Football News: Anthony Martial's Position At Manchester United

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There has been some intriguing debate around Anthony Martial over the past couple of weeks.

As he enters his fifth season at Manchester United, he is still dividing opinion and I'm not truly convinced we yet fully understand his best position.

His languid playing style has seen him come in for fierce criticism on occasions and there are still many who question his attitude, application and work rate.

From a personal perspective I've always enjoyed watching Martial play. On his day he can be outstandingly brilliant but he can also be painfully frustrating and appear disinterested.

There is no doubt Martial comes alive with the ball at his feet. When he is afforded time and space he can be a devastating dribbler and ice cool finisher. His biggest problem in my opinion is his movement off the ball. He just doesn't have that goal scorers instinct, the intuitive movement or dare I say even the hunger or desire to get himself into goal scoring positions regularly enough. He rarely troubles defenders with his movement and if the ball is not at his feet he's just not a threat. I also think defensively he doesn't press the ball very well or demonstrate any real appetite to win it back. After nearly 5 years at the Club, playing under three different managers, his movement off the ball is still an area of his game which just hasn't developed and I think we now have to question if it ever will.

I still think coming from the left is probably his best position. When he's direct and runs at defenders he must be a nightmare to play against and his finishing is usually very reliable.

I just wonder with the emergence of Greenwood and with Rashford and James both doing well on the wings if he could drop a bit deeper and play just off Greenwood. At the moment we don't have a recognised No. 10 and I think Martial could be fantastic just dropping off the front and collecting the ball in the pockets of space just in front of the defence. With Greenwood occupying the CB's and being the threat between the posts we've perhaps lacked on occasions this season. I'd love to see us line up with a front four of Greenwood, Martial, Rashford and James to see how that dynamic could develop especially at Old Trafford against lower placed opponents.

Whilst I think Martial is a very good player he must develop his movement off the ball if he wants to reach his full potential.

Written by DLIB December 19 2019 18:51:01