he could get to the ball, he would have. It has nothing to do with confidence.

 

[Steven-UK]

Honestly call it a day, because football isn't the sport for you!

Pal, I've probably been to more live games than you have watched on TV, and for probably longer than you were on this planet.

Honestly, stop with your knee-jerk nonsense because one one game. It's juvenile, seriously. Martial is just a lazy, lazy (and greedy) player, and needs at least 5 chances to score 1. Take your rose-tinted one's off.

Also, read the comments on the match day thread before he scored, go one...it will be very insightful.

Like I said, it's typical knee-jerk after ONE GAME, I'll remind you after the next game, when all this has calmed......

I for one hope he is sold in the summer, and that we buy a player who actually puts the effort in for more than 10% of the season.

 

[laughtersassassin]

Pal, I've probably been to more live games than you have watched on TV, and for probably longer than you were on this planet.

Honestly, stop with your knee-jerk nonsense because one one game. It's juvenile, seriously. Martial is just a lazy, lazy (and greedy) player, and needs at least 5 chances to score 1. Take your rose-tinted one's off.

Also, read the comments on the match day thread before he scored, go one...it will be very insightful.

Like I said, it's typical knee-jerk after ONE GAME, I'll remind you after the next game, when all this has calmed......

I for one hope he is sold in the summer, and that we buy a player who actually puts the effort in for more than 10% of the season.

My Word.

 

[Rolaholic]

My Word.

Fans like that are why 'Martial FC' even became a thing in the first place

He gets criminally underrated and slagged off by a section of the fanbase anytime he doesn't drop a 10/10 performance while they nitpick his every single touch and move when he does do well.

He's next in line as fans go to scapegoat whenever Pogba gets sold. Unsurprisingly, the 2 players Moaninho had his most public disputes with

 

[Yagami]

I wouldn't pay too much attention to @Steven-UK :

No, James is our most important player.

Rashford and Martial are still not consistent enough, sure again garbage teams they look like they 'could' be, but when it matters most, they let the team down. They are no different now to when LVG played them, the difference now is we have proper winger in James, so if we get world class strikers, then the service is there, and will not be wasted as much.

 

[laughtersassassin]

Fans like that are why 'Martial FC' even became a thing in the first place

He gets criminally underrated and slagged off by a section of the fanbase anytime he doesn't drop a 10/10 performance while they nitpick his every single touch and move when he does do well.

He's next in line as fans go to scapegoat whenever Pogba gets sold. Unsurprisingly, the 2 players Moaninho had his most public disputes with

Said that before myself mate. Martial isn't safe when Pogba goes unless the team realty kicks on.

Of it doesn't he is a dead man walking despite like Pogba being undoubtedly one of our better players.

I guess it comes down to what you value as a fan. Myself I can't overlook a players lack of quality cause they run around aimlessly.

For the most part I value actual quality first and foremost.

 

[UncleBob]

I find it bizarre to argue this. He obviously could have gotten a touch, some part of his body if he attacked the ball more aggressively prepared to take it in his stride. The ball is going right past him man. He should get a touch and run straight ahead, not to control it softly to the left where the defender is. He has struggled a bit with his confidence on the ball lately, playing within himself at times so this is not unnatural to be a bit reserved and afraid of making a mistake. I don't blame him for wanting to properly control the ball, but in that position he really should have just gambled a bit and put his body in front of the ball and started running.

Yeah, he just couldn't be bothered.

Christ.

 

[laughtersassassin]

What's with the criticism for this game anyway. His hold up was fantastic bar the first 10 minutes.

Bullied Fernandiniho.

 

[Rolaholic]

I wouldn't pay too much attention to @Steven-UK :

Daniel James being more important than Rashford and Martial, FFS

That post in particular is hilarious. Praising a lad, a forward player without a goal since August or assist since December, and lauding his importance over the other 2 when they've been our best big game scorers/players since Fergie retired

Can't convince me there isn't some serious WUMming going on there...

 

[Mainoldo]

Solskjær getting 12 pages of praise but those supports still can’t take time to give Martial credit.

Hnmmmmm!!

It’s sad but funny to observe.

 

[pratyush_utd]

It's funny seeing the usual suspects trying way too hard to discredit Martial's performance. No doubt they will turn up again when he has a bad game.

 

[pratyush_utd]

Pal, I've probably been to more live games than you have watched on TV, and for probably longer than you were on this planet.

Honestly, stop with your knee-jerk nonsense because one one game. It's juvenile, seriously. Martial is just a lazy, lazy (and greedy) player, and needs at least 5 chances to score 1. Take your rose-tinted one's off.

Also, read the comments on the match day thread before he scored, go one...it will be very insightful.

Like I said, it's typical knee-jerk after ONE GAME, I'll remind you after the next game, when all this has calmed......

I for one hope he is sold in the summer, and that we buy a player who actually puts the effort in for more than 10% of the season.

It's quite clear that despite going to "several more games", your football knowledge is next to nothing. It would be helpful if you avoid posting such nonsense in performance thread and boast about your football knowledge somewhere else.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Some of the people nitpicking his controls or how he approached the Ederson mistake and what he should have done in retrospect are ridiculous.
Of course, if another player (say a Rashford or McTominay) had put them ahead in the derby, you probably wouldn't be seeing any of that, but it's Martial and he's making a lot of people on here look silly in how they assessed him so there has to be some kind of criticism to save face. It's really gratifying to see how he's consistently proved people wrong on here, and no matter how hard some try to bury him, he's still here and doing the business. I hope he keeps it up, that United keep bringing creative and quality players because that's what players like Martial need to bring the best out of them.

So because he scored a goal you can't go into detail on other elements? I mean we all know there was that one point he should have pulled it back to Bruno, but you can't bring it up because he scored? So we can't want our players to be better and do better and improve on what they're already really good at? That makes zero sense.

Not like anyone is saying he had a bad game, in fact it's pretty unanimous that he had a great game, but come on, it's a football forum, we are literally here to debate the minutiae.

And Rashford constantly gets criticised for the chances he misses as well as praised for the goals he scores.

 

[Bastian]

I don't see him as a #9 and I'm not sure he does so himself. But he's added to his game recently. Ever since he broke Christensen's nose he's really added a physicality to his game. He contests headers and wins many and he's just more physically aggressive. It's great to see.

Did he even have any treatment yesterday with that nasty clash against the post? I think Ole is helping him improve his mentality.

 

[Chinchy98]

Pal, I've probably been to more live games than you have watched on TV, and for probably longer than you were on this planet.

Honestly, stop with your knee-jerk nonsense because one one game. It's juvenile, seriously. Martial is just a lazy, lazy (and greedy) player, and needs at least 5 chances to score 1. Take your rose-tinted one's off.

Also, read the comments on the match day thread before he scored, go one...it will be very insightful.

Like I said, it's typical knee-jerk after ONE GAME, I'll remind you after the next game, when all this has calmed......

I for one hope he is sold in the summer, and that we buy a player who actually puts the effort in for more than 10% of the season.

Really? What top striker from our past is Martial better than? RVN? RVP? Sheringham? Cole? OGS? Yorke? Martial is not better than any of them, and never will be. Martial would be lucky to get on the bench on previous teams in the past; in fact, I doubt he would even be at the club.

And if you think Martial is some kind of benchmark for future strikers, then we really are in a mess.

The problem is that he is simply not good enough, what's he been here now? 7 years? And excuses are still being made about him?

He should be sold ASAP. Can you imagine him getting a testimonial..... he probably wouldn't even turn up he is that lazy.

Stealing a (wealthy) living this lad, the same as many in this team.

Gotta give credit where it is due, you are consistent.

Made me chuckle you are happy to call out posters for being juvenile, yet we have ridiculous hyperbolic, demonstrably incorrect posts from yourself.

A) He has a G+A per game that is well above 1 in 2 this season. It does take tangible effort and quality to produce that output, it is patently not the output of someone who can only be bothered in 10% of games. See Lingard/AP for their output ratios.

B) How do you know he won't forge a solid career at United. Do you have a crystal ball? I can happily accept nuanced posts outlining reasons why you believe they may or may not achieve a good career here. But you know what they say about the types of people deal in absolutes....

C) Why would you want us to weaken our threadbare forward line? That doesn't sound like clever squad building to me. The player appears to be happy at the moment, producing and is improving some parts of his game that need real improvement.

D) Nice of you to post on here how you couldn't be bothered to go to the Burnley game, and would have it on in the background as an after thought - yet you're happy to posture yourself as a top red that "has watched more games than one has on TV". A bit of lateral thinking would allow you to realise that there are reasons why people may not be able to go to games, Socio-economic/Geography/illness/disability.

 

[Toddler]

I wouldn't pay too much attention to @Steven-UK :

He must be a troll of some sort. Entertaining to read though.

 

[MikeKing]

This is just been petty, if he could get to the ball, he would have. It has nothing to do with confidence.

Whats been petty? He could have gotten to the ball but he wasn't ready. I've questioned why he wasn't, that's it. Not something to get all sensitive about.

Yeah, he just couldn't be bothered.

Christ.

Why are you upset? I didn't say he couldn't be bothered, you did. Putting words in my mouth before you take the lords name in vain, are you raging against the machine or something?

 

[Art Vandelay]

So because he scored a goal you can't go into detail on other elements? I mean we all know there was that one point he should have pulled it back to Bruno, but you can't bring it up because he scored? So we can't want our players to be better and do better and improve on what they're already really good at? That makes zero sense.

Not like anyone is saying he had a bad game, in fact it's pretty unanimous that he had a great game, but come on, it's a football forum, we are literally here to debate the minutiae.

And Rashford constantly gets criticised for the chances he misses as well as praised for the goals he scores.

Just to point out that you're responding to someone that is suggesting that people on a forum having an opinion that isn't universal praise for a player that divides opinion are being made to look silly and are somehow attempting to bury said player by posting on a forum. Are you expecting a rational response? Because what you responded to was in no way rational.

People are so weirdly emotional and over the top in here.

 

[Yagami]

His girlfriend enjoyed the game

 

[Bobcat]

Solskjær getting 12 pages of praise but those supports still can’t take time to give Martial credit.

Hnmmmmm!!

It’s sad but funny to observe.

All the Ole threads are busy as feck all the time. I think the one with the poll had 50 or something new pages during the winter break when no football was being played, which is just insane.

As i've said before, his top level is insanely high. That volley he scored on Sunday (as well as the other goal he scored vs City on Etihad) was truly world class. Then again, he was imo rubbish vs Everton and Burnely not that long ago, which is why hes so frustrating. We know what hes capable off, and when hes having a bad game hes truly bad which is why he draws so much anger from the fans.

To put it another way. Martial can play a game half as bad as Lindgard and still draw more anger from the fans because the former is world class (on his day) where as the other one is not PL quality

 

[lenny_1248]

God give him strength, because when Pogba goes he will become a scapegoat)

 

[Andycoleno9]

Solskjær getting 12 pages of praise but those supports still can’t take time to give Martial credit.

Hnmmmmm!!

It’s sad but funny to observe.

Yeah, i don't know what to say anymore. He is doing great as our striker, scoring goals, involved in all our atttacks, pressing...but still he is not "natural no9"!! Give us Ighalo, Greenwood, Crouch, Dembele and whoever. Bloody hell.
Look at match day threads. After 10 minutes you have posts which are saying that he is not striker and shit like that.
Especially one thing is annoying. 2 times he does perfect hold up play. Shields the ball and gives it to free player. Third time he loses the ball; "He is not number no9!!!! We want Ighalo!!!"

 

[Santoryo]

My new favorite criticism these clearly agenda driven posters are throwing around these day is this blatant lie about him playing well for 5 minutes than remains anonymous for the other 80.

That lots tried to use goal output as a stick to beat Martial with but since he's productive they downplay it now and claim that he does nothing beside score. And these same lots go around overrating and defending opposition players like Firmino who doesn't have Martial output with a bunch of intangible about him doing something else but score. Same people who would moan about Martial if he doesn't score.

 

[roonster09]

My new favorite criticism these clearly agenda driven posters are throwing around these day is this blatant lie about him playing well for 5 minutes than remains anonymous for the other 80.

That lots tried to use goal output as a stick to beat Martial with but since he's productive they downplay it now and claim that he does nothing beside score. And these same lots go around overrating and defending opposition players like Firmino who doesn't have Martial output with a bunch of intangible about him doing something else but score. Same people who would moan about Martial if he doesn't score.

Which never made sense at all. His goal scoring record was good for the mins he was given. He played around 50% of league mins and he used to score around 10 league goals which is very good record.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I wouldn't pay too much attention to @Steven-UK :

Daniel James

 

[KennyBurner]

Said that before myself mate. Martial isn't safe when Pogba goes unless the team realty kicks on.

Of it doesn't he is a dead man walking despite like Pogba being undoubtedly one of our better players.

I guess it comes down to what you value as a fan. Myself I can't overlook a players lack of quality cause they run around aimlessly.

For the most part I value actual quality first and foremost.

We’re in the same boat. Squad quality will always come first for me. It’s the only way to excel at the top. You can have all the runners in the world but when you come up against a Bayern or madrid you will be humbled by how they play the ball around you. That Chelsea versus Bayern game really showed how having quality players really is the difference. Chelsea thought they had quality players who could pass the ball 5 meters till they actually came across real players with better coaching and more variation.

However I do believe a few niche players like James is needed for the special occasion. Just like a Jordan Henderson for Liverpool. These types of players are also needed for when quality is just not enough. You need that extra dimension like we saw with James running the channels against City.

In the end it’s all about balance. We need players with quality, determination and hardwork combined. You can’t have a team filled with all Ben arfas.

 

[laughtersassassin]

We’re in the same boat. Squad quality will always come first for me. It’s the only way to excel at the top. You can have all the runners in the world but when you come up against a Bayern or madrid you will be humbled by how they play the ball around you. That Chelsea versus Bayern game really showed how having quality players really is the difference. Chelsea thought they had quality players who could pass the ball 5 meters till they actually came across real players with better coaching and more variation.

However I do believe a few niche players like James is needed for the special occasion. Just like a Jordan Henderson for Liverpool. These types of players are also needed for when quality is just not enough. You need that extra dimension like we saw with James running the channels against City.

In the end it’s all about balance. We need players with quality, determination and hardwork combined. You can’t have a team filled with all Ben arfas.

That's true mate but I would say in our decline despite our players often being labelled as not trying it is more the opposite.

We have lacked quality players more than players who put a shift in in my opinion.

 

[Stadjer]

Pal, I've probably been to more live games than you have watched on TV, and for probably longer than you were on this planet.

Honestly, stop with your knee-jerk nonsense because one one game. It's juvenile, seriously. Martial is just a lazy, lazy (and greedy) player, and needs at least 5 chances to score 1. Take your rose-tinted one's off.

Also, read the comments on the match day thread before he scored, go one...it will be very insightful.

Like I said, it's typical knee-jerk after ONE GAME, I'll remind you after the next game, when all this has calmed......

I for one hope he is sold in the summer, and that we buy a player who actually puts the effort in for more than 10% of the season.

You deserve a team of Jesse Lingards... puts in effort but no quality.

 

[JJ12]

His girlfriend enjoyed the game

Love that

 

[Handré1990]

You deserve a team of Jesse Lingards... puts in effort but no quality.

What’s really funny is the brazen attempt to use matchday posts as an indication of something true That place is a cesspool of raw unfiltered emotion and hyperbole.

 

[Rozay]

All the Ole threads are busy as feck all the time. I think the one with the poll had 50 or something new pages during the winter break when no football was being played, which is just insane.

As i've said before, his top level is insanely high. That volley he scored on Sunday (as well as the other goal he scored vs City on Etihad) was truly world class. Then again, he was imo rubbish vs Everton and Burnely not that long ago, which is why hes so frustrating. We know what hes capable off, and when hes having a bad game hes truly bad which is why he draws so much anger from the fans.

To put it another way. Martial can play a game half as bad as Lindgard and still draw more anger from the fans because the former is world class (on his day) where as the other one is not PL quality

Every player has bad games. Are Manchester City fans to be furious at the fact Aguero did feck all on Sunday because they know how good he can be? What exactly is ‘consistency’ anyway? Martial is literally always one poor game away from the same shit on here. Then he’ll have several better games and then one poor one. Like almost every other footballer.

The consistency argument is used selectively against some players. All of our players, except Fred perhaps, have good and bad games over a spell. Some players get a ‘wasn’t quite at his best today but players have off games’ and others get this level of micro analysis. Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Firmino - they are also ‘inconsistent’ players by whatever metric being used for Martial. He has had poor games this season, but he hasn’t had some sort of 8 game run playing poorly. The inconsistency thing gets thrown out after one game, regardless of how the 4 previous ones or the next 4 go.

 

[Bobcat]

Every player has bad games. Are Manchester City fans to be furious at the fact Aguero did feck all on Sunday because they know how good he can be? What exactly is ‘consistency’ anyway? Martial is literally always one poor game away from the same shit on here. Then he’ll have several better games and then one poor one. Like almost every other footballer.

The consistency argument is used selectively against some players. All of our players, except Fred perhaps, have good and bad games over a spell. Some players get a ‘wasn’t quite at his best today but players have off games’ and others get this level of micro analysis. Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Firmino - they are also ‘inconsistent’ players by whatever metric being used for Martial. He has had poor games this season, but he hasn’t had some sort of 8 game run playing poorly. The inconsistency thing gets thrown out after one game, regardless of how the 4 previous ones or the next 4 go.

To put it this way, Martial probably has the same level as talent as Kane, Aguero, KDB, Sterling, Mane and Salah, but ask any neutral and i am confident that 99% of them will say hes a level below those guys, simply because of his lack of consistency

Rashford for example went through some awful form this fall (when Martial was out), but for most players a bad patch of form lasts a couple of weeks/months, due to fitness, knocks confidence etc, and then they go back to performing more or less at a consistent level.

Martial can fluctuate between class and awful from game to game, so you never know what you get from him. And its not because hes not scoring, but in his bad games he barely influences the game at all or works the defense, where as in his good games hes a constant threat

 

[Santoryo]

To put it this way, Martial probably has the same level as talent as Kane, Aguero, KDB, Sterling, Mane and Salah, but ask any neutral and i am confident that 99% of them will say hes a level below those guys, simply because of his lack of consistency

Rashford for example went through some awful form this fall (when Martial was out), but for most players a bad patch of form lasts a couple of weeks/months, due to fitness, knocks confidence etc, and then they go back to performing more or less at a consistent level.

Martial can fluctuate between class and awful from game to game, so you never know what you get from him. And its not because hes not scoring, but in his bad games he barely influences the game at all or works the defense, where as in his good games hes a constant threat

Go look at Sterling stats, especially since the start of 2020(and his performances) then write this post again with a straight face. The problem with people on these boards or on the internet in general is that they actually don't even properly watch most of the players they rate but they always seem to think they've rightly assessed players levels.

It doesn't matter how Martial performs or what numbers he puts out there, some people have these perceptions of certain players which they can never shake off. It is also important to bring the fact that most people don't even watch rival players that consistently to see how "inconsistent" they are and their entire perceptions of them have been built through highlight reels and media parroting, case in point you bringing up Sterling right now as an example to prove your point.

No player doesn't go without having weak games, it happens. None of the players you mentioned have put in stellar performances in every single game they've played. Kane was quiet for a while at the start of the season till he started scoring again and even then statistically Martial was putting similar numbers before his injury(Kane injury). Sterling has been average throughout the whole of 2020 so far etc, but somehow you still believe they put in brilliant performance week in week out and you claim Martial is an inconsistent player(despite consistently scoring for us throughout the season so far).

@Rozay brought a valid point and your post just further proved it.