30 Oct 2018 00:57:35
I must confess I love watching Gary Neville on Monday Night Football. I prefer his analysis more than the games sometimes!

Interesting debate around Martial and I agree with every word. I think Shappy picked up on this a while back and identified that Martial's stats per minutes played are actually pretty good and I seem to remember he was questioning why he wasn't playing more often?! I think what Neville identified however was absolutely correct and his movement off the ball can let him down. He's always struck me as a player that wants the ball to feet and there have been times when I've been sat watching him literally screaming at him to accelerate into space or make a run ahead of the ball. He's often too static and prefers the ball to feet which allows the opposition time to re group and get players back behind the ball and the move often breaks down.

What I found fascinating was that Martial's running stats are poor. He runs at least 1.5 - 2km less than all the other top players such as Hazard, Mane, Salah, Sane, Sterling, William etc.

I posted the other day that we are essentially a counter attacking team. We defend deep and mark zones rather than putting pressure on the ball. I don't like this tactic and would prefer to see us be more proactive and try to win the ball back higher up the pitch; Nevertheless we draw teams onto us and then try and break quickly especially away from home. I think we've struggled recently for a variety of reasons principally players like Smalling and Matic not moving the ball forward quickly enough or with sufficient quality, slowing the transitions, giving the ball away or getting caught in possession. When the ball is played forward into Lukaku his hold up play isn't consistent enough to allow players to get forward and support him and players like Martial, Mata and Sanchez all prefer the ball to feet and rarely make runs ahead of the ball. I've questioned our running stats for some time and we often lack the desire, intensity or application to transition quickly from defence into attack. Somebody like Bale would have been perfect and I can understand why Jose was so keen to land Perisic. It makes the Sanchez signing a curious one as he is another player that prefers the ball to feet and likes to try quick, short passes and play through balls to willing runners rather than making penetrating runs himself. I think this explains why he has struggled at Utd. He is simply not suited to our style of play certainly not out wide anyway and the only way I can see him making any kind of impact at our Club is to try him upfront.

I've mused for some time why Martial often looks a far more dangerous player at OT rather than away from home where he can has often been poor or appeared disinterested. I think that although we still drop deep at home we generally enjoy more possession meaning Martial gets the ball into feet in more dangerous positions. Away from home he maybe lacks the desire and intensity to make those lung busting runs forward and he receives the ball far too deep to be effective.

I think there is absolutely no doubt that Martial is a special talent and at the moment our most exciting player. If he could adapt and learn to make better runs off the ball we'd have some player on our hands. He has all the other necessary attributes to be a top player and I love watching him when he picks the ball up in the final third and runs at defenders. I worry however about his casual languid style and hope he can learn to make those penetrating runs that will really transform him into a special player.

I saw against Everton promising signs of good link up play between Shaw, Pogba and Martial. Whilst I'm yet to be convinced by Fred I like his energy and he is a willing runner from midfield. I think if Mourinho is to make a real success of his time at OT he must find a RW that can carry the ball and make runs ahead of the CF. I think we need a more mobile CF capable of both linking the play and making penetrating runs and we must find another dominant, commanding CB that is also good on the ball and of course we need Martial to continue to develop and sign a new contract.


1.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 09:02:55
Agree with your post.

We still need 3/ 4 players plus adjustments to our playing style in order to compete at the top.

Watching the Spurs v City game last night we are a long way off the fast, free flowing football that City play. Their defence is good but they score goals freely against the lower sides. Watching the passing of City last night just makes me realise how far from competing with teams of that quality Utd are!


2.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 09:50:48
wont ever get controlling fast football with Jose. He won't change.


3.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 11:55:36
Still not in favour of pogba tbh- he just doesn't do it often enough for me and would welcome some sort of deal with Dybala at juve. That obviously would help with a number of attacking options right, centre attacking and in the 10 role. Rashford is a kid who has lost his way a little -he doesn't know where to go and ends up drifting to the wings when he was best placed to play down the middle on Sunday. Martial played well as did lindlehof but yet again smalling, penalty waiting to happen and matic, ran ragged these are the areas we need to address and have for some time. We have had decent results from the last few games but there's still a good way to go.


4.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 13:01:45
And yet we were the better team against Chelsea and should have won but for some awful defending.

The squad is not that far away.


5.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 13:58:59
Red tinted glasses by any chance Dodgy?

Shots 21 vs 7
Shots on target 6 vs 4
Possession 63% vs 37%
Passes 611 vs 371
Pass accuracy 89% vs 76%

Not sure where and how you think we were the better side. All stats point towards Chelsea being on top win, lose or draw.


6.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 14:05:50
Apart from money why would Dybala leave Juve for Utd? He must be crazy.


7.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 14:58:05
FZZ- maybe because of a certain superstar coming to town- and money?
why did pogba come back to utd when he left feeling he wasnt treated right? footballers can be as fickle as streetwalkers mate.

{Ed002's Note - Pogba orginally left on the advice of two individuals - it was not related to "feeling he wasn't treated right". He returned because the other interested sides (at that point down to two) would not agree the overall asking price (not just the transfer fee, as that was not an issue). It was a mistake and his career has not progressed since.}


8.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 15:12:48
FZZ

I watched the game rather than looking at stats.

Both conceded CFC goals were woeful defending that should not have happened. DDG made a few very easy saves, perhaps one very good one.

MUFC scored a couple of legitimate goals. Missed a one on one.

Football is about opinions, so not arguing with yours, just what I saw.


9.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 16:35:01
Fair enough, but I do think overall a draw was a fair result.
They way I saw it reflected on the stats as well.


10.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 16:41:03
stats mean absolutely naff all. the only stat that matters is goals scored.


11.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 17:40:05
So based on your conclusion bolger2 a draw was a fair result? Something I said before.


12.) 30 Oct 2018
30 Oct 2018 17:43:34
cheers for the clarity re pogba ed002 - my intention was to put forward that players move for all manner of reasons, some logical and others maybe not so and that the movements will continue to throw up surprises:)

{Ed002's Note - You need to see players as tiny transient snapshots in time. A few will stay for the duration but most will not.}