14 Sep 2026 08:13:11
I missed the game yesterday but the start of the season has been massively underwhelming.
Losing to Hull wasn't great, irrespective of how well they have started, we would expect to beat them. Losing a lead twice to Everton was criminal, and then losing to 10 men yesterday was embarrassing. Let's not use the offside as an excuse, we should have beaten 10 men.
Even when we won a league game, it was down to a short spell, other than that the play has been slow and ponderous throughout.
Then there is the team selection. Sesko needs to start, but that means dropping someone, one from that would be Cunha, or move Cunha wide and drop Rashford, but there seems to be a reluctance to do that. The same with Heaven who isn't getting a look in despite his obvious potential.
It's early days but right now this team and Manager need a Futa.
14 Sep 2026 09:18:51
Agreed, Ajh.
Everything after the game seemed to focus on the goal and the red card. The reality is that even if the red card hadn't happened, we probably still would have conceded three or four based on that performance. Pro Ref don't need to be apologising; the club and players should be apologising to the fans for putting in such a poor display.
Carrick has started the season with very little positivity and is already showing some of the traits that frustrated supporters under previous managers. He sits on the touchline looking completely detached, shows little urgency, and his in-game management has been poor. The 74,000 people inside Old Trafford could see that Sesko needed to be introduced at half-time, yet he waited until there were 20 minutes left and then took off the wrong player.
Cunha needs taking out of the starting XI. So far, he hasn't shown anything to justify keeping his place.
And, before anyone says he's being played out of position, those same people are usually suggesting he should be playing on the left, which isn't his position either. He's a No. 10, and right now he's not doing enough wherever he's playing.
Dorgu is a waste of space at left back. Luke Shaw hasn't exactly been pulling up trees, but Dorgu is making him look like prime Evra. While we're at it, I'd be culling three of the back four. Mazraoui, Yoro, and Amass should all be starting in midweek.
Most importantly, Carrick needs to grow a spine. Stop being a yes man, make the difficult decisions, and drop players who aren't performing. The squad needs fresh energy, accountability, and a few bold calls. If we get another stubborn, one-dimensional team selection in midweek, then serious questions will start to be asked. Early days or not, fans need to see signs that lessons are being learned and changes are being made.
14 Sep 2026 10:05:18
We have missed a real opportunity to hit the start of the season hard. Results have not been as hoped, especially with the opportunity that yesterday gave us.
Hard to know whether it is early season malaise following the World Cup, yet other teams are performing better. It can't be new players bedding in, as only Tielmans is in as a starter.
Whilst we look good on the ball and Tielmans/Mainoo are controlling it well, we seem to lack the transition to the attackers to offer a large, continued threat.
The false 9 works in some games, but we need an actual 9, so hopefully Sesko will start soon.
I would like Carrick to also be brave and give Yoro a go alongside Martinez. We need to see how he can perform. Dorgu at left back is getting exposed. He is a forward option, and we should give Amass (or Mazouri) some time. Sesko in from the start and have Cunha coming on when the game is opening up a bit. None of this is ideal, but none of the current options is working at the minute, so why not try something different.
14 Sep 2026 11:25:51
I just don't get how slow and regimented our play is. There is no expression or creativity in anything we do, other than fleeting Bruno moments. When we move forward, you can predict pretty much every action we're going to attempt.
I don't understand how it's been this way with pretty much every manager post-Fergie. Then, you pluck out a 'smaller' team like Hull or Brighton, and every player is playing out their skin in a formation they've bought into.
14 Sep 2026 12:44:57
Honestly, I found yesterday completely embarrassing. Even more than the 6-1. At least in that game we were battered by a top-class side. Yesterday, we simply rolled over against an opposition that seemed genuinely confused at how bad we were.
It almost felt that we were the ones disrupted by the sending off, that the team was only prepared to counterattack and had zero idea what to do with the advantage of an extra man.
14 Sep 2026 12:51:18
No point in starting Sesko to be fair, because not one of those idiots is able to put in a decent cross. Every cross yesterday (when there was one) was either over hit or hit the front man at the front post.
We have a 6 foot 5 striker who makes runs into the box and he never gets any service. I have to say that Dalot just seems to get worse every game, we are going to be in serious stuff if we don't buy two new full backs in January.
Dorgu was very poor, but to be fair, isn't a full back. The whole game was poor, the build up play was so slow and pedestrian, nobody looked like they had any hunger to get the game by the scruff of the neck. Awful display, this is going to be a very long season.
14 Sep 2026 12:58:29
Utd are a counter-attacking side. Both OGs and Carrick have tried to copy Fergie's football style. Football has progressed. Utd are still stuck in the past.
14 Sep 2026 13:03:17
We are now regimented because Carrick is at the wheel. That was his whole ethos as a player. What do you expect.
14 Sep 2026 13:16:22
But it was regimented and slow with Ten Hag, who was bought in on the strength of his Ajax team. Did he seriously have better players at Ajax? Debatable.
Did Ole have better players at Molde? Actually, don't answer that one...
14 Sep 2026 14:33:13
But Dorgu was bought as a left back. I said at the time, he is an athlete not a footballer, no point him playing left wing either cos he can't cross a ball.
I say again, Tielemans is far too slow and not what's required; at best a squad player. Santos, same, not good enough.
All our CBs are poor.
Both full backs need an upgrade.
Cunha or Mbuemo can't play through the middle. It's quite clear Carrick did not push for a CF because he doesn't really want to play one, so he's happy with Sesko as back up.
One saviour is Mainoo, as he's kicked on.
But if Bruno is off his game, this team is nothing.
Carrick's in-game management is shocking; no plan B and pedestrian paced football.
I said before the season kicked off this team is weaker than last season. I know we only spent 150m, but to spend 150m and go backwards takes some doing... but they managed it.
I was never happy with Carrick, but he is worse than I imagined he would be. I honestly don't know what he watches. Why not rest Bruno on Thursday night against Saba, even if only for 45 mins, when you got City 3 days later? He could have played Cunha in that position. Why not try Lacey yesterday too, run at 10 men? Why leave Sesko on the bench till 65 mins plus? Why not change approach after the sending off? Some poor decisions in that game. Carrick personally had a terrible start to this season.
14 Sep 2026 15:51:43
We dominated City last year from start to finish. We went to Arsenal and were awesome.
Why are we so slow and lethargic? It's very odd.
14 Sep 2026 16:40:37
Carrick been found out, that's why... Last year was a surprise to teams. This year nothing changed, he trying same ol crap, but we slowed play even further by adding Tielemans. Our CBs have no pace at all and are another year older with more injuries.
Carrick seems void OG anything new, and as for his in game management, it's a joke.
That's the 2nd game out of 4 this season; the in game management has been diabolical, as has the team selection.
Still everything rely solely on Bruno, it's a joke. Like the win title by 2028, it's an April fools.
14 Sep 2026 18:57:28
Dorgu was bought as a LWB, was he not?
15 Sep 2026 00:11:45
I assume Dorgu's versatility was seen as his strength. Amorim played him everywhere on the right, and Carrick has stuck with the left.
I'm not opposed to players who can play various positions. I think Lewis-Skelley would have been a good shout.
A few fans asked why we'd buy square pegs for round holes, instead of specialist players for each position.
Arteta solves his RB and CB problems by signing Konsa, and it's ingenious. Bizarre.