Has Martial done enough to be backed as our long-term #9?

Hugh Jass said:
I would echo what other posters have said. He lacks the will and drive.

Remember that great counter attacking goal Ronaldo scored for us where he sprinted 50 yards against Arsenal in the CL. Martial cannot do that.

Its a phsyical game. An endurance one. You have to be able to push yourself.
Click to expand...

Yeah certainly not the type to throw his all into the game and break his neck to get on the end of something
 
mariachi-19 said:
The issue with Martial is the same issue with Berbatov, they dont have the mentality to lead the line at Manchester United. It is not that they are untalented, they just simply dont have that cnut about them.
Click to expand...

Berba was stronger at protecting the ball but I get what you mean
 
croadyman said:
Yeah would love us to have someone who never gives the defenders a moments rest like Mane provides to the scousers
Click to expand...

It's more than just that. Cavani reminded me how possible it was for our forwards to provide movement, come deep, move into channels and simply making the right runs. See how easy our attacks can be linked
 
mariachi-19 said:
The issue with Martial is the same issue with Berbatov, they dont have the mentality to lead the line at Manchester United. It is not that they are untalented, they just simply dont have that cnut about them.
Click to expand...

Like most players, Martial would feel upset if he is not selected, but then he won't risk his pretty face to win every ball.
 
Think we need to get Martial back on the left, he's much better at cutting in for a shot or cutback pass than anyone else we have at the moment.

Cavani has shown him up since getting more regular minutes. That's the kind of standard we should be expecting out of our #9.
 
Obiorahking_ said:
I'm using Premier League goals alone as its the easiest 1 for 1 comparison. And of course you'd swap Martial for Salah, but it doesn't change the fact that your point that you need to be averaging 30 goals every season to be good enough is silly.
Click to expand...

I meant, a player like Martial, playing number 9 offering nothing but his goals. Salah offers bucket loads more than just his goals, as does Mane.

Martial is fairly limited. Poor hold up, poor press, poor in the air, poor movement off the ball, requires the ball in to feet only. Brilliant when the ball is in to feet.

If he's going to play number 9, and if we're going to challenge, he needs more than 15-20 goals per season and we all know it.
 
Does Martial have that internal drive to push himself to the limit? When things aren't going your way, is it Martial that you want to be relying on to drag the team through the dirt?

We've seen Bruno do this time and time again, Rashford has had some big moments. Cavani turned the tide on Sunday. Can Martial fall into that bracket of being a game changer, and not just a confidence player when things are going well?

Too many questions, which probably give us our answer in reality. I'd wait and see if he can turn things around this season, but Ole must be considering his options. If Haaland is available anytime soon, we need to be in for him.
 
The guy is not a number 9 full stop. You would have thought by now he would have learnt to play on the shoulder of the last defender, and lets be fair, he isn't a meet a cross type of player and won't score loads of headers in a season. His game should be playing on the shoulder and for what ever reason, he just doesn't do it. On the left cutting in is his best position for me. Cavani or Greenwood are a lot more natural at the 9. Haaland would be an amazing signing for us, doubt that will happen TBH.
 
Last edited:
He's not a 25+ goal a season striker, not one that can provide that every single season. And ultimately that's what Manchester United should have. That's always been my opinion on him.

I've never said he's a bad player, in form he's good and can make things happen (few in the squad can which is why I reckon a lot of people back him so much.)

That said I want him in the squad, would like to see him swap sides on either wing with Rashford in a fluid front three with Cavani as the number nine.
 
We need player that can score 8 out of 10 and in the event he dont provide brilliant skills to score the other 2 its still better than a brilliant goal 3 out 10.

Martial brilliance is like a cherry without the actual cake.

You need to function well as a striker first and foremost.

Great strikers works with the team to create the chances for him to score. His movement, pressing, feint and presence occupies defenders and provide spaces and time for other. Martial doesnt provide this. He's part of the problem why he gets lack of services.
 
As the #9, last season was his first playing there for us and he did well. He was our player of the year and he put up good numbers. His hold up play is way better than I ever would have thought. My complaint about him would be that he checks in for the ball too much and wants ball to feet rather than making off the ball runs to look for tap ins. A good thing though is that usually his finishing is very good. He doesn't usually miss a lot of chances. Obviously this year he has been anything but lethal in front of goal, but I'm sure that will change. He's too good of a player to continue this dry spell. But I feel that with a front 3 of Martial, Cavani and Rashford, and with Bruno and VdB controlling the play, there will be a lot of goals to go around. Everyone hits a bad patch of form, but benching him will likely do more harm than good. Let him play and we will see the Martial we all know sooner rather than later...
 
We’ll be discussing the topic of this thread during his testimonial at this rate.
 
Been a big fan of Martial, think he has enormous talent that will go untapped due to effort.

But this is me giving up on him
 
He earned himself a fair chance and he’s squandered it. Simple as that. Trust Ole to continue to improve our squad in all areas.
 
100 said:
Been a big fan of Martial, think he has enormous talent that will go untapped due to effort.

But this is me giving up on him
Click to expand...

Same.
That said, pretty sure the moment he signs for another club he'll become world class in no time.
 
To be a top player you need a number of attributes and martial is lacking many.

Team player? No
Work rate? No
Desire? No
Nasty streak? No
Clinical finisher? No

The talent is there, but the hunger, desire, bit between the teeth are nowhere near
 
Yeah I thought he had turned a corner last season but currently he doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the team. He looks like he thinks it's a chore to play football currently. Or maybe his head is somewhere else completely and he needs to sit out for a while to get his head straight.
 
Bar his shot he was very poor. Just so predictable, receive the ball turn to right and try run past the defender, he made himself very easy to nullify. Obviously going through a period of zero confidence. But so far this season he’s shown we have better options for his position.
 
Too lazy (unwilling? unable?) to make up for when he's not at it technically.

The difference today once he was replaced with runners in behind was night and day
 
Obiorahking_ said:
What has Greenwood demonstrated to show that he is a better player than Martial? Martial would be a great squad player on literally any team. To say that it wouldn't be in his interest is a very fair point and should Martial prove to still be an inconsistent player, then we could make an argument to sell him; however, to say that he isn't even good enough to come off the bench is a reach.
Click to expand...
I know it's only one game since this post but again, he was f grim?!

By comparison, today also gives an answer to your question in that post.. Greenwood is a superb talent, I've said it for ages. That was hardly a half chance and his touch, his vision, his finish was sublime.

If you're talking about players who are fast, play well as wide players, counter attacking, it's Rashford, Greenwood and Martial. For me.. in that order.

Then you look at what a player can give you differently. That's Cavani... movement, can lead the line, more physicality.

So, I don't think any of my posts said he was sh!t? But his form, his attitude and the competition he's up against says he shouldn't start.

And I don't want him as a squad player AND neither would he. Hence why I originally said I wouldn't have him as a squad player.
 
Yes he's run ( well jogged ! ) his race with us and needs to go to PSG who may still give us a decent fee - I just don't see any desire and determination to become an elite player
 
Awful again today, just looks completely off the boil. There's just no progression with him sadly. Like a lot of our players when he's bad he's so so bad.
 
badly out of form and clearly needs a break from the starting 11, would be ideal if cavani could stay fit for a few weeks.

we are still clearly quite light on options in our front 3 and I could see that hurting us over the busy next two months
 
Happens often when we inject dangerous striker to the team. This time we got both Cavani and Greenwood.

Ole needs to adjust him just like he adjusted his tactics today. He can still give a lot to this team, if only his mentality can still allow it.
 
BeforeKeanetherewasRobson said:
I know it's only one game since this post but again, he was f grim?!

By comparison, today also gives an answer to your question in that post.. Greenwood is a superb talent, I've said it for ages. That was hardly a half chance and his touch, his vision, his finish was sublime.

If you're talking about players who are fast, play well as wide players, counter attacking, it's Rashford, Greenwood and Martial. For me.. in that order.

Then you look at what a player can give you differently. That's Cavani... movement, can lead the line, more physicality.

So, I don't think any of my posts said he was sh!t? But his form, his attitude and the competition he's up against says he shouldn't start.

And I don't want him as a squad player AND neither would he. Hence why I originally said I wouldn't have him as a squad player.
Click to expand...
One game isn't a great barometer for anything but yeah Martial looked bad and to your point Greenwood looked really good and as someone who believes in a meritocracy, Greenwood has definitely earned himself a place in the team ahead of Martial until he gets himself together. That being said, its still one game and Martial is still the better player and prospect and on his day is a major handful for any defense. If Martial never picks himself back up then yeah we should move on from him if he doesn't want to accept a lesser role.
 
Thought Greenwood looked great playing centrally in the second half so there’s no denying that’s his long term position, I’d happily give Greenwood a run there with Cavani as back up and Martial as alternative to Rashford on the left but it highlights our need even more for a right sided attacker.
 
Way too one dimensional which makes him easy to defend again. If he doesn’t have space to turn and run at the defender or play intricate 1-2s, he is essentially done.
 
It’s a little bit embarrassing to watch Martial right now. I don’t think he is our nr 9 solution.
Pretty obvious that Martial and Greenwood cannot be on the pitch at the same time. Both are squad players, and Martial shouldn’t stand in the way of Greenwood’s development.

I think it’s time to sell Martial.
 
The time has come and i have now officially given up on Martial.
Time for Greenwood and Cavani to share the central striker role.
For such a technical footballer, how is his first touch so bad? His hold up is no better than Lukaku's was for us.

Cash in ASAP.
 
He's having dry spell, every forward goes through these types of periods. He will be crucial as the season goes on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.