'Manchester United look like a pub team'

Phil Bardsley has criticised the Old Trafford side for their inconsistency and ineffective style of play, adding that he cannot see them challenging for titles any time soon

Manchester United have looked like a pub team at times this season and do not look capable of challenging for the Premier League title in the near future, according to former Red Devil Phil Bardsley.

Louis van Gaal's men sit fifth in the Premier League table, four points behind Manchester City, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualifying spot.

The Old Trafford outfit have come in for a great deal of criticism ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, with claims that they have been boring and lacking imagination in attack.

Stoke defender Bardsley, who rose through the United academy and featured for the first-team, has echoed those criticisms, stating that they resemble an amateur team.

"At times they look like they are getting back to their best of what they can achieve," he said onBBC Radio 5 Live. "Then you watch them the next week and they look like the Dog and Duck.
"It hurts a little bit, I like to see United challenging for league titles and I don't see that happening in the near future."

The 30-year-old Scotland international believes Van Gaal's side must take more risks and use more pace in their game.

"The pace of the way Man United have always set out and played is attacking football. They've always played with a presence, controlled games, dictated games, slowed it down, sped it up, played with natural width.

"Stoke played United in early February this season and we lost 3-0. That's probably one of United's best performances of the season and unfortunately it was against us. They had Michael Carrick in there passing the ball forward. They had Depay on, Martial, Lingard, all young, fresh quick kids. 

"I've watched them a lot, as soon as they pass the ball forward with pace and power, they create chances. For the majority of their games, they've been too slow, passing the ball sideways too many times and I think they are far too defensive."
source goal.com