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 synonymous with the brief tenure of former United manager Rubén Amorim, marking a low point that still haunts the club. While Wednesday's home loss to Brighton did not carry the same historic weight, the parallels are hard to ignore for Michael Carrick, who succeeded Amorim at the helm.
Youri Tielemans, United's captain in the Grimsby game, later admitted that after falling behind 2-0 his side simply stopped trying, a sentiment that was evident once again on the Old Trafford pitch. From roughly the 20th minute onward, Brighton took control of the match, and despite United's attempts to inject fresh energy by bringing on Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, the visitors maintained their dominance and the result seemed inevitable.
This lack of response is precisely what will keep Carrick awake at night. Since taking over in January, Carrick has often praised his players and highlighted the positives in otherwise disappointing outings, but against Brighton there was no silver lining to be found. The manager's usual optimism was met with a stark reality: United were outplayed, out‑organized and ultimately out‑scored.
When Carrick and his backroom staff first arrived, they were lauded for tightening a defence that had looked porous under previous regimes. The addition of experienced figures such as Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans appeared to solidify the back line, and the team produced impressive victories over rivals Manchester City and Arsenal. However, the current season has exposed lingering weaknesses.
United have conceded two goals in three of their four league matches, and the Brighton game highlighted a defensive frailty that cannot be ignored. One of the goals conceded was a clear error from goalkeeper Karl Darlow, but beyond that mistake the overall shape of the back four was disjointed. The defensive unit lacked cohesion, communication broke down, and the players seemed unsure of their roles. This lack of organization is especially concerning given the high standards expected at a club of United's stature.
Left‑back remains a chronic problem for Carrick. Although he has not publicly singled out the position as a glaring weakness, it is evident that the role has been a revolving door of makeshift solutions. Luke Shaw, United's most senior left‑back, has missed the last three games due to a minor injury.
While Shaw was remarkably available throughout the previous season, his age and injury history made it prudent for the club to seek reinforcement during the summer transfer window – a step that was not taken. Carrick experimented with Noussair Mazraoui in the role, but the Moroccan international quickly fell down the pecking order, with the less experienced Patrick Dorgu being preferred for the Manchester derby loss.
Meanwhile, young prospect Harry Amass does not appear to be in United's long‑term plans for the position. The question now is how the club will address this deficiency for the remainder of the campaign. Criticising Carrick's job security after only a handful of matches seems premature. Since his appointment, United have amassed the highest point total of any team that has played the same number of games under his guidance.
Yet, as Carrick himself has acknowledged, moments like Ainsley Maitland‑Niles' equaliser for Everton, the controversial VAR decision that benefited City, and the shocking collapse against Brighton have altered the narrative dramatically. If United were to drop points against Fulham on Sunday, the conversation will inevitably shift to whether Carrick can rescue the team from the current storm.
While it may be too early to make definitive judgments, the manager does deserve some sympathy given the constraints he has faced. The summer transfer window saw minimal outgoing activity, leaving United with a squad that lacked depth in key areas. This shortage makes it difficult to justify ignoring obvious needs, particularly at left‑back. Moreover, the club's striker Benjamin Šeško was sidelined with a shin injury for much of the pre‑season, yet United opted not to bring in a temporary No.9 to share the load.
Instead, they deployed Mbeumo and Cunha in unfamiliar roles, and both have struggled to recapture the form they displayed under Carrick last season. Until United can execute a comprehensive overhaul in a single transfer window, they will remain trapped in a cycle of piecemeal signings, relying heavily on players inherited from previous managers. This pattern likely contributed to the boos that echoed around Old Trafford after the Brighton defeat – not merely a reaction to a single performance, but a manifestation of frustration with a perceived endless loop of unfulfilled promise.
Although the criticism is loud, it is still early days. Carrick delivered a respectable turnaround last season, and he deserves the time to build on that foundation.
The waters ahead are undeniably choppy, but if he can halt the current slide—perhaps even without securing a win against Fulham, provided the performance shows improvement—there is still a chance for him to steer the Red Devils back onto a steadier course.