12 Jun 2021 03:59:45
Hello Ed002. Do you have information about Martial being available for transfer this summer? If yes, what are his options?

{Ed002's Note - Manchester United have shown no intention of selling him but his agent is unhappy with the situation and will see if there are options available - so nothing has changed.}


1.) 12 Jun 2021
12 Jun 2021 10:44:32
A shame Martial never developed in the way I hoped after that first season. I thought there was some potential to become a very good player back then.


2.) 12 Jun 2021
12 Jun 2021 11:35:00
So much ability but no desire.


3.) 12 Jun 2021
12 Jun 2021 13:07:50
And sadly no footballing brain - If you are a defender and can match him stride for stride what else has he got? Not bad at dribbling, butnot great in the air, will he out smart you in the box, or out muscle you or press you into a mistake, pop up where you don't expect him - . no, very rarely will he do any of that, and then when you tackle him a few times and he can't get the better of you after 60 minutes his head drops . A real shame.


4.) 12 Jun 2021
12 Jun 2021 18:47:12
He had a spell at the end of last season, but for me has never looked as promising as on his debut, when I believe he scored a cracker vs Liverpool. Just never looks up for it.


5.) 12 Jun 2021
12 Jun 2021 19:13:24
Forgive me being naive but what can his agent be unhappy about? He’s really well paid in the squad, has got his No9 Shirt back and played up front all’s Eason until it was proven he want actually a very good striker?

If he or Martial have an issue then good riddance.


6.) 12 Jun 2021
12 Jun 2021 22:02:21
Real Madrid online with an option to buy seems to the rumours. probably from his agent.

A good loan to bump his value or refresh him would be good idea.

Then Viva Ronaldo for one last dance.


7.) 13 Jun 2021
13 Jun 2021 09:12:05
While I agree that Martial isn't good enough to be first choice, I'm a little surprised at how quickly everyone wants to boot him out the door.

I mean if we got rid of every player who wasn't good enough to be first choice for us then at no point in our history would we ever have had more than about 14-16 players in our first team squad at most.

Martial doesn't lack for talent, he's quick, has good feet, great technique, can dribble, can link play and is probably only behind Greenwood at our club in terms of how clinical he is in front of goal.

He only has two issues, the first is he picks up a few niggling injuries across a season which can make it hard to maintain momentum when you're in and out of the side. However, the biggest issue he has is his mentality. He doesn't cope well when under pressure for his starting spot.

All that said, there is absolutely no point throwing him out the club while he offers a good squad option.

Rashford is best played on the left, while Greenwood is developing. My gut says Greenwood will eventually move centrally, maybe sooner rather than later. Yet currently he will share his time between RW and CF. That leaves a 34 year old Cavani as our first (and best) choice centrally. Cavani however does struggle with fitness and injury and that isn't likely to improve next season.

Martial offers good coverage for Cavani up top and Rashford on the left.

If we sign Sancho (which looks likely) then what looks stronger for us next season:

Rashford, Martial, Cavani, Greenwood, Sancho.

Or

Rashford, James, Cavani, Greenwood, Sancho.

I mean if someone comes along and makes a good offer for him then sell him and move on. But let's not try and force a good if not great player out the door for little reason.


8.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 09:21:15
When Tony was bought I had hoped for a Thierry Henry type in the making. he's been only good in spots but and he's no talisman and we need a leader up front too. This isn't a knee jerk reaction. Four or five years these questions have been asked. His on field body language is in stark contrast to Cavani - which is the standard he's aiming for. For me he doesn't even tick the box of "impact sub" because he's just not the bustling, harrying type to come on and unsettle opposition defenders. His standard at the minute is as an expensive sub - I'd hoped for so much more.


9.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 12:08:41
Shappy the point is he thinks he should be the first name on the team. He simply doesn’t warrant that. He’s been here long enough now but still hasn’t put together a run of form for long enough to be unstoppable. We have decent squad players as it is, we won’t miss him too much. He’s had plenty of strikers to learn from but I still see not much improvement since we bought him.


10.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 16:20:05
Get him and the manager out of the club.


11.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 17:37:44
Shappy, for me it’s about being the most saleable asset out of those who aren’t in our regular/ best XI.

I don’t think anybody would put him in our best team and I think we’d comfortably get £40m for him.

In a summer where we need a RB, CB, DM and RW, an extra £40m in the kitty will be required.


12.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 18:09:28
I just feel that one of the issues we have compared to City is a lack of strength in depth.

We have at least 10 players who aren't good enough even as squad players for a title winning side.

You might be able to get away with one or two at that level, but not a third of the first team squad.

People complain about the manager not making subs, but who is typically on the bench who you think could make a real difference and isn't a big downgrade on the players on the pitch?

I'd have no problem getting rid of Martial, as long as we are going to get a replacement.

If Martial leaves this summer then we will need a replacement.

We might get 40m for him, but Kane or Haaland will cost 3 to 4 times that much.

Even cheaper squad options like Andre Silva or Moussa Dembele would cost close to the 40m we would get for Martial.

I just think selling Martial this summer creates more work in terms of actually agreeing his departure and then finding and negotiating a replacement.

If we sign Sancho then our first choice front three will be: Rashford, Cavani and Sancho, with Martial and Greenwood offering cover for both wide left, wide right and through the centre.

Who do we realistically have beyond Martial and Greenwood to offer cover?

James (who sadly isn't good enough, too one dimensional), Diallo (who has had less than 200 minutes playing time for us), Pellistri, Shoretire.

Or do we keep the likes of Mata, Lingard and Andreas Pereira?

If we sell Martial then we get injuries to Cavani and Rashford then we would be left with a front three of James, Greenwood and Sancho to carry us for however long they are out for. Considering Cavani and Rashford's injury records that isn't a stretch of the imagination.

I fully agree Martial isn't good enough to be first choice, but he is arguably the best of the rest for us. Selling him and not replacing him only benefits the Glazers.


13.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 19:10:04
What's the strength in depth City have? If their front three is Sterling Jesus and Mahrez then they have Bernardo Torres and Foden. We have Kavani Rashford Martial Mason Mata Amad and next year Sancho, kost of them can make a job. Then they can use De Bruine up front but we can also use Pogba at Rashfords position.
We have three midfielders for the defencive job in Fred Scot Matic and three for the attacking job in Pogba Donny and Bruno. Its ridiculous how Shappy every respond say that we have not the players and its not managers fault.


14.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 21:49:13
Everyone forgetting about Elanga? Surely he can do the martial role shadowing rashford on the left? Amad on the right shadowing Sancho? Then sell martial and use that money to invest in the squad?


15.) 15 Jun 2021
15 Jun 2021 09:05:01
Herrera, why always bring it back to the manager. At no point in my post did I mention the manager.

This is one of the issues with the site, when a debate grows into something all consuming people are thrown into on of two camps. Then every post they make HAS to be about backing their opinion on that debate.

Forget the manager, it doesn't matter. I don't care whether it's Ole, Jose, of God himself. They won't overthrow the current City side with the squad we have.

If you can't objectively stand back and understand that City have a stronger squad than us then there is probably little point debating football with you. Which would be a shame as I think you're a good poster.

City won the league in a congested season at a canter purely because they have a much stronger and deeper squad than everyone else.


16.) 15 Jun 2021
15 Jun 2021 09:52:59
What’s the point having a player who’s probably worth a decent fee, who’s game has not improved, can barely bring a smile to his face wearing our famous red shirt, gets injured quite often and whinges that he’s not starting when there are more deserving of the start?


17.) 15 Jun 2021
15 Jun 2021 11:46:22
RedWhiskey, Long term I'd get rid of Martial. I just don't think this summer is the right time.

If we are honest we could both name a dozen players at United who need to leave and currently aren't putting in performances worthy of their wages.

Joel Pereira, Grant, Jones, Bailly, Dalot, Mata, Lingard, Andreas Pereira and Chong. None of them have contributed more than Martial last season or the season before. All should leave before Martial.

We then have players who are in the maybe camp, good players who might be worth keeping for another season to see if they can step up, but they are far from safe. Players like Tuanzebe, Williams, Fred, James, Donny and I would place Martial in this category.

So in the need to leave this summer and the might need to go next summer categories we have 15 of our first team squad.

That doesn't include players like Pogba who will either leave this summer for a fee or next on a free, Matic and Cavani who at best have one more season left in them. But fitness and availability will be an issue. While we will need to ideally sell one of Henderson of DDG as that situation is unsustainable.

Which is ideally another sale or two this summer (keeper and Pogba) and two further departures next summer.

That is a huge turn over needed in the next two windows.

10 or 11 players who need to leave this summer, with replacements sought. (not including Martial) .

2 or 3 who will definitely leave next summer, with another 6 potentially who could be following them (Martial included), again with replacements sought.

This is what I mean when I say this is not a great squad, and serious work is needed if we are to genuinely challenge for the title.

A few of those players may be able to stay in squad capacity, but not all of them. While we would still be relying on several younger players to either continue to develop or step up into the first team, on top of 5-6 really good top level signings.


18.) 15 Jun 2021
15 Jun 2021 13:04:48
Because you defend the coach for not making changes. He has no excuse.
Last year we had a front three that outscored Liverpool's, this year we brought Cavani and we still have Mata James and Diallo, a technical player, an Wales international and an Ivory Coast International . I see a lot of options there.
If the coach can only win with Brunos quality that's not my problem but his problem because we can't have a player with Brunos quality at the bench. He must find another way and find a way to use other players property and take most of them.


19.) 15 Jun 2021
15 Jun 2021 13:05:50
Shappy if sancho comes in on a top wage one of the top earners have to leave.


20.) 15 Jun 2021
15 Jun 2021 15:44:45
I agree Ken, probably best to move on our top earner. checks notes DDG😂

Herrera, come off it. Mata is past it, that much is obvious. Love him as a player, and a top guy. But if he leaves his options are mid table sides at best.

Dan James is nowhere near the quality of a title winning side. Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich, PSG etc wouldn't look twice at him, even as a squad player. He's quick and he works hard, but he lacks understanding or ability to impact a game when there isn't space to run into. Again he seems like a nice lad, but he plays football like a dog chasing a carrier bag in the wind.

Amad Diallo has huge potential, but he has played less than 200 minutes for us. Which is around twice as many minutes as he got at Atalanta. He isn't ready to play regularly, he might be soon, but not yet.

Yes last year our front three of Rashford, Martial and Greenwood outscored Salah, Mane and Firmino.

Unfortunately Rashford has struggled all season with injuries. Martial has shown that he can't perform when there is pressure for his starting spot. While Greenwood suffered the typical second season drop in form as teams start to figure him out. While he also had some off field drama to deal with, which being young himself obviously hit him hard and took time to get over.

We also had Cavani, who struggled to stay fit and was in and out of the team. While his performances when fit just highlighted just how much our other young forwards have yet to learn.

So what are your suggestions?

How do you make James a world class player?

How do you make Mata 4 years younger?

How do you make Diallo ready?

How do you make Greenwood get over the suicide of a close friend?

How do you stop Cavani and Rashford getting injuries?

How do you make Martial have the right mentality?


21.) 15 Jun 2021
15 Jun 2021 16:18:52
I almost feel sorry for Ole to have such a bad fortune and so average squad.
At the other hand Pep had injury free Aguero, the world class striker Jesus, the world class and in form Sterling. Then he had the proven and world class Torres.
Is this what you want? Let it be.


22.) 15 Jun 2021
15 Jun 2021 18:44:42
Herrera, that's my point. Pep has better a better first 11 AND better players in reserve.

Torres had a couple of months of great football. Sterling's form wasn't great but Mahrez was in the form of his life. Fernandinho didn't play as much, but Gundogan had his best season in England arguably his career. KDB was excellent, Foden had a break out season. Dias was the best CB in the league, Stones form was so good he benched the excellent Laporte. Cancelo was the best full back in the league.

Key players like Sterling, Laporte, Fernandinho, and Aguero either weren't missed or their poor form was mitigated by other top players being able to step in for them.

At United if Rashford and Bruno are out of the line up we look desperately poor, simply because the players stepping in for them don't have half the talent that they do.

Add to that the rest of the first 11 look somewhere between average or slightly above average at best then you can see the squad we have is a million miles off of City's.

Liverpool have a far better first 11, and squad players probably on par with us.

City have a far better first 11 and better squad players than us.

Chelsea have a comparable first 11, but better quality in squad depth than us.

That's three teams than on balance have a better first team squad than us. We finished above two of them which probably means we overachieved this season. I think that places is in a dangerous position as its easy to think we are better than we are, and as such have higher expectations next season.

If we don't bring in some key signings that go straight into the first 11 and improve it then I see 4th as the most likely finishing position for us.


23.) 16 Jun 2021
16 Jun 2021 17:58:33
Shappy

Pep is a far better coach and manager than Ole, gets far more out of players, who know exactly what is required. Give Ole City’s squad or Liverpool’s for that matter and he wouldn’t win the league.

You keep repeating yourself about how it is the players and squad not Ole. The old say it enough times and people will believe you stuff.


24.) 17 Jun 2021
17 Jun 2021 13:04:01
Could say exactly the same about your views on Ole redman. Everyone is entrenched at the moment.

Ole will still be here next year. He deserves to be here next year after a solid 2nd place and whilst a reasonable showing in the cups.

We will invest in some new players to freshen the squad. We will also develop more together as a team.

Everyone is keen to say we will be lucky to get top 4 again next year, but we will not be far away again, we are looking up not down.

What did Pep do in his first 2 seasons? What about Klopp? Both brought in players and freshened their squads, it is a process.

{Ed077's Note - didnt Pep have that 100 points season in his second season??}


25.) 18 Jun 2021
18 Jun 2021 06:57:40
DodgyBanter,

"a solid 2nd place and whilst a reasonable showing in the cups. " - really? We know how solid the past season was and how Ole managed to mess up in a reasonable showing in the cups.

I hope your optimism pays off and we are not in a dog fight for top 4 come the end of the season.

Why do people always need to compare with Pep/ Klopp when the discussion is about Ole? He is not at their level. When is Ole ever going to be held accountable?

I hope we do get the signings Ole wants and he has no more excuses this coming season.