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Pundit Damien Delaney was not impressed with Anthony Martial against Bournemouth yesterday.
Manchester United’s inconsistent season continued yesterday. Old Trafford witnessed a 3-0 drubbing for our Red Devils at the hands of Bournemouth. The visitors deserved the win. It could have easily been more.
This side just blows hot and cold. They’re either excellent or shocking. There’s no in between. Yesterday it was the latter. Against a Bournemouth side that United absolutely should be beating at home.
Before kickoff, eyebrows were raised when Anthony Martial was picked to start this game. I understand that you do not want to overwork Rasmus Hojlund, but here, it felt like a no-brainer to stick with the Dane.
Martial just didn’t deserve the opportunity after a careless performance against Newcastle United the week prior. That decision is solely on Erik ten Hag. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it always felt like a bad idea to play the lazy number nine here.
After the game, one pundit tore into the United player after his poor outing vs Bournemouth, which resulted in a substitution before the hour mark. Damien Delaney’s passionate rant about Martial concluded with the fact he ‘will never understand’ why the Frenchman keeps getting picked. I’m fully with him there, it truly is baffling…
Check out what Damien Delaney had to say in full here:
“I can never understand it, he’s been nine years at Manchester United. He was torrid up at Newcastle and then was given a chance today…” Delaney said live on Premier Sports, per Balls.ie.
“It’s the lack of effort and lack of interest when he gives the ball away. He slows up and doesn’t close or press down. He has been given an opportunity to throw down a marker because Marcus Rashford is being made an example of and Hojlund (is rested)…”
“That is unforgivable.”
“You could say to me ‘what choice did he have’, that Hojlund was not being risked due to injury and Rashford is being punished. I’ll tell you what, go into the youth team and get an 18-year old kid, because he will run around more than what he did tonight, he will give you more.”
“Even looking at the bench there, go and take Pellistri and put him as a no. 9, because he will give you more than what that man gives you. How he keeps getting a go in a Manchester United shirt, I will never understand…”
“[Rashford’s] attitude as of late has been as bad as Martial’s, but Martial has been doing that for a very long time at Manchester United and keeps getting picked.”
What’s crazy to me is that Martial is close to being eligible for a Manchester United testimonial! Time and time again, he underperforms, yet finds a way back into the side. That’s on United for continuing to persist with a man who has not developed at all since making the move to Manchester as a teenager almost ten years ago.
This summer, United have an opportunity to be free of Martial. His contract runs out this summer. Although it would suck to lose him on a free transfer, United have to think of the long-term here. A squad without Martial is better than a squad with him in it. The last thing the club want to do is give him more money, allowing him to meander around the pitch looking like he does not have a care in the world.
Do you think there’s any way Anthony Martial stays at Man United beyond the summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.
