- Manchester United lost 2-1 to Leeds
- Lisandro Martinez controversially sent off
- Gary Neville commentary isn’t unbiased it’s unreasonable
Gary Neville’s attempts to be unbiased have made his commentary a tough listen for Manchester United fans. The club’s former captain tries to hide his Red Devils roots behind the guise of a respectable analyst.
It doesn’t work though, as United fans see right through him, and last night’s defeat by Leeds United was the perfect example. A simply ridiculous Lisandro Martinez sending off didn’t mean Michael Carrick’s men didn’t deserve to lose 2-1.
That said, the decision to send Martinez off for a farcical supposed pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair was simply inexcusable. Any football fan knows that it is never a red card and Carrick called it ‘one of the worst decisions’ he’s ever seen.
Neville put on a fake act of impartiality and suggested that Paul Tierney rightfully sent the Argentine off. Not only that, but he insisted Martinez knew what he was doing.’
The Sky Sports commentator said:
“Martinez looks perplexed and confused: ‘What have I done?’ He’s pulled his hair, and that results in a red card nowadays. He knows what he’s doing there.”
If it’s proper analysis you’re after, then Jamie Carragher is a must-listen. The Liverpool icon gave a spot on verdict when speaking following the game:
“Howard Webb (PGMOL chief) who we speak to probably two or three times a season sometimes comes out with a line on certain situations that I actually like. Sometimes it’s not about just the rule book it’s about what does the game want. I don’t think any football fan, any football manager, any player watching that sitting at home thinking ‘yeah I think that’s a red card.’ I think everybody in the game is looking at that and thinking ‘come on that’s not a red card behave yourself.”
Neville’s commentary has worsened over the years, perhaps out of a fear of being criticised for showing United preferential treatment. But he’s not coming across as unbiased now; he’s coming across as an imitation of a commentator.
The 10-time Premier League champion will double down on his stance over the red card. But for many Reds, we look forward to games in which he’s not calling the action.
What Other Fans Are Saying
Neville’s commentary last night has caused backlash amongst United fans who have had enough. One fan responded on X:
“Just got to say this. Gary Neville has gone so far in trying to prove his impartiality when commentating on UTD it almost borders on hatred of his former team. In the seconds after Leeds scored their second I swear I could hear his smile.”
Another added:
“Gary Neville siding with that red card is a disgrace. Can he not see how soft that is?“
One reacted:
“Sometime it seems like we are in an alternate universe. It feels like (Carragher) played for United and Gary Neville grew up hating them. The damage he does in commentary and the studio is far greater then the abysmal performance by players on the pitch.”
Neville didn’t just upset fans with his call over the red card but also how excited he sounded when Leeds pushed for a third in the first half. One fan wrote:
“Yes the performance was shocking but let’s not ignore Gary practically begging for a third to go in the net as well.”
United will look to put the loss to Leeds behind them when they play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Unfortunately, there’s every chance Neville is back on commentary because the game will be broadcast on Sky Sports.
