Anthony Martial

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Is there a single Van Gaal signing that will turn out to be a long term success here ffs.

Herrera is doing ok tbf.

Originally Posted by Ethers

Herrera is doing ok tbf.

Not a LVG signing apparently....

Originally Posted by Ethers

Herrera is doing ok tbf.

You mean the guy who never got a game under him? Right.

Originally Posted by Billy Redface

I think his work rate has markedly improved. At Everton, for example, he did a lot of tracking back. Didn't happen for him up top though. Seems to have lost a little aggression with the ball and he does need to improve off it, in the final third.

I'd like to see him play more. Play his way through it a bit.

There's been signs for sure. He showed a lot more intent against West Ham in the cup for example. Made a lot of great runs and forced the issue well, but you have to do it all the time, every game. That is how Klopp has average to decent players scoring for fun, because they rarely pass up a run they could make, and that in turn forces the play and often makes up the man on the ball's mind for him.

Hazard is great at that (not last year obviously), because he almost never plays a ball in isolation without making the run after it looking for the one-two. If done well it's almost impossible to defend. Too often martial is five to ten yards behind where he should be and ball watching; waiting for the play rather than making it.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

You mean the guy who never got a game under him? Right.

Did he sign him, yes or no?

Originally Posted by Ethers

Did he sign him, yes or no?

Technically yes. But we all know the story behind him and shaw

He's a lazy £#%&!ing bum.

Such a quality player, but even before he was signed there were a few articles knocking around about his attitude, etc. The hardest thing for a modern football manager must be dealing with the egos of young, hyper-talented, multi-millionaire players (and their fat blood sucking agents whose job it is to massage those egos and make their players as much as possible).

With this in mind, I really think Jose's got his work cut out with Tony M. Here's hope he can, of course.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Technically yes. But we all know the story behind him and shaw

Ok.

Would be up there with letting de bruyne go or us letting pique go. Will haunt us weekly. As it stands he not be going anywhere his Instagram tonight is beautiful

There a few players who would be more effective for us on the left than Martial was for us last season.

He's just had a stop season and needs a run in the team to get going.

Still think he will get 15 goals for us this season if he gets that run especially if Mikitarayan is on the other side for most of those matches setting him up like he did against West Ham.

They've only been in the same league starting line up 2 times.

Originally Posted by puressence

Would be up there with letting de bruyne go or us letting pique go. Will haunt us weekly. As it stands he not be going anywhere his Instagram tonight is beautiful

Originally Posted by utd99

There's been signs for sure. He showed a lot more intent against West Ham in the cup for example. Made a lot of great runs and forced the issue well, but you have to do it all the time, every game. That is how Klopp has average to decent players scoring for fun, because they rarely pass up a run they could make, and that in turn forces the play and often makes up the man on the ball's mind for him.

Hazard is great at that (not last year obviously), because he almost never plays a ball in isolation without making the run after it looking for the one-two. If done well it's almost impossible to defend. Too often martial is five to ten yards behind where he should be and ball watching; waiting for the play rather than making it.

Agreed.

Good post mate.

thought he looked really good again when he came on against Sunderland...

Would be a relative tragedy if he didnt 'make it' here. He's such a talent.

We need to hang onto this guy

Originally Posted by armchair

We need to hang onto this guy

on to.

Aren't both acceptable usage?

Mou Mou has got this, he was talking about second season dips in relation to Rashers and young talents in general recently. The Martial will not fail at utd.

Originally Posted by Billy Redface

Agreed.

Good post mate.

It is, and it was something he flagged up on numerous occasions last season. Only playing when in possession, worked under LVG and his glacial sideways passing, could wait on the wing for the ball to feet then become engaged in the game. Lingard is an interesting comparison, a lesser talent but the strength of his game is his movement and workrate, can not be static from the wide position with Zlatan up front.

No chance Mou gives up on him though, can be one of the top attackers in the world over the next 10 years if it clicks for him.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

It is, and it was something he flagged up on numerous occasions last season. Only playing when in possession, worked under LVG and his glacial sideways passing, could wait on the wing for the ball to feet then become engaged in the game. Lingard is an interesting comparison, a lesser talent but the strength of his game is his movement and workrate, can not be static from the wide position with Zlatan up front.

No chance Mou gives up on him though, can be one of the top attackers in the world over the next 10 years if it clicks for him.

Exactly right.

Van Gaal's philosophy was perfect for the lazy footballer - and I'm not suggesting all of our players are lazy btw- in that it was so pedestrian that you could give 80% and still function. That's not going to work under Mourinho. I totally agree that Martial's potential is huge; I'm just not sure whether you can teach desire, and tbh, the great players don't need to be taught. Ronaldo was a lazy @#%&! at the defensive side because he had no interest, but has he ever once in his career passed up a run if there was a chance he was going to get on the end of something? He'd pimp out his beloved mother for a goal against Wigan.

Lingard is an interesting case, I agree. There is a lot about his desire and work rate to like, but he needs to have more discipline and stop floating all over the field. He doesn't need to be an outright winger, but the team needs shape and we often don't when Lingard goes on tour. What was the best goal so far this season -outside of Mkhitaryan's finish against Sunderland-, probably Ibra's first against West Brom. Three passes, one end to the other in seconds, great cross great finish, boom, boom, boom. A 'United' goal. That move/goal is only possible when you keep your shape.

Football is a lot simpler played at speed.