Shite first half, good second half. Rashford and James were better though so I’m not getting these calls that he’s our best player.
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 48
- Goals
- 23
- Assists
- 8
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
Some people in the matchday thread were moaning about him being unanimous in the first half and I mentioned that the reason was our midfield which had starved him thus his lack of involvement. Comes into second half and Fred decided to turn up which meant Martial was finally getting some pieces of the pie then hold and behold, he does what he does best, make things happen.
He really looks like a top false number nine. Very hard to track where he runs and his passing is much better when he is playing through the centre. It was often his weak point when he was coming in from the left. Great talent.
A masterclass in link-up play. Could have had more assists.
because he wasn't very good at it before
Wrap this man in some bubble wrap and place him under a glass bell, don't let him get injured ever again!
Yep,Jose c*cked it up with Martial big time.
Not an exaggeration to say he should've had 4 assists here. (thanks for reminding @Siorac 
)
)Great game, so unselfish today. Unlucky not to score.
Nonsense
All that left is for Rashford to be that bit unselfish and Martial's goals should soar up, and Rashford really ought to be unselfish especially toward Martial given the fact the latter has been generous to him. Passes him when he could have gone for shooting glories himself, but choose the even better options.
He has always been good at it before, it's the reason why we bought him and why he became french international.
What Jose was even worse than that, he took an inform Martial on the left, put on the right and ultimately benched him when he got Sanchez. There should be an international court dealing with crimes against football.
He's becoming our Firminho now
You got people convincing themselves that he is not a proper cf. He has all the qualities you need from your 9
This is the most obvious thing ever.
His hold up play has always been strong, yet we had to suffer through 3 years of Mourinho trying to make him into something he’s not.
His hold up play has always been strong, yet we had to suffer through 3 years of Mourinho trying to make him into something he’s not.
That bit near the end where he held it up and than knocked it between the defenders was brilliant, few central strikers can do both parts of that play. Shame he didnt score today, definitely deserved to.
He never played there before under Mourinho the only time he started up top under Mourinho was vs Everton and he scored the nice curl shot from the edge. Just be honest you were wrong about the boy.
You've got to understand that if martial isnt playing the only way rashford scores consistently is through a penalty. As good as rashford has been he needs 3 clearcut chances before he can score a goal. That is very similar to what we criticized lukaku about.
Excellent player. Best forward in the team. Imagine if he actually had good midfielders behind him.
I've always thought of Martial as a skilled technical player, including passing.
It's why I was glad we got rid of Lukaku even though at times you miss his physical ability to dominate up front.
It's why I was glad we got rid of Lukaku even though at times you miss his physical ability to dominate up front.
Yeah but most convinced themselves on here that he wouldnt do well as a cf or striker and should remain a good-ish winger.
Excellent today particularly in the second half, linked well with Fred. Deserved a goal.
He's always been unselfish which is why more often than not his decision making is great.
Fantastic game, this is how 9 should play. His hold up play, link up play, composure was very good, created chances with ease and plenty of them.
You have to understand that both players would struggle without the other. It’s difficult for any player to play on their own up top. My main criticism of a striker isn’t missing chances, it’s worse if they don’t get them. If he can regularly get chances he’ll score goals. Sterling is a horrible finisher but he scores tons because of his movement and ability to get on the end of chances.
Exactly. Finally after first half of Van Gaal's season he got his best position.
Sort out the midfield around him and he’ll batter them in.
he's always been a good dribbler and finisher
his positioning, passing and most of all his ability to hold up the ball have improved a lot since he arrived
Great link up play. Shame Rashford refused to repay the favours at every point.
Exactly, Rashford should learn to raise his head most time.
That time he did that skill at the corner, he should pick his man.
This has to be reiterate enough. Martial creates loads of chances for Rashford which means the latter can even afford to miss his usual sitters yet still end up on the scoresheet.
Martial hold up has always been excellent, you are talking about someone who schooled David Luiz and Thiago Silva at 19 years old. His weaknesses were his movement and the diversity of his finishing.
Yeah, i was screaming at that bit. 4 players to square to yet he choose to try and score on a tight angle covered by the keeper. That was ridiculously selfish, especially given that a few minutes ago Martial choose to square him the ball in similar circumstances.
Pogba behind him with Mctominay and Fred with their energy, pressing and winning ball could be tasty. Brilliant again!!
Yep. The first three pages on this thread are comedy to read. Full of posters mocking us because we said he should be at #9 and he has good movement. Apparently we were searching for the next excuse or something. Not surprised in the slightest bit that we turned out to be right.
Rewatch the Southampton away game in his first season.
It was evident from the start that his core strength and hold up are excellent, but Depay turning out to be shit forced LvG hands and he simply didn’t get many chances to play CF from then on.
One of the most noticed and strongest aspect of Martial's game when he just came in was his hold up play, I don't know where you got this idea that he wasn't good at it. Watch his first few months when he just got at United and was playing as our CF, you'll see how good his hold up play was even back then.
He is our leader on the pitch without him there is no direction. So unselfish like a true leader and you can see it on the pitch. He is the leader of the younger players.
He seems very happy right now. I was even impressed by his pressing and defensive contribution. But it’s his slick and fast attacking play that is quite irresistible right now.
Hope it’s the ‘breakout’ into his best years.
Hope it’s the ‘breakout’ into his best years.
I think maybe last year wasted before Ole came in.
Martial now has finally come to age. Physically he has a man's body now.
I think this year is the first time we see him really playing like a target man.
This is the season we finally see him as a full time striker, credit to Ole for coaching him into this holding number 9 role.
He was always good at holding the ball it was evident from the very first game against Liverpool. He was moved out wide too accommodate fading Wayne Rooney and never could show it consistently, Jose didnt even gave him a fair chance.
- Status