Manchester United play is miserable

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes says the club's style of play is "miserable" and is failing their attacking traditions.

Manager Louis van Gaal has defended his tactics after West Ham counterpart Sam Allardyce called the Dutchman's side "long-ball United".

Scholes wrote in the Independent:  "At the moment I'm struggling to watch Van Gaal's team with any great enjoyment.

"At times, United's football is miserable," he added.

"To beat opposing teams you have to attack, and to attack you have to take risks. Too few of the players in the current team are prepared to take those risks."

United sit third in the Premier League after Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Burnley at Old Trafford - a display which Van Gaal "didn't like".

Former players including ex-Arsenal and West Ham striker John Hartson and Phil Neville - a team-mate of Scholes at United - have also criticised United's recent displays. as "really poor", "predictable" and "lacking pace".

Midfielder Scholes, who made his United debut in 1994, playing 676 times and winning 11 Premier League titles, contrasted the team's current style with the tactics adopted by his ex-boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

He added: "In the periods of my career when I stopped passing the ball forward, or when I stopped looking for the risky pass that might open up a defence, the consequences were the same. The manager stopped picking me.

"I got back into the team when I went back to doing it the way he wanted.

Credit: BBC