Gary Neville has revealed his concern for the way forward for soccer within the Premier League, suggesting that defenders are having far too many touches on the ball in comparison with when he was a participant.
Thus far within the 2024/25 season, Virgil van Dijk has had essentially the most touches on the ball of every other participant within the Premier League , with Josko Gvardiol, Levi Colwill, William Saliba and Bruno Fernandes rounding out the highest 5.
As Neville highlights, although, the 2008/09 season noticed Denilson, Frank Lampard, Xabi Alonso, John Obi Mikel and John Pantsil contact the ball essentially the most. Nearly all of these gamers are the categories the Manchester United legend says he desires to see on the ball essentially the most, versus defenders who now dominate the charts.
Van Dijk has touched the ball essentially the most of any Premier League participant this season (Picture credit score: Alamy)
“Holding-midfield who’re dictating the sport – they’re gamers who I’d need to see on the ball – most of them,” Neville mentioned on the Keep on with Soccer podcast, dropped at you by SkyBet .
He added: “The previous couple of weeks I’ve watched video games which have been a wrestle. The followers are saying it, commentators are saying it, people who find themselves ex-coaches and gamers. Even the present gamers are having the vitality drained out of them. We’re seeing a lot of defenders and goalkeepers on the ball, consistently.
Again when Neville performed, Lampard touched the ball greater than most (Picture credit score: Chris Brunskill/Getty Pictures)
“You possibly can both say the sport is evolving, however is the job of a soccer coach or a soccer workforce to not get the perfect gamers on the ball as a lot as potential in a recreation with the very best quality?
“If we’re consistently served up this crap the place we’re watching centre-backs, full-backs and goalkeepers contact the ball lots of of occasions greater than essentially the most gifted gamers on the pitch. That isn’t proper – the sport can’t be evolving in the appropriate approach.”
Neville’s feedback come after he criticised the “robotic” nature of contemporary soccer following the drab 0-0 draw between Manchester United and Manchester Metropolis at Outdated Trafford final Sunday.
“I don’t assume there was one participant who walked off that pitch disenchanted about drawing 0-0, from both facet,” Neville mentioned. “All of them walked off kind of pondering, ‘We’re OK right here, bought away with out making a mistake’. It was that kind of recreation.
Neville has criticised how soccer goes (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
“It was actually disappointing. I apologise for my co-commentary really, I believe I let it get to me. I used to be boring on there as nicely. That was drab as nicely.
“I believe the congratulations and love-in that I’m watching says each groups are proud of a 0-0.”
