Gary Neville says Man United have 'deteriorated' under Ruben Amorim and are the WORST Red Devils side of the last decade… with the club now on brink of being 'dragged' into relegation scrap
- Man United have lost five of their last six games - only Southampton are worse
- Neville believes the much-panned United sides of the last decade were better
- LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism has gone at Old Trafford
Manchester United are getting worse under Ruben Amorim and are in a full-blown relegation scrap, says Gary Neville.
A miserable 2-0 Monday night defeat at home by Newcastle leaves the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League and just seven points above 18th-placed Ipswich Town.
Worryingly, United are 19th in the form table over the last six games with just one win and five defeats, with an aggregate score of 4-13.
Having kicked off the month with a 4-0 bullying of Everton, they have lost their last three home games against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Toon to degrade their New Year hopes.
'He (Amorim) was resolute that he won't change but he must be suffering deep inside. I'm worried as well. It was really grim. That first half an hour was hard to watch as a United fan,' Neville said on Sky Sports.
'There's no doubt: performances and results have deteriorated in these last few weeks. They're finding it very difficult, some of the players with the system, they're finding it very difficult with the confidence, and the concern is that they're getting dragged into a fight down there near the bottom.
This is the worst Man United team of team of the last decade and they are being dragged into a relegation scrap, says Gary Neville
He believes they have 'deteriorated' under Ruben Amorim compared to Erik ten Hag
United suffered a 2-0 defeat by Newcastle on Monday - their fifth loss in six league games
'I think they've got a lot to do and that is being very, very kind. I don't think this group of players are of the quality of the ones that Ten Hag has had, Ole has had, Jose Mourinho has had, or Louis van Gaal.
'They weren't good enough for Manchester United in those periods but they were better teams and better squads than they are currently.'
It took Newcastle just four minutes to carve United open as Alexander Isak gave them the lead, before Joelinton headed them 2-0 up 19 minutes in.
Thus far Amorim has not ushered in the good times many hoped for after Erik ten Hag, but he never promoised the overhaul would be easy.
United being panned by pundits is nothing new and the same criticism apply now as they have for a long time - a lack of energy, large midfield gaps, an imbalance.
Neville kept banging that drum on Monday night and named two players who he believes should not feature together again.
He said: 'We know a lot of what we actually saw on the pitch was going to happen. Casemiro and (hristian) Eriksen in midfield, Carra has done a piece in the studio on (Noussair) Mazraoui and (Diogo) Dalot playing wing-backs and being more defensive and that that wouldn't lead to more goals, and that's exactly what happened.
'The idea of Zirkzee in that left pocket, that's not a pocket that you stay in, that's a left pocket where you pick up the Newcastle right-back when he goes forward, that's a left pokcket that means you make runs through. When he said he wasn't really a number nine and that's where he saw him playing, I was surprised.
Man United are down in 14th place, seven points ahead of Ipswich in the relegation zone
United have scored just 21 goals in the league this season - the fifth-fewest of any team
'I didn't see any balance in the team selection. Once I saw the team sheet I was pretty sure it would be a struggle. It was a grim night.'
Can Eriksen and Casemiro can start together again, he was asked?
'No, no. They may have to if there's lots of injuries. We've all been there as football where you get into your 30s and the last thing you want next to you is another playing alongside you in your 30s.
'The last thing that Eriksen sees alongside him is someone who's got a lack of energy. He wants to see someone who can compensate for the things he doesn't have and vice-versa with Casemiro.
'There are players at other clubs at the very top who haven't got legs but they've got people around them who can cover for the fact they haven't got legs. They can't play them as a two in midfield with those massive gaps that exist.'
