07 Sep 2026 07:21:15
You have to think Sesko was fully fit, but Carrick likes Rashford despite what he has done. Looks to me like Carrick is sacrificing Sesko, changing our formation to suit Rashford and even playing other players out of position to get him in.
Sesko won the game at Everton last year, outpaced them to get it. He also scored important goals yet is now sitting on the bench so Carrick can get Rashford on the pitch. Carrick also gave him the No9 shirt and, say what you like, that is symbolic.
Carrick dare not bench Cunha for Rashford because there will be a big reaction so he plays Cunha up front and out of position at the expense of Sesko just to get Rashford in.
We clearly lack a striker because of it.
If I was Sesko I would be fuming, bust a gut for the team last season, work hard in preseason to be usurped by a guy who didn’t want to be here, wanted to be elsewhere, insulted the shirt with his behaviour, earns so much and won’t take a cut to play elsewhere. How lucky for Rashford that he has a mate in the manager's office.
Sesko benched so the wayward disgrace that is Marcus Rashford can play is a huge, huge mistake for me by the manager.
07 Sep 2026 08:20:36
Sesko was returning from an injury. He has been building his fitness up. I think the club are just ensuring that he is fully fit, rather than rushing him back.
07 Sep 2026 08:32:59
Mad Hatter
I think it is more than that, it isn't just easing him back. It looks very like yesterday was a preference for Rashford. I think it's a huge mistake. I would have let him go on a free to get rid, quite honestly. Instead he is given preference by his mate.
07 Sep 2026 08:34:01
Rashford aside, surely you put a fully fit Sesko in instead of Cunha up top.
And you could argue Rashford has had more about him, so, other than not liking him (which Carrick obviously does), why bench him?
07 Sep 2026 09:43:22
Not sure why you are trying to create a one or the other narrative with Sesko and Rashford lol.
Rashford is playing on the left because he can actually hold his position and give us some width, plus he connects well with Shaw. We had a pretty clear problem last season with Cunha on the left because he naturally drifts in and congests the middle, not his fault, it's just his game.
Sesko missed the whole of pre season and is being managed into the season sensibly. He will probably start on Thursday, and then return to the bench for City when we will need a different type of forward up top.
Also, watching the start of the season, I don't think the issue with the team is the midfield or attack, tbh. We are conceding 2 goals a game atm.
07 Sep 2026 09:57:27
Redman,
I understand your frustrations. I am equally peeved off. Hopefully on Thursday Sesko starts. Utd need to start off their CL campaign with a win. Ideally, we should look to qualify before the BM and AM games.
Cunha isn't particularly effective up front.
He almost plays in a similar position to Bruno, as a sort of false 9, with Bruno being a 10. Sesko will always look to press and bully CBs.
Credit is due to Rashford, as he has been one of our better players so far. I think Sesko will thrive playing with him.
07 Sep 2026 10:37:32
Mad Hatter
For Sesko to play with Rashford, does that mean drop Cunha?
The summer should have been where the shape of the team was designed and worked on. We have a CF in Sesko, yet Carrick seems to want to play without one. They should have been working on the system with a CF, and bought a second striker to fit in the system when Sesko wasn’t fit. Instead, the manager has reintegrated the bad apple, changed shape, and it’s costing us.
Two goals a game conceded is a big problem, especially given the opposition, and we have to worry given City coming up.
Thing is, even with our defence, that isn’t good. Defend from the front has been around since I was a kid, a very long time, so when you have our defence, you need to keep the ball up front more and attack, but Carrick football is more poundshop Southgate.
07 Sep 2026 11:21:02
Based on current form, albeit only 3 games, I'd bench Cunha and start Sesko up top with Rashford on the left.
People may hate Rashford, but he's here and starting to play well.
07 Sep 2026 11:46:17
I don't hate Rashford, but I'm not sure it's great to have a guy who doesn't want to be there starting every game ahead of players who do want to be there.
07 Sep 2026 12:10:45
I'm not sure I understand the logic behind this. It feels a bit like a tinfoil hat conspiracy.
Sesko has been injured and is only just returning. Cunha played as Brazil's centre-forward in pretty much every game at the World Cup and is playing the same role for us at the start of the season.
Rashford has played well and looked threatening, arguably more threatening than Cunha.
Even if Sesko comes into the side, nothing Cunha has shown so far suggests he should be picked ahead of Rashford on the left.
I expect Cunha and Rashford will be rested against Sabah, with Dorgu and Sesko coming in. It will then be interesting to see who starts against Man City. However, if Sesko scores again, I think the front three will be Rashford, Sesko and Mbeumo.
07 Sep 2026 14:01:49
To me Sesko looks like an impact player.
{Ed025's Note - i was thinking a Championship player myself Sim0..
07 Sep 2026 15:37:04
I'm pretty sure Carrick has started with this formation in every game (front 3 with 2 wingers), so not sure the suggestion that Rashford is dictating a new shape stacks up.
However, I do see a few problems with the personnel.
1. Cunha was purchased as one of two no.10s for Amorim's system. He's perfect for that. Maybe Chelsea will be watching him!
2.
In a line of incredible centre-forwards over the past 30 years, we now have just one to choose from, Sesko, who is way off the level we need. He's young(ish), but feels like he's been around for much longer. I get no sense there's a great player in there, but hope to be proved wrong and see even a very good one as the season goes on.
07 Sep 2026 15:47:08
I suggested Osimhen but hey the idiots think 1 CF is ok.
Bilko, you get it. Anyone who has managed a team will tell you that putting in a Rashford, a malcontent who doesn't want to be there, ahead of a committed player is madness and bad for team spirit.
If Carrick drops Cunha (after playing him out of position) for Rashford then I will openly say Carrick Out and loudly.