Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has torn into the Red Devils’ summer recruitment as they slipped to a fourth consecutive loss in all competitions.
United were dismantled by Newcastle United in a shocking first half performance as they fell to a 0-2 defeat at home to end the year on a particularly sour note.
Many fans expected much more as Ineos were judged to have a successful window where they brought in Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte at great expense.
However, fast forward four months, and the Old Trafford faithful find their team in 14th place and only seven points above the drop zone.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville brutally took apart his former side’s transfer record.
“What am l surprised about is that when in the summer Manchester United signed those three or four players, I didn’t hear anyone say, ‘Manchester United have had a terrible transfer market’.”
Nonetheless, Neville did not hold back when commenting on their influence on the team so far.
“I am shocked about how poor those players have been in their early months. I have said it before that this club has been a graveyard for players who have come with decent reputations. And it is happening again.”
Whilst not singling a particular player out, he did claim that overall they have made the team worse than they were last season.
“The problem is that when you have seen them out here in a red shirt then Manchester United look a worse team. That’s the odd thing.”
The criticism seems harsh when Leny Yoro has barely played and Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte have been viewed by fans as positive signings and two of the few players who have matched the standards expected at Old Trafford this season.
It is true that Joshua Zirkzee appears very much a failed signing at the moment, compounded by being subbed off after only 33 minutes yesterday and the jury is still very much out on defender Matthijs de Ligt.
Nonetheless, while the situation is much more complex than only blaming the new signings, it is a valid point that United and former coach Erik ten Hag have once again wasted a huge sum of money to take the team backwards.
Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
