[Chief123]

He’s clearly not upto match fitness yet which is understandable. But he does seem to getting bulkier and slower each season. He used to have nitro boots when he arrived from Monaco.

 

[Drifter]

Poor from him today. His pressing is poor

 

[Raven]

Greenwood’s header was too high. Martial’s too low. Both of them missed good chances.

Greenwood missed the goal, Martial didn't. Either way, the fact that they only got one chance a piece (whilst up front) is shocking and we need to find a way of creating more for them.

 

[Becks_VII]

He’s clearly not upto match fitness yet which is understandable. But he does seem to getting bulkier and slower each season. He used to have nitro boots when he arrived from Monaco.

He must be on the same diet we had Lukaku on :/

Looked well short today. Really though we should have went with Mason up top from the start with Sancho out wide. He's back on the bench when Edi is back at it.

 

[LoneStar]

We'll regret not selling him this summer. His value will only go down by the end of the season. Ship him, Lingard and Matic and try to get a good CM this window. Guessing he'll be benched the next game, and righfully so.

The guy played like he couldn't be arsed. The team overall played very sluggish, but exoected far better from someone who is fighting for a place in the starting 11.

 

[snk123]

He missed that header in the second half. It was a poor header, but it showed the difference when you have a centre forward who actually wants to make a move in the box

Even a clear sitter missed by Mason is taken as a stick to beat Martial with.

Some of you lot truly hate him.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Clearly not match fit. Hardly played in pre season. I can't understand why he started. That was just setting him up to look bad.

 

[KetilOwren88]

No, we didn’t. Just moments after he went out, Greenwood found space just in front of the defence and created a big chance, something Martial failed to do for the entre game. The reason Soton got back in the game was because Maguire, Fred, and Wan Bissaka gifted them huge chances and set pieces which gave them and the audience the momentum they needed.

We lost control completely minutes after he came off.

 

[dirkey]

It was a yes or no question bud.

Yep. He was lazy.

No point answering, because despite numerous others seeing the same as I, you see something different.

 

[Jericho]

Either he's as talented as we think he is and he lacks the drive to realize his potential, or he's just not as talented as we think he is. The result is the same.

No reason to start him now when we can put Greenwood up top and Sancho on the right.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Greenwood missed the goal, Martial didn't. Either way, the fact that they only got one chance a piece (whilst up front) is shocking and we need to find a way of creating more for them.

Greenwood literally scored a goal. So if you insist on comparing them you could maybe take that into account. Then you could think about what constitutes a “chance”. Pogba’s outside of the foot through ball to Martial today was just as good as his assist to Greenwood against Leeds. What happened next in those two scenarios sums up the difference between the two players.

 

[Raven]

Yep. He was lazy.

No point answering, because despite numerous others seeing the same as I, you see something different.

Cool, so you're just wrong then. No need to rant on about something unrelated when you could have just said that.

 

[Redcy]

People really still blaming everyone but Martial. If he isn’t fit why the feck not, should have been busting a gut to make an impact this year after last years shitshow. Has been off all summer, ok admittedly was injured, but seemingly has made no attempt to come back ready.

 

[Raven]

Greenwood literally scored a goal. So if you insist on comparing them you could maybe take that into account. Then you could think about what constitutes a “chance”. Pogba’s outside of the foot through ball to Martial today was just as good as his assist to Greenwood against Leeds. What happened next in those two scenarios sums up the difference between the two players.

Why can't people seem to grasp that I'm talking about them up front? Even though I have repeatedly stated it. Greenwood was better than Martial today, just not as a striker. Can I make it any clearer that I am talking about them as STRIKERS?

He should have made more out of a number of situations, I think that's more to do with rust but only time will tell.

 

[Denis79]

So you're saying he was lazy today?

I was pretty clear in saying Greenwood up top, who vanished when he was moved to striker. Had maybe 1 touch after that point?

So Mason was class when he was moved up top then? Or was he invisible, even more so than Martial? I was also careful to say "less bad" rather than better because they were both garbage up top.

Give the kid credit, mid match switch in positions isn't always easy to adjust to. He should have started a a CF, that would have made a difference.

 

[dirkey]

Cool, so you're just wrong then. No need to rant on about something unrelated when you could have just said that.

Haha. OK dude. You're the one who is right, despite everyone else disagreeing.

 

[croadyman]

We'll regret not selling him this summer. His value will only go down by the end of the season. Ship him, Lingard and Matic and try to get a good CM this window. Guessing he'll be benched the next game, and righfully so.

The guy played like he couldn't be arsed. The team overall played very sluggish, but exoected far better from someone who is fighting for a place in the starting 11.

NAILED IT

 

[Raven]

Give the kid credit, mid match switch in positions isn't always easy to adjust to. He should have started a a CF, that would have made a difference.

I love Mason, he's a massive talent and has been getting better and better at CF, I'm not trying to knock him. I'm saying both were shite at CF, which is a problem with how we're set up.

 

[croadyman]

We'll regret not selling him this summer. His value will only go down by the end of the season. Ship him, Lingard and Matic and try to get a good CM this window. Guessing he'll be benched the next game, and righfully so.

The guy played like he couldn't be arsed. The team overall played very sluggish, but exoected far better from someone who is fighting for a place in the starting 11.

Yeah those three values are dropping like a stone with the crap performances

 

[Raven]

Haha. OK dude. You're the one who is right, despite everyone else disagreeing.

People are just bringing out the old cliches. He ran the channels well and pressed as well as anyone else, bar Bruno. He was shite but it wasn't due to a lack of effort.

 

[Redcy]

Well Raven has bought into the narrative that last season was a one off and Martial is a world class striker. Apparently him not performing is either the manager or his team mates fault. Greenwood is 19 and for what it’s worth I don’t rate him as a cf. greenwood having to play as a cf is because our £250k a week striker is still showing nothing.

 

[Redcy]

People are just bringing out the old cliches. He ran the channels well and pressed as well as anyone else, bar Bruno. He was shite but it wasn't due to a lack of effort.

Now I know you were seeing the game differently

 

[Hugh Jass]

He cannot push himself. We had a three on three in the first half sometime and i was watching Martial just jogging as we attacked. In that situation you have to make a good run in some direction.

Doesnt move off the ball in and around the box like Cavani does either.

 

[Oranges038]

He just needs to be gotten rid of. He shows absolutely nothing on the pitch to say he deserves any more chances.

 

[Raven]

Well Raven has bought into the narrative that last season was a one off and Martial is a world class striker. Apparently him not performing is either the manager or his team mates fault. Greenwood is 19 and for what it’s worth I don’t rate him as a cf. greenwood having to play as a cf is because our £250k a week striker is still showing nothing.

Other than considering last season a one off, I've never said any of this.

 

[Redcy]

Other than considering last season a one off, I've never said any of this.

You literally have said the reason for martial being poor previously was our prior managers, and other players not creating chances.

 

[Raven]

You literally have said the reason for martial being poor previously was our prior managers, and other players not creating chances.

Do you mean when he was unfairly treated by Mourinho? I thought it was fairly common knowledge that Jose did that with players? Both of our strikers were starved of service today, that's just a fact.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

He's just absolutely no threat whatsoever.

Utterly toothless, must be a dream to be up against him if you're a centre back.

Easiest game all season against him.

He's barely scored a goal in 12 months

 

[VanDeBank]

I love Mason, he's a massive talent and has been getting better and better at CF, I'm not trying to knock him. I'm saying both were shite at CF, which is a problem with how we're set up.

Cavani is great when he's our CF, so it's not a problem with how we're set up.

Greenwood did well up top during pre season and scored a goal against Leeds from that position. He scored again today (from a different position) and plays with a lot more energy than Martial in whatever position.

You ARE knocking Greenwood, when you're only taking into account 30min at the end of today's match, rather than his most recent performances. For Martial on the other hand, it's no problem to go back to 19/20 to remind us how good he "really" is. (which is implied if Martial's form in 20/21 is considered a one-off)

 

[lsd]

He is by far the worst number 9 I can remember us having. Absolutely woeful with a terrible attitude to boot. The sooner he is gone from this club the better

 

[TheGame]

Can't remember a player regressing so quickly as he has. Rubbing salt into the wound with Lukaku having a great season with Inter and starting well at Chelsea.

 

[Drainy]

Lukaku Space Jammed him

 

[MadMike]

He's just absolutely no threat whatsoever.

Utterly toothless, must be a dream to be up against him if you're a centre back.

Easiest game all season against him.

He's barely scored a goal in 12 months

Can't remember a player regressing so quickly as he has. Rubbing salt into the wound with Lukaku having a great season with Inter and starting well at Chelsea.

Both sadly true. I was hoping to see a hungry Martial today, but alas.

 

[Dec9003]

Even a clear sitter missed by Mason is taken as a stick to beat Martial with.

Some of you lot truly hate him.

I don’t hate him, I want to see him back to his best, today was far from it.

 

[CM]

When you're used to watching the industry and off the ball movement of Cavani for most of last season it was disappointing to see the performance Martial churned out earlier. I'd like to think he'll improve once he's got a bit more fitness back because he didn't look sharp even when the ball came to him, but he needs to buck up his ideas quick.

Greenwood has already been outperforming him as the striker and Sancho will probably take his place in the team next week. Cavani and Rashford are still waiting to return - once we're at full complement you could easily see Martial getting lost in this team.

 

[tjb]

I think the passing didn't help him today, our players struggled to find anyone. he ran the channels well at points, but no cutting edge or incisive movement. Clearly not match sharp.

I think he was more at fault for that. He's very limited I'm his activity and agility. Passes and movements that would work for any striker that wants to link up don't work for him. He applies himself like a poacher despite not having the explosiveness or finishing of one.

 

[Denis79]

I love Mason, he's a massive talent and has been getting better and better at CF, I'm not trying to knock him. I'm saying both were shite at CF, which is a problem with how we're set up.

Think he's showing some great movement up front, maybe Learned a bit from Cavani? I hope he gets more playing time as CF.

 

[Dante]

I think at this point of his career, we can safely predict that Matial will never learn the tricks in the box that will make him a world class centreforward. There was a point in time when that was still a possibility. But I think he's shown now that it's a skill that's beyond him.

That being said, he might still return to being a world class finisher if he can get his confidence back. Then he'll be more than good enough to be a squad player.

I think he's best suited to be a LWF in a slow building possession side (the LVG years), and a CF in a defensive counter-attacking side (early Solskjaer). Martial's been the biggest victim of Ole's attempt to try and change United into a more attacking possession team. Unfortunately for Tony, that's the way every other big team also wants to play.

If Ole wanted to be really ruthless, he'd sell Martial now while his stock was still relatively high.

 

[siw2007]

We shouldn’t have started with Martial this afternoon. He is still off the pace and hasn’t earned his place back in the team yet. It is disrespectful to the opposition to give him minutes per say in a game like this. I don’t see why we were so keen to bring him back into the 11 so soon.

The right thing to do was not to rip up a winning team, keep Martial as an option from the bench and again for Wolves next week. We can review his role after the international break to see if he is ready to start in the PL.

 

[Lash]

I think he was more at fault for that. He's very limited I'm his activity and agility. Passes and movements that would work for any striker that wants to link up don't work for him. He applies himself like a poacher despite not having the explosiveness or finishing of one.

I don't think he's blameless, but I'm pretty sure it was plain to see our passing was generally atrocious today. He was definitely off the pace and didn't prepare himself well enough to receive the ball against aggressive defenders.