Sport
MARTIAL VERSATILITY KEY TO UNITED’S EURO PUSH
Specialist player a dying art
Different countries value different footballing attributes, or so the myths would have you believe. In England, over the years, young players have been told that being big, strong and quick are the key ingredients in making it to the top. While in Spain and a number of other western European countries, coaching players about technique and treating the ball as a friend is most important – Martial has it all.
In truth, both philosophies have their merits. English coaches have long been lambasted for letting youngsters go from academies because of their height and skinny physique. Everyone has an opportunity to go far if they can marry talent and hard work, regardless of physical traits. One thing modern football has placed under the microscope is how the ‘specialist player’ is a dying breed.
Again, this is not to say that these should be put down in any way. But if the dominance of Spanish football, in particular, has taught us anything, it is that versatility has a huge role to play. With the likes of the ‘false nine’. The striker who ghosts into midfield, made famous by Lionel Messi at Barcelona. The deep-lying playmaker, where an attack-minded midfield player drops to play closer to the defence or the wing-back, a hybrid between a winger and a fullback, the lines which dictate a player’s position have definitely become blurred.
Players who can combine the ‘English’ and the ‘European’ styles are changing their role, too. Rarely, if a player were tall, would they stray from the centre of the pitch. But in recent years, strength and height have become more prominent in wide players. Cristiano Ronaldo is a prime example, as was Thierry Henry before he joined Arsenal in 1999. Both of these players have both developed into deadly strikers later in their careers, and a new trend has since grown. Strikers with pace and height can, more often than not, play in attacking midfield and on the wing, because their power can be a lethal weapon in those areas.
Martial the pick of the bunch
As far as wing-forwards go, Manchester United have one of the best in Europe. Anthony Martial’s career at Old Trafford has been up and down to say the least; when the 21-year-old arrived from Monaco in the summer of 2015, he did so under immense pressure as the most expensive teenager in history for an initial £36million. Undoubtedly it was an astronomical fee and a huge risk taken by Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal. Some onlookers were completely unfamiliar with the Frenchman, dubbed the new Henry. There were so many reasons for his comparisons with the Arsenal and France legend, notably his pace and power, and his ability to play both up front and out wide as part of a three-pronged attack.
Martial immediately began to repay both the faith and fee from his new club, and he showed just how effective he could be in both positions straight away. His first goal for the club could hardly have been sweeter. Coming in a home victory against arch-rivals Liverpool, baring more than a slight resemblance to the type of goal Henry made his trademark over the years; cutting in from the left, with technique, upper body strength and grace in equal measure, before calmly slotting across goal.
Eleven goals in the Premier League by the end of his debut season, 2015/16, equated to an impressive return. Despite van Gaal leadingd the club to their first FA Cup in 12 years, the Dutchman was fired after failing to retain a place in the Champions League. The trouble is, though, age has rarely been taken into account when judging Martial and after a great first season, individually speaking, more was expected. The bar had been raised, repeating his success would now be seen as failure.
Mourinho the hard task master
Few clubs on earth are more accommodating to young players than Manchester United, thanks to their rich history of talent development. Jose Mourinho, the man who stepped into van Gaal’s hotseat, is a known sceptic of offering opportunities. While his physique and past achievements make it easy to forget his age, the France international still has work to do before he reaches his best.
It is no surprise, then, that the pair have not always seen eye to eye. Martial has only scored three times in 14 Premier League games this season. Way off the pace he set last season, and has subsequently struggled to get into the team on a regular basis, resulting in links with a move away from the club. The loss of his squad number, nine, traditionally a signal of the main striker, to Zlatan Ibrahimovic also sent a strong message. Martial has never been Mourinho’s main man, but that could actually benefit his game long-term.
He has instead been deployed out wide, thus playing further away from the goal, something that has had a natural impact on his stats this season. Yet he is still key for Manchester United and Mourinho. The managerial change has not immediately changed their hopes of Champions League qualification, but after some frustrating months earlier in the season, things are beginning to click. A goal in the 2-0 win over Watford served as a reminder that Martial still has a huge role to play.
France team mate Griezman to join?
Rumours of interest from United in Martial’s France teammate Antoine Griezmann are rife. The Atletico Madrid man is also a player who can play up front and out wide, but he offers different characteristics. Many world-class players have been linked with a move to Old Trafford recently, but the club would be better served allowing the likes of Martial to settle into something of a rhythm, allowing him to recapture his best form.
Jose Mourinho has always been a fan of the ‘specialist’, but football is changing. Anthony Martial has the ability to become one of the best strikers in the world, and one the best wingers. Players like him are the future of football, and it would be a huge mistake if he wasn’t a major part of their Champions League push, or indeed their longer term plans.
