Each new signing’s best moment of the season
Suwaid - Matheus Cunha
Game winner at The Emirates
This wasn’t too hard. United’s 3-2 win against Arsenal at The Emirates was arguably the game of the season, and Matheus Cunha left the game as its hero. Cunha was a known entity to United fans; he’d impressed at Wolves and against United on multiple occasions. During his time at Wolves, he had built a reputation for strikes from range, but United fans hadn’t seen him do this often enough before this game, and boy, was his strike a reminder of what had earned him the big move.
His former manager, Gary O’Neil, often spoke of his ability from that area and his driving runs. There’s something about players materialising what we expect of them, especially in the bigger games, that sticks with you: it provides a sense of security but also surpasses expectations because of the stakes involved. It’ll be interesting to see if he can provide more moments like this next season, as it took him a few weeks to fully settle down at United.
Pauly - Bryan Mbeumo
Mbeumo opens the scoring at Anfield
Coming into the season I think most United fans were higher on Matheus Cunha than they were Mbeumo. When United rolled into Anfield in late October, Mbeumo’s ledger read just one goal in seven league matches and a missed penalty against Grimsby Town. It was pretty grim (pun intended) reading as United were failing to generate any momentum in the league.
Then a minute into the match at Anfield, Mbeumo goes up to contest a key header in the middle of the park. United win the second ball and it gets played out wide to Amad. Mbeumo gets up, makes a run in behind, Amad plays him in, and just 63 seconds into a match few gave United any chance of Mbeumo had given United the lead.
It was a statement win for United and an arrival for Mbeumo. It was the first of his four goals over the next four games, firmly getting his season going. Mbeumo would add goals against Manchester City and Arsenal to his tally, but the remainder of the campaign became less about goal scoring and more about the work he’d put in to help out his teammates. But it was this goal at Anfield where he firmly became a Manchester United player.
Vince - Benjamin Sesko
Šeško surprises in a limited role
Even in a limited role, Benjamin Šeško has quietly become one of Manchester United’s most important young players this season. He hasn’t started every match or carried the pressure of being the main striker yet, but every time he steps onto the pitch, the energy of the attack changes. His pace, movement, and willingness to run at defenders have given United a different dimension, especially late in games when defenses begin to tire.
What’s been most impressive is how mature his game already looks while still developing. Šeško doesn’t force things, and he seems comfortable learning while contributing at the same time. Whether it’s scoring important goals off the bench, pressing defenders, or creating space for teammates, he’s already showing flashes of the player United hope he can become long term. For a young striker adjusting to the Premier League, his impact this year has been a surprise in the best way possible.+
The biggest impact came to extend Michael Carrick’s winning run as interim boss. A 2-0 lead blown late against Fulham at home, discontent settling in among an unsettled crowd at Old Trafford. Suddenly the Reds had to do it all again, and there Sesko was to control a ball from Bruno Fernandes and fire into the top corner.
Nathan - Senne Lammens
Lammens stands tall in first trip to hostile territory
The goalkeeping union was in freefall when Senne Lammens’ transfer to Old Trafford was announced on deadline day. Four nights earlier, United had lost to fourth-division side Grimsby Town F.C. in the opening round of the Carabao Cup, and video recaps of Andre Onana’s performance could’ve been scored to the Benny Hill theme. We always knew Onana had a little bozo in him before he fully lost his confidence, yet his deputy, Altay Bayindir, was clearly not showing enough in training to usurp him. Lammens, a 23-year-old from Belgian side Royal Antwerp, was promoted from project to savior within a month. Serendipitously, his first start ended in a clean sheet as United won 2-0 over a tough Sunderland side, who would go on to earn European football next season.
As nice as a clean sheet on your debut is, this is as much an anti-Liverpool site as it is a pro-United site which means of course his best moment came in the next match. United were without a win at Anfield since January 2016, and the defending champions had not yet lost their bite. So, going into that kind of bear pit in only your second-ever start would always be a monumental ask. Bryan Mbeumo scored the opening goal in the first minute of the match which meant United were going to be under added pressure for the rest of the match. Lammens met the moment as the 10 players ahead of him conceded 62 percent of the possession. Dominating the lion’s share of the ball, Liverpool fired off 17 shots and earned nine corners, and Lammens responded with five saves and only one goal conceded. United went on to claim a 2-1 victory after 10 minutes of second-half stoppage, and Lammens was a major catalyst for United earning their first pair of back-to-back wins under former United head coach Ruben Amorim.
Most importantly, Lammens demonstrated a level of competence and confidence between the pipes that started to restore confidence in the supporters. Cheering something as simple as Lammens claiming crosses was certainly tongue-in-cheek, but it was also important for everyone to see. A fanbase spoiled with multiple generational keepers in the last 30-plus years was not used to the ineptitude that defined the post-David de Gea era. At least for this season, we could once again not worry about the keeper during matches.