Manchester United are best served with Anthony Martial in the middle

Elements of Martial's game were impaired when he was deployed out wide, which contributed to United’s ponderous and pedestrian possession play that lacked anything remotely resembling incision, writes Greg Lea.

Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, in red, started at central striker against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday. Darren Staples / Reuters

There was a self-congratulatory tone to Alan Pardew’s remark, but it was a telling one nonetheless.

“We didn’t give (Anthony) Martial an inch,” the Crystal Palace manager after his side’s goalless draw with Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday.

“It was a big target for us to stop him and we felt that if we could stop him we could stop their creative angle.

“With such a young player, he’ll have to be very, very careful, the Manchester United manager, to keep his exuberance there. Because we’re all looking to stop him.”

Pardew certainly deserves credit for his part in Palace’s nullification of the 19-year-old player, but it was arguably the man in the opposing dugout at Selhurst Park who was most responsible for Martial’s rather subdued display.

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Louis van Gaal has come under fire in recent weeks, with his side accused of playing sterile and stagnant football.

Before Tuesday's Uefa Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow, United had not found the back of the net in 325 minutes of action, with their manager's preoccupation with possession and unwillingness to encourage risk-taking and individual flair drawing disparaging comments from supporters, former players and the media alike.

It is hardly a new criticism – Van Gaal received similar complaints last term, as well as during his spells in charge of Ajax and Bayern Munich in the last two decades.

It is notable, however, that the issue at United seemed to intensify when Martial was switched to the left wing after making his first few appearances as the team’s central striker.

Van Gaal insisted after the meeting with Palace that playing out wide is nothing new for the former Monaco man, who spent much of his time in Ligue 1 in that position.

It is also the role that former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry – the man to whom Martial is frequently compared – assumed early in his career, when he used his blistering pace to beat defenders down the flank before cutting infield and taking shots at goal.

Nevertheless, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Van Gaal was negating many of the striker’s strengths by fielding him out on the left, so United fans would have been delighted to see Martial restored to the No 9 slot against CSKA on Tuesday.

The summer signing’s best performances for the club have come as a line-leading centre-forward. It is in that position that he has demonstrated an unerring eye for goal, with his hold-up play and ability to link the attack shown to be more developed than would ordinarily be expected of someone so young.

Of equal importance to Martial succeeding in the role is his speed and willingness to make runs in behind.

Such vertical movement stretches the play and forces defenders back towards their own goal, as well as offering a target for the type of defence-splitting pass that United’s midfielders have been accused of failing to make in recent weeks.

Those elements of his game were impaired when he was deployed out wide, which contributed to United’s ponderous and pedestrian possession play that lacked anything remotely resembling incision.

Indeed, the widespread relief around Old Trafford when it became clear that Martial would start up top against CSKA was not just due to his individual assets, but also because his own style of play encourages and enables quicker, sharper football in general.

It was not the teenager’s greatest showing, but his pace and directness in central zones helped his side start the match in a much more dynamic manner than has been the case lately.

The mutinous boos that followed his withdrawal in the 66th minute with the game goalless were striking. While United ultimately went on to secure a narrow 1-0 victory, it was clear that the supporters wanted to see the Frenchman out on the pitch for the duration.

Continuing to use Martial through the middle over the next few weeks is unlikely to solve all of United’s problems.

For a team looking to better their meagre recent goal tally, however, using their most potent attacking weapon in his favoured position would be a good place to start.

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