Michael Carrick during United's win over Everton
Michael Carrick during United's win over Everton
Four Premier League games into Michael Carrick's first full season as Manchester United head coach and the record reads one win, one draw, two defeats, and a league position of 13th.
Sunday's derby defeat is the one that will sting longest - beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford by a Manchester City side that played 67 minutes with ten men that followed up a defeat at newly-promoted Hull City and a last-minute equaliser to draw at Everton. The 5-2 win over Ipswich and the 4-0 Champions League stroll past Sabah were expected victories that didn't tell us too much.
After a brilliant first half-season in charge, the questions and doubts are starting to set in around Carrick, especially with Champions League football and two cups to consider as they look set to face a more intense fixture schedule which, historically, threatens to expose cracks in any team that have underlying issues.
Did United make a mistake by hiring Carrick after last season? Or are the early knockings of the season just teething problems?
The start, and the squad behind it
Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick
Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick
Carrick was handed a two-year contract and a fixture list that could hardly have been kinder. Hull, Ipswich, Everton away and a home Champions League opener against Azerbaijani opposition was an invitation to build momentum after last year's success - yet four points from three league games was not the desired outcome.
Granted, an apology from Pro Ref over the winner in the derby coupled with their domination has done little to comfort fans but, on another day, that goes the other way. Even the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles' wonder goal, which had an expected goals figure of 0.02, is unlikely to occur with any regularity and that could well be six points in the bag, rather than just the sole point.
The recruitment has not yet had the desired impact, as £50million signing Andrey Santos has been given few minutes, despite his pre-season involvement. Whilst he started at Hull, he's played 46 minutes since, and failed to come off the bench in the derby. Youri Tielemans has been a mainstay but struggled to have the desired impact.
The back four that started the derby, meanwhile, is ironically the one that got Erik ten Hag sacked. Two managers down and the same players are being asked the same questions and a disconnection between midfield and defence could well be a major issue.
Increased fixture schedule poses grander tests
Manchester United
Manchester United
Last season saw United play just 40 matches — their shortest campaign since 1914/15. It was a platform to build from as they knew what was coming, and the intensity is about to change completely in the next month.
United are now set to face Europe, and a likely improved cup performance, with a squad whose most important defenders — Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw, Matthijs de Ligt — have spent years in and out of the treatment room; Shaw missed the derby entirely.
Then there's De Ligt, who brings his own ominous footnote: he has played under a new manager in every season of his 11-year career, ten in total, and Carrick is the third at Old Trafford alone.
One line doing the rounds among supporters last season - that United would have finished higher had Carrick been in charge from August - is being tested in real time, and, so far, it is not holding up. Burdened with higher expectations, more pressure to win and quicker turnarounds, Carrick is now experiencing the true demands of a manager at a top club fighting on all fronts.
What happens next?
brighton carlos baleba
brighton carlos baleba
First, Brighton visit in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday, then Fulham away on Sunday before the international break. A win and cup progress would steady things. Anything less and the questions arrive early, especially with a longer break than usual.
The real examination begins in October: Tottenham at home on the 10th, Atlético Madrid away on the 13th, then Leeds away, Como away, Bournemouth at home and Chelsea away inside three weeks. That is when Carrick must rotate a squad he has not yet settled on, in a competition United have not played in since 2023/24.
The attacking calls are unresolved too. Benjamin Sesko has been scoring without starting and Matheus Cunha has not delivered in the shirt, while Shaw's absence has pushed Patrick Dorgu back into a role that does not suit him. The left flank was a problem United knew about in June and did not solve. Even Marcus Rashford has failed to catch fire yet upon his return.
There is one card still to play. Carlos Baleba, signed in the summer and yet to be available through injury, is exactly the powerful, ball-winning presence the midfield lacks — a foil for Tielemans, Santos and Kobbie Mainoo rather than another passer alongside them. Get him fit and the shape of this side changes. That is a lot of weight for one player to carry but, after spending over £150million on the three midfielders, something has to give.
None of this makes Carrick the wrong man, given United's underlying numbers, but the next six weeks is certainly a spell that could ignite a season or condemn him to intense pressure and unrelenting questions.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney