Martial has no.9 shirt taken away?

This topic contains 106 replies, has 23 voices, and was last updated by Alfie07 Alfie07 7 years, 8 months ago.

Viewing 20 posts - 21 through 40 (of 107 total)
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  • #1129074
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
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    @shanksy. As long as we keep Allardyce out the room I am sure we can squeeze Mourinho and God (aka Ibrahimovic) into the room.

    #1129167

    Paxman
    Participant
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    It seems Utd fans want to have a go at Martial for not being happy about his number being taken away, saying it I only a squad number man up and take it. So if it is only a number and not important then why aren’t they on here having a go at Zlatan for demanding the No 9 shirt. Double standards or what.

    #1129230
    AshCFC
    AshCFC
    Participant
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    Martial has reportedly unfollowed Utd on social media.

    #1129332
    shanksy
    shanksy
    Spectator
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    Hatters. Ibra God????????? Really mate????????!!!!!!!

    #1129353
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
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    @shanksy. That’s what he called himself mate.

    “The God of Manchester” hahahahaha!

    #1129365
    number_seven
    number_seven
    Participant
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    My first thought on this was along the lines of what Hatters and Manthistle posted. MT is right that the number 11 shirt is more iconic than the 9 at OT and, as Hatters stated, Martial DOES play on the left. However, you only have to look at Martial’s Facebook or Twitter profile to see how much the number 9 shirt means to him. It looks like him and his team have tried to build something with the AM9 branding, something akin to the CR7 brand.

    If it’s true he wasn’t consulted, and him unfollowing Utd suggests as much, then it’s a poor decision from Utd. In fairness we’re all speculating. For all we know, he was asked and was told about how special the number 11 shirt is and so on and just wasn’t happy about it. Strange one indeed. No doubt it will all blow over come the start of the season

    #1129479
    macattack
    macattack
    Participant
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    He could change his brand to 11am and sell lunch boxes instead. That matches his coolness.

    #1129521

    Manthistle
    Participant
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    I think its poor form from Utd more than Martial himself. We all know that most footballers have a poor attitude and suffer from celebrity like status and the arrogance that comes with it. Martial is no different. He’s looking out for no.1 which ultimately is what is most important for any footballer. However, its the club’s job to manage these players and their egos, behaviour, attitudes, etc. The club would have been aware that Martial was trying to create a brand for himself which is fair enough. Why not try and become the next CR7 in that respect? In knowing that I think they could have managed the situation better than they have done. Zlatan has signed for us. He no longer calls the shots. The club do. They should have either told him he was to wear the no.11 jersey or discussed it with Martial.

    #1129560
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
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    @macattack. Hahahahaha good one.

    My gripe here (if Martial is actually upset) is more about player power than anything. Call me old school but I think players should focus on playing some damn football and building legendary status through playing well instead of throwing hissy fits because they are trying to build a brand.

    If Martial really is so upset about the club (his employer) giving him the legendary #11 shirt then he needs a clip around the ear and to stop listening to all the greedy agents making deals in the background. SAF would never allow such silliness to affect the teams plans and I hope Mourinho stands tall on this one.

    Granted United should have had a chat with him before but these players must know where they stand, they are subordinates to the gaffer, to Woodward, and the board.

    If he is serious about his football he will forget this as soon as he joins the squad.

    #1129605
    AshCFC
    AshCFC
    Participant
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    If the issue of shirt numbers is a minor one (and I agree that it is) then surely United should have given their legendary no.11 to Ibrahimovic as the new guy?

    The key issue as I see it isn’t about shirt numbers. It’s about United/Mourinho apparently being prepared to disrespect one of their existing lads in order to kiss the new guy’s arse.

    If I was Martial I’d be wondering if this development maybe points towards a broader favouritism with regards squad hierarchy, playing time etc.

    #1129638
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
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    @ashcfc. I take your point that Martial might be feeling usurped as the “golden boy” but this is an executive decision that has been made. Once again I am going on the assumption that Martial is, in fact, incensed.

    In my view he hasn’t earned this type of histrionic behaviour as a footballer. He doesn’t even have 100 professional games to his name and yet is acting like a big star who should be pandered to. Can you imagine players like Frank Lampard, Ryan Giggs, or Paul Scholes acting in this manner when they were 20? I don’t.

    Maybe it’s a sign of the times but at the end of the day I am speculating that Zlatan perhaps asked for the number (considering he can’t take Rooney’s no10 since he’s earned his stripes), Woodward rubbed his hands at the prospect of selling no9 Ibrahimovic shirts, and Mourinho said “yeah, whatever Martial is a kid anyway and no11 is Giggs’ shirt”.

    I guess this type of situation will become more prevalent as young players get richer earlier. Their egos grow too large, too quickly.

    All I want is Martial to view himself as a young player trying to earn a name and to focus on impressing his superiors.

    #1129680
    Al The Gooner
    Al The Gooner
    Participant
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    I think Ibra is getting off very lightly here.

    Martial didn’t deserve to have his number taken away – it’s very disprespectful towards him – but he coulkd gain a lot of points by being the bigger man.

    Everyone knows what Zlatan is like.

    #1129731
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
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    On that same point. Januzaj had the no11 shirt “taken” from him and given to Martial (assuming he was not consulted either).

    Why is he not throwing his toys out? Surely he is just as entitled to be upset? Actually he is more entitled because he has more Manchester United caps and has been tied to the club for 4 years longer. Where do we draw the line here? Does it mean your most recent form dictates your sense of entitlement?

    I think young players should just calm down a little but obviously its difficult for them with all the money and agents in the game these days. I remember when Januzaj was the toast of the town, Moyes gave him the no 11 shirt and a fat contract, since then he has regressed and is known as being lazy and entitled – I want Martial to avoid the same fate by keeping his head down.

    #1129836
    Alfie07
    Alfie07
    Participant
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    Apparently Martial is saying that it’s all a storm in a tea cup, don’t believe the media and he is happy with the 11 shirt.

    #1129851
    AshCFC
    AshCFC
    Participant
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    For me the line is ultra simple to draw: as a club you don’t arbitrarily take a shirt number away from an existing player to give to a new player, regardless of how old that existing player is or how long he’s been with the club. Withdrawing a shirt number from a player to give to someone else sends a clear message – ‘you aren’t as important as the new guy.’

    If a new player coming in has a special request for a particular number that’s already taken then the question is posed to the man in possession with no pressure.

    Whatever your personal perspective on the importance of shirt numbers, make no mistake that they matter to many footballers. Utd have made an error. Only time will tell how serious that error is.

    #1129863
    Alfie07
    Alfie07
    Participant
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    That assumes your take on the situation is the correct take though, and there is nothing to say it is.

    #1129872
    hatters
    hatters
    Participant
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    @ashcfc. There you have it (according to Alfie). It’s once again a case of the media’s wild imagination getting momentum. I would wager that when the full truth actually comes out we will find that all players were consulted about their numbers beforehand.

    Time will tell.

    #1129881

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
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    Ash, except the story doing the rounds on Twitter is that some bloke who met Martial on the beach when he was on holiday in Santorini says he’s ok with it and it’s all a storm in a tea cup???

    #1129893
    AshCFC
    AshCFC
    Participant
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    I don’t think you can put any more faith in the alleged report that Martial is happy than you can that he’s unhappy TBH.

    What is clear is that he’s had his number nicked by Ibrahimovic, he’d previously built his personal brand around his shirt number, and he’s unfollowed his club on Twitter and Instagram as a result.

    My personal take is therefore that AM is pissed off!

    #1129896

    Paxman
    Participant
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    I don’t think Martial helped the storm in a teacup by unfollowing Utd on twitter.

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