Manchester United star Anthony Martial has come under fire for his ‘hot and cold’ performances this season, which have left fans frustrated.
The Frenchman started for United in their 2-2 draw with Leicester City but it was only when teammate Edinson Cavani replaced him that the Red Devils looked truly potent up top.
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Martial’s showing wasn’t a one-off, either; he’s only managed one goal and three assists in his nine starts and one substitute appearance in the league this year, and former England striker Gabby Agbonlahor told talkSPORT he’s never seen a player with such patchy form.
Now 25, the forward needs to be coming into his own under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but instead there are now calls for him to be relegated to the bench in favour of Cavani, who continues to impress in cameos.
The veteran ace displayed exceptional movement and precision passing to help Bruno Fernandes get United’s second goal against Leicester.
And ex-Aston Villa ace Agbonlahor feels starting the Uruguayan could help United reach the Premier League summit.
He told talkSPORT: “I feel like as a Manchester United fan you should be looking at that game and thinking ‘three points’ with the fire power Manchester United have got.
“Pre-match I’m saying you should be beating Leicester; if you want to get into the top four, or have any chance of winning the league, you need to be winning that game.
“For me, the biggest frustration watching the game was Anthony Martial. I’ve never seen someone so hot and cold in my life, as a football player.
“He will be unbelievable one game but you don’t know which Martial is going to turn up.
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“I think if Cavani had started that game today, I think Manchester United win.
“Martial was so poor and when Martial got brought off, Cavani sets up Fernandes for the second goal.
“For me it was very poor from Martial and it’s frustrating definitely, as a Manchester United fan, because if you win that game you’re getting closer to the top of the table.
Martial wasn’t the only man on Agbonlahor’s radar either, with the former England international also calling out Welsh winger Daniel James and manager Solskjaer for their roles in the 2-2 draw.
He added: “Daniel James, I think he tries a lot but he’s not a Manchester United player.
“I think he came off after 55 minutes but he was poor today as well. I feel [Marcus] Rashford and Fernandes are on this wavelength that, if the other players aren’t on that wavelength then the attacks don’t work.
“They kept passing the ball to Daniel James and he’d try a one-two with them but give it away. He killed the flow of the moves.
“I feel like [Paul] Pogba has got to start because you would rather have him in that situation.
“I think sometimes [Solskjaer] looks more on the defensive side, ‘maybe I’ll play Daniel James, because the Leicester full-backs like to go forward’.
“So, maybe looking at it from that point of view because if he’s thinking of an attacking team, he’s not even thinking about playing Daniel James, he will play Martial on the right, Rashford on the left, Cavani up front, with Pogba and Fernandes, and maybe Fred behind.”
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