I don’t think he is
And if he is at the minute it’s only because Greenwood has been too young to play that role or been playing wide right
That changes this season
Martial agent looking for a new club for him
- Thread starter dinostar77
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And if he is at the minute it’s only because Greenwood has been too young to play that role or been playing wide right
That changes this season
Yes I am not questioning Martial’s talent. He had a very good season that year. But he is way to inconsistent to be able to compete for starting positions with Rashford and Sancho (given he matches our expectations) and will not settle for being a sub. The rumour that his agent is looking for a new club for him suggests he thinks so as well.
I agree, Martial is only good for us on the left wing atm. On the CF he's not in Cavani's league, he's had a negligible effect on the team as cfwd even if "it is his preferred position", and on the RW position he's not even half as good as he is from the left..
It's time he accepted his best position is on the left, and he, Rashford are in competition with each other for the starting spot. In a long season there is no reason why he won't play as many games as Rashford who was poty for the first half especially.
Martial so far has not shown anything worth considering as a cfwd, and he's not our 2nd best there - Rashford is.
That's clearly nonsense.
Anyone who thinks Martial is better on the left hasn't really followed United in the last 2 years.
Eh? I think if there was a poll where people think his best position is it would probably be on the left? His movement amongst other things simply isn't good enough to be a striker for a top team.
If Martial leaves, we would need another striker, or a LW with Rashford / Cavani up top.
Martial simply doesn't have the positioning and movement of a top striker. Too static at times, drops deep to recieve the ball and when he does get the ball he acts like a winger: Tries to dribble instead of finding an easy pass to a player to then get in scoring positions. (watch Cavani). Martial really isn't a striker at all and should be a LW player for us, he has all the traits of a winger.
He was absolutely awful as a striker for the whole of last season.
I don't know how statue like performances and disinterest plus missing easy chances can ever be associated with a Man Utd striker. I'd rather have him on the left, not because he's been consistently good there either but because it's simply less bad when he puts in shoddy efforts. When your striker is a body it's like playing with 9 men.
PL appearances and goals
2016 : 31 11
2017 : 25 4
2018 : 31 9
2019 : 27 10
2020 : 32 17
2021 : 22 4
I think that's a goal every 3.05 games or (using a 38 game season), average of 12-13 PL goals per season.
(* sub appearances skew)
And they would be wrong, it happens all the time. He had his best season as a striker, last season's form had nothing to do with his position.
How many times have you seen him play in the flesh?
If Martial has another underwhelming season this year, will people still dine out on that one season where actually did alright? How many years will that be used as a reason to stick with him?
No, I think United should sell next summer and go all out for Haaland or another striker regardless of his form next season.
22 pages full and no substance at all
How was Luke Shaw in the last 5 years. What was his record? Did he win players player of the year? Was he even fit enough to play for us?
Yeah he won player's player of the year in 2018-19 too.
Very fair summary
The money is better spent in midfield for this season, we can revisit the striker situation in a years time.
Excellent. So next year is Martial breakthrough season.
I like Martial the deeper he plays.
unfortunately he seems to only have one style shot in his technical ability - the curves right foot finish. He doesn’t really have the ability to finish or poach that much after making deadly runs because he simply doesn’t do it.
I enjoy watching him and value him whilst he is here though.
unfortunately he seems to only have one style shot in his technical ability - the curves right foot finish. He doesn’t really have the ability to finish or poach that much after making deadly runs because he simply doesn’t do it.
I enjoy watching him and value him whilst he is here though.
Absolutely no credible sources. He's reportedly out the door every season, it's not happening now like it hasn't happened till now. Next summer could be a different story of course.
A good player coming off the back of a poor season.
Talk of selling him is strange. Cavani is 34 and won’t play every game and Rashford is due surgery. We simply don’t have the depth in this department and we won’t be buying another striker given the clear and obvious interest in buying a centre half and (maybe) midfielder.
Sell Martial and you’re still a couple of bad injuries away from two months of Dan James. Nobody wants that.
Talk of selling him is strange. Cavani is 34 and won’t play every game and Rashford is due surgery. We simply don’t have the depth in this department and we won’t be buying another striker given the clear and obvious interest in buying a centre half and (maybe) midfielder.
Sell Martial and you’re still a couple of bad injuries away from two months of Dan James. Nobody wants that.
Not necessarily. The point is, he doesn't fit in. He's no longer the no 1 choice, and he's not the sort of player who is suited to being a backup.
Arguably, Cavani and Greenwood give us what we need at striker, with Rashford also an option at a pinch.
With Cavani staying another year and lots of other needs, it makes sense to hold off on a long term no 1 striker until next year.
Hence - either spend the funds on meeting needs elsewhere, or get someone who can be your backup striker, this season and going forward.
I apologize, didn’t see that condition to join redcafe that you must see a player in flesh before you can express your opinion. I’ll go stay quiet.
Different individuals and different ways.
Shaw has been immense for atleast last two seasons (almost )
2018 season he won players player award, and he has been above every competition at the club. I cant say Martial has done that in last 2 or 3 seasons plus our overall expectations have increased of the team.
Thanks for agreeing with me.As you can see from the stats he can be all over the place. I am not privy to what’s going on in his life or what are the expectations set by OSG from him. But I “feel” he has been erratic even after these many years, we need consistency to make progress and he has failed to show that he’s capable.
To be fair, Shaw was starting to play really well until he broke his leg, then when he came back Mourinho bullied the shit out of him to the point he almost left but he managed to show enough to land a new contract and Mourinho got the boot. Since Solskjaer's come in he's gotten better by the month.
If we cut Martial some slack we could say that he played LW under Van Gaal, was also bullied by Mourinho but got his shit together under Solskajer for about 6 months. He literally has no more excuses left. Everyone is kicking on but him.
This thread has a bit of Williams is better than Shaw energy to me.
I get what you mean, and I hope so! I basically said Shaw was done for and look what happened. Difference is the belief in Martial has basically been lessening on here year after year, even after his good season, there were still doubts he'd actually kick on.
This.
I don't think it's strange at all. On the contrary it would have been strange if it wasn't an issue.
I don't think the depth and injuries points are very good. Where are we on left back with "a couple of bad injuries"? Or on right back? Or for the No 10 position? Even on the double slots positions we're in big, big trouble with two serious injuries in the same position. You don't need to prioritise a quality depth of three for a single slot position, not even City has that. And currently we have four (if you include Rashford). Also, with Sancho on board, more of Greenwood's starts are going to have to be as striker.
Secondly, the issue is what does it take for Martial to be an effective player, how does he fit in? In my view, to be effective he needs to be our main striker. He doesn't have the mindset to be a backup, and he's a very significantly less effective player when he plays out of position. So the question then is, is he good enough that you still think he's going to be your main starting striker, or has the time now come to conclude that that's just not very likely to happen? On the strength of his performances that seems to me less than likely, although certainly not impossible. But if you're not going to draw the line now, then the only way to find out is to give him the chance, and play him as your starter for a protracted period. Does that seem like the right course of action for United going into the new season?
I think we can do without the depth he brings. I also think that if United see him at this point as a backup, then it would be better both for him and for the team that he moves on.
People draw comparisons to Shaw. I don't think that's relevant at all. Shaw has never, under OGS, been at the point where there was serious reason to question whether he could be our main man on left back. He had a good 19/20, maybe not good enough to answer that question in the affirmative, but certainly more than good enough to warrant going forward with him into a new season. It would have been nuts to pull the plug on him last summer. Much, much less so with Martial this summer.
So all he's got to do then is become the most improved player in the league next season
I think most people forgot, that Martial isn't a striker. His best position is the one Rashford are playing (LW) . Martial was awesome last time in that position. I think rashford and Martial should share this spot. Maybe put rashford at ST in some games
What? Martial is awful on the left wing. To the extent that he really shouldn't play there. He's a striker, or he sits.
There's no way we would be lucky enough to get someone to take him off our hands.
Sell him, buy a hungry or another proven striker who is very good from coming off as a sub.
Diego Costa is available.
Giroud is worth a shout!
Diego Costa is available.
Giroud is worth a shout!
Cheeky 30m Arsenal bid near the deadline day, wouldn't be surprised as they don't have bigger leverage this season.
If Martial stays I have no idea which position he'll play in and how often he will play, but quite frankly I don't give a feck.
If he plays next season, he better bring the house down like Shaw did. Being just 'ok' isn't good enough.
If he plays next season, he better bring the house down like Shaw did. Being just 'ok' isn't good enough.
He's been fantastic in both positions, and he's been terrible in both positions.
If he gets back into form he can be a great option either on the wing or up front. The question is whether he will get back into form.
Sell him, buy a hungry or another proven striker who is very good from coming off as a sub.
Diego Costa is available.
Giroud is worth a shout!
How about Milik? Is he leaving Napoli