Gary Neville slams experienced Everton defenders for shirking responsibility: 'Those players there, they want shooting'

  • Gary Neville took aim at Leighton Baines, Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka
  • Pundit branded criticism of David Unsworth as 'ridiculous' after Everton loss
  • He feels experienced players shied away from taking responsibility  
  • Neville said: 'It's absolutely ridiculous. Those players there, they want shooting'

Gary Neville unleashed a scathing attack on Leighton Baines, Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka, remarking that the experienced defenders 'want shooting' for shirking responsibility in Everton's defeat at Leicester. 

Neville also branded the criticism of interim Toffees manager David Unsworth as 'ridiculous' after just ten days in the job. 

He feels there were fundamental errors which Unsworth is not responsible for and sympathised with the new boss. 

Gary Neville quipped that Everton's experienced defenders 'want shooting' 

Gary Neville quipped that Everton's experienced defenders 'want shooting' 

Ashley Williams and Leighton Baines were two men singled out for criticism by Neville

Ashley Williams and Leighton Baines were two men singled out for criticism by Neville

The former Manchester United defender told Sky Sports: 'We always point, when young players make mistakes it's a lack of experience, when old players make mistakes it's because they're too old. It's the same with managers.  


'I think it's wrong to point to Unsworth's lack of experience as the reason why they lost that game. Everton probably would have lost that game with an experienced manager maybe.

'Those experienced players at the back disappoint me continuously. They should take responsibility, they don't, they shy away from responsibility. It's easy to point at the coach but you're not telling me David Unsworth before the game has said "by the way I want you to leave big gaps between fullback and centre-back". 

Phil Jagielka (left) was another picked out by Neville as shirking responsibility 

Phil Jagielka (left) was another picked out by Neville as shirking responsibility 

He added: 'They should know. Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams have played hundreds of thousands of games. Close your spaces and gaps, it's ridiculous. 

'We're killing Unsworth because he's lost a couple of games, it's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. Those players there, they want shooting for that.'

Everton find themselves in 18th place and there are fears the club might be sucked into a relegation scrap this season. 

Neville's words will make tough reading for Baines, Jagielka and Williams and the trio of experienced defender will be desperate to reverse Everton's current decline, starting this Sunday against Watford. 

Neville thinks criticism of stand-in Everton boss David Unsworth has been 'ridiculous' 

Neville thinks criticism of stand-in Everton boss David Unsworth has been 'ridiculous'