Not sure Martial was used as a stick to beat Ronaldo. What would have been the point? When Martial was fit with ETH, he seemed to be first choice anyway. Ronaldo on the other hand, provided ample sticks for folks to beat him with all by himselfYep.
Martial's stock seemed to undeservedly rise when he scored a few goals earlier in the season and so was used as a stick to beat Ronaldo with - "Who needs a has been? If he can stay fit Martial will carry on banging in the goals..."
There were always two problems with that - it's a huge 'if' regarding Martial staying fit. He's also never been a guaranteed scorer - very inconsistent with some good seasons and some poor ones. With more of the latter than the former.
At least there was a more positive recent update about Eriksen's fitness.
Yeah, I think all things considered I'd be happy with that too. Apart from anything else, we're so short of actual number 9s that if he gets sold we probably need to buy another 2 (assuming MG is permanently out of the picture).This is where I am and that’s why I want him here next season+ competition to see who/what he becomes.
It wasn’t even a compliment to Martial as much as how limited Weghorst is for this level.It’s interesting the way a few good pre season performances, followed by almost a full season of being crocked has managed to wipe Martial’s many average to shite performances from recent seasons off the record.
Yep.
Martial's stock seemed to undeservedly rise when he scored a few goals earlier in the season and so was used as a stick to beat Ronaldo with - "Who needs a has been? If he can stay fit Martial will carry on banging in the goals..."
Agreed, personally I was ready to sell him 3 years ago. However, having seen how the likes of AWB, Shaw, Dalot and Rashford have drastically improved under Ten Hag it's a real shame that he's not been fit this season - would have been good to know once and for all whether he could reach his potential here.
Christ yeah, we are the worst club in the world for letting players hang around long past they have ceased to be useful. I do think with Martial that we'd need to replace him on top of signing a top class centre forward, so unless we know his injury problems are going to continue it would be worth hanging on to him for another season imho.Mixture of the improvement those players have shown, mixed in with us being wise to have stuck with Shaw & Rashy who have had some real downtimes with us.
Having said that, we have let some players stay way too long. It's a fine balance.
Christ yeah, we are the worst club in the world for letting players hang around long past they have ceased to be useful. I do think with Martial that we'd need to replace him on top of signing a top class centre forward, so unless we know his injury problems are going to continue it would be worth hanging on to him for another season imho.
Yeah, I think all things considered I'd be happy with that too. Apart from anything else, we're so short of actual number 9s that if he gets sold we probably need to buy another 2 (assuming MG is permanently out of the picture).
Yeah, I think that's a completely reasonable argument, and one I wouldn't be too unhappy with. I think the key thing for me is his fitness, if (and it's a big if) he could stay fit I would keep him, solely because even if we sign a top class centre forward we're still only an injury away from having to play someone else, and I'd probably take a fit Martial over a young striker still learning the game. I wouldn't be too bothered if ETH decides to cut his losses with him.All that being said, personally I would still sell him. I know there is the argument Ten Hag has improved player a, b c which is justified....but he isnt going to improve everybody, not everybody is going to buy in to the work ethic on management....we have seen that already in cases. Martial has been here a long time now, he has had a lot of injuries, despite the ability he hasnt had many consistent spells of form.
IF we can even actually sell him for a decent fee, which is by no means a given at this point in time, I would rather we sign a second striker that is young and talented and can be moulded.
I still think with the inconsistencies there seem to be bith physically and mentally, that is the better option.
I'd take 20 million for Martial if we could get it, Eriksen will probably be back before him to the team which is saying something.
I'd take 20 million for Martial if we could get it, Eriksen will probably be back before him to the team which is saying something.
They play the same position though, Bruno and McTominay don't, so you can definitely make a direct comparison, and Martial is light-years ahead of Wout
