Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Aston Villa and Scotland midfielder Robert Snodgrass has delivered a blunt verdict on Manchester United 's struggles.
Snodgrass has argued that United 's talented squad has no excuses for sitting near the bottom, and defended Harry Maguire amid the wider criticism of the group.
The former winger has also urged Unai Emery to stay put at Aston Villa rather than chance the Old Trafford environment, and praised the settling-in of young signing Johan Manzambi .
United's Problems
Is McTominay the Type of Midfielder United Have Been Lacking?
It probably hurt Scott leaving Man Utd , but leaving was the right decision. Having structure and clarity on his position under Antonio Conte at Napoli initially made him feel like an important part of the team. There's nothing better than feeling like a mainstay and talisman; it gives you an extra spark.
Footballers are confidence players, and when confidence is high and the team is performing, you see their best form. Getting Scott back to United would give them a huge lift, but a lot of top players are underperforming there right now.
Going back would be a tough challenge for Scott because of the scars and wounds from his earlier time there, even though he was just a young kid. Wherever he goes next, if he does leave Napoli , whichever club gets him is getting an excellent player and person.
Do You Have Sympathy for Harry Maguire?
It's not just personal criticism aimed at Harry Maguire like it was for a long time; overall, the criticism aimed at the squad is rightfully deserved. Clubs nowadays always look for excuses instead of looking in the mirror as individuals and as a team.
With the quality in that squad, should they be sitting fourth from the bottom? Take away the noise about tactics, the manager or the weather; a group with that talent shouldn't be in that position. There has to be a baseline application every single day. Top players only need minor instructions; basic hard work and teamwork should look after themselves.
What I see now is that as soon as something goes wrong, an excuse is made. But it's simple: if you don't run, work hard and stick together, you'll end up in the bottom half. With Manchester United 's quality, mostly the same squad that was winning games last season, there are no excuses. Talking about pre-season fitness after fifteen games doesn't hold up. You should be fully fit by now; pre-season is long gone. There are too many excuses, so the criticism coming their way is justified.
Villa's Rise
How Worried Should Villa Fans Be if United Come in for Emery?
Look at Emery and Aston Villa ; it just fits. Villa is an amazing, huge club sitting just below the elite giants of the division. Each season, they're building the belief that they can break into the top four and mount a real challenge. That's a completely different mindset from when I was there in the Championship , fighting through financial difficulties.
Looking at the club now fills me with pride; you have to applaud the transformation and how well it's been executed. Top managers went to Manchester United and failed, and I don't think Emery wants to deal with that environment.
At Villa , he gives players detailed information so they know their roles inside out. He programs it into their minds. He'll always be linked with top clubs because of his record, but Aston Villa is a huge club, and he's in a great place. My advice would be to stay put and keep pushing forward with Villa .
Is Emery Overachieving Given the Summer Changes?
Judgment in football comes in short windows. It doesn't matter what you achieved last season; people are always looking for the next story. Unai Emery went through a spell of losing key players for financial reasons, but he always finds a way back.
He has Villa in the top spots in the Champions League . When you look at his big European results, you see why he's one of the best managers in the world right now.
He doesn't get too high or too low; he just works through it. He has credit in the bank from winning European trophies multiple times; he's a serial winner. So why not keep delivering for Aston Villa ? It's exactly where the club deserves to be.
How Impressed Have You Been With Johan Manzambi?
The best way to help new players settle is with clear information and a strong support system, and it looks like Manzambi has had that. A lot of great people at Villa help new signings settle and make them believe they're part of something special. They have the manager to deliver on that vision, so seeing the club thrive is no surprise.
They have an incredible captain in John McGinn , who delivers season after season alongside top players.
You only realise how much you miss John when he's out of the team, too. Having an empty stand during redevelopment feels strange, but the atmosphere and fans are still superb. Once that stand is complete, it'll add even more to the environment as the club keeps taking steps forward.
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