Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Michael Carrick’s Man Utd scored many late goals last season, but that template is getting exposed now as unpredictably predictable.
The best and worst of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was always going to come through for Michael Carrick at Man Utd.
He was his assistant for a long time and was credited with coaching many of the possession patterns seen during the Norwegian’s time at Old Trafford.
The worst of Solskjaer came through in the loss to City, where his plan to turn that game around was unpredictably predictable.
Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League 2026/27
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Michael Carrick causes chaos to turn Man Utd’s games around
In theory, it sounds simple. If you want to get back into the game, then throw more attackers onto the pitch because they have the scoring skill set.
However, in today’s structured football template, that just screams that the manager is relying more on hope, rather than a plan, to stage comebacks.
Against City, that was painfully clear, as a side that had struggled to threaten a ten-man opponent lost all structure late on.
From Joshua Zirkzee playing on the left to Bruno Fernandes dropping deep, players found themselves in positions where they can’t make a difference.
Having more attacking players on the pitch doesn’t translate to more chances of scoring, as Zirkzee on the left wing might as well not be a factor.
Then you remove Fernandes from where he is at his best, and wonder why the goal threat has disappeared.
That’s not to say that like-for-like subs are the answer, because that is the other extreme where you’re not doing enough to change things.
The middle ground is somewhere between causing chaos with aimless attacking players and making straight swaps.
For example, if Zirkzee was always going to end up on the wing, why not bring Shea Lacey or Mason Mount into the game instead?
Similarly, if Tielemans’ race was run, why drop Fernandes deeper when you can bring Santos on and push Mainoo forward alongside the captain?
That way, the players’ positions on the pitch suit their skill sets, and the tweaks make the team more attacking at the same time.
Carrick’s subs lack imagination like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s
It is ironic that the player who was the greatest sub of all time as a player was found wanting when it came to changing games off the bench as a manager.
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Much like Carrick, Solskjaer’s strategy was also “hit and hope”, wherein he threw every attacking player on the pitch to turn games around, instead of making the system more attacking.
Carrick walking the same path is even more worrisome, because Solskjaer could at least point to a lack of depth in his squad for his approach.
In contrast, Carrick has some good options on the bench, but he seems unable to influence games with said players.
Subs have scored plenty of goals for him, but most came last season. His pattern of substitutions is getting increasingly predictable, so even the unpredictability of his chaos is tackled easily.