‘We’ve Seen Enough’—Man Utd Legend Puts Two Players on Blast After Spurs Stumble

Youri Tielemans has endured a testing start to his Liverpool career. | Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty ImagesManchester United were held to a frustrating 1–1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, leaving former defender Gary Neville questioning the effort and energy of Michael Carrick’s side, with two midfielders, Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo, coming under particular scrutiny.

Manchester United were held to a frustrating 1–1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, leaving former defender Gary Neville questioning the effort and energy of Michael Carrick’s side, with two midfielders, Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo, coming under particular scrutiny.

Despite Spurs being reduced to 10 men following Rodrigo Bentancur’s dismissal, United failed to hold on to their lead after Bryan Mbeumo’s 73rd-minute opener. Dominic Solanke struck a stoppage-time equalizer to deny Michael Carrick’s side all three points, leaving United 12th in the Premier League after six games.

Despite Spurs being reduced to 10 men following Rodrigo Bentancur’s dismissal, United failed to hold on to their lead after Bryan Mbeumo’s 73rd-minute opener. Dominic Solanke struck a stoppage-time equalizer to deny Michael Carrick’s side all three points, leaving United 12th in the Premier League after six games.

The disappointing result prompted boos from the Old Trafford crowd, with Neville offering a scathing assessment of United’s performance on The Gary Neville Podcast.

The disappointing result prompted boos from the Old Trafford crowd, with Neville offering a scathing assessment of United’s performance on The Gary Neville Podcast.

Neville identified the midfield partnership of Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo as a problem. While acknowledging the quality of both players individually, he questioned whether they possess the dynamism needed to operate effectively alongside each other in the Premier League.

Neville identified the midfield partnership of Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo as a problem. While acknowledging the quality of both players individually, he questioned whether they possess the dynamism needed to operate effectively alongside each other in the Premier League.

Tielemans had a game to forget against Spurs. | James Gill/Danehouse/Getty Images“With Tielemans and Mainoo, I think we’ve seen enough of it now,” Neville said. “I’m not calling time on it because I think that’s probably too drastic—but I’ve seen enough of it to think it’s not dynamic enough to play at this football club in the Premier League.

“With Tielemans and Mainoo, I think we’ve seen enough of it now,” Neville said. “I’m not calling time on it because I think that’s probably too drastic—but I’ve seen enough of it to think it’s not dynamic enough to play at this football club in the Premier League.

“They are both good players individually, but sometimes you have players who just don’t quite knit together and suit each other.”

“They are both good players individually, but sometimes you have players who just don’t quite knit together and suit each other.”

Neville also pointed to the impact of summer signing Carlos Baleba, who came off the bench against Spurs with just over half an hour remaining. The former United defender felt the midfield looked more energetic when Baleba partnered Mainoo, suggesting Carrick may need to reconsider his options in the middle of the pitch.

Neville also pointed to the impact of summer signing Carlos Baleba, who came off the bench against Spurs with just over half an hour remaining. The former United defender felt the midfield looked more energetic when Baleba partnered Mainoo, suggesting Carrick may need to reconsider his options in the middle of the pitch.

“When Baleba came on with Mainoo, that certainly looked more like there was more energy, but there is going to have to be something done in there, and the rest of them are going to have to get a grip,” he added.

“When Baleba came on with Mainoo, that certainly looked more like there was more energy, but there is going to have to be something done in there, and the rest of them are going to have to get a grip,” he added.

Heads were hung on Saturday. | Shaun Brooks/CameraSport/Getty ImagesThe former defender questioned the team’s work rate and intensity, arguing that their lack of effort was becoming a major concern.

The former defender questioned the team’s work rate and intensity, arguing that their lack of effort was becoming a major concern.

United have come under scrutiny for their physical output this season, ranking among the Premier League’s lowest teams for distance covered, sprints and high-intensity running. Tielemans himself has also admitted that the team did not do enough work in that area during preseason.

United have come under scrutiny for their physical output this season, ranking among the Premier League’s lowest teams for distance covered, sprints and high-intensity running. Tielemans himself has also admitted that the team did not do enough work in that area during preseason.

Neville questioned whether United’s struggles were down to a loss of confidence or a deeper issue within the squad.

Neville questioned whether United’s struggles were down to a loss of confidence or a deeper issue within the squad.

“The shake of Carrick's head will be … are they doing it for me? What’s happening with that lot?” Neville said. “Have they lost their confidence? Have they switched off? Are they going under? What is going on? Because these aren’t the players I was working with last season.”

“The shake of Carrick's head will be … are they doing it for me? What’s happening with that lot?” Neville said. “Have they lost their confidence? Have they switched off? Are they going under? What is going on? Because these aren’t the players I was working with last season.”

The pressure is on for Carrick. | Zohaib Alam/Manchester United/Getty ImagesUnited’s midfield concerns could become even more significant as the team prepares for a demanding run of fixtures.

United’s midfield concerns could become even more significant as the team prepares for a demanding run of fixtures.

They face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League in midweek before traveling to Elland Road to take on an in-form Leeds United next weekend.

They face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League in midweek before traveling to Elland Road to take on an in-form Leeds United next weekend.

With the schedule set to intensify, United are approaching a period in which they will play almost twice a week until the next international break in mid-November. Given their struggles against Spurs, Neville is worried about whether the squad has the physicality and mental resilience to cope with the increased demands.

With the schedule set to intensify, United are approaching a period in which they will play almost twice a week until the next international break in mid-November. Given their struggles against Spurs, Neville is worried about whether the squad has the physicality and mental resilience to cope with the increased demands.

“It is a real concern, going into a slog where you are playing every three days and the Champions League is going to hit you hard,” he said.

“It is a real concern, going into a slog where you are playing every three days and the Champions League is going to hit you hard,” he said.

“You’ve got tough matches, and all of the games coming up are going to need real personality and character. It needs a group of players who are resilient, and at the moment, you do worry about them going into that run of matches and how they are going to come out of it.”

“You’ve got tough matches, and all of the games coming up are going to need real personality and character. It needs a group of players who are resilient, and at the moment, you do worry about them going into that run of matches and how they are going to come out of it.”

Published 7 minutes ago | Modified 7 minutes agoBARNABY LANEBarnaby Lane, better known as Barney, is a soccer writer for SI FC. With nearly a decade of experience in the industry, he has worked for a range of household-name publications in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and has interviewed some of the world’s biggest athletes—from Usain Bolt and Rafael Nadal to Christian Pulisic (though his favorite interview remains Adebayo Akinfenwa). Barney specializes in Premier League soccer, covering everything from the nostalgia of years gone by to the modern, vastly different landscape of today’s game. He also has experience reporting on La Liga and Major League Soccer, the latter of which he developed a particular affinity for during his university days at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.