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 loss quickly became emblematic of the turbulent period that followed the departure of former manager Rúben Amorim.
While the recent 2-0 defeat to Brighton on home turf may not carry the same historic weight, it does echo similar themes for Michael Carrick, the man who succeeded Amorim at the helm. Youri Tielemans, United's captain during the Brighton game, confessed after the final whistle that his side seemed to stop trying once they fell two goals behind. The feeling was palpable at Old Trafford after roughly the first 20 minutes; Brighton took control and the match appeared to be heading toward an inevitable outcome.
Even with the introduction of attacking options such as Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, the Red Devils failed to mount any meaningful threat. This lack of response is precisely the sort of issue that will keep Carrick awake at night.
Since returning to the club in January, Carrick has endured a handful of setbacks. In each case, he has tended to protect his players and highlight any positive aspects of their displays.
Against Brighton, however, there was little to salvage. The manager’s usual optimism found no foothold in a performance that was, frankly, underwhelming.
When Carrick and his backroom staff first took charge, they were greeted with considerable praise. The team appeared organized defensively, and that solidity translated into impressive victories over rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.
The arrivals of Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans injected fresh ideas and stability into the back line, leading many to believe United were on a promising new trajectory. Nevertheless, the defensive frailties that have resurfaced this season cannot be ignored. United have now conceded two goals in three of their four Premier League fixtures.
The Brighton loss laid those weaknesses bare once again. While one of the goals resulted from a mistake by goalkeeper Karl Darlow, the overall shape of the back four was disjointed, lacking the cohesion that was promised earlier in the campaign. A particular area of concern is left‑back. Carrick has not publicly labeled it a glaring weakness, yet the problem is evident.
Luke Shaw, the club’s most experienced left‑back, has missed the last three matches due to a minor injury. Given Shaw’s age and his injury history, it was perhaps short‑sighted not to reinforce that position during the summer transfer window.
Carrick experimented with Noussair Mazraoui in that role, but the Moroccan appears to have slipped down the pecking order, as the less seasoned Patrick Dorgu was chosen for the Manchester derby loss. Meanwhile, young prospect Harry Amass does not seem to be in the club’s long‑term plans for the left side.
The question now is how United will address this deficiency for the remainder of the season. It may feel premature to debate Carrick’s job security after only a few weeks of the new campaign, especially since United have accumulated the most points of any team since his return in January. Yet, as Carrick himself admitted, moments such as Ainsley Maitland‑Niles’ equaliser for Everton, the controversial VAR decision that awarded a goal to City, and the shocking collapse against Brighton have altered the narrative dramatically. A loss at Fulham on Sunday, broadcast live on Sky Sports, could ignite uncomfortable conversations about whether Carrick can guide United out of the current storm.
Regardless of the speculation, Carrick deserves some sympathy for the squad he has inherited. The lack of significant player sales and limited incoming transfers this summer has hampered United’s ability to reinforce key areas.
Still, does that excuse the club’s apparent neglect of crucial positions? The left‑back spot, as mentioned, should have been a priority.
Moreover, with Benjamin Šeško still nursing a shin injury throughout the summer, United might have benefited from securing a temporary No 9 to share the burden, rather than forcing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo into unfamiliar roles. 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 transfer window, they will remain trapped in a cycle of incremental upgrades using players left over from previous regimes.
This perpetual partial‑strengthening likely contributed to the boos that rang out at Old Trafford after the Brighton defeat—boos not only aimed at the performance itself but also at the familiar feeling of a club caught in a repeating pattern of fleeting optimism followed by disappointment. It is still early days, and Carrick should be afforded the time he earned after delivering a respectable campaign last season.
Nevertheless, the waters he must navigate are undeniably choppy. He will be judged on his ability to halt the downward spiral, even if a win against Fulham does not materialise immediately. A solid performance, however, could buy him valuable time to steady the ship and steer Manchester United back onto a more promising course.