While commentating for Sky Sports, former Manchester United captain-turned-pundit Gary Neville criticised Ruben Amorim’s team for their performance in the first half in north London, pointing out one particular shortcoming: “absolute madness.”
James Maddison was the first to jump on Andre Onana’s feeble parry, giving a struggling Tottenham Hotspur the lead in just 13 minutes. The celebration that followed, which was allegedly aimed at Roy Keane, caused quite a commotion.
The former Sporting CP manager’s hand was pushed in terms of his selections, as Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro were selected as his double pivot ahead of the back three after he was down to the bare minimum due to a long list of ailments and illness issues.
This is because Amorim and his group were somewhat underutilised in the middle of the park since players like Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer, and Manuel Ugarte all had midweek injuries and veteran Christian Eriksen was declared out due to illness.
However, Tottenham’s lineup of Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, and James Maddison was too strong for the away team’s engine room duo of Fernandes and Casemiro, especially since Amorim’s tactics requested his captain to veer to the right.
Neville, who was furious with Manchester United’s confusing strategy, called the gap between his old team’s midfield pair “absolute madness.” He was acknowledged as one of the greatest right-backs in Premier League history and stated:
We just discussed how far apart the two centre midfield guys are. Examine the whereabouts of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. That isn’t possible. It violates every football regulation. Take a look at them—complete insanity.
The 49-year-old said, “They may score goals, but the team structure is awful,” before going on to say, “The gaps in that midfield are a tactical thing – they’ve been told to do that.” The right winger is Bruno Fernandes. It’s embarrassing.
Before mentioning that Amorim’s orders for Joshua Zirkzee left Fernandes and Casemiro too exposed in the middle, Neville claimed that such a porous gap in the midfield area was comparable to what you’d see in an Under-9s or Under-10s game.
This is not what you would see in football for the Under-9 or Under-10 teams. That’s for a reason. Joshua Zirkzee’s actions against Newcastle, when he was forced to come out to one side repeatedly, are to blame. “You stay in there,” Amorim stated. That gap in midfield there, however, makes it hard for the two of them to be behind. It’s startling.
Regardless of their feelings for Neville, many Manchester United supporters swiftly denounced his remarks on X (previously Twitter). “Neville is dying on communications here,” one person stated. You would have seen exactly what you are saying if you had attended my under-10’s game today.
Gary Neville, who humiliated Harry Kane as an England coach and was a disgrace as manager of Valencia, is now calling United’s structure “shocking” and drawing comparisons to Under-9s. I hope someone disconnects your microphone!
Another fan made a crude jab at Gary Neville’s lengthy managing tenure in Spain, saying, “I think Gary Neville is slightly overestimating the tactical discipline of Under 9s.” It’s ironic,” they wrote. You might observe those strategies in his Valencia football game.
The most frustrating thing about Gary Neville is not how negative he is on commentary, but that he doesn’t offer hypothetical solutions.
He’s banging on about Bruno’s position, calling it “embarrassing”, then not giving any insight as to what should be changed. Fml.
— Dylan (@Dylyano) February 16, 2025
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