Gary Neville Slams Manchester United, Rues Absence of Michael Carrick

Former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville has slammed the club's "toothless" display during Sunday's 3-0 Premier League defeat to Everton.

Despite once again having the dominant share of possession, like in the previous loss to Chelsea, a lack of intensity let United's play descend into nothingness. Everton were far more aggressive, tactically astute and ready to battle for the points. United cantered, leaving massive space for the Toffees' counterattacking numbers to flood into.

Neville spoke during his Sky Sports podcast, reported by Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News.

"United were toothless, and that is being kind," Neville said. "I didn't really see them try and dribble past a player, make any forward runs. At times they were not getting enough men in the box and the final pass was poor. It is the worst I have seen United play for five or six weeks."

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Louis van Gaal's men are seven points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand. Should they win, Brendan Rodgers' men will once again be in the race for a UEFA Champions League place. United face Arsenal on the penultimate day of the season, and although Liverpool still have to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, United can only afford one further loss this campaign.

Like Neville, Van Gaal bemoaned his side's lack of fighting spirit after receiving the Merseyside whooping, posted by the Premier League's official Twitter account:

Everton blitzed United through midfield, where Michael Carrick's absence once again halted the side's success. His distribution and tempo-setting qualities are vital to United's play, and without him, Daley Blind's lack of awareness made him an easy target for exploitation. 

Neville, who used to play alongside Carrick, notes the Englishman's importance to the team, per Luckhurst:

"

When Michael Carrick doesn’t play, their record without him shows he is missed. It is not just the control and composure, but it is his forward passes, he just moves the ball forward into good areas quickly.

When United won the ball back today they didn’t get the ball forward quick enough. Michael Carrick does that. Even if it is only a 10-yard pass, he gets the move moving in the right way. They miss him badly, they really do. It is no coincidence they have lost the last two games without him.

"

Squawka and football writer Daniel Storey provided breakdowns of Carrick's impact this season:

Luckhurst doesn't believe the midfielder's absence was the reason for failure:

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It's no coincidence reports linking United with a move for Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan have intensified recently, per Sky Sports. Van Gaal simply doesn't possess another central midfielder who can patrol, distribute and dictate like Carrick.

The 33-year-old Carrick is underrated by many, but his significance to the team has become increasingly obvious after the destruction of United's winning run, which included vital victories over Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City.

This spell still has the power to define United's season in a positive light, but after two consecutive defeats, Van Gaal's men are threatening to throw their hard work away. Carrick or no Carrick, the Dutch manager needs to find a solution soon.