This brilliant clip of Licha should be played at every pre-match team talk.Martinez is a Red 🇾🇪🇾🇪https://t.co/vjVzcqhoMW— United Arts 🔴⚪️⚫️ (@UtdArts1) December 28, 2023 This guy gets it...
Great to see Licha back training again (was allowed to meet up with NT - though supposedly just to train and not to play). Have missed him massively not just for his defending but his distribution so important to us too. If he can be back for our upcoming games we should at least be a better watch Enzo in training 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/1NWgrFGgoh— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) March 19, 2024
Licha in the form he was in for us last season is the best CB in the league in my opinion. He makes everyone around him so much better. Getting him fit is huge for the end of the season. It’s probably too little too late for CL, but him returning gives us a chance to go on a run.
we have a real problem with Martínez. he looked great in season 1 and looked like the only ten Hag signing that was a success. since then he's fallen off badly. often injured and since the start of season 2 has lost all the composure and assuredness from season 1, rash tackles, silly yellows, even sillier mistakes. he'll easily be benched from the 3 CB roles if he doesn't turn it around. he'd probably still be first off the bench though
I said it during the Forest thread. I think Maz takes his spot this season before it ends. Benni highlighted his concerns too about Martinez getting turned too easily higher up the pitch in an Amorim system. While not as pressing an issue as some players, it's going to come to a head inside 12 months I think. An expensive squad option.
We shall see. There's been a lot going on, and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. I think we all hope he turns it around.
I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but has just been so regular this last year. on top of his recent performances the defending and mistakes he made in the Newcastle game were just horrendous. In fact that first 20 minutes was probably the worst I've seen a Man Utd defender play in a long time. He cost us two goals and with his wandering in to the oppo half leaving Isak free it should have been three. I honestly think he is done at LCB for us and with his initial performances for us never thought I would be saying that. Teams are targeting him and he just keeps crumbling. Not sure if injuries have taken their toll or whether his initial form was the aberration but he can no longer be trusted and it has been year long now. Zirkzee got (understandably) hooked at 30 minutes. If we had any LCB options it would and should have been Martinez that got hooked too and that performance from Martinez more than any deserved the Old Trafford boos.
Now would be the time. Dalot has been really bad at LWF, the one good thing that is still in Martinez recent game is his passing picking runs from Amad and Hojlund. Maz to LCB, Martinez to LWF and Dalot to RWF would be a better use of these players given current form and issues.
I'd actually go Amad to RWF, Maz to LCB and Dalit/Yoro to split time at RCB. But that's not really a big deal. Either way, I'm equally concerned about Martinez as you. His inability to defend the channels in this system is taking a toll on his entire defensive game.
Martinez has stepped it up the last couple games - thought he did much better against Pool and Arsenal.