[He'sRaldo]

I don't think Greenwood adds much at all to the build up. But he's positioning an striking around the box is a much needed addition. If we had a better number 10, they would have found him so many times today for an easy finish. He deserves to keep his place in the team for sure.

To my mind, the thing he adds is being able to bring the ball back inside for the central mids to make a switch or pass; as opposed to being trapped on the outside. Literally being left-footed is helping him, as well as his good decision-making and technique.

Also, he often gets into the box and leaves space for AWB. Dan James is usually always hugging the line, which takes AWB out in the buildup (leading to complaints of him being poor at attacking).

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Best performance of the season from him. Talent is clearly there.

 

[Lynty]

To my mind, the thing he adds is being able to bring the ball back inside for the central mids to make a switch or pass; as opposed to being trapped on the outside. Literally being left-footed is helping him, as well as his good decision-making and technique.

Also, he often gets into the box and leaves space for AWB. Dan James is usually always hugging the line, which takes AWB out in the buildup (leading to complaints of him being poor at attacking).

True. It does seem to help AWB.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Really un-Martial like performance. Struggled with his touch and link-up throughout. Had a chance for a curler, took it, but sent it near post and scored (luckily). 1v1, really hesistated, didn't send it bottom corner but chipped it. And pressed leading to a goal. Left-footed shot from outside the box.
None of these things I associate with him.

It’s great to see some variety from him, for a while it seemed like he was being found out, always looking for the low far post finish.

 

[Bebestation]

To my mind, the thing he adds is being able to bring the ball back inside for the central mids to make a switch or pass; as opposed to being trapped on the outside. Literally being left-footed is helping him, as well as his good decision-making and technique.

Also, he often gets into the box and leaves space for AWB. Dan James is usually always hugging the line, which takes AWB out in the buildup.

It's this -

Rashford being right footed, Greenwood being left-footed & Martial playing deeper behind them creates a triangle. We have the opportunity to atleast try and create something upon ourselves in that way.

James is good when there is free open space usually on the counter but that can't be created by yourself.

 

[Nep77]

One thing that has clearly improved on his game is his shooting ability with both feet and from distance. He should take more shots and hopefully he can be freed up a bit but with Pogba coming back into the team and concentrate on scoring more than creating.

 

[-Supreme-]

Martial has had some really good performances recently, and it's shocking to see how goals can change people's judgement based on the comments in this thread over the past week or so.

 

[SATA]

Scoring the second goal and the pointing at the club badge after that. Love seeing that

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

When he's up for it, he's quite a player. His press created Greenwood's goal.

 

[Raven]

When he's up for it, he's quite a player. His press created Greenwood's goal.

Yeah, he was a menace today.

 

[Sayros]

He's been good in recent games, and this time he had his scoring boots on. People who want to dismiss him have no idea how football works, he is one of the 3 most important players currently on this team and without him this team is not getting the same chances at goals.

Rashford really started his brilliant form once Martial came back, and yet some people use the former's incredible form as a beating stick against the latter. He's key to creating opportunities in the final third, and with Pogba back it'll be interesting to see how much more that will show. Now if Haaland can come in as well, I'd really like to see how the team would shape up because I think Martial and Haaland can be a devastating partnership up front.

 

[OldTrevil]

Martial has had some really good performances recently, and it's shocking to see how goals can change people's judgement based on the comments in this thread over the past week or so.

Yea he's been playing well all season, just not with a double every time. In fact he's had many better all round performances than today, but don't be surprised with narratives that he's only been good today and meh the rest of the time

 

[Santoryo]

Yea he's been playing well all season, just not with a double every time. In fact he's had many better all round performances than today, but don't be surprised with narratives that he's only been good today and meh the rest of the time

Like how last game the Caf were on his back throwing vitriol at him and claiming that he was mediocre despite creating 3 big chances for us and being by far the biggest threat.

Basically him and Pogba stood out that game yet reading the Caf you'd think he was utterly useless. It's all about agendas in this place. Once a player has been targeted, the lots with their agendas are quick to dismiss anything positive said player does and will go to any length to call the player mediocre.

 

[el3mel]

Great performance today. Great finish for both goals especially the second.

 

[Yagami]

Could easily have had 2 or 3 assists

People still say he hasn't developed his passing, too!

He creates chances every game. With Pogba out, he's had to come deep to create as Fred and McTominay don't, whilst having to be the focal point of the attack in holding the ball up, bringing others into play, and getting on the end of chances.

 

[dev1l]

Injuries aside, I think this could be his best season for him apart from the first one.

 

[Hawks2008]

Better today, hopefully he can keep it up.

 

[Canagel]

Better today, hopefully he can keep it up.

He was better last week. For some weird reasons fans on here can't see anything past player on the scoresheet otherwise he gets labelled "inconsistent".

 

[2mufc0]

So now he's good this week....

 

[11101]

Hes a great player and doing very well this season, but I still have concerns.

Hes not going to be the reliable 20+ goal player we need and hes not half as good out wide. Chances are when we find that goalscorer it's his CF position they're going to want. Makes it difficult to see where he fits for us.

 

[Hawks2008]

He was better last week. For some weird reasons fans on here can't see anything past player on the scoresheet otherwise he gets labelled "inconsistent".

He's the striker, it's his job to score. Even beyond that, most games he never has a 90 min performance and he has next to no presence in the penalty area which is criminal for a 9.

 

[Bebestation]

Hes a great player and doing very well this season, but I still have concerns.

Hes not going to be the reliable 20+ goal player we need and hes not half as good out wide. Chances are when we find that goalscorer it's his CF position they're going to want. Makes it difficult to see where he fits for us.

He's the striker, it's his job to score. Even beyond that, most games he never has a 90 min performance and he has next to no presence in the penalty area which is criminal for a 9.

He is a support striker, he's played centrally not to score 20+ goals and be the main goal scoring threat of a team - he is there to make Rashford & Greenwood score more goals around him & for them to be the main goal scoring threat whilst he himself can add 15 goals a season. It's not a coincidence that Rashford's goals went up like Crazy when Martial came in to the squad & now Greenwood is there - James is going to struggle to get back because Greenwood is more a striker who can work with Martial than James who just crosses in to a support striker like Martial.

A number on the shirt doesn't meant cr*p all in terms of tactics.

 

[Hawks2008]

He is a support striker, he's played centrally not to score 20+ goals and be the main goal scoring threat of a team - he is there to make Rashford & Greenwood score more goals around him & for them to be the main goal scoring threat whilst he himself can add 15 goals a season. It's not a coincidence that Rashford's goals went up like Crazy when Martial came in to the squad & now Greenwood is there - James is going to struggle to get back because Greenwood is more a striker who can work with Martial than James who just crosses in to a support striker like Martial.

A number on the shirt doesn't meant cr*p all in terms of tactics.

Can we not start painting him as some sacrificial Benzema-esque forward (Even he was more prolific), the narrative spinning and constant excuses for this guy is unreal. First he wasn't winger he's a striker, but now it's evident that he isn't a consistent goal threat he's a 'support striker' and even some have thrown around the idea of playing him as an attacking midfielder.

I think he has some quality but I don't see him ever being great or prolific enough and now he has played nearly 200 games for the club the time for excuses is over.

 

[11101]

He is a support striker, he's played centrally not to score 20+ goals and be the main goal scoring threat of a team - he is there to make Rashford & Greenwood score more goals around him & for them to be the main goal scoring threat whilst he himself can add 15 goals a season. It's not a coincidence that Rashford's goals went up like Crazy when Martial came in to the squad & now Greenwood is there - James is going to struggle to get back because Greenwood is more a striker who can work with Martial than James who just crosses in to a support striker like Martial.

A number on the shirt doesn't meant cr*p all in terms of tactics.

I understand that, but every top team needs a reliable scorer. It's the most important piece of a successful team and whoever we bring in is probably going to want to play centrally and we will have to sacrifice Martial for that.

Imagine if we bought Kane, Martial will get shunted wide where we know hes not particularly great. Hes not good enough centrally to keep a player like that out of their preferred position.

 

[He'sRaldo]

I understand that, but every top team needs a reliable scorer. It's the most important piece of a successful team and whoever we bring in is probably going to want to play centrally and we will have to sacrifice Martial for that.

Nowadays quite a few prolific strikers are playing out wide where there's more space.

 

[Bebestation]

Can we not start painting him as some sacrificial Benzema-esque forward (Even he was more prolific), the narrative spinning and constant excuses for this guy is unreal. First he wasn't winger he's a striker, but now it's evident that he isn't a consistent goal threat he's a 'support striker' and even some have thrown around the idea of playing him as an attacking midfielder.

I think he has some quality but I don't see him ever being great or prolific enough and now he has played nearly 200 games for the club the time for excuses is over.

Because your right everyone else is wrong? Why would you even bring up the left winger thing when he came here as a striker?

So that instantly nullifies your argument - this is going from striker to support striker. End of argument.

 

[charlenefan]

Now on 9 goals for the season at the half way point, needs another 9 to better his career best (his first season at the club)

 

[Bebestation]

I understand that, but every top team needs a reliable scorer. It's the most important piece of a successful team and whoever we bring in is probably going to want to play centrally and we will have to sacrifice Martial for that.

Imagine if we bought Kane, Martial will get shunted wide where we know hes not particularly great. Hes not good enough centrally to keep a player like that out of their preferred position.

And that's the thing - I want Haaland here just as much as any other guy but I'm telling you - Haaland has the ability to work with players Martial more so than people seem to think.

People keep talking about Martial as this player that goes head to head with Haaland & suddenly we start becoming this team that lambast the box with crosses and Haaland is going to become this striker than the PL can't handle. Haaland is a striker than needs the play of a support striker like Martial more so than Rashford, Greenwood or James apart from his 2 decent crosses a game. I guarantee you it.

 

[Hawks2008]

Because your right everyone else is wrong? Why would you even bring up the left winger thing when he came here as a striker?

So that instantly nullifies your argument - this is going from striker to support striker. End of argument.

His best spells were always on the wing but whatever you say bro

 

[Raven]

He's the striker, it's his job to score. Even beyond that, most games he never has a 90 min performance and he has next to no presence in the penalty area which is criminal for a 9.

There were certain things today that he did better than before, his second goal was highly predatory, which I liked. Martial is a fairly complete 9, he won't always score, lately he has been needed too much in the buildup and it has shown in his numbers, something that you fail to recognise.

 

[Bebestation]

His best spells were always on the wing but whatever you say bro

Im already liking his play this season much more but okay but if you prefer him on the left then I can see why your not too fussed about him because Rashford is much more direct & better there on the left in comparison to Martial.

Though he will struggle soon as Haaland or Lukaku play the central striker if we play in a 433 & we would be better suited in playing in striker partnerships where martial then again becomes useful.

 

[ivaldo]

And that's the thing - I want Haaland here just as much as any other guy but I'm telling you - Haaland has the ability to work with players Martial more so than people seem to think.

People keep talking about Martial as this player that goes head to head with Haaland & suddenly we start becoming this team that lambast the box with crosses and Haaland is going to become this striker than the PL can't handle. Haaland is a striker than needs the play of a support striker like Martial more so than Rashford, Greenwood or James apart from his 2 decent crosses a game. I guarantee you it.

Is that the case? Because I see a player in Martial that is supremely talented, but requires the rest of the team to be on form in order for him to do what's needed. How often do see we see the team perform under par but Martial drags us through? We don't see him take the game by the scruff of the neck, we don't see him run his arse off, so what do we see him doing? If he isn't going to be a goal threat then he needs to justify taking the position of one. And when someone who supposedly makes the team tick doesn't work hard for that team,, he's going to be criticized. No matter how you try and manipulate the data, he doesn't work hard enough. An arbitrary eye test will tell us that. Imagine how good a player he could be if he put the effort in his teammates do?

 

[Raven]

Is that the case? Because I see a player in Martial that is supremely talented, but requires the rest of the team to be on form in order for him to do what's needed. How often do see we see the team perform under par but Martial drags us through? We don't see him take the game by the scruff of the neck, we don't see him run his arse off, so what do we see him doing? If he isn't going to be a goal threat then he needs to justify taking the position of one. And when someone who supposedly makes the team tick doesn't work hard for that team,, he's going to be criticized. No matter how you try and manipulate the data, he doesn't work hard enough. An arbitrary eye test will tell us that. Imagine how good a player he could be if he put the effort in his teammates do?

This is the same bullshit people were spouting when Firmino first went to Liverpool. Martial is the glue that holds our front line together.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

This is what you got from Martial. He can hold the ball to bring others into play, he can service others & if you give him a service, he will score. This is why IMO we should stick with Martial at least until end of the season, giving him chance to play as no 9 for full season rather than spend "big" on Haland who is still raw & need to be developed.

Martial has been playing like this recently since the City game, he could have got 2-3 assists against Watford, he holds the ball very well against Everton, his performance was very good against City and today he was brilliant 9/10 at least, he scored 2 today, hit the post once, chase defenders & great hold up play as always.

 

[VeevaVee]

Was great to see him chasing players/balls down today. I've not seen him do that with such gusto before.

The dink finish was sublime. Almost looked like he'd taken it too far.

 

[OldTrevil]

Like how last game the Caf were on his back throwing vitriol at him and claiming that he was mediocre despite creating 3 big chances for us and being by far the biggest threat.

Basically him and Pogba stood out that game yet reading the Caf you'd think he was utterly useless. It's all about agendas in this place. Once a player has been targeted, the lots with their agendas are quick to dismiss anything positive said player does and will go to any length to call the player mediocre.

There is a lot of toxicity towards certain players on Caf, I would bet most is driven by a gullible bunch who lick the boots of certain personalities like 'the special one', ex pros and the media in general. When it comes to foreign players, you add in some xenophobia and jealousy, and you get perfect targets like Martial and Pogba. Not to mention that good old ingrained bias towards those who are different and you have the perfect storm really.

When you actually look at Martial's qualities and his performances at United so far, if Ole is smart he will continue to build his attack around the guy. I mean when was the last time you've seen as brilliant a footballer who can finish with the best of them? That is Martial in a nutshell. Over my time watching the game, you tend to get one or the other. Great ballers who create for others but tend to be subpar finishers, or top draw finishers who are not as gifted technically in their all round game. With Martial you get both those qualities and consequently a perfect base for an attack that is impossible to defend. Rashford is neither the finisher nor technician that Martial is. Mason may match or perhaps best him in finishing, but also isn't on the same level in technical ability. As a front three, they have devastating potential. I can't wait to see how they develop as our new attack.

 

[Hawks2008]

Im already liking his play this season much more but okay but if you prefer him on the left then I can see why your not too fussed about him because Rashford is much more direct & better there on the left in comparison to Martial.

Though he will struggle soon as Haaland or Lukaku play the central striker if we play in a 433 & we would be better suited in playing in striker partnerships where martial then again becomes useful.

Martial could work in a 2 but the midfield needs to be more robust before we can think of that IMO.

There were certain things today that he did better than before, his second goal was highly predatory, which I liked. Martial is a fairly complete 9, he won't always score, lately he has been needed too much in the buildup and it has shown in his numbers, something that you fail to recognise.

Yes martial is a just a misunderstood genius...

Don't mask his tendency to want the ball to the feet as dropping deep to playmake because even on the wing he was doing the same things. He is supposed to be the focal point and he is not living up to it so far, at least not consistently.

 

[Raven]

Martial could work in a 2 but the midfield needs to be more robust before we can think of that IMO.


Yes martial is a just a misunderstood genius...

Don't mask his tendency to want the ball to the feet as dropping deep to playmake because even on the wing he was doing the same things. He is supposed to be the focal point and he is not living up to it so far, at least not consistently.

Misunderstood by you, it seems.

It's pretty obvious to most people who have watched more than 5 minutes of football that he's dropping deep to link things up, if you can't see that I reckon you're watching the wrong sport.

 

[Sayros]

Don't mask his tendency to want the ball to the feet as dropping deep to playmake because even on the wing he was doing the same things. He is supposed to be the focal point and he is not living up to it so far, at least not consistently.

His runs are largely ignored, especially when Pogba was gone and they had been in the past to the point people acted as if he never tried off-the-ball runs when there's plenty of evidence otherwise. This is a team where he's better off asking for the ball at his feet, especially in this new position. Even the dummy runs he makes to open up space for the rest of the forwards are hardly ever taken advantage of.

And I think he's doing a consistent job, but he is not a mold breaker yet, although he did create key chances last game against Watford but the team as a whole is inconsistent.

I just think it's fair to say Martial is far from being the culprit of United's inconsistency, this is his first season as a CF, he is doing very well under the circumstances of the team and it's not a coincidence that the rest of the forward line has been more prolific since he's come back from injury. You might think you've run out of patience, but you're not being realistic about the time it takes to develop a new role like that with your team-mates. I give Martial and Rashford a lot of credit for how they've adjusted to their new roles given the circumstances and the lack of creativity from the side with Pogba's absence.

 

[RedViv]

Awesome performance from martial today, if someone could gif his slide tackle, that would be great, i think it was in first half, towards the end.
Lets hope he can bring the same energy against burnley on the weekend.