08 Dec 2024 06:48:22
An unpopular opinion here but i really am starting to think that Lisandro Martinez has lost his mojo ever since he has returned from injury. No crunching tackles flying in, no domination nothing. He isn't the same butcher that we signed rather looks like a shadow. Most of the times, he is standing on the ball without doing anything, 10-15
seconds at a time without even moving unnecessarily slowing the game down. Wont be surprised if he is gone in the summer.
08 Dec 2024 06:57:43
I've also seen the change UA. He was awful yesterday, although he wasn't alone.
08 Dec 2024 07:09:22
Just listened to Amorim presser. He has asked them not to lose the ball and maybe why the back 3 look like they are crawling around with the ball at their feet. I wish zirksee and the rest of front line players took some clues and stopped being so poor in ball retention.
I was on live chat and mentioned it a few times where is our midfield. They just don't seem to be available for a pass between the lines and its generally long diagonals to the wings from the cb and even they receive the pass they dink it straight back to the CB's.
08 Dec 2024 09:59:12
His lack of pace is definitely going to be a problem in a back three system, its why Shaw will start over him if he ever can stay fit and then we will look to sign a left centre back in summer (probably inacio given the connection with amorim) .
Luckily for us he could play in the centre of a back three instead of de ligt or he is definitely sellable unlike most of the squad and would have a long list of clubs wanting to sign him.
08 Dec 2024 10:22:44
He hasn't been the same ever since Salah sat him on his arse in the 7-0 ;)
08 Dec 2024 10:23:58
I've said previously that Martinez has yet to find the same form from his first season consistently since his return.
He has been good in spells, but the consistency in his performances hasn't yet returned, and we have to be open to the possibility that it might not return at all.
To me it looks like he doesn't quite fully trust his body yet. Like he's not sure whether he can go fully in to a tackle like he did before as he's concerned about getting injured again. That has lead to moments of hesitation which means the opportunity to make the tackle has gone by the time he decides to try and make it.
On the ball he has been excellent, it's his off the ball defending that has lacked something. That can partially be put down to playing a new system and finding his feet in that system. In this regard he is a the only defender who has made a couple of mistakes as they acclimatise to the new set up.
Yet with Martinez it isn't just the occasional positional lapse, or miscommunication. It's his aura, the way he goes into challenges. He doesn't quite look the same player as he was before. With time that can come back. He will learn to trust his body again. The more tackles he goes into and comes out uninjured the more he will trust his body again.
We just have to be patient with him. He has also proven to be one of the few in the squad who we owe a little patience to.
08 Dec 2024 10:27:46
Think he has been poor since he spent a month celebrating the WC win.
08 Dec 2024 11:05:03
Ahmad
That's one of the main reasons we looked so bereft of potency under ten Hag - effort off the ball.
Even Mainoo shied away a few times from showing for the ball yesterday - just what is that all about?
I get we're a team in transition - still, but there's nothing to excuse any of these players from putting in the effort that even a beer-belly on legs like me would show.
I do believe that much of the problem with our midfield is just the lack of support from elsewhere.
Neither of Garnacho and Rashford have ever been any good at mixing it in midfield, Fernandes simply does not have the positional discipline yet, Mount hasn't had enough time yet to flourish in a system that works best for him, Amad is too lightweight, Dalot lacks the IQ, De Ligt and Martinez are too sluggish.
Amorim's system cannot function properly until the midfield is supported.
I firmly believe that if we are to ever see his system work properly at United, it will come from a team that includes none of Rashford, Garnacho, Fernandes, Dalot, De Ligt and Martinez.
The Forest game was one where we looked like strangers - the new system will invite that gremlin occasionally for a while, but we are beginning to see plenty of evidence regarding which players will continue to let us down.
08 Dec 2024 11:06:55
I’d think Branthwaite would be the ideal player we are looking at for LCB but he won’t come cheap, he’s the best option out there imo though as Ed25 will testify.
08 Dec 2024 13:29:08
Hopefully that ship has sailed with Mr Ashworth.
08 Dec 2024 17:38:19
Martinez was poor on the ball yesterday, along with bruno, dalot and mcguire. Mainoo was available a lot for the ball for the first half - but seemed to drift completely out if the game (which happens a lot with him) . Out back 3 looked happier to pass safe and sideways rather than trust the midfielders and pass forwards.
Lots to work on for amorim. Bruno's licks and long diagonals, McGuire's favourite long diagonal and dalot's ridiculous shooting from 25 yards are all areas I would like to see the back of. Bruno was struggling to make a basic 5 yard pass and he was not the only one.
08 Dec 2024 23:42:02
For me it’s very simple. Varane made him look much better.
I can’t recall many standout performances from Martinez when he’s not been next to Varane.