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Manchester United are in need of their first points of the new season. A 2-0 loss at Hull City on opening day has put extra focus on the first home match of the season on Sunday.
After a difficult start, United need to focus against another newly promoted side. Here are three points of focus for Michael Carrick in setting up his team after a disjointed performance on the road.
Forward Combo
The combinations across the team didn’t work last week. One of United’s strengths, regardless of what occurred last week, are the options across the board, but they mean nothing and will mean nothing if Michael Carrick can’t find combinations that work.
There was no chemistry whatsoever between the forwards that started last week’s game and those that finished it. Even last season, United never really found a combination that works in most fixtures. This was reflected in the respective goal tallies of the forwards, many of whom had fine seasons, but didn’t produce anything out of the ordinary.
The hope going into this season is that some of them will put up better numbers – not unlike true stars. There’s time to work on that, and with the right combinations, we should see at least two forwards do better than they did last season. The forwards couldn’t have asked for a better game to put the disappointment of last week to bed, and kickstart their season.
Old Trafford
Old Trafford wasn’t a fortress last season, not even under Michael Carrick. United’s loss against rivals Leeds United was reflective of some of the performances during that great run of results. Most sides on the rise tend to win most of their home games comfortably; this is where the vision for the team is usually on full display.
Fans will support the team over 90 minutes, but if they’re not convinced by how the team does at home, they’ll talk about it. The talk will eventually find its way into the atmosphere within the stadium, and then the dressing room. If the fans don’t buy into a manager’s ways, it’s mostly based on how a team does at home. This is an important game for many reasons, but it’s especially important for how we assess Michael Carrick going forward.
Bruno Fernandes
For better or worse, United go as far as their captain takes them. Bruno Fernandes, like most of his teammates, didn’t have a great game against Hull City, but the more concerning matter is this: when he doesn’t turn up, United don’t. United need all three points against Ipswich to get their season running, and no matter how this game looks on paper, it’s hard to see United manage that without Fernandes stepping up.