Gary Neville's Astonishing Verdict: Unveiling the True Commitment and Talent of Man Utd Players under Erik ten Hag
Gary Neville questions the quality of Manchester United players under Erik ten Hag and suggests that a marquee signing like Harry Kane or Declan Rice was needed He highlights their recent struggles against Brighton, blames unhelpful situations with Sancho and Maguire, and criticizes the club for allowing managers to dictate recruitment
Gary Neville believes that Manchester United's sluggish start to the season is primarily due to a deficiency in quality rather than a lack of dedication. He further argues that their summer signings have not contributed to their improvement. Last Saturday, Erik ten Hag's team faced a disheartening 3-1 loss at home to Brighton, resulting in their position at 13th in the Premier League standings with just six points garnered from their initial five matches.
Neville categorized the defeat against Brighton as "sobering" but expressed that it did not catch him off guard, considering the contrasting performance levels displayed by Roberto De Zerbi's team versus Ten Hag's.
Despite United investing £183.5m in summer signings, which included Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat, Sergio Reguilon, Jonny Evans, and Altay Bayindir, Neville believes they have failed to elevate the team's standard.
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'Man Utd needed a Kane or Rice-type signing'
"I had concerns at the beginning of the season," stated the pundit from We during the latest episode of the Gary Neville Podcast."There was a sense that Manchester United had efficiently completed their business in the transfer window, which was positive. However, I apprehensively wondered if the players they had acquired would truly elevate their performance compared to the previous season.
I never believed they could compete against Manchester City and Arsenal with the players they acquired. It would have required a signing like Harry Kane or Declan Rice, for instance. However, they lacked the funds for such notable signings.
"They're currently not performing at a satisfactory level. The absence of any sense of excitement or panic is evident. When I attended the Brighton game as a supporter, I pondered whether they could astonish me.
With an enduring optimism, I've never crossed the forecourt at Old Trafford without feeling hopeful. It is the expectation of a football fan to maintain faith in their team, regardless of the venue."
However, the 72,000 Manchester United supporters in the stadium were well-informed about Brighton and familiar with their current team. Thus, it is highly unlikely that any of them were taken aback by the events that unfolded. Prior to the match, there was a sense of curiosity and cautious optimism among fans, with remarks like "Let's see what happens" and "We'll be happy with a draw" being exchanged as they made their way into the stadium.
'Brighton dismantled ordinary Man Utd'
Neville felt Brighton boss De Zerbi outthought Ten Hag in the tactical battle at Old Trafford.
"Manchester United began the game with a promising start in the first 10 to 15 minutes. However, once Brighton began to regain control and demonstrate composure, their center-backs confidently interacted with their goalkeeper and initiated several passes into the midfield. By executing their typical style of play, Brighton effectively dismantled Manchester United," he expressed.
"[Danny] Welbeck and [Adam] Lallana skillfully positioned themselves in advantageous areas, while the two wide players maintained a high position on the field. [Lisandro] Martinez and [Victor] Lindelof occasionally found themselves in vulnerable positions, unsure of how to handle the situation."
Football players are commonly credited with winning football matches, which is an obvious statement, while systems are often overlooked. However, it must be acknowledged that systems do indeed have an influence on the outcome of matches.
At Old Trafford, a peculiar observation is made regarding the seating arrangement. The dugout side lacks space, whereas the far side offers an abundance of room, away from the dugout. Curiously, it is always the opposition who benefits from this extra space on the opposite side of the pitch. The reasons behind this phenomenon at Old Trafford remain unknown.
I was seated on the opposite side of the field. During the first half, Christian Eriksen was tasked to cover Brighton's right-back and right-hand side along with Sergio Reguilon. This is where the first goal originated from. Eriksen had to fulfill this duty due to his position in the diamond formation.
Moving on to the second half, Scott McTominay was positioned on this side and appeared fatigued at certain points.
I observed the lads intently. It was not due to a significant lack of effort or players giving up, as they were giving their utmost best. However, McTominay struggled to defend against their left side in the second half, resulting in the two goals.
I found it unexpected that they maintained a narrow midfield instead of using a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation, considering that Manchester United's pitch has always felt extensive in the wide areas.
Brighton possesses both the playing system and the players required to dismantle their opponents and effortlessly find alternative passing options.
In the past, I constantly believed that at Old Trafford, one should not provide the opposing team with a simple solution. However, yesterday, Manchester United had offered them exactly that, and as a result, Brighton effortlessly dismantled them, making them appear rather average on certain occasions.
'Sancho, Maguire situations unhelpful'
It was a distressing and alarming day as Brighton outperformed Manchester United. Their performance was exceptional despite having a group of players who may not appear as glamorous or expensive on paper. However, it was evident that they were the superior team.Neville suggested that Ten Hag's strict disciplinary approach might be causing issues within the team. As an example, he mentioned that Jadon Sancho is currently excluded from the squad because he refused to apologize for his social media remarks. Additionally, Harry Maguire has lost his captaincy.
According to Neville, Ten Hag will persist in his current behavior by sticking to his beliefs, values, and principles.
"The only thing I would say is, how popular is Sancho in the dressing room?
"How popular is Maguire in the dressing room?
The discomfort and uncertainty stem from an internal source. Presently, there is a player who could be transitioning between the first-team dressing room and the academy. It is worth noting that Harry Maguire, who used to be the captain of these players a year ago, now finds himself somewhat alienated, occupying a lower position as the third, fourth, or fifth-choice centre-half.
"He has some situations, and I'm unaware of the extent of their impact.
"However, when it comes to his performance on the field, I believe Erik ten Hag will remain consistent. It's worth noting that numerous capable managers have encountered difficulties at Manchester United in the past decade or so since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure."
'Man Utd suffering by letting managers dictate recruitment'
Image:
Bruno Fernandes walks off dejected after the 3-1 loss to Brighton
Neville expressed his hope that the current challenging start to the season is not a recurring pattern like the difficulties faced by Mourinho, Van Gaal, Moyes, Rangnick, and Solskjaer in the past.
"The Manchester United fans I know are incredibly frustrated with Erik ten Hag, but their main desire is for a change in ownership, along with stability and a dedicated group of players.
"I don't doubt the players' commitment, but I do question their overall skill level. This is my main concern."
The club has faced consistent criticism over the past decade or so regarding their recruitment decisions, particularly influenced by the manager's preferences. This pattern has once again emerged.
Erik ten Hag has brought in players of his choice, while Jose Mourinho selected players like Lukaku and Pogba who aligned with his vision. Additionally, Van Gaal prioritized technical players, specifically left-footed center-backs and left-backs.
"All the players they wanted to bring in have been brought in. I had hoped that there would be a more robust sporting project in the background that would allow Manchester United to bring in a collective of players. However, once again, Manchester United has given the manager the power to influence the signings. This is something that concerns me about the club as they lack strong leadership at the highest level."
When it comes to the top sports operators in this country and Europe, Manchester United lacks them. This is a cause for concern.
Let me clarify, there is no exaggeration or panic, we are aware of our current situation. However, the recent Brighton game served as a reality check and it's safe to say that not many were caught off guard by the outcome.
In midweek, they head to Munich and then face an awkward match against Burnley on Saturday night. Despite some concerns about Munich, there are players in their team who can potentially rise to the occasion.
However, considering the significant amount of money Manchester United has invested in their lineup, the expectations for their squad were higher. Their recent signings include Onana, Hojlund, and Mount.
Are they better than before? While Hojlund shows potential, I empathize with him. He has been burdened with carrying the entire team in certain aspects.
We need to observe the outcome, but there are valid concerns from both the fans and within the club. The current situation appears worrying and must be rectified for stability to be achieved.
