I attended the match on Saturday and it became evident early on that Manchester United were simply out of their depth against Hull City. While critics will undoubtedly heap criticism on Michael Carrick’s side this week—citing a lack of intensity, aggression and purpose—I left Hull with the impression that the situation is more layered than a straightforward blame game. There is no doubt the performance was poor. United failed to impose themselves, and only Carrick truly knows the internal reasons, but from the outset it was obvious that several key players were not at the level of match sharpness they should be at this point in the season.
Six of Carrick’s regular starters had completed a full pre‑season, yet the manager also introduced a brand‑new midfield partnership of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, who had never played together in a competitive setting. On the bench, the options were limited: Benjamin Šeško, who had not featured at all in the pre‑season, and young talents Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford, both of whom had only a handful of minutes after returning from England duty over the summer. Hull, on the other hand, deserve massive credit for being a well‑drilled side in their first top‑flight appearance in nine years. Their squad benefited from a full pre‑season programme, allowing them to hit the ground running.
It is also worth debunking 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 is simply inaccurate. Two of those matches were pre‑season fixtures—United’s opening game against Wrexham and the season‑ending friendly versus AC Milan under Ruben Amorim. Using those games as a barometer for United’s ability to cope with a five‑man defence is misleading.
Both the Hull defeat and last season’s poor showing against Leeds at Old Trafford share a common thread: a noticeable physical deficit. In both cases, the United side appeared under‑prepared physically, and that is likely the primary concern on Carrick’s mind moving forward. I am prepared to give Carrick a degree of leniency for the Hull result, and I would be genuinely surprised if United do not show a marked improvement against Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Midfield has been United’s top priority this summer, and the club has already invested over £150 million in reinforcements, with Carlos Baleba being the latest addition. However, the pattern mirrors last summer: plugging the biggest hole often reveals the next most pressing gap. In 2025, United finally addressed their attacking inefficiencies by signing Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Once the forward line was bolstered, the midfield’s shortcomings became starkly apparent. The club chose to wait a full year rather than rush in a stop‑gap midfielder, hoping the market would be more favourable the following summer. A similar dilemma now exists at left‑back.
After securing three midfield signings, United’s need for a quality left‑back has become urgent, especially with Luke Shaw’s contract due to expire next summer. The club has long admired Myles Lewis‑Skelly and Lewis Hall, and they sit at the top of United’s shortlist.
Yet both players appear unattainable at present, with their current managers dismissing any transfer speculation. Adding to the complexity, Bruno Guimarães’ injury seems to rule out a potential move for Lewis‑Skelly, at least in the short term.
Given United’s recent focus on attacking and midfield upgrades, it is plausible they will postpone a defensive overhaul until the next window, allowing them to address the left‑back position more comprehensively after Shaw’s departure. That said, the transfer market is fluid, and a creative last‑minute deal cannot be entirely ruled out. Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde has been linked with United, but reports suggest the club is not actively pursuing him at the moment.
In the interim, the burden falls heavily on Shaw to stay fit throughout the season, while Patrick Dorgu is expected to step up as a long‑term solution at left‑back. Both Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot are also capable of covering the role when required. Regarding potential exits, it appears unlikely that any first‑team regulars will leave United before the deadline. The only notable speculation involves Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, but interest from Italian clubs has yet to materialise into a concrete offer, meaning he is expected to remain.
In summary, while the Hull defeat is a setback, it should be viewed within a broader context of squad integration, fitness levels, and strategic planning. Carrick’s side is still in the early stages of blending new signings with returning players, and the physical demands of the Premier League will inevitably expose any lingering weaknesses. With a relatively forgiving fixture against Ipswich on the horizon, United have an opportunity to demonstrate tangible progress, address the physicality concerns, and begin to justify the substantial financial outlay made in the midfield and attack. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Carrick can translate the preseason investments into consistent on‑field performance, or if further adjustments will be required to keep United’s season on track.