jamesjimmybyrondean
Full Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2019
- Messages
- 7,431
I think it was because at a point last season, when everyone was gunning for Lukaku, calling him lazy (this and that) and saying he doesn't run enough, when the stats were drawn up for distance covered per 90, Martial had the lowest average for distance covered per 90 minutes out of all top-flight forwards that season with just 8.4 km. It was only 1km per game less than Rashford however Rashford was making twice as many high intensity sprints.
Now I don't know if Martial was playing injured last season but he has definitely improved in that regard so it may have just been that he wasn't at the required fitness levels and this year he is, so can cope with the physical demands better. But yeah, I think the "lazy" jibes came from the release of those stats, partially.
He because very frustrating to watch last season. Predictable dribbles, jogging after he has lost the ball or when he should press. Ole himself benched him because of how poorly he played. He's been much better this season but I can understand why there are still question marks around him.
There's alot of polarizing opinions about how he's played this season. Some think his hold up play is had some say it's one of his qualities etc. But if you watch every game he's played this season you would know one thing - He's inconsistent. Great hold up play against Norwich, shit hold up play and gets bullied against Wolves. Plays shit in the first minutes against Watford then scores a banger etc. He reminds me of Nani.
I'm personally overlooking his inconsistency because it's his first season as a striker in a while and he's had Lingard/Pereira behind him (He links up much better with Mata). He's still putting in good numbers so I think another season with him as our striker should be given to him. But if he's still the same inconsistent Martial we have to start considering that we would not go up another level with an inconsistent no 9
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