Martial has always had his critics at Manchester United and since number one scapegoat Paul Pogba is out injured, many turn the blame of losses and poor performances to Martial.
Poor Form
United had 3 losses in the Premier League in January, as well as losing top scorer Marcus Rashford to a long term injury. It wasn’t a great month and lots of fans blamed Martial for not getting the goals.
Criticism especially came in the loss against Burnley where Martial missed a clear chance in the area and had a poor game overall.
Lack Of Support
Although Martial hadn’t been playing well, neither had the entire team. Against Liverpool, United created 2 big chances and both were created from Martial.
He was not getting runners beyond him unlike when Rashford plays and he didn’t have players in midfield to find him often enough. It was frustrating for the Frenchman.
With the absence of Pogba and Rashford, the two only real creative links for Martial it was always going to be a tough period for Martial.
Introducing Bruno Fernandes
The acquisition of Fernandes in January was vital for the team and Martial. With a goal or assist every 102 minutes in the Liga Nos, it was clear that he would positively impact United.
Martial has scored in 2 of the 3 games he has played alongside Bruno Fernandes, with Bruno setting up Martial initially before his superb goal against Chelsea.
The two clearly get on with Fernandes jokingly saying after the Watford game:
“I hope Anthony scores more goals when I pass the ball to him and not miss the goal and take the ball again. If he scores it’s two assists! Last week I say he never scores on my assists but I don’t think it’s my fault tonight”.
With more confidence in the midfield behind him Martial has regained form with 3 goals in his last 3 games. With the option for the Frenchman to play wide with the addition of Odion Ighalo as well.
A Strong Push For Champions League Places
With Fernandes, United are able to push and potentially regain a spot in the Champions League, which seemed very difficult before his arrival. If he and Martial can continue to link up, Martial will be looking at ending the season strong.
The Frenchman still has many critics, but if you look at the statistics, the striker has a healthy return this season with 20 goal contributions in the equivalent of 26 full games.
He will only get higher numbers with better reinforcements in the new season, and the critics should perhaps look at more important issues in the side before Martial.
There has been a lot of negative talk about Martial recently, as he has put in multiple below par performances, however, the tactics implemented and personnel on the pitch are making it difficult for the Frenchman to succeed.
Man Utd’s Tactics
The Red Devils have had trouble with their attacking tactics throughout the season, with the midfielders and fullbacks not offering the front 3 much support in the final third. With Martial dropping in as a false 9, he needs multiple runners in behind or to link up with to have an impact. Martial’s goal VS Norwich in the 3-1 win shows how well Martial can play in the role, when given runners, but also shows how United are poor in the final third.
As Martial picked the ball up, the direct run from Rashford was crucial so that it would create space from Martial to come forward with the ball, as the CBs could not completely focus on Martial, and when the CB makes the decision to come forward, it opens up the space for Martial to play the ball into Rashford.
Rashford then has made his run inside which has dragged the Norwich RB inside. Martial acknowledged this space and then ran into it and received a pass back from Rashford which resulted in a goal. Although this worked in this attack, the player who should have been occupying the wide left area is Young who is WAY too deep in this situation and should be overlapping on the left side. This goal shows that Martial can be successful through the middle as a False 9, but the fact that Rashford was his only possible option going forward shows the limitation he faces in that position, as in reality he was doing 2 players jobs in the build up to this goal.
In games it seems like although Martial is set up as a false 9, the other players around him are not tactically set up to benefit the style of a false 9. In this attack VS Wolves there are multiple problems. James’ positioning is way too deep and should be closer to Martial, which would drag the RB inside and allow Shaw space to attack the left side. Utilising a 4231 is questionable as well, it can work with the correct 10, however in this image, Mata is only occupying space that Martial could be in, and is not the player to make a run past the forward, which is what Martial needs to create space. Looking at the right side, Bruno is somewhat occupying it as Mata has drifted inside, but really, no one is there. If the ball was to be played through the lines to Martial here, he NEEDS to have runners in behind and without Rashford no one is offering him that at the moment.
Man Utd’s Personnel
The clear personnel negative is the injury of Marcus Rashford, with it looking like he will be out for the remainder of the season. Martial has only scored in 1 in 6 games since Rashford’s injury. This is not only because the 2 have a great connection on the pitch but due to the fact Rashford is the only player at United right now capable of playing the inside forward role with great effect. Where as James does not have the power or link up play to be able to play it to effect (as well as his rock bottom confidence at the moment). Martial has struggled to link up with the midfield with Pogba injured. The lack of attacking options in midfield can be okay, only if the fullbacks offer more going forward, this is why utilising Dalot for the reminder of the season should be important to United. The introduction of Williams on the left has shown what an attacking option from fullback can do, but he can not be relied on to be the only wide option. However, the difficulties for Wan Bissaka going forward are large due to the lack of a RW in the side.
The signing of Bruno Fernandes should help Martial. Although he is known for his long range shooting Bruno will make the 3rd man runs in behind the defense, which will give Martial an extra forward option with the ball at his feet. But also many times this season Martial has been isolated with the team unable to progress the ball forward, and this has led to Martial drifting deeper to try and progress the ball. Last season, Fernandes had 8.2 deep progressions per 90, bringing this to United should mean Martial will not have to drop in to help ball progression, and can stay in position to pick the ball up in more dangerous areas.
Bruno Fernandes Radar 18/19
Conclusion
Yes Martial should still be performing at a higher level than he is at the moment, but he still has 12 goals and 5 assists in all competitions so far this season and has done this in a dysfunctional United side.
With the loan signing of Ighalo, it is likely Martial will finish the season playing on the left side, he should be able to have more of an impact here, as he will not need to rely on others as much here and it is his most natural position. With Pogba soon back, the left side could look threatening for the rest of the season, as the Frenchmen have a great connection. Although, once Rashford is back, Martial should return to a false 9 position, but United need to ensure their tactics are to benefit a false 9, they should look for a RW that will suit the inside forward role (such as Chukwueze), as well as deciding Dalot’s future, as he could be a beneficial part of a system including a false 9.
It is clear that Martial can be a success as a False 9, but United need to decide what they want to do and stick with it, as a false 9 NEEDS a solid system to flourish. It seems like it is clear to continue with the False 9 for United as it clearly brings the best out of Marcus Rashford, but the system and tactical side need lots of work.
The forward options for Manchester United this season have impressed, with James and Greenwood being the option from the right. Yet to step up to the next level United need to find an inside forward suited to the right side, to match the effect Rashford has from the left, so that they can implement an attacking overload.
Shape
Man Utd front 3 shape VS Man CityLiverpool front 3 shape VS Brighton
It is clear that United want to systematically have their forwards play like Liverpool’s, with Martial playing similar to Firmino in a False 9, and two inside forwards, with the fullbacks offering the width.
The difference in shape however, is that on the right United have James, who likes to keep his width and also is right footed, so is reluctant to cut inside, this gives the United fullback less chance to be an attacking option on the right flank and to overload the attack. Where as Trent is ready to occupy the right side of attack when Salah makes a move infield Liverpool’s overload is clear in the pictures with United being 3 v 6 and Liverpool being 6 v 6 in their attacks.
Personnel
But also Wan Bissaka simply does not have the attacking output that TAA offers, Trent has 8 assists so far the season, which is the 2nd best in the league and is one the best crossers of the ball in Europe, averaging an assist every 22.3 crosses in the 2018/19 season. AWB’s attacking ability has been questioned by many, and if United are to carry on with the False 9 and inside forwards, it could be more beneficial to use Dalot on the right side, being a more direct and attacking fullback, although he is definitely more of a liability on the defensive side. However the attacking side of the full backs game in this system is more important and a CM such as McTominay could cover for the RB defensively.
CPA for RB’s 18/19
Although, for an attacking right back to work at United, a new Right forward would be needed, who is comfortable coming inside and can link up play with the other forwards. For now though, James is a great counter-attacking option with his speed, but Greenwood offers more, being able to come inside and is clinical in front of goal, and can also open up space for a right back to overload the attack.
A profile such as Samuel Chukwueze or Ousmane Dembele would suit the position, being direct, technical dribblers, who are comfortable cutting inside and linking play, this is shown below. This would then allow United to overload the opposition half with the fullbacks and midfield options, where as now as seen in the shape VS Man City they are relying on individual magic from the front 3/4 alone to score.
With a new RW, and potentially a new LB (use Williams if not) Man Utd can play the attacking style they want to with more success. As you can see in the diagram below, Williams and Dalot would drive forward down the flanks, while Rashford and Greenwood/New RW drift inside, and Martial drops just behind to link the play from midfield to attack and to then get into the box for a cut back from wide or a link up with one of the the wingers. This means that the inside forwards need to ensure they are gambling on the last defender for crosses, as the 9 cannot do this. Salah and Mane have scored many goals from this position. (seen below)
Attacking dynamic
Here, Liverpool show the forward dynamic perfectly in Salah’s goal VS West Ham. You can see that Firmino (circled) is in a deep position after having linked up play with Kieta, also, looking at Mane’s position; he has came very narrow, bringing the RB with him, which has then given Robertson space on the left. With Milner also being high, it has caused a 6v6 to occur.
Robertson has been given the ball out wide and as you can see, Firmino has picked up a position coming into the box from the edge and the 2 forwards are on the last line of defense, Robertson’s quality allows him to drill a pass across the 6 yard box, which Salah ended up finishing. Looking at the imagine, Liverpool have 4 players inside the box and 2 just outside it. Showing their attacking dynamic allows a greater chance of a goal to happen due to the overload.
With the right personnel and coaching, United would be able to implement an attacking overload in their play, which could solve many of their problems going forward like dealing with deep blocks. With Martial and Rashford, they have 2 important tools to play the dynamic, yet it would also take a lot for it to work for the Red Devil’s.
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