Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Michael Carrick’s Man Utd have dropped more points than they have won through three Premier League games so far, but there’s a lesson in each.
The pre-season’s optimistic vibes are firmly a thing of the past at Man Utd, and even though the crisis talk is overblown, there are some concerns.
United were dominated by Hull, had to overcome a hiccup against Ipswich, and looked vulnerable in the draw against Everton.
If Michael Carrick has learned one lesson each from these three PL games, then Man Utd’s winning run can begin now.
Everton v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
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Hull City vs Man Utd – Patrick Dorgu conundrum
To be fair to Carrick, this is a lesson he has partly learned already, with Patrick Dorgu’s place in the starting XI going to Marcus Rashford.
Dorgu was a disaster against Hull, coming off at half-time, and hasn’t been much better since.
Some unsustainable wondergoals altered how people looked at the Dane in advanced positions, but he’s extremely lacking in all the necessary areas for an attacker.
Carrick has since accepted that LB is also a potential role for Dorgu, but deployed Dorgu at LW again in the next two games.
He’s learned half the lesson that Dorgu isn’t United’s first-choice winger. The next half is that Dorgu isn’t a winger at all.
Man Utd vs Ipswich – Mentality is a bigger factor than talent
United started poorly against Ipswich as well, going a goal down, but they bounced back in style.
What this game proved beyond doubt is that this is a very talented team that can take on most opponents in world football and emerge victorious.
The problem lies in the fact that they don’t know what they can do, and are far too often held back by what they can’t.
The manufactured crisis talk outside can’t be allowed to influence what happens on the pitch, but Harry Maguire said the exact opposite after this win.
Before beating their opponents, United need to get in the habit of beating their demons. The talent isn’t a problem.
Everton vs Man Utd – A systemic defensive problem
United’s inability to hold a lead comes down to mentality to some extent, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t tactical issues for Carrick to solve.
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The defensive system is stuck between two extremes under Carrick, where half the team presses high, and the other half retreats into shape.
It leaves space between the lines, ably exploited by Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Everton for their late equaliser.
That is a systemic problem, and why United won so many games last year, because they committed to a mid-block out of possession.
Once Carrick learns that lesson and commits to one system, United will start flying again.