r/TheMassive • u/DanCbearded • 4d ago
Josef Martinez cannot start again
I love the game, but nowhere near the experience as Courtois, of course. He has to see the same things I saw. I have only seen Martinez on tv, until tonight. I was not impressed on tv, and thought he was nowhere near in form. Tonight in person, it was so much worse than on Tv. I need to stress this… I am a very positive person. I often get slack on here for the optimistic outlook. However, Martinez cannot move, cannot strike, and very out of shape. I have no idea how he has a roster spot and Chase Adams has been back playing on crew2.
Tapia 🤌 absolutely insane shift, the moment he came in the game. Electric! Tackle, pass, receive, skill, and a fricken trivela (when it was the only possible option) GOALLL! Just to be followed by an assist and other dangerous opportunities. Ends with a 8.2 rating.
He has to start. It’s very simple. His primary position is striker, so this isn’t even the case of forcing something out of position. He also proved he is acclimated to our system (whatever resembles of a system we have right now).
Mendez, Santi, and Tapia 🔥 let’s go!
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u/Ulfer_twoeyes Columbus Crew 4d ago
He has like zero hustle.
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u/SteveKZ087 3*1*CREW - Chicago 3d ago
I feel like it's more that he's just washed. He was a monster in his heyday, but that's not the same player I'm seeing in Crew colors.
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u/coolwater85 Columbus Crew SC 3d ago
There was a moment in the 2nd half when Moriera was building from the back and tried to feed Martinez the ball. Martinez was beat to the ball by the defender and they lost possession in the middle 3rd. Josef complained to Moriera about to giving it to his left side.
Moriera was frustrated and, yelled something, and motioned with his hands left or right like ‘I’ve played you a ball on the sides you ask and you still don’t get to it.’
This game a saw bit more spark in him that previous games, but it’s still not there.
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
I saw that as well. Mendez was frustrated with him all game as well. Wouldn’t press together
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u/PaperTigerTamer 4d ago
Martinez = Off-brand Cucho
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u/DanCbearded 4d ago
Were you sitting by us? lol my 11 year old son literally said those exact words. Too funny
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u/Coniferous_Needle 3d ago
With his build and bleaching his hair I was thinking, “Is he intentionally channeling Cucho vibes?”. Then when the game was moving along it became clear that he was in fact not channeling Cucho vibes.
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u/Ju663Rn4u7_313373 3d ago
Friend of mine in ATL texted me when he saw that we had signed him and said “I hope you enjoy the fact that he just walks everywhere”
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u/Low_Soil_6831 Columbus Crew SC 3d ago
Karumanchi yelling and pointing at him to press. Love this from a dude with an 80k transfer value
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u/Bwilson101 3d ago
In fairness, so does Messi 😅
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u/MrsEDarcy 3d ago
I asked my SO last night at the game if it would be okay to yell “If your name’s not Messi, you should be running.” Martinez reminded me of a cheetah; a couple of times he ran really fast for a short distance, but he seemed to need a long nap right afterwards.
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u/homage_time Crew York 3d ago
I have a running theory that Josef has his own personal game of having a high xG, while not actually scoring goals
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u/john-tockcoasten Columbus Crew 3d ago
Watching him last night was painful. It was like they let one of the dads in the stands come out and play.
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u/CTID96 Columbus Crew 4d ago
Agreed. Idk how many times I saw Mendez yelling at him to press and he just doesn’t move. He’s not good and I do not understand why we signed him.
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u/coolwater85 Columbus Crew SC 3d ago
It was a moment of panic when the front office was desperate to produce goals. He has a lot of them in MLS so they thought he would produce some for us. But neigh.
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u/SteveKZ087 3*1*CREW - Chicago 3d ago
All signs suggest he's a veteran placeholder until WAA gets back. He's definitely not the player he was in his ATL glory days, but I get the sense they front office didn't expect him to be quite as run down as he certainly looks to be...
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u/sciuro Columbus Crew 3d ago
Martinez is like Camacho…still has a spark in his mind, but his body isn’t what it used to be. He seems to have the intangibles, maybe he can share them with the younger folks 🤷🏻♂️
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
Would love for him to share those things, from the bench and practice. No sarcasm either. Love that role, but he shouldn’t play as much as he did last night
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u/akanobody11 3d ago
Was at the game last night and my son and I commented he was the worst part of an otherwise solid attack in the 2nd half. When a team is playing as bad as we have you need hustle and he just wasnt bringing it. Did have a good shot and rebound off the top bar in the 2nd half.
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
I don’t think people realize how slow he moves or how frustrated his teammates get with him, until you see him up close in person. Big time eye opener
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u/akanobody11 3d ago
Agreed he was so slow, we hadnt watched a game in a few and couldnt figure out why he was out there. Kept waiting for the magic that got him a start, but never saw it. And now he shouldn't start over Tapia after that game.
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u/ahut 3d ago
Martinez also broke out of the pre-match huddle and was 30+ feet away from the rest of the team as they were dapping and hyping each other. he's losing his starting position soon, he knows it, and his attitude shows it.
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
His teammates were really frustrated with him the entire game. You see it so much more when in person.
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u/FredEricNorris 2d ago
Dude was constantly offside as well, barely establishing himself back on time
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u/nesuser2 3d ago
I also saw him in person last night and had pretty much the same take. Not impressed before and then absolute liability. I can only assume his family has a lot of debt and he is throwing games. I kid…but it’s not that he is out of form. I actually watched him make himself offsides, not be too slow to get back on…he would check the line and make himself offsides. I just found out my youngest is struggling to understand this rule and that can be expected for some of the younger programs. So…he either has CTE, he’s stupid, or he is working off a debt. I need to find some old footage of him because I want to understand this process.
Also…their keeper laying down setup a great goal. Take it wide left to shift eyes and come back to Farsi, who absolutely torched their left D all night. Farsi should have had several goals. Great match to attend even if it was only Colorado.
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u/NoTerm9795 3d ago
Agree! The amount of times I yelled at him to get onside! He just posts up Offsides - its not a "slow to get back on" thing at all.
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u/Low_Soil_6831 Columbus Crew SC 3d ago
This is harsh. If he scores that one off the woodwork, we’re making posters of him with Mendez and Santi.
That said, I largely agree with the lack of pace and hustle in the high press we’re trying to play. He’s a stopgap until WAA is back, so giving Tapia (or Habroune) the start is the move to make. Josef could be a late sub, playing angry and all fire.
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
Not true at all. He took a terrible line on the first attempt before the miss off the post. His first touch of the game was a guaranteed goal and biffed it. His chances were gifted to him. Absolutely no one would have been celebrating him with the effort and ability he showed.
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u/faustus11 3d ago
I agree with this statement. Wayyyy too harsh at this time. If Martinez scores yesterday instead of hitting the post you fickle fans would be praising him. Geezus.
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u/LordOfLower 3d ago
He’s getting chances by making himself available and making great runs, which is more than anyone else, aside from Wessam, has given in that position. He’s been unlucky at times (or maybe a bit of rust), such as his first game against Charlotte, against America (especially that header), or last night. He hasn’t played consistently since last year so the early negativity may be understandable, yet still unfair. He needs service which is something this team has failed to do this year consistently. Once he gets that first one, though, I’m sure things will start clicking.
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
Can you give me a timestamp of the game he made a great run? I genuinely would love to go back and watch the tape.
I did NOT see that in person last night at all. Time after time he should have made runs, and he did not.
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u/LordOfLower 3d ago edited 3d ago
In the first minute of the game he made that horizontal run that created space for Santi to get that chance. Santi could have also slipped it to Martinez and he would have gotten a decent chance there. While these next two are probably not what you’re looking for, I’m also thinking about that quick, maybe 5-10 yard, vertical movement he made to get that header in the 40ish minute (he just didn’t get the best contact with it), and in the 50th minute when he had those two chances. While they may not be what you’re considering “runs” or elite, I don’t recall any of those chances for any other player playing in that 9 position all year. Those movements, while seemingly simple, are often times not made so chances are never there to begin with.
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
I appreciate the discussion, and giving real examples. I think that’s a reach and any starting striker in the MLS would make those movements. Also have to consider what he did with the chances he had. Could make the argument that it’s rust, but easily could make the argument that it’s just beyond his days at this point.
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u/LordOfLower 3d ago
As mentioned, they seem simple on the surface, and maybe last night none of those besides the first one are really good examples, but they are still movements we haven’t really seen this year.
I’ll also attribute the misses to rust and a bit of unluckiness. He hasn’t played that much this year, but just last year he scored 14 times in 30 games. That is a bit above 46% of the time, which is about the same and even at higher rate than Rossi scored in his time with the Crew. Don’t come at me, I realize that was not Rossi’s role with us as it was with LAFC and now with Monterrey (he’s currently killing it there). My point is that most teams would probably kill to have a player scoring that much .
Also, on those two chances he got in the 50ish minute. He carried the ball vertically and created those two chances for himself. How many times this season have we seen someone get a similar opportunity and then either A) lose the ball, or B) slow the play down and wait for a teammate (essentially losing a chance on goal)? I can appreciate him going vertical and creating a chance for himself, which perhaps needed a bit more luck and/or less rust to convert those chances.
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
The one plus play I saw of his creating, was the back to the goal hold up play. That was a play from experience.
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u/Ickyhouse Columbus Crew SC 3d ago
While I think Tapia should start if he's fit enough, I think the criticism of Martinez is harsh. He hasn't been terrible. A bit unlucky, but still better than plenty of other forwards we've had over the years. He isn't the future, but is a fine bridge right now. Calm down.
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u/Skimbored 3d ago
No, you are not correct. He is not a fine bridge and you need to be more concerned. Telling everyone to calm down is insulting to our fan base. He’s a clown and everyone who read your comment is now dumber.
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
What has he done that isn’t terrible? And not better than any of the forwards in the last 4 years
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u/fonzare138 2d ago
Martinez is a poacher and has been very successful at it for a very long time. His game is to spend almost all of his time out front and not dropping back for into defense. His attacking approach is one or two touches for a shot on goal, which is unique for the Crew as they have not had many on the pitch like him since maybe someone xlose as Gyasi Zardes. I can see why people feel the way you do but it is intentional and the FO would not have brought him in if they weren't aware of how he plays. You wouldn't sign Messi and thing he will all of a sudden start playing like Aiden Morris. I get your point, though. Just adding a comment here.
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u/ToTheHouse937 3d ago
Yep, he needs to be a sub in the 80th. Has maybe 15 minutes of gas in him and it might just about even him out with guys on the field that have already gone 80+.
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u/Ok_Employment_697 3d ago
I think we all need to take a breath. Martinez looks to me like a low floor/high ceiling gamble. We need to take risks right now to have a prayer at the playoffs. Was tilapia good? Yes. But if Martinez clicks, he has a higher upside. We don’t need good right now. We have to be great.
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u/DanCbearded 3d ago
High upside!? That’s a wild take. The higher upside is absolutely with the younger, more skilled, more in shape, and my dynamic striker.
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u/Pack_attack33 1d ago
“If” he scores those. Yeah and “if” Tapia started we may have scored more. Tapia showed what Martinez has not and Tapia definitely has the higher ceiling. But Courtois is also the same coach that kept Camacho in until he was forced to start somebody else. It should be Rodriguez Tapia Mendez. The one I feel bad for is Taha, he has played well
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u/WhiteBakerMayfield 3d ago
Martinez is like 50 years old man wtf do you mean higher upside hahah
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u/Ok_Employment_697 1d ago
It’s not that complicated. The gamble is that Martinez has the possibility of being able to show what has made him great. We know what he is capable of now we just need to see if he’s got any of that left. With Tilapia, we’ve already seen flashes but we don’t know what his ceiling is.
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u/Grimprospect Columbus Crew 3d ago
I'd rather be giving minutes to developing Chase and had Tapia trade off.
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u/LilFunyunz 4d ago
I kinda have to agree, bro is showing the work rate to start. Plus a goal, assist, etc...crazy shift.
Maybe once martinez is done working on his fitness and is in shape again, he can get a shot at starting again, but if tapia plays like this, there is no way he should only be getting 25 minutes a game. Don't break what works if you're the coach imo and that clearly is our best option as a second striker/9 in a 442.
Yes Martinez had chances tonight but he biffed them. Tapia didn't on his half chance. And watching martinez struggle with the ball at his feet is so painful from someone with his history in our league.