Manchester United vs Wolves Review: Gary Neville Slams Performance

In his Manchester United vs Wolves review, Gary Neville has described United’s 1-1 draw with Wolves as “the baddest of the bad.”

United would have climbed to fourth in the Premier League with a win at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, but winless Wolves, who started the game with just two points from 18 matches, ended an 11-game losing streak with a 1-1 result.

Despite being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two Grimsby in August, Neville felt United plumbed new depths, though two crucial saves from Wolves goalkeeper Senne Lammens prevented an even worse outcome.

“That was the baddest of the bad that,” Neville said on the Gary Neville Podcast.
“They weren’t just booed off at full-time. The fans waited in the stadium to continue to boo them. They’ve gone backwards.”

United had beaten Newcastle 1-0 at home on Boxing Day, despite a mounting injury list including Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, and three players away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, against Wolves, United were flat from the first whistle. Ladislav Krejci’s header just before half-time cancelled out Joshua Zirkzee’s deflected opener, leaving fans frustrated.

Joshua Zirkzee gave Manchester United the lead against Wolves before being withdrawn at half-time (Martin Rickett/PA)

“This isn’t right. I’ve watched enough of United over the last five or six weeks to know what looks right and what isn’t right,” Neville said during Sky Sports commentary.
“When I see that we go back (to three at the back) after five minutes tonight, and I’m thinking, no, Ruben, why have you done that? The manager has to look at that and think, I got that wrong. I complicated it.”

Manager Rubem Amorim reverted to his preferred 3-4-3 formation, having played four at the back against Newcastle. Amorim withdrew Zirkzee at half-time, bringing on 18-year-old Jack Fletcher for only his third senior appearance, describing the change as “just tactical.”

“They made Manchester United worse. Every single substitution was bizarre. If Zirkzee wasn’t injured and that was a tactical substitution, it was a really poor one,” Neville added.
“Zirkzee isn’t Eric Cantona, by any stretch of the imagination, but he needed to be out there for physicality, for presence, for experience.”

The draw leaves United frustrated as Wolves secured a rare point, while Neville’s sharp analysis highlights tactical missteps and a worrying lack of cohesion in the Red Devils’ squad.