Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United salvaged a point against Fulham, but Michael Carrick has ensured they lose their biggest talent in the process.
Shea Lacey was the brightest spark for Man Utd in their Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton, but he didn’t get any minutes against Fulham.
The likes of Joshua Zirkzee came on ahead of him, and the travelling Man Utd fans booed Michael Carrick’s in-game management on multiple occasions.
Fans can still be won over with a few good results, but Carrick’s approach to Lacey has ensured that Man Utd will definitely lose their biggest talent soon.
JJ Gabriel’s exit demand vindicated with Shea Lacey approach
Man Utd were rocked last week when JJ Gabriel, who is the crown jewel of the academy, demanded to leave Old Trafford as soon as possible.
United have fast-tracked him, given him first-team training, and even pre-season minutes at the age of just 15, so his “lack of pathway” reason for an exit didn’t hold much weight.
However, after seeing the position of Lacey in Carrick’s first-team, perhaps it wouldn’t be wise to write off Gabriel’s fears as just an excuse to leave the club.
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Despite earning his place in the first team on the back of a brilliant display against Brighton, Lacey was back on the bench. That is slightly understandable as he’s still getting used to first-team action.
What isn’t excusable is Lacey not even coming off the bench, despite United needing an attacking spark. Joshua Zirkzee is laboured, Mason Mount buzzes about but his end product is missing, and Marcus Rashford had a nightmare game.
There is no excuse to ignore Lacey, but that’s what Carrick did, merely because he is the less experienced one on a bench full of internationals.
Scarily, that is the reason Ruben Amorim also gave once to justify not playing Lacey, so Carrick’s “Man Utd DNA” is already in question with that decision.
If a 19-year-old attacker who is in the form of his life can’t get a game off the bench when his team is chasing a goal, then can you really blame Gabriel for thinking that United will break promises with his pathway as well?
Even if they didn’t, can Gabriel feel comforted knowing he’ll get the best environment for development at a club that has overseen five managers in the last two years and is forever in crisis mode?
Gabriel’s approach to demanding an exit is certainly questionable, but the exit demand itself makes more and more sense with each game.