Neville's verdict on United 'mess'

Gary Neville believes Manchester United's problems are down to the club's chiefs rather than manager Jose Mourinho.

United have made their worst start to a season in 29 years, with Saturday's 3-1 loss at West Ham ending a tumultuous week during which Mourinho's strained relationship with Paul Pogba was caught by Sky Sports cameras and the club crashed out of the Carabao Cup.

Reflecting on a defeat that leaves United 10th in the table - nine points off league-leading rivals Manchester City - Sky Sports pundit Neville wrote on Twitter: "This mess started when United sacked David Moyes after 8 months and we lost all sense of the values that the club had been built on for 100 years.

"It's not the manager it's the lack of football leadership above him. They are bouncing all over the place with no plan!"

Replying to a suggestion United were wrong to appoint Moyes in the first place, Neville said: "That's another question but when they sacked him after eight months it went into pinball, reactive mode and chasing it! No plan..."

Neville - speaking on Monday Night Football - had warned earlier this season that United could not keep "jumping around with managers," and backed Mourinho to see out his contract.

Scrutiny of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward's strategy since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 has been echoed by United supporters.

In a public expression of discontent, a banner declaring Woodward a 'specialist in failure' was flown over Turf Moor during United's 2-0 win over Burnley in early September.

Credit: Skysports.com