Manchester United icon Gary Neville has delivered a devastating verdict on his former club's current state, describing their recent performance against Brentford as so poor it was virtually "unwatchable."
The Sky Sports pundit didn't hold back in his analysis following United's fortunate 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium, where Mason Mount's 96th-minute equaliser spared Erik ten Hag's side from what would have been a thoroughly deserved defeat.
A Performance That Defied Belief
Neville expressed sheer disbelief at United's display, particularly during a first half where Brentford completely dominated the proceedings. "The first half was as bad as I've seen from a United team in a very long time," Neville stated during his podcast appearance. "They were fortunate to even be level at half-time, let alone in the game."
The statistics painted a damning picture of United's performance, with Brentford registering an astonishing 31 attempts on goal - the most any team has managed in a Premier League match this season without securing victory.
Fundamental Questions About United's Identity
What concerned Neville most wasn't just the poor result but the complete absence of any recognizable playing style or identity. "I don't know what they're doing, I don't know what they're trying to do," he confessed. "There's no clear pattern of play, no discernible system that the players seem to understand."
The former England defender highlighted the stark contrast with United's opponents: "Brentford know exactly what they're doing. They have a clear identity, a system that works for them. United look lost by comparison."
Mount's Late Goal Papers Over Cracks
While Mason Mount's injury-time strike secured an unlikely point, Neville was quick to point out that it merely masked deeper problems within the squad. "That goal doesn't change anything about the performance," he insisted. "If anything, it might paper over the cracks of what was a genuinely alarming display."
The late equaliser prevented United from suffering back-to-back league defeats after their disappointing loss to Chelsea earlier in the week, but Neville believes the issues run much deeper than results alone.
A Broader Pattern of Concern
This isn't the first time Neville has expressed concerns about United's direction under Ten Hag. The performance against Brentford appears to be symptomatic of wider problems at Old Trafford, where inconsistent displays have become the norm rather than the exception.
With crucial fixtures looming and Champions League qualification hanging in the balance, Neville's stark assessment serves as a wake-up call to everyone associated with the club. The question remains: can Ten Hag address these fundamental issues before United's season unravels completely?
