I attended the match on Saturday and it quickly became apparent that Manchester United were nowhere near competitive against Hull City. While critics will undoubtedly pounce on Michael Carrick’s side this week – accusing them of lacking intensity, aggression and purpose – my observations suggest the situation is a little more layered than a simple lack of fire. First, let’s acknowledge that United’s performance was undeniably poor. The team looked flat, and only Carrick can truly explain the underlying reasons.
From the outset, it was evident that several of his regular starters were not at the level of sharpness they will likely achieve in a few weeks’ time. Six members of the first‑team squad completed a full pre‑season programme, but the midfield pairing of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos was essentially brand‑new, still learning each other's movements. On the bench, the options were far from ideal: Benjamin Šeško had not featured at all in pre‑season, while Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford had only limited minutes after returning from England duty over the summer. Hull, on the other hand, deserve massive credit.
This was their first top‑flight game in nine years, yet they arrived well‑drilled and fully prepared, having enjoyed a complete pre‑season schedule. Their cohesion and fitness were evident, and they exploited United’s sluggishness with a disciplined, organized approach. A myth that has been circulating on social media needs to be addressed: "Four defeats out of five under Carrick have come against teams playing with a back five." This claim simply does not hold up when you examine the data.
Two of those so‑called defeats were actually pre‑season fixtures – United’s opening game against Wrexham and the season‑ending friendly versus AC Milan under Ruben Amorim. Using those matches as evidence of a tactical weakness is misleading. Both the Hull loss and last season’s disappointing display against Leeds at Old Trafford share a common thread: a palpable physical deficiency.
In both games, United seemed out‑muscled, lacking the stamina and robustness required at this level. That physical shortfall is likely the most pressing issue on Carrick’s mind as he looks ahead to the next match against Ipswich Town.
I am prepared to give Carrick a bit of a pass for the Hull result, and I would be surprised if United do not show a marked improvement on Sunday. Midfield was identified as United’s priority heading into the new campaign, and the club has already invested more than £150 million in reinforcements, the latest being Carlos Baleba. However, history repeats itself: plugging the biggest hole often reveals the next most glaring gap. Looking back to 2025, United finally solved their attacking inefficiency by signing Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Once the forward line was bolstered, the midfield’s frailties became starkly apparent. The club chose to wait a full year rather than bring in a stop‑gap midfielder, hoping for a better market window the following summer.
A similar dilemma now exists on the left side of defence. After securing three midfield signings, United’s need for a quality left‑back has become urgent, especially with Luke Shaw’s contract set to expire next summer. The club has long admired Myles Lewis‑Skelly and Lewis Hall, and they sit high on United’s shortlist. Yet both clubs have publicly denied any imminent departures, and Bruno Guimarães’ injury further diminishes the likelihood of Lewis‑Skelly moving.
Consequently, United appears willing to wait until the next transfer window to secure a left‑back, possibly targeting a permanent solution after Shaw’s deal runs out. There have been whispers linking Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde with United, but reports suggest the Red Devils are only monitoring the situation and are not actively pursuing him at this stage. In the meantime, the burden falls on Patrick Dorgu, who the club views as a long‑term left‑back prospect, while seasoned options such as Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot can also provide cover when needed.
Regarding potential departures, the current outlook indicates that no first‑team regulars are likely to leave before the transfer deadline. One name that surfaced was Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, but interest from Italian clubs has yet to materialise into a concrete offer, so he is expected to remain at Old Trafford. In summary, while the Hull defeat was painful and highlighted several deficiencies – fitness, physicality, and squad depth – it should not be taken as a definitive verdict on Carrick’s tenure. The team is still in a transitional phase, integrating new signings, rebuilding fitness, and fine‑tuning tactics.
With a full pre‑season now behind them and several key players returning to peak condition, there is a realistic chance that United will bounce back against Ipswich. The pressure on Shaw to stay fit all season remains, but the club’s broader strategy appears to be a measured, long‑term rebuild rather than a frantic scramble for immediate fixes. This measured approach, combined with the infusion of talent across the midfield and attack, gives United a solid foundation to improve as the season progresses.