Ian Wright has become the latest pundit to change their tune on Lisandro Martinez after the Manchester United star produced an excellent performance on Sunday afternoon.
Erik ten Hag's side ran out 1-0 winners over West Ham United to continue their impressive home form in the Premier League, with United undefeated on at Old Trafford since the opening day of the season. Marcus Rashford's first-half strike proved to be the difference between the two sides in a cagey affair in the North West.
However, someone who was pivotal to the Red Devils' win was Martinez, who put in another consistent display and helped United keep a clean sheet for the four successive home game. After a rocky start, in which Martinez received a whole host of abuse and criticism, the 24-year-old has responded well and he is slowly becoming a fans' favourite for his aggressive, no-nonsense style of play.
Martinez has also proved many pundits wrong following United's 4-0 defeat at Brentford in August - with the former Ajax man already winning the club's Player of the Month once. Wright admitted he didn't think the Argentine was going to be as good as he has turned out, after questions were raised when the Red Devils signed the defender from Ajax in a deal worth around £55million.
"He’s got defensive quality that I haven’t seen at Manchester United for a while," Wright said on Premier League productions. "Not only his positioning but he passes the ball through the lines. He’s exactly what they’ve needed. Someone that doesn’t mess about, there’s no thrills with him it’s just bang, good challenges.
"He’s been a really, really good signing. I didn’t think he was going to be as good as he’s been."
He isn't the only ex-professional to have egg on their face for comments directed at Martinez and United's decision to sign the player back in July. Here's a look at everything that a number of Martinez' vocal critics said shortly after he signed.
"Frighteningly bad signing"
Former Liverpool midfielder James McAteer claimed that Martinez was a "frighteningly bad" signing for the Red Devils and United's dressing room was too toxic to succeed.
He told LV BET on August 19: "United signing a player like Lisandro Martinez - a 5'9 centre-back - frightens me. Ten Hag is trying to find a solution, but he needs to stick to his philosophy and not fall under pressure from the fans, otherwise, he might be out the door.
"Man United have to take a few steps back to raise their standards. United need to wipe out the expectations from the fans to win the Premier League in the next two years, it's not a realistic aim, it's too toxic in the changing room."
"Convinced this can't work"
Jamie Carragher tore into Ten Hag's decision to play Martinez at centre-back after United were hammered at the Brentford Community Stadium. He played in a back-two alongside Harry Maguire against the Bees - the same partnership that helped United beat West Ham.
"The other problem he's got is the signing of Lisandro Martinez," the Anfield icon said on Monday Night Football on August 15. "Now, we should never judge managers or players too early, but I'm convinced this can't work because the size of him 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 cannot play there in the Premier League."
"Can't compete"
Gary Neville shared the same view as Carragher and agreed that Martinez would be better suited in a back-three as the left-sided centre-back. The former United defender, however, did add that he wouldn't judge him based on that dreadful performance away at Brentford against the likes of Ivan Toney.
"Maybe on the left in a back three – that could potentially work," Neville told Sky Sports on August 14. "Maybe playing in midfield, because we know he can do that. I think he’s got tenacity and, to be fair, I wouldn’t judge him at all at this moment in time. But to say he could play in a back four away at Brentford against [Ivan] Toney and [Bryan] Mbeumo – he physically can’t compete with them."
"Vertically challenged"
Graeme Souness also revealed how he didn't think Martinez would cut it in the Premier League due to his tender height, and thought he would be outfought by the likes of Erling Haaland and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Martinez has played against the former and struggled in Manchester City's 6-3 win, while United are yet to face Fulham.
"He's vertically challenged and I was racking my mind to come up with anyone who's played in the Premier League or indeed the [old] first division that size and been a success," Souness told talkSPORT. "I think he will get sorely tested and be found out going forward.
"Against Haaland, Nunes or Mitrovic, oh deary me, it will be a mismatch. He's not particularly special at anything, I would say he's feisty and he's aggressive," Souness went on. "The other thing I don't like about him is he goes to ground too readily. That's not a good sign for a defender."
Martinez has defied those critics and is arguably in the running for a place in the Premier League Team of the Season so far, with the Argentina international the glue to that United back-four.
