Alan Shearer sends BRUTAL message to former Man United stars-turned-pundits – and reveals the one position where Erik ten Hag’s side are ‘not good enough’

Alan Shearer his fired a strong message to former Man United stars-turned-pundits after the Erik ten Hag’s misfiring side drew with Aston Villa. 

Ten Hag‘s team continued their poor start to the season as they extended their winless run to five matches with a goalless draw at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon. 

The stalemate result means the Red Devils sit 14th in the league, making it their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign after seven games. 

In recent weeks, a number of former Man United stars have hit out at performances under Ten Hag and questioned the tactics employed by the Dutch coach. 

However, now, Shearer has hit back at the players-turned-pundits and insisted that the club are currently ‘miles and miles’ off the standards set last decade on a whole.

Paul Scholes (left) and Rio Ferdinand (right) have been among the former United stars to question the current state of the club

Alan Shearer has now issued them a brutal message after insisting the current United side are ‘miles and miles’ away from the standards set during Scholes and Ferdinand’s playing days

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said: ‘They’re just not good enough, though. 

‘We hear a lot from the ex-players from Manchester United. But United, [compared to] when they were playing, they’re miles and miles away from that! 

‘They’re not good enough in so many positions, particularly up front.’ 

Forward players Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled to adapt to life in Manchester and have scored just two goals between them in 2024-25.

Both players came under fire after the Villa draw as former Red Devils midfielder Paul Scholes questioned the club’s recruitment process. 

‘In forward areas especially, I just don’t think the quality is there. We go back to the most successful teams, they’re capable of scoring goals. What have we scored? Five goals in seven games,’ Scholes told SuperSport.

‘Now we had three or four forwards who could get you 20 goals so you’re looking at 80 goals a season there and I just don’t see that in the forward line at Manchester United. Look, Hojlund does alright but is he gonna score you 20 goals? I don’t think so.

Ferdinand and Scholes were part of a Manchester United side that dominated the top-flight

However, Erik ten Hag’s side now fall incredibly short of the standards set by that team 

‘Zirkzee… what is he? Is he a No 9 or a No 10? Is he going to get you 20 goals? I don’t think so. I think they’re relying more on hope than actual proven quality and they spent so much money as well.

‘It’s a ridiculous amount of money and some of them can’t get in the team! You think of [Manuel] Ugarte coming into the club who was supposed to change the way the midfield was… he didn’t play him.

‘[Matthijs] De Ligt, £50m and he didn’t play him. Jonny Evans has come in at 36 years old instead of him. [Lisandro] Martinez, Ten Hag brought him into the club. What’s he thinking today? Jonny Evans is playing, [Harry] Maguire started, [Victor] Lindelof comes on before him. It’s just a recruitment mess really.’ 

Meanwhile, last month, club legend Rio Ferdinand questioned ‘what the hell are’ United under Ten Hag after their 3-0 defeat by Tottenham. 

‘Where’s the pride man? I just don’t know,’ said Ferdinand. ‘That fight don’t seem where it should be. The Bruno [Fernandes] red card I think is p*** poor as well. I think it’s a p*** poor red card. 

‘In no day and age should that ever be a red card. A straight red card? No way, I can’t have it.

‘But do not let that distract from the fact that we were terrible. We were an embarrassment today. The red card shouldn’t be an excuse for anybody at Man Utd now. It shouldn’t be an excuse for anyone at the football club.

Ferdinand slammed United’s performance during a 3-0 defeat by Spurs as ‘terrible’ last month

‘We were terrible. We were terrible to watch. It was a terrible kind of representation of who were are and what we are right now. 

‘Giving the ball away constantly. I’m ranting here but I can’t help it. I’ve sat and watched the game and just thought what the hell are we?’