I attended Saturday's match in Hull and it became obvious early on that Manchester United were out of their depth against the home side. While the media will likely unleash a torrent of criticism at Michael Carrick’s squad ahead of their next league fixture against Ipswich—complaining about a perceived lack of intensity, aggression, and purpose—my own observations suggest the story is a little more nuanced. First, there is no doubt that United delivered a poor performance. Carrick’s eleven simply did not execute, and only the manager truly knows the internal reasons behind the collapse.
One factor that stood out was the disparity in match‑sharpness among his players. Six of the regular starters had completed a full pre‑season programme, but a number of key figures were still finding their rhythm. The midfield, for instance, featured a brand‑new pairing of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos who had never played together competitively before. On the bench, United fielded men who were far from peak fitness: Benjamin Šeško had not featured at all during the summer, while Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were still easing back after England duties.
Hull City, on the other hand, deserve a great deal of credit for the way they approached their first top‑flight game in nine years. Their squad enjoyed a complete pre‑season schedule, allowing them to develop cohesion and tactical discipline. The result was a well‑drilled side that could exploit United’s rustiness and lack of physical edge.
In fact, the physical deficit was the most striking similarity between this defeat and United’s embarrassing loss to Leeds at Old Trafford last season. Both games exposed a team that seemed to be missing the necessary stamina and robustness to compete at the highest level.
It is also worth dispelling a myth that has been circulating on social media: the claim that four of Carrick’s five defeats have come against teams employing a back five. Two of those "defeats" were pre‑season fixtures—against Wrexham and against AC Milan under Ruben Amorim—games that should not be used as benchmarks for tactical analysis.
Using those results to argue that United struggle against a five‑man defence is simply inaccurate. Given these circumstances, I am inclined to grant Carrick a degree of leniency for the Hull debacle.
The squad’s physical shortcomings are evident, and they are likely to be addressed before the next match. United’s upcoming clash with Ipswich Town should provide a clearer picture of whether the team can bounce back once the players regain full fitness and match sharpness. Midfield has been United’s top priority this summer, and the club has already invested over £150 million to bolster that area, the latest addition being Carlos Baleba.
Yet, as often happens when a club plugs one hole, another appears. Last summer, United solved their attacking deficiencies by signing Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, only to realise that the midfield still required reinforcement.
The same pattern is repeating itself now: after securing three midfield signings, the focus shifts to the left‑back position. The left side of defence has become a pressing need, especially with Luke Shaw’s contract set to expire next summer.
United have long admired the talents of Myles Lewis‑Skelly and Lewis Hall, both of whom sit high on their scouting list. However, both clubs have publicly dismissed any immediate transfer possibilities, and Bruno Guimarães’ injury further reduces the likelihood of a quick departure for Lewis‑Skelly. Consequently, United appear prepared to wait until the next transfer window to resolve the left‑back vacancy, possibly targeting a player like Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde—though reports suggest United are not actively pursuing him at the moment.
In the short term, the burden will fall on Patrick Dorgu, who the club sees as a long‑term solution at left‑back, with experienced options such as Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot ready to fill in when needed. The defensive line will also need to rely heavily on Shaw staying fit throughout the season, a tall order given his injury history. Regarding potential exits, the transfer deadline does not appear to threaten any major first‑team departures. The only name that has surfaced is Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, but interest from Italian clubs has yet to materialise into a concrete offer, making his stay at Old Trafford likely.
In summary, while the defeat to Hull was undeniably painful for United supporters, it should be viewed in context. The team entered the match with several players lacking full pre‑season preparation, a newly‑formed midfield partnership, and a physical deficit that Hull exploited. Hull themselves earned their victory through disciplined preparation and a full pre‑season.
The criticism aimed at Carrick may be premature; the manager has a clear set of priorities—regaining fitness, solidifying the midfield, and eventually addressing the left‑back vacancy. If United can rectify these issues, there is every reason to expect a markedly improved performance against Ipswich and a more competitive start to the Premier League campaign.