I think he can play as a holding midfielder and a full back too.
Lisandro Martinez | Signs for United
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Fully convinced he's being signed as a defensive midfielder. Too small to be a PL CB and not even Ten Hag is that naive to play him at CB regularly. May play the odd game in there maybe if others are injured or its a 3 at the back formation.
Proficiency against the high balls are probably even more important in a high defensive line. You don't want the opposition's strikers to be bringing down the high balls, flicking or knocking them down to their teammates and the runners when the backline is 40-50 yards up the pitch. The defenders still need to be strong in the air to defend them to have a better chance of winning the second balls.
Besides we aren't going to be making every defensive action in the middle and final third. There will still be crosses that would need to be defended at the back post, and set-pieces that would need to be headed away. Martinez could very well be strong in the air despite his height, and I hope that turns out to be the case.
Just make sure that you’re around when it doesn’t go that way at all. Summer has been slow but we’ll certainly sign more than 3 and spend more than £50 million. All of it hinges on de Jong.
This one is confusing me. We’re not playing 3 at the back, and we’re not paying that much for him to sit on the bench. Could see him playing DM but then the Eriksen signing doesn’t make a ton of sense. Won’t play LB since we just signed Malacia.
Are we just about to pay this much for a utility player? I doubt it. My best guess is that he will take Maguire’s place and play alongside him if Varane is injured. I expect Varane to have a great year so can’t see him being benched.
Are we just about to pay this much for a utility player? I doubt it. My best guess is that he will take Maguire’s place and play alongside him if Varane is injured. I expect Varane to have a great year so can’t see him being benched.
What are the chances ETH converts him from midfield to a centre back at Ajax because he doesn't rate him highly enough in midfield, signs him for his new club and immediately converts him back to a midfielder? He must be bought as a CB with his versatility just a bonus.
I think there's a good chance he'll struggle to nail down a starting spot at CB due to his physical limitations and from that he may then be given a run in midfield to try make use of him.
It's interesting to note that for all the talk about the importance of a left footed CB for ETH, Martinez was not the original plan. It seems very much like ETH wanted Timber instead, and when Van Gaal screwed us we've gone to Martinez as plan B. So it looks like he was happy to go without a left footed CB originally.
Reckon the manager has a plan or not?
Was it because he wasn't good enough or because he was needed more for the CB position than the midfield?
Listened to a Dutch journo speak about him this week. He said the Ajax fans aren't really fussed about him leaving and they think it's a good deal on their behalf. He's liked there but he isn't loved due to not being as technical as the rest of the lads, but is a good defender, which is something we're missing anyway. His height could be an issue though, we already concede from corners for fun so De Gea better start coming off his fecking line!
His height worries me. How is he going to deal with the likes of Kane, Nunez, Haaland. All well over 6 foot.
Wasn't he their player of the season last year?
It's not that confusing... maybe looks like that, but we'll see other defenders leaving for sure.
We need crafty CB with different set of skills than rest of defenders. Martinez creates multiple options.
We have no DM and we're not after one. Also saves funds to address emergency signings if Cris leaves or in need of urgent right winger.
Signing Martinez absolutely doesn't stop us from going after Timber as planned to inject new system at faster rate.
Rectifying failed partnership Maguire - Lindelof by creating additional one Varane - Martinez is available and on top of looks like realistic solution for now.
We're not playing 3 at back, you're right, we're not playing 3 at back just yet. Being able to shift formation in case of injuries or any tactical need could be useful.
After Bailly and Jones eventually leaving, Lindelof could be next candidate to go. Finding more suitable ones in future will be natural way to progress and it doesn't mean we'll never sign towering defender during Ten Hag reign btw.
He was and the consensus amongst their fanbase seems to be he's clearly their best defender over Timber despite many feeling the latter has a high ceiling.
We don't get any of De Jong/Neves/Tielemans then fans have every right to riot about it
Have to say I agree.
I don't think he'll get many games at CB for us, I think he could possibly be used in DM role along side FDJ (if it were to happen).
Seems like a lot of people are going to be surprised when the CB we sign after being linked with CBs all summer actually plays as a CB.
Think you are bang on
Yep, won player of the season: https://english.ajax.nl/articles/player-of-the-year-martinez/
Well, put it this way, I'd be more optimistic sticking a broom in the ground than going with the current CB's for another season.
Martinez is going to be more dynamic then all of them put together, with the added bonus of not having a nose bleed every time he is put under the slightest pressure from the opposing press.
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What play a sweeping centre back?
Obviously. I’m saying I don’t get it. Not saying ETH doesn’t know what he’s doing. Just going to be interesting to see where he fits is all I was trying to say. Ideally for me he just replaces Maguire.
Ten Hag maybe has faith that United will have the ball most of the time and the centre halves won’t be defending their box too much. I remember United’s defence always looked a bit shaken when attacked under Van Gaal but never actually conceded that many. Ten Hag is on record as saying Martinez is a centre half because he doesn’t have the running power needed for midfield. There’s been good “short” centre halves before: Ivan Cordoba, Cannavaro, Ayala. Vidic wasn’t that tall, was he?
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Vidic is 6ft2/3
He is a no Brainer.. how many times have we lost the ball while trying to play from the back and invited waves of attacks and then conceded .. now all the teams press , so we need someone like him that can play from the back .
I remember similar vibes about Maguire
Yeah I agree. Maybe a different defensive line up against tall bullish strikers is required.
Wonder who you listened to then. This definitely isnt general.opinion. Martinez is definitely appreciated a lot. He is actually very good and calm on the ball, as well as solid defensively. He's been consistent and brings that true South American spirit as well. Ajax will miss him, fans will miss him, but Ajax can't turn down 55-60m for him.
Our new Daley Blind?
Always looked a bit shorter than that to me. Stand corrected.
His name is Elko Born, reliable or not? He said for the money United are offering Ajax fans in general are happy with the sale.
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And he stands tall
Hopefully yes. Daley Blind is one of my favourite footballers of all time.
I reckon he replaces Maguire.
I saw him in M&S years ago. Scary big. Not height wise, but his build. Like a fecking tank!
Did they accept the bid
They are preparing to imminently accept the bid
This thread should be used to show why the metric system is superior.
Not many teams play with 2 strikers these days so one tall defender to deal with striker should be good and we have backup defenders in case we need height.
I think last season we conceded more because of positional awareness rather than height so may be thats the plan of the manager.
Also contrary to the popular opinion, I think we might see more of Maguire + Martinez. I am assuming manager is probably aware that Varane and Bailly will be struggling to be fit whole season and their availability is bonus. So we are left with Maguire,Martinez and Lindelof.
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