[Sayros]

I'm sure fans will sing about their team's XG in the years to come.

some people..

Okay, boomer.

I think we will see a continued motivation from Martial, between the prospect of a top 4 finish and a chance to get in the French NT for the Euro, along with the fact that he's got a guy he seems to really get along with in Bruno who's going to find him can only bodes well for him having his best season ever at United and in his career.

 

[Haddock]

Okay, boomer.

I think we will see a continued motivation from Martial, between the prospect of a top 4 finish and a chance to get in the French NT for the Euro, along with the fact that he's got a guy he seems to really get along with in Bruno who's going to find him can only bodes well for him having his best season ever at United and in his career.

Okay bot

I don't think his motivation is going to come from being named 'most efficient forward' in the division. But I really hope he goes to the Euros. He's a wonderful player to watch and he'll deserve it more than Giroud at any rate. Benzema is (I think?) persona non grata no?

 

[Sayros]

Okay bot

I don't think his motivation is going to come from being named 'most efficient forward' in the division. But I really hope he goes to the Euros. He's a wonderful player to watch and he'll deserve it more than Giroud at any rate. Benzema is (I think?) persona non grata no?

Yeah, I can't see Benzema ever coming back with Deschamps in the side, not to mention his form has seriously dipped. Between that, Coman who's most likely going to get hurt again before then, Dembele out, Lemar not doing much, the door is wide open for Martial to get in.

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

Yeah, I can't see Benzema ever coming back with Deschamps in the side, not to mention his form has seriously dipped. Between that, Coman who's most likely going to get hurt again before then, Dembele out, Lemar not doing much, the door is wide open for Martial to get in.

Still has to compete with Mbappe and AG for the striker spots, no? I think he wants to be in regardless of position but haven’t seen him done well in the left for France, they don’t feed him the ball nearly as much as we do at Utd.

 

[KennyBurner]

 

[Hawks2008]

I have been critical of him but he has been scoring lately and scoring when we need it. I liked what I saw in the derby where it wasn't just the goal but he was imposing himself on the defence and being a real focal point. I knew he had great technique and finishing but the other parts of a strikers game felt missing. I really want to see him do it more and be a constant menace to the opposition defence instead of just the flashes we usually get.

That said I'm still not convinced we don't need a striker who will at push him hard for a starting spot. Hopefully he kicks and shows he isn't just a highlights player.

 

[Man of Leisure]

Shaw and Martial are clearly two of our biggest talents in the club and on the verge of being world class.

World class?? Are you wumming?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Next thing I'd like to see him add to his game is a venemous strike from anywhere around the penalty box. He's exceptionally efficient in attack but isn't a player that frightens teams with that feeling that this guy can hurt us from any distance or angle. For example he's scored a lot of goals at the near post this season so that's something he's definitely added to his game. So hopefully we also see this. His numbers given he missed two months are excellent. Could easily have been on 20 already.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Such a classy player.

 

[TrustInOle]

Some pundits have claimed that this was decided instinctively but I just don't see how it could be. It was simply too well timed. Aguero was told to mark Martial but he still got away because his instant burst was planned.

Completely agree mate. You can clearly see the move starts as soon as Fred raises his hand and Martial if off instantly. Think this is just the beginning of something great in our front line. Bring back Rashford to, not looking to bad.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Its actually other way round. A player playing for man utd (and earning 250k per week) needs to be at his best all the time or at least most of the time. What acceptable is occasional drop of form due to various reasons. Martial is exactly opposite.

Nothing opposite. This clip from Rio mentioned Berba as an example, which tells us that both Berba & Martial have the same issue. At least Martial can still learn at his age, while Berba was considered as experienced one at that time.

 

[Rolaholic]

Might just be the best decision he ever made along with sacking that dinosaur

Can't imagine the squad with the likes of Perisic, Willian and Alexis in attack hitting the wrong side of 30

 

[Art Vandelay]

Woodward patting himself on the back for handing out ridiculous wages.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Might just be the best decision he ever made along with sacking that dinosaur

Can't imagine the squad with the likes of Perisic, Willian and Alexis in attack hitting the wrong side of 30

Mourinho legitimately wanted to swap him for Perisic or Willian.

While they're both good players it's just absolutely bonkers. I'll never forgive Jose for coming in and alienating our 2 best players (Pogba/Martial) and generally just making the club a horrible place to be. Ole isn't perfect but you can't argue the fact he's turned the club around.

 

[Bebestation]

He's so obviously a system player aswell and I personally don't think hes playing in the best system for him currently ( I think the way he was playing as a false 9 holding on to the football for Rashford for 2/3months was gorgeous) but hes scoring goals now anyway and that shows that he is clinical from the little chances he may get for him self.

I know that some don't see him as a False 9 or Firmino simply because Firmino is more hard working than Martial - but that is ultimately one statistic out of many and I believe Martial has shown he is more a clinical False 9 than him because Firmino would and has struggled without the right players or system around him.

 

[Foxbatt]

Play him with Odion and he will be a much better player.

 

[Stacks]

He's getting there in my eyes. Ever since he burst on the scene under LVG, he's been a star to me. I definitely agree the 'world class' description is reserved for players who show that level consistently over multiple seasons. But right now, Martial compares to the other great forwards around Europe stats wise, and his quality on/off the ball is crystal clear to see with the eyes. He can do anything with the ball that they can, whilst being of the right age to improve much further with experience.

There's not many players i would entertain swapping him for at all, and we would struggle to find a 24 year old as good as he is on the market right now. If players like Grealish are valued at £70m+, how much would Martial cost to buy right now?

He's now got a manager who believes in him again, and he's showing just how good he is. He's being managed superbly under Ole, long may it continue.

He actually doesn't.

there are guys in his own country who are younger and superior to him.

I like him though

 

[Adam-Utd]

He actually doesn't.

there are guys in his own country who are younger and superior to him.

I like him though

Such as? (don't say Mbappe)

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Are we satisfied with him as our starter that we should just get a backup striker who is happy to warm the bench (Ighalo)?

 

[Art Vandelay]

Are we satisfied with him as our starter that we should just get a backup striker who is happy to warm the bench (Ighalo)?

God no. Not if we actually want to be competitive. He's fine as a squad player, but shouldn't be trusted long term as first choice.

 

[Remember the geese]

Are we satisfied with him as our starter that we should just get a backup striker who is happy to warm the bench (Ighalo)?

I think that the current Martial is more than sufficient in the short to medium term. However, I think he may yet have another gear in him. Hopefully he continues his fine progress and finds that gear, or failing that, Mason Greenwood just becomes too good to hold back anymore and replaces him organically.

 

[Raven]

He actually doesn't.

there are guys in his own country who are younger and superior to him.

I like him though

I find this a little unlikely to be perfectly honest.

 

[Sayros]

He actually doesn't.

there are guys in his own country who are younger and superior to him.

I like him though

Besides Mbappe (who is superior to pretty much any young player out there), I can't think of any. Moussa Dembele is good, but I'd pick Martial over him and Cherki is too young to make any valid comparisons although he will most likely be a better player in the very near future.

 

[Foxbatt]

I don't think CF is Martial's best position. I think he is a number 10, or a second striker who drops deep.

 

[RooneyLegend]

He just needs to run the channels a bit more and we need to improve his supply. If he was playing for Atlanta he'd easily clear 30 goals in a season. Zapata is living the good life while pre Fernandes atleast this poor guy had no service what so ever outside of some hopeful balls into the box. His game is developing though, he's to close to greatness to give up on him now.

 

[Yagami]

Are we satisfied with him as our starter that we should just get a backup striker who is happy to warm the bench (Ighalo)?

Of course. He's one of our best players and the least of our worries. Assuming he stays injury free, and plays with people on his level more often than not (Rashford, Pogba, Bruno), I believe he can not only get around the 30 goal mark, but can also provide plenty of assists, too.

 

[Stacks]

Such as?

I find this a little unlikely to be perfectly honest.

Besides, (who is superior to pretty much any young player out there), I can't think of any. Moussa Dembele is good, but I'd pick Martial over him and Cherki is too young to make any valid comparisons although he will most likely be a better player in the very near future.

Mbappe!

Dembele can rival MArtial.
From other nations, Werner and Haaland have vastly better goal ratio as CF. almost a goal a game compared with 1 in 2

 

[KennyBurner]

Are we satisfied with him as our starter that we should just get a backup striker who is happy to warm the bench (Ighalo)?

Of course we are. If Liverpool can almost win the league and champions league the year before with a player like Firmino leading the line I dont see what the issue with martial is. United not competing for top honors has less to do with martial and more to do with recruitment the past few years. Ole is doing more to change that and we should be good to go within a year. martial is one of our better recruitment's as he's shown this year. We also have suffered from injury to key players so this year should have an asterisk on how good we actually are.

 

[Raven]

Mbappe!

Dembele can rival MArtial.
From other nations, Werner and Haaland have vastly better goal ratio as CF. almost a goal a game compared with 1 in 2

Dembele cannot rival Martial, that is pure nonsense. I'm not entirely sure why you would mention Werner or Haaland given that you said from his own country. Either way, there are plenty of examples of pretty average players scoring bucket loads in the Bundesliga so I think I'll wait a while before believing that they're better.

 

[Stacks]

Dembele cannot rival Martial, that is pure nonsense. I'm not entirely sure why you would mention Werner or Haaland given that you said from his own country. Either way, there are plenty of examples of pretty average players scoring bucket loads in the Bundesliga so I think I'll wait a while before believing that they're better.

Dembele has a better record in European competition than Martial in far less minutes (only fair measure)

Haarland has 10 goals Champions League too and 14 in Europe overall. This is more than Martial's European goals in his entire career. Levels

Also the initial post claimed best 24 year old in the world.

 

[Santoryo]

Of course we are. If Liverpool can almost win the league and champions league the year before with a player like Firmino leading the line I dont see what the issue with martial is. United not competing for top honors has less to do with martial and more to do with recruitment the past few years. Ole is doing more to change that and we should be good to go within a year. martial is one of our better recruitment's as he's shown this year. We also have suffered from injury to key players so this year should have an asterisk on how good we actually are.

It is quite odd how some people have it against Martial, I don;t even understand what seems to be the real issue here. Some would come up and bring up supposed issues about his movements, "not a true CF" etc but the truth of the matter is that he's scoring goals(and bog ones) for us and suit what we're building, about to enter his prime and is an excellent footballer.

You have people out there so against Martial that they don't even realize how their alternative choices can't even compare to Martial yet they're simply caught up into this random idea they've built for themselves that we can't compete for titles with Martial up front, and the reason being "He is not a true CF".

Despite being out for about 2 months due to injury, the team itself spending the majority of the season trying to find its identity and functioning well, up until recently, Martial is chipping in 1 goal in every 2 games and 2 goals+assists in every 3 yet some make it sound like he's horrible and needs upgrading ASAP. This getting rid/upgrade on Martial is some of the weirdest Caf obsession I've seen recently.

You have a young CF, scoring goals, developing, has yet to hit his prime but certainly closing there yet you have posters who want to get rid. Not to mention we're building a team that relies on all front 3 players to score goals and to play ball as well meaning the burden of scoring is split among them and it's important that they actually know how to ball. People wanting these outdated target man type CF who score all the team's goals are obviously looking at things differently to what Ole is trying to build.

It's pretty clear Ole has decided to build and go forward with Martial as his CF and he's rightly not looking to upgrade there given he has no reason to. A backup striker was always a priority and what needed for that position while we actually have serious pressing matters in other areas.

 

[Bebestation]

Dembele has a better record in European competition than Martial in far less minutes (only fair measure)

Haarland has 10 goals Champions League too and 14 in Europe overall. This is more than Martial's European goals in his entire career. Levels

Also the initial post claimed best 24 year old in the world.

Haaland is a completely different type of striker to Martial.

Fans who compare these strikers to Martial just show their understanding of football as equivalent to the fans of Liverpool who were questioning Firmino pre Klopp.

I want Haaland here just as much as any other fan - but there is a massive difference to the way players like Ighalo play and players like martial and firmino play ' and not not by work rate but by tactics and what they offer to the players around them in comparison to what Ighalo and Haaland offer their team which is also useful enough to have them in the squad.

But don't be shooting Martial doesn because his goals are lower than Haaland in europe you need to compare how he does to players like Firmino and if you cant see that then that's your understanding of football & it's why you questionwhy he drops deep on the pitch all the time and doesn't score enough goals just as much as the rest of the scouser did pre Klopp era.

Bye.

 

[AltiUn]

Haaland is a completely different type of striker to Martial.

Fans who compare these strikers to Martial just show their understanding of football as equivalent to the fans of Liverpool who were questioning Firmino pre Klopp.

I want Haaland here just as much as any other fan - but there is a massive difference to the way players like Ighalo play and players like martial and firmino play ' and not not by work rate but by tactics and what they offer to the players around them in comparison to what Ighalo and Haaland offer their team which is also useful enough to have them in the squad.

But don't be shooting Martial doesn because his goals are lower than Haaland in europe you need to compare how he does to players like Firmino and if you cant see that then that's your understanding of football & it's why you questionwhy he drops deep on the pitch all the time and doesn't score enough goals just as much as the rest of the scouser did pre Klopp era.

Bye.

Not to mention Martial mainly played as a LW when we were in the CL, he's only been solely a striker this year and for a couple of months in his first season.

 

[Foxbatt]

Not to mention Martial mainly played as a LW when we were in the CL, he's only been solely a striker this year and for a couple of months in his first season.

Till recently with Lingard and Pereira behind him.

 

[Stacks]

Haaland is a completely different type of striker to Martial.

Fans who compare these strikers to Martial just show their understanding of football as equivalent to the fans of Liverpool who were questioning Firmino pre Klopp.

I want Haaland here just as much as any other fan - but there is a massive difference to the way players like Ighalo play and players like martial and firmino play ' and not not by work rate but by tactics and what they offer to the players around them in comparison to what Ighalo and Haaland offer their team which is also useful enough to have them in the squad.

But don't be shooting Martial doesn because his goals are lower than Haaland in europe you need to compare how he does to players like Firmino and if you cant see that then that's your understanding of football & it's why you question why he drops deep on the pitch all the time and doesn't score enough goals just as much as the rest of the scouser did pre Klopp era.

Bye.

So Martial is a Firmino type? People were comparing him to Henry but then he could not score at a high rate and now he is Firmino?

He has nowhere near Firmino off the ball, and intensity to play in a Klopp team. The only similarity is they both do not score at a high rate. Firmino drops deep because he has played as a number 10 and midfield most his career so this is his default. He was shoved into the false 9 position at Pool. Martial claims to be a 9 in the regular sense. His link up play is not exceptional and misplaces simple passes. That said, he clearly has more on the ball talent than Bobby.

https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/stats-show-roberto-firmino-hardest-working-forward-pl/

"Roberto Firmino has won more tackles in the Premier League this season than most Liverpool defenders and has been the hardest-working forward in the English top flight by a distance since joining the Reds in 2015. "

check his interceptions, tackles. 180 in less than 3 seasons. Does that seem anything like Martial?

 

[KennyBurner]

Haaland is a completely different type of striker to Martial.

Fans who compare these strikers to Martial just show their understanding of football as equivalent to the fans of Liverpool who were questioning Firmino pre Klopp.

I want Haaland here just as much as any other fan - but there is a massive difference to the way players like Ighalo play and players like martial and firmino play ' and not not by work rate but by tactics and what they offer to the players around them in comparison to what Ighalo and Haaland offer their team which is also useful enough to have them in the squad.

But don't be shooting Martial doesn because his goals are lower than Haaland in europe you need to compare how he does to players like Firmino and if you cant see that then that's your understanding of football & it's why you questionwhy he drops deep on the pitch all the time and doesn't score enough goals just as much as the rest of the scouser did pre Klopp era.

Bye.

I wouldn’t even compare Martial to firmino because he offers a lot more across the board. Firmino might just be the most overrated attacker on this forum. Only thing he is superior to martial in is his playmaking abilities.

martial can score assist and also play wide which is a Complete Forward if you ask me. Firmino is a system player/specialist whose role is to support both midfield and the wide attackers.

@Stacks he is very similar to Henry and by the way Martial has more goals that Henry at the same age. Henry didn’t start his dominance till midway into his career.

 

[Bebestation]

So Martial is a Firmino type? People were comparing him to Henry but then he could not score at a high rate and now he is Firmino?

He has nowhere near Firmino off the ball, and intensity to play in a Klopp team. The only similarity is they both do not score at a high rate. Firmino drops deep because he has played as a number 10 and midfield most his career so this is his default. He was shoved into the false 9 position at Pool. Martial claims to be a 9 in the regular sense. His link up play is not exceptional and misplaces simple passes.

https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/stats-show-roberto-firmino-hardest-working-forward-pl/

"Roberto Firmino has won more tackles in the Premier League this season than most Liverpool defenders and has been the hardest-working forward in the English top flight by a distance since joining the Reds in 2015. "

check his interceptions, tackles. 180 in less than 3 seasons. Does that seem anything like Martial?

And so what is Messi the same as Firmino? There is different type of False 9 players as well but absolutely none of those 3 I'd even close to playing the type of football Haaland does.

Just because they play at a different intensity doesn't change this. A hard working target man and a lazy target man is still a bloody target man.

This idea that 'what made Firmino' one of the best false 9 was only his work rate and so martial cant be one is completely and utter bollocks because that is just one aspect of his game whilst Martial does plenty things similar when he has the right players around him- a good first touch, able to link players with quick passes or flicks, drops deep and goes on to dribble, makes runs after making a pass in to a player and is much much more clinical than Firmino is. Able to play as a single forward to a 7/10 level which firmino can only dream of.

Rashford- Martial- James vs Rashford- Firmino- James & I think I prefer the our one even though Firmino is more hard working defensively and offensively but ultimately Martial is more clinical as well but is a striker you see dropping as deep as CM to try to get the ball to his feet before spreading a pass and attack again.

Ultimately no one has called him Theirry Henry since his debut season because everyone knew that Martial doesn't play like him. Half of us stopped calling him that after his 2nd game.

Is it that people thought that ever since Mourinho took his number 9 shirt that he turned in to a cry baby that didn't want competition? Because that not the case either. He completely got void of a chance to play as a striker off one of the worst managers this club has ever seen and felt that was unfair.

Bring Haaland or another good striker. Ultimately right now we have a manager who knows Martial is false 9 (Pre Rashford injury stage form and tactics) & will continue to use that as a tactic when required, will use ighalo or a better version of that type of striker when that is required.


But comparing Martial against Haaland when one spends his time deep in midfield and the other in the box is questionable.

 

[Stacks]

I wouldn’t even compare Martial to firmino because he offers a lot more across the board. Firmino might just be the most overrated attacker on this forum. Only thing he is superior to martial in is his playmaking abilities.

martial can score assist and also play wide which is a Complete Forward if you ask me. Firmino is a system player/specialist whose role is to support both midfield and the wide attackers.

@Stacks he is very similar to Henry and by the way Martial has more goals that Henry at the same age. Henry didn’t start his dominance till midway into his career.

Not this old chestnut. Lukaku had more goals.

Martial needs 16 more goals to equal Henry at the same age/season. Henry had 80 at the end of the season he was 24. Martial is in the 60's. Henry was also a starter for world cup and Euro champs France where as Martial is on the periphery.

This is like comparing Firmino to Kaka

 

[Haddock]

Not this old chestnut. Lukaku had more goals.

Martial needs 16 more goals to equal Henry at the same age/season. Henry had 80 at the end of the season he was 24. Martial is in the 60's. Henry was also a starter for world cup and Euro champs France where as Martial is on the periphery.

This is like comparing Firmino to Kaka

The French forward Martial is really like is Anelka.

 

[Bebestation]

The French forward Martial is really like is Anelka.

Absolute rubbish. Do you watch football?

Tell me what abilities Anelka and Martial share?

One didn't even drop deep at all. Which one was that?