‘Pub football’ – Neville gives brutal assessment of United’s first-half display vs Tottenham

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·29 septembre 2024

‘Pub football’ – Neville gives brutal assessment of United’s first-half display vs Tottenham

Gary Neville was fuming at half-time like most Manchester United fans after watching Erik ten Hag’s side trail 1-0.

Erik ten Hag’s side welcomed Spurs to Old Trafford on Sunday looking to bounce back from a languid showing in a 1-1 draw with FC Twente in the Europa League.

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United immediately found themselves on the back foot from kick-off when Spurs took the lead after three minutes when Brennan Johnson tapped in following an inspired run out of defence from Micky van de Ven, who ran through United’s midfield unchallenged.

The best chances for United fell to Joshua Zirkee and Alejandro Garnacho. Neither were able to find an equaliser before the break.

It was all made worse when Bruno Fernandes was sent for an early stage.

Speaking on commentary during the first half Neville didn’t hold back with his criticism of Fernandes and United’s overall performance.

“It isn’t clever. That’s no good. He’s gone knee high. He’s not going to get away with it,” he said on Sky Sports, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “I think he slips. It looks bad because he’s gone in just under knee high.

“It’s not as bad as I initially thought but it sums up United in the first half who have been an absolute disgrace. Probably one of the worst halves I’ve seen under Ten Hag and that’s saying something.

“He can’t believe what he’s watching. I can’t believe what I’m watching, it’s awful. It really is bad.

“I’m not even talking about scoring goals, I’m talking about the basics. They look shot to pieces, the lot of them.”

Neville went on to insist amateur sides would have shown a better account of themselves on the pitch. He added: “I suspect there were better Sunday league teams this morning than what we’ve seen from United this first half. Pub football.”

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