VAN GAAL MUST MAKE MARTIAL HIS STAR STRIKER, EVEN IF IT UPSETS ROONEY

The Dutchman started his summer signing on the left-hand side in
Manchester United's draw with CSKA Moscow, but the 19-year-old showed
his natural instincts once again.
Before Anthony Martial, it is fair to say Manchester United looked fairly
lightweight in the striker department.
Wayne Rooney was failing to convince as a target man in the first few
weeks of the season, while Javier Hernandez’s fleeting performances had
done nothing more than convince Louis van Gaal that he no longer wanted
the Mexican at the club. Such was United’s lack of quality and depth in
that department, Marouane Fellaini was being talked up by his boss as a
possible solution.
Yet just nine games into his United career, Martial is already finding new
ways to show why he is the famous old club’s true No. 9 in more than just
squad number. Van Gaal’s decision to switch the 19-year-old to the left-
hand side at Everton on Saturday and against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday
night appeared to be a move designed to reinvigorate club captain Rooney.
But Martial’s superbly-taken equalizer in the 1-1 Champions League draw
at the Arena Khimki provided the latest evidence in the case for the
Frenchman’s permanent return to the central striking role. He guided home
a wonderful header from Antonio Valencia’s cutback when there appeared to
be nowhere near enough pace in the delivery for Martial to beat CSKA
keeper Igor Akinfeev.
The goal came moments after Wayne Rooney had failed to get anything like
the same contact on a much more straight-forward headed chance from an
Ander Herrera cross, instead sending his effort straight to Akinfeev. It was
the story of the skipper’s day to an extent after another performance in
which he very rarely provided the effective leading role that was required of
him.
United was sluggish and predictable for large spells of the first half despite
bossing possession. When the Red Devils needed something different in the
last third they just didn’t have it, and regularly saw sloppy passes undo
most of their better work. Only after Fellaini replaced Bastian Schweinsteiger
at the break did they look to play more expansively in the attacking half.
The extra forward threat also helped Martial to play with greater freedom.
Martial had shown with four goals in his first four United games that he has
exactly the kind of instincts that the three-time European champions had
previously been missing in the final third, and he continued to display his
attacking qualities even when not finding the scoresheet in the wins against
Sunderland and Wolfsburg which followed. As such it came as some
surprise when he was shunted to the left side after Memphis Depay’s
exclusion at Goodison.
But he showed in Moscow that he is the real deal as a center forward and
remains United’s best bet as the lone striker. While Rooney hit the target on
Saturday on his former stomping ground, he did so with one of three one-
on-one opportunities. A conversion rate of much greater than 33 percent
should be expected of a top-class poacher in such situations.
Rooney’s struggles are a hugely debatable topic, but what cannot be
doubted is that Martial is a better finisher than his skipper. In the second
half on Wednesday, Martial was given licence to drift inside more often from
the left as United chased the game and it was almost inevitable that he
would be the man to deliver a goal when his side needed it most.
While there are a number of options open to Van Gaal in terms of Rooney –
ranging from the No. 10 spot to the substitutes’ bench – there should be a
simple decision for the Dutchman to make in relation to Martial.
The teenage sensation is United’s standout striker, and should remain the
club's first-choice front man for the foreseeable future.

Chelsea we welcomed the guy

yeye blues... we no dey sell...simple

ancl wrote:

Chelsea we welcomed the guy

welcome it with failer

failer ke. lmao

Hahaha

martial will surprise many gan...