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 period when former manager Rubén Amorim was at the helm. While Wednesday’s home loss to Brighton does not carry the same historical weight, there are unmistakable parallels for the man who succeeded Amorim – Michael Carrick. Youri Tielemans, United’s captain in the Brighton match, confessed after the game that once the visitors went two goals ahead, his side simply stopped trying.
The lack of effort was evident throughout the second half, and from roughly the 20‑minute mark it was clear that Brighton were in control and the result was heading in one direction. Even the introduction of fresh faces such as Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha failed to spark any meaningful change.
This inability to respond will undoubtedly be a major source of concern for Carrick. Since returning to Old Trafford in January, Carrick has endured a handful of defeats, yet he has consistently defended his players and highlighted positive aspects of their displays. Against Brighton, however, there was little to salvage. The lack of a redeeming narrative will sit heavily on the new head coach’s shoulders.
When Carrick and his backroom staff first arrived, they were greeted with a wave of optimism. Defensively, the team appeared organized and compact, a transformation that helped secure impressive victories over rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.
The arrivals of Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans contributed instantly to a sturdier back line. Nevertheless, questions now arise regarding the defensive frailties that have resurfaced this season. United have conceded two goals in three of their four Premier League fixtures, and the Brighton defeat laid those issues bare once more. One of the goals was a clear error from goalkeeper Karl Darlow, but beyond that, the entire back four seemed disjointed, lacking cohesion and positional awareness.
Left‑back remains a glaring problem for Carrick. Although he has not publicly labelled it a specific weakness, the issue is evident and was known to the club’s hierarchy during the summer transfer window. Luke Shaw, United’s only experienced left‑back, has missed the last three matches due to a minor injury. Given his age, injury history and the fact that he was largely fit throughout the previous season, it was arguably short‑sighted not to reinforce that position.
Carrick has experimented with Noussair Mazraoui in the role, but the Moroccan appears to have slipped down the pecking order, with the less seasoned Patrick Dorgu preferred for the Manchester derby loss. Young prospect Harry Amass does not seem to be in the club’s long‑term plans for the left side either.
The pressing question, then, is how United will address this deficiency for the remainder of the campaign. It may feel premature to discuss Carrick’s job security after only a few weeks of the new season, especially since the team still holds the highest points total accumulated since his return in January. Yet, as Carrick himself admitted, moments such as Ainsley Maitland‑Niles’ equaliser for Everton, the controversial VAR decision against City, and now the shocking collapse to Brighton have altered the atmosphere around the club. Should United suffer another defeat – for instance, a loss at Fulham on Sunday – the conversation about whether Carrick can navigate United out of the current storm will become unavoidable.
While that debate may belong to a later date, the head coach deserves some sympathy for the squad he has inherited. The summer transfer window saw very limited outgoing activity, which has hampered United’s ability to bring in reinforcements. Still, does that excuse the club’s apparent neglect of key areas?
The left‑back position, as highlighted earlier, should have been a priority. Additionally, with Benjamin Šeško nursing a shin injury throughout the summer, United might have considered signing a temporary No 9 to share the burden rather than deploying Mbeumo and Cunha out of position. Both forwards have struggled to recapture the form they displayed under Carrick last season.
Ultimately, until United can execute a comprehensive overhaul in a single window, they will remain trapped in a cycle of modest upgrades using players left over from previous regimes. This reality likely contributed to the boos that echoed around Old Trafford after the Brighton defeat – not merely a reaction to that single performance, but a manifestation of fans’ frustration with a recurring pattern of fleeting optimism followed by disappointment. It is still early days, and Carrick deserves patience after the progress he achieved last term.
Nevertheless, these are the turbulent waters he must chart, and the final verdict will rest on his shoulders. If he can halt the downward spiral – even without an immediate victory over Fulham, provided the performance shows improvement – time may grant him the opportunity to steer Manchester United back onto a steadier course.