Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Carabao Cup Third Round
Michael Carrick hasn't enjoyed a strong start to the season (Image: Getty)
After all the promise leading into the season, it’s been a return to the misery that has plagued Manchester United all too often in recent weeks. So far, the Red Devils have only picked up wins against Sabah FK in the Champions League and recently promoted Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Having dropped points with the final kick of the match against Everton, as well as losing against 10-man Manchester City on Sunday, United hit rock bottom in double-quick time when they squandered a two-goal lead against Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. And as the fallout from that defeat continues, manager Michael Carrick has already been told he’s walking a fine line.
It’s the same with some of the players as well, with Gabby Agbonlahor, formerly of Aston Villa, pinpointing five United players he deems not good enough to play for United. Highlighting the entire defensive unit, Agbonlahor remarked: “2-0 up at home, great start, but then they looked clueless.
“Defensively so poor, Ayden Heaven, Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot, and Noussair Mazraoui, that’s one of the worst defensive performances I’ve seen in years.
“But no desire, Joshua Zirkzee, it was like he was frustrated he hadn’t got his move away from United. He didn’t seem bothered, where’s your heart, where’s your desire?”
Attention then turned to the manager, with Carrick having been given the reins following an impressive interim spell last season. But Agbonlahor claimed that if these performances and results continue, Carrick could find himself sacked sooner rather than later.
Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Carabao Cup Third Round
Man Utd's defence was slated vs Brighton (Image: Getty)
The former striker continued: “I don’t know their style of play… United probably thought ‘do you know what, maybe we offer him a contract where there is an easy escape’. They had to give him a contract 100 per cent.
“But if this carries on, if they lose against Fulham at the weekend, if they lose that, it’s a three-week international break. If you’re United, are you starting to look, who can we tap up, who can we speak to and see if this continues. But at the moment, he’s still got his job, for sure.”
A trip to Fulham is the final match before the international break for United, which could be coming at an ideal time for Carrick and co. Things don’t get any easier when club football returns though, with matches against Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Leeds, Como, Bournemouth and Chelsea to come before the end of October.