There was a definite deflection, doesn't take anything away from Martial though.
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There was a definite deflection, doesn't take anything away from Martial though.
In Global PL feed when we scored, Jim belgin spend next 5 minutes to speak about deflection
Wow we’re calling a hard shoot that didn’t really change direction in a crazy way a deflection for what to take away a goal from him ? This place is crazy.
Awful performance. Sancho came on against a completely fresh player
Much improved today. Good to see Martial finally put some effort in.
Much better overall. You can tell his confidence still isn’t there as he played it very safe and never looked like he believed he could beat his man, however his go-to today of the first time little pass inside (mostly to Shaw) was pretty effective despite the simplicity.
It was nice to see him on the ball much more than usual too, as games often pass him by. Saw loads of it on the left in the first half; players seemed to be actively seeking him out today which makes me think he must’ve been tearing it up in training (can only assume that’s the case as his selection was initially a real head scratcher).
Think his work rate deserves credit too. I was surprised to see him pressing the opposition and he made a couple of nice interceptions and defensive contributions (!) as a result.
Looked much hungrier, more akin to post-lockdown in 19/20, even though the overall performance wasn’t quite at that level.
One thing I noticed against West Ham and today though is that the fans seem to have lost their love for him a bit, having previously been an OT favourite. They’ve started to get on his back after every misplaced pass or mediocre piece of play, even on the rare occasions today that this was the case.
Last but not least, lovely finish for the goal. If anyone has really been saying it’s an OG then they need to give themselves a wobble. You can tell how happy the other players were for him too; he’s always seemed like one of the most popular in the dressing room.
It was nice to see him on the ball much more than usual too, as games often pass him by. Saw loads of it on the left in the first half; players seemed to be actively seeking him out today which makes me think he must’ve been tearing it up in training (can only assume that’s the case as his selection was initially a real head scratcher).
Think his work rate deserves credit too. I was surprised to see him pressing the opposition and he made a couple of nice interceptions and defensive contributions (!) as a result.
Looked much hungrier, more akin to post-lockdown in 19/20, even though the overall performance wasn’t quite at that level.
One thing I noticed against West Ham and today though is that the fans seem to have lost their love for him a bit, having previously been an OT favourite. They’ve started to get on his back after every misplaced pass or mediocre piece of play, even on the rare occasions today that this was the case.
Last but not least, lovely finish for the goal. If anyone has really been saying it’s an OG then they need to give themselves a wobble. You can tell how happy the other players were for him too; he’s always seemed like one of the most popular in the dressing room.
It meant a lot to Bruno for him to score, you can tell there is a real kinship there and he's desperate to get Martial back to the form he had when Bruno first joined the club, they seemed to immediately find one another. Martial just looks like an old player at times, his movement was never very good, but when he had the ball at his feet, he could at least use a burst of speed, a quick touch, and take on players, sometimes defying hopeless situations and finding a way to get out with his dribbling and making something happen. We're just not seeing that, and it was one of his unique qualities in the squad. I don't know what his fitness situation is, or if he has definitely lost some of that due to prior injuries, but I hope he can find that aspect of his game back, because there's no one on the team that could dribble in tight spaces like he could. Maybe Sancho eventually, but that's an ability you can never have enough of on a team.
As much as I agree that he's physically gone down a notch it has to be noted that he got a hefty knock (which has now been confirmed by Ole) in the first half. He was hobbling and limping from around the 35 min mark and I was very surprised to see him come on in the 2nd half because he was starting to show for the ball less meaning he was clearly uncomfortable. His link-up play and general technical ability is very clear to see though, I don't think we'll ever see the 2015-2018 Martial again but if we can get him to his 19/20 levels from a physical point of view then he's a real asset.
Yes I can also see that he was not confident. The old Martial would have waltzed through but now he seems a bit hesitant in trying to dribble. What pleased me today was that he defended very well.
And Jim Beglin is a richard.
And Jim Beglin is a richard.
Awful again except for the goal.
Sancho came on and was miles better at everything except the final shot.
Sancho came on and was miles better at everything except the final shot.
Don't think he was that good in all honesty.
Yeah he was pretty poor. Without a deflection that shot was going straight down Pickford’s throat too. Really pleased for him that he scored but he’s still miles off being a legitimate top PL player.
He was fine and scored. That's the most important thing. For all the hate he gets: Our boy Sancho has a 0 goals and 0 assists count so far.
Crap performance from Martial gets praised due to a dodgy deflection while Greenwood continues to get slated for another good performance purely because he didn’t show up on the scoresheet.
He should be nowhere near starting.
He should be nowhere near starting.
Hilarious
I thought he did alright, decent link up play but very clearly lacking confidence. Trying to slag him off for the ball taking a deflection is a bit weird as well. You realise that it's possible for both him and Greenwood to have had good games, right?
Understood, but I'm not just talking about this game, it's been going on for some time now.
Putting the bias aside in the very way you phrased this, you're nitpicking one or two daft comments to make up a strawman argument. I went to the Greenwood thread, he's pretty much mostly praised for his performances, rightly so.
It was quite a good shot even if it did take a deflection (which I don't know or care about). I don't think he was good besides the goal, not terrible either. Hope the goal gives him some much needed confidence going forward, though I fail to see him get into the side baring some injury crisis. He's basically competing as a squad player together with Lingard (assuming Rashy gets up to speed and Sancho come good fairly soon).
I like how how our team knew he needed it and were genuinely happy for him
I like how how our team knew he needed it and were genuinely happy for him
Of course they can both have good games. I just didn’t think Martial did much of anything aside from the goal. Most notable moment I can remember otherwise is him heading wide from AWB’s peach of a cross.
No it’s been a trend of late with Greenwood putting in good performances but not getting on the scoresheet. I was just making the point that such fine margins don’t define a performance.
And I am not biased against Martial at all. I have been a big fan of his for years. But at this point his performances don’t warrant him being anywhere near the starting XI and today was no different.
I liked the celebration of the goal, everyone seemed so happy for him. Important goal for him and for his confidence.
Typical martial performance except this time he got a goal handed to him on a plate (that would have been saved if it wasn’t for a deflection)
Doesn’t run in behind, doesn’t/can’t take anyone on, struggling to see what he does actually do.
Anyone talking about better work rate is having a bubble.
This was the same martial that has been stinking the place up for the last year except this time he managed to score
Doesn’t run in behind, doesn’t/can’t take anyone on, struggling to see what he does actually do.
Anyone talking about better work rate is having a bubble.
This was the same martial that has been stinking the place up for the last year except this time he managed to score
More a
Not running in behind ? Did you see his header ? Did you not see him help out in defence ?
Ot was an improvement (slight). That's not saying much but it's something.
Did nothing wrong, linked up well and banged in our only goal. Seems like a decent performance to me.
I saw the header that bounced off his 50p head yes.
The one that any decent forward puts in the onion bag 9 times in 10.
He made 0 runs in behind the defence in the whole time he was on the pitch.
Case closed poirot
Missed an absolute sitter as well. Which has strangely been a habit of his for over a year now. Only reason I mention the deflection as well, mind. He’s become so unreliable in front of goal.
He scored at the end of the day now take your hate to another thread.
PS
There is no run in behind playing against a low block.
250k a week for a goal here or there. Epic player.
The goal today set back the Martial haters until the next time he plays. Love to see it. Welcome back next game just stay away for now.
I wouldn't die on this hill.
Martial scored but otherwise he wasn't that good, but hey, at least he scored. On another note, he seems to have lost a yard of pace.
He scored with a good finish yesterday and won us a point, that's the be all and end all of the situation. If he's given more chances, maybe he builds on this, but maybe not as well, we'll have to wait and see. I just don't understand why people feel the need to piss on him even after scoring and playing a relatively tidy game.
This is an embarrassing post, truly.
So the header that he missed you think that was super difficult to score from that?
Same negligible effort but scored a good goal.
Nothing to get excited about .
No, it wasn't incredibly difficult but those sorts of chances are missed all the time, especially when the header of the ball isn't particularly good at heading. It was decent movement to get on the end of it though. His work rate was fine as well. It wasn't anything to get excited about, you're right but it was encouraging.
I was kinda shocked when he was taken off. I know we need to get Sancho up to speed at all but it didn't make sense to me. Both him and Cavani should've stayed on.
He picked up a knock I think, looked like he was struggling.
Martial may have played well within himself, as I alluded to in my last post, but to call him “poor” or “awful” is a gross exaggeration. It was a solid if unspectacular performance but he got our only goal and was clearly one of our better players.
Those gleefully saying otherwise need to take a day off.
Those gleefully saying otherwise need to take a day off.
He use to rinse people for fun, are we ever going to see that again?
Good for him.
Glad he struck what was a nice finish deflection aside.
He's just not my cup of tea. Shocked he was selected.
Glad he struck what was a nice finish deflection aside.
He's just not my cup of tea. Shocked he was selected.
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