Lisandro Martinez has come under heavy scrutiny since Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford last weekend after the London club targetted him with their long balls.
The Argentina international is just two games into his stint at the Old Trafford club but Jamie Carragher, a regular on Sky Sports show Monday Night Football, has already decided that he cannot succeed at centre-back for United.
Speaking on the show, Carragher urged supporters to not judge players and managers too early but went on to claim that already, it’s clear to him that Martinez cannot succeed in a back-four.
🗣️ "I'm convinced this can't work!"
Jamie Carragher is convinced Lisandro Martínez can't play in a back four at Manchester United. pic.twitter.com/k3RmPhYQas
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2022
Read more: Erik ten Hag made late decision on centre-back pairing ahead of Brentford
“The other problem he’s got, straight away, is the signing of Lisandro Martinez at the back,” Carragher said, as seen above. “We should never judge managers, players too early but I’m convinced this can’t work.
“Because he’s the size of, 5″9, playing in a back-four. Maybe he could go left-back, maybe he could play in a back-three but in a back-four, he can not play there in the Premier League.”
SN’s verdict…
It seems like Martinez is the latest player to fall victim to the reactive press in the United Kingdom but he will have been well prepared for that.
For perspective, pundits and fans have been urging the biggest clubs in Europe to sign former Sevilla star Jules Kounde, who is just three centimeters taller than Martinez. This level of obsession with his height doesn’t seem to exist there.
Additionally, the myth around Martinez’s supposed frailty in aerial duels has already been debunked. Judging a player after two games is ridiculously harsh.
Anybody remember the starts that Vidic and Evra had. Didn’t work out too bad, did it