A week that unravelled
Manchester United’s week went from poor to alarming in four days. On the Wednesday they were beaten 4-1 at Como in the Champions League, a result [1] said pushed head coach Michael Carrick to the brink. On Sunday they lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth, [2], their worst since 2015-16.
The league picture is uncomfortable. United sit 16th, and [3] described them as just above the relegation zone. Only one of their eight Premier League matches has ended in a win. The defeat to Bournemouth was not a narrow one, and the Como game had already raised questions about attitude and structure.
BBC Sport also noted that the early improvement under Carrick has faded into [4], with questions about how the squad was assembled despite heavy spending over the last five years. Lisandro Martínez has publicly questioned the club’s recruitment strategy, and fan anger has been directed at director of football Jason Wilcox.
Fernandes, the dressing room and the squad
The most striking selection call came before kick-off. Carrick left captain Bruno Fernandes on the bench for the whole of the Bournemouth game, [5]. Harry Maguire took the armband, as [6] reported. The Guardian’s live blog listed Senne Lammens in goal, a back line including Maguire, Dalot, Yoro and Ayden Heaven, and Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans in midfield.
The response from pundits was harsh. On Match of the Day, Toby Alderweireld said United lacked intensity and fight and suggested there is [7]. Sky Sports carried Gary Neville’s view that players are [8], with the atmosphere described as toxic.
Selection is also constrained by injuries. BBC Sport reports that [2], which removes a defender and a striker just as the schedule gets harder.
The succession question
Everything about the managerial situation is reported rather than confirmed, and it should be read that way. Sky Sports reports that the club is [5], with Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann named as front-runners. BBC Sport lists [1] as candidates and says Aston Villa’s Unai Emery is admired but under contract.
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have said Carrick is likely to be sacked, according to Sky Sports, though the club has announced nothing. Carrick himself said he is [9], and told reporters he does not know whether he will be in charge for the trip to Chelsea, according to [10].
There is also some scepticism about the Conte link. Former Inter defender Ashley Young warned that appointing him could be [11]. For now, Carrick remains in charge and no replacement has been named.
What it means
The table is blunt: 16th in the Premier League with 7 points from 8 games, built on one win, four draws and three defeats. The goal difference is negative, with 10 scored and 13 conceded. A side that is hard to beat but struggles to win can survive, but this week showed that United are no longer even reliably hard to beat.
The form line is the real warning. None of the last five results is a win: a 1-1 home draw with Tottenham, a 0-2 loss at Atlético Madrid, a 1-1 draw at Leeds, the 1-4 loss at Como and the 0-3 defeat to Bournemouth. Across the last three matches United have scored two goals and conceded eight, which points to a team losing both its shape and its edge.
The next fixture asks the biggest question yet. United travel to Chelsea on 31 October in the Premier League, and the site’s forecast for that game locks 24 hours before kick-off. Whoever is in the dugout must restore intensity, settle the Fernandes situation and cope without Shaw and Šeško. A result would ease the pressure on Carrick; another heavy defeat would make a change look close to inevitable.
Sources
- BBC Sport: Howe and Nagelsmann high on Man Utd's list if Carrick sacked bbc.co.uk ↩
- BBC Sport: Why is Wilcox in line of fire from Man Utd fans? bbc.co.uk ↩
- Sky Sports: Neville fears Carrick set to be sacked as Carra calls for decision tonight skysports.com ↩
- BBC Sport: What Man Utd need now is stability, not more changes - Pulis bbc.co.uk ↩
- Sky Sports: Carrick future in huge doubt as Man Utd consider alternatives skysports.com ↩
- BBC Sport: Carrick future under major threat - can he survive? bbc.co.uk ↩
- BBC Sport: Man Utd lacked intensity & fight - Alderweireld bbc.co.uk ↩
- Sky Sports: 'Players have completely gone' - Nev dissects 'toxic' atmosphere at Man Utd skysports.com ↩
- BBC Sport: 'I'm carrying on as normal' - Carrick on his Man Utd future bbc.co.uk ↩
- BBC Sport: End approaching for Carrick but Man Utd fans make clear who they blame bbc.co.uk ↩
- Football Italia: Ex-Inter defender warns ‘it’s going to be a disaster’ if Man United appoint Conte football-italia.net ↩
