Eamon Dunphy believes personnel problems will continue to blight Manchester United's quest to return to the force of old, with the pundit predicting that securing a Champions League place will prove beyond the Old Trafford side.
United could only draw 1-1 at home against Arsenal on Saturday, despite dominating for long periods.
While Dunphy regards the Red Devils as a more resolute side since Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal as manager, the apparent lack of inspirational game-changers in their ranks concerns the veteran pundit.
“Since Van Gaal left and Mourinho took over they’re having a go, there’s no doubt about that,” the former Republic of Ireland international told Game On listeners on RTÉ 2fm.
“But I’d say they’re a long, long way away from where they would need to be to trouble the likes of Chelsea, who gave them a hiding a few weeks ago, or Liverpool, who I think will give them a hiding whenever they play them again.”
Critiquing their performance against Arsenal, Dunphy said: “It was a spirited performance, but in the end they gave up a soft goal.
“David de Gea had nothing to do all afternoon, but for the goal the full-back walked past Marcus Rashford. Paul Pogba should have been giving him cover, he didn’t bother, he just stood there because he doesn’t really understand the game.
“The ball was crossed to the far post and Olivier Giroud had a simple task.
“It was a very bad goal to give away.”
Dunphy insists that the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and Memphis Depay are not equipped to act as major catalysts in Manchester United’s fortunes.
“I’d say Ibrahimovic has no more football in him,” Dunphy said.
“Against the weaker teams they had to play at the beginning, I think he got six goals in seven games and they were important goals as well.
“But he’s way past his sell by date, He’s 35+ now.
“He can’t really put in the work.
“The passing, scoring goals, his general play has been very, very poor.
“Rooney looks like he’s finally burnt out.
“He hasn’t been a first choice for Mourinho for a few weeks.
“And he’s never played in his correct position.
“There are picture of Memphis floating around Manchester in his Rolls Royce, which is one of a number of big cars he has"
“When Mourinho arrived, one of the first this he said was that Rooney is a goalscorer, a number 10, and that’s where he’ll play.
“He hasn’t played there at all.
“I think you can forget Rooney in terms of saving the day for Manchester United.
“He was a marvellous player, but he’s not going to be that anymore.
“I think they’ve got an awful lot of work to do to get into the top four. I don’t think they will.
“I think that’s not entirely Mourinho’s fault. Van Gaal bought an awful lot of rubbish there. Marcos Rojo was playing on Saturday. He’s not a player at all!”
“Where’s Memphis?
“He was another player they played a lot of money for.
“If you add up all the duds they bought in the Van Gaal era, you find that amounts to an awful lot of money.
“Those wages have to be paid. These guys are on huge money.
“There are picture of Memphis floating around Manchester in his Rolls Royce, which is one of a number of big cars he has.
“But he’s not playing any football.
“It’s a good job if you can get it.”
Meanwhile, after Liverpool’s goalless draw against Southampton and Chelsea’s a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, Dunphy is now suggesting that Antonio Conte’s side are the most likely winners of the Premier League title race.
“I’ll give you a stat – 17 goals in the last six games, and no goal conceded since he adjusted to a 3-5-2 formation,” the pundit reasoned.
“This guy’s a proper coach and I’d make them favourites to win the league, although I tipped Liverpool at the start.
“I think Conte has done a really good job there.”