Rio Ferdinand Criticises David Moyes' Last-Minute Team Selections

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has criticised manager David Moyes' last-minute team selections.

Ferdinand, 34, has played 11 times for United this season but was dropped for the draw at Tottenham and defeat to Everton in the last week.

And the veteran centre-back has openly questioned Moyes' selection policy, citing Sir Alex Ferguson's preference for informing players they would be starting matches well in advance.

"This manager's a bit different in that he doesn't name the team beforehand," Ferdinand told BT Sport. "You don't really get to know the team. The old manager used to give you a kind of a little bit of an idea if you'd be playing and stuff.

"When you know you're playing the intensity goes up a little bit more on matchday and that's what you need to try and make sure you're doing even if you don't know you'll be playing to try and get to that intensity you'd be at when you know you're playing.

"It's hard... it's hard to do that mentally because you spend a lot of nervous energy thinking 'Am I playing?' or 'Am I not playing?' and you're just going round in circles in your head and turning into a madman."

Ferdinand, who agreed a one-year extension with United in May following Moyes' announcement as Ferguson's successor, is the first senior player at the club to castigate the Scot.

Although he was sidelined for a month with a groin injury, Ferdinand's form has noticeably dipped this campaign. He started in the 4-1 hammering at Manchester City and was culpable for both West Brom goals in the Baggies' first win at Old Trafford since 1978.

His comments compound a dismal week for Moyes after Everton won against United for the first time of asking at Old Trafford since he left Goodison Park. Everton infamously failed to win away at United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool during Moyes' 11 years in charge.

United are now 12 points adrift of Premier League pace-setters.