Even as Manchester United's dream of Champions League football ended at the Boleyn Ground's farewell match, the legend of yet another teenage Manchester United star began.
On a rather difficult night for United, both on and off the pitch, heightened by some shameful behavior from West Ham fans, Anthony Martial was superb.
When chances were extremely less, he took every single opportunity that came his way - converting Juan Mata's beautiful drag back from close range for United's equalizer, and then scoring a brilliant solo goal from the wings, beating West Ham's second choice keeper Randolph magnificently at his near post.
Though it wasn't enough in the end, the performance of Martial on Tuesday night just established why he could be the next big thing for United.
When Martial had started his United career on his debut against arch rivals Liverpool, he scored a beautiful solo goal which eventually won United's goal of the year. The fans had been in raptures. The inevitable "next Ronaldo" chants started, while many critics were weary of yet another teenage sensation fading away (remember Federico Macheda's Aston Villa debut goal?). But then Martial scored a brace against Southampton, and continued his season in a manner which revealed not just god gifted talent, but hard work and dedication in chasing down every ball, and a maturity and calmness in front of the stick that lay far beyond his young shoulders.
He kept scoring important goals, moving far ahead of the United pack in terms ofleading scorer, and the United fans loved the kid from across the Pond who seemed to be taking the Premier League by storm.
"Tony Martial came from France" they chanted at Old Trafford. "Cantona are you watching?" they chanted at the Wembley after the French teenager scored a injury time winner against West Ham, to book a place for United in FA Cup's showpiece final, giving them a chance to end their 3 year barren trophy run. The 19 year old equaled Wayne Rooney's goal scoring record, which made him the joint highest teenage goal scorer in United's history, matching Rooney's 17 goals debut season now more than a decade back.
As Many of United's old guard struggled to find the passion and winning habit that defined the Ferguson era, United's new guard, many of whom had been thrown in the mix due to United's mid season injury catastrophe, have looked more than able to carry on the mantle of United's Legend. Their youthful exuberance has allowed them to play a carefree brand of football which has been a refreshing change from Louis Van Gaal's stone cold tactics.
United's present might not be bleak, considering the upcoming FA Cup final, but it's their future relying heavily on the young shoulders' of players like Martial, Rashford and Jesse Lingard, which look the brightest.
POST BY : DEBADRIT BISWAS
On a rather difficult night for United, both on and off the pitch, heightened by some shameful behavior from West Ham fans, Anthony Martial was superb.
When chances were extremely less, he took every single opportunity that came his way - converting Juan Mata's beautiful drag back from close range for United's equalizer, and then scoring a brilliant solo goal from the wings, beating West Ham's second choice keeper Randolph magnificently at his near post.
Though it wasn't enough in the end, the performance of Martial on Tuesday night just established why he could be the next big thing for United.
When Martial had started his United career on his debut against arch rivals Liverpool, he scored a beautiful solo goal which eventually won United's goal of the year. The fans had been in raptures. The inevitable "next Ronaldo" chants started, while many critics were weary of yet another teenage sensation fading away (remember Federico Macheda's Aston Villa debut goal?). But then Martial scored a brace against Southampton, and continued his season in a manner which revealed not just god gifted talent, but hard work and dedication in chasing down every ball, and a maturity and calmness in front of the stick that lay far beyond his young shoulders.
He kept scoring important goals, moving far ahead of the United pack in terms ofleading scorer, and the United fans loved the kid from across the Pond who seemed to be taking the Premier League by storm.
"Tony Martial came from France" they chanted at Old Trafford. "Cantona are you watching?" they chanted at the Wembley after the French teenager scored a injury time winner against West Ham, to book a place for United in FA Cup's showpiece final, giving them a chance to end their 3 year barren trophy run. The 19 year old equaled Wayne Rooney's goal scoring record, which made him the joint highest teenage goal scorer in United's history, matching Rooney's 17 goals debut season now more than a decade back.
Perhaps no other player in an United shirt has managed to capture the Old Trafford faithful's heart quite like him, barring David De Gea, who doesn't look like he's from Planet Earth at the moment, and another teenage sensation Marcus Rashford, who had a sensational debut season as well.
As Many of United's old guard struggled to find the passion and winning habit that defined the Ferguson era, United's new guard, many of whom had been thrown in the mix due to United's mid season injury catastrophe, have looked more than able to carry on the mantle of United's Legend. Their youthful exuberance has allowed them to play a carefree brand of football which has been a refreshing change from Louis Van Gaal's stone cold tactics.
United's present might not be bleak, considering the upcoming FA Cup final, but it's their future relying heavily on the young shoulders' of players like Martial, Rashford and Jesse Lingard, which look the brightest.
POST BY : DEBADRIT BISWAS
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