Manchester United’s early exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Grimsby Town last season remains a vivid memory for many supporters. That defeat has become almost emblematic of the turbulent period that followed the departure of former manager Rubén Amorim.
While the recent loss to Brighton at Old Trafford may not carry the same historic weight, it echoes similar themes for Michael Carrick, the man who stepped into the managerial role after Amorim’s exit. Youri Tielemans, United’s captain on the day of the Brighton defeat, confessed after the match that once the team fell behind 2-0, they essentially stopped competing.
The shift in momentum was unmistakable; from roughly the 20‑minute mark, Brighton began to dominate, and the game appeared to be heading in one direction only. Even with the introduction of attacking options such as Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, United failed to make a meaningful impact on the scoreboard. This lack of response is precisely what should concern Carrick. Since returning to the club in January, he has endured a handful of setbacks, but his usual response has been to highlight the positives or to defend his players’ efforts.
Against Brighton, however, there was no silver lining to be found. When Carrick and his coaching team first arrived, they were lauded for tightening the defensive unit.
The side produced impressive victories over rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, showcasing a compact, well‑organized back line. The arrivals of Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans contributed instantly to that defensive improvement. Yet the current season has exposed fresh vulnerabilities.
United have conceded two goals in three of their four Premier League fixtures, and the Brighton match underlined those defensive frailties once more. One of the goals resulted from a clear mistake by goalkeeper Karl Darlow, but beyond the individual errors, the overall shape of the back four appeared disjointed and lacking cohesion. A persistent problem for Carrick is the left‑back position. Although he has not publicly labeled it a specific weakness, the issue is evident and was known to the club hierarchy during the summer transfer window.
Senior left‑back Luke Shaw, who missed the last three games due to a minor injury, is aging and has a history of recurring fitness concerns. Relying solely on his availability, especially after a season where he was remarkably fit, was arguably a short‑sighted decision. Carrick has experimented with Noussair Mazraoui in that role, but the Moroccan appears to have slipped down the pecking order, as the less experienced Patrick Dorgu was chosen for the Manchester derby loss. Meanwhile, the young prospect Harry Amass does not seem to be in the long‑term plans for that position.
The club now faces a pressing question: how will United address the left‑back deficiency for the remainder of the campaign? It may seem premature to discuss Carrick’s job security after only a few weeks of the new season, especially since United have amassed the highest point total of any team since his return in January. Nonetheless, Carrick himself acknowledged that moments such as Ainsley Maitland‑Niles’ equaliser for Everton, the controversial VAR decision against Manchester City, and the shocking collapse versus Brighton have altered the narrative surrounding his tenure. If United were to lose to Fulham on Sunday, a match broadcast live on Sky Sports, the conversation would inevitably turn to whether Carrick can navigate United out of the current storm.
While that debate may belong to a later date, the head coach deserves some empathy for the squad he has inherited. The summer transfer window was marked by a lack of significant outgoing transfers, limiting United’s ability to reinvest the funds that might have been generated.
This restraint has hampered the club’s capacity to address key areas of weakness. The left‑back spot, for instance, should have been a priority. Additionally, with Benjamin Šeško nursing a shin injury throughout the summer, United might have considered bringing in a temporary No 9 to share the scoring burden, rather than deploying Mbeumo and Cunha in unfamiliar roles. Both forwards have struggled to recapture the form they displayed under Carrick’s guidance last season.
Until United can execute a comprehensive squad overhaul in a single transfer window, they will likely remain stuck in a cycle of incremental improvements using players left over from previous regimes. This reality may explain the boos that echoed around Old Trafford after the Brighton defeat—not solely a reaction to that single performance, but a manifestation of fans’ frustration with a recurring pattern of early promise followed by disappointment.
Although it is still early days, and Carrick deserves patience after the achievements of the previous season, these are the choppy waters he must navigate. Ultimately, his performance will be judged on whether he can halt the downward spiral. Even if United fail to secure a win against Fulham, a solid display could buy him valuable time to steer the club back onto a more promising trajectory.