Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 12.02.26

100^ its no coincidence since we've been out of all other comps that Cass has become a beast. He needs to be managed like Rio was, one game a week that's it.

Even if he wins all remaining 15 games, the club shouldn't be making him permanent before an end of season review. Now a good run in those 15 games should have he in the mix, but we've been burned before jumping too early.

Carrick's comments about questions every week are welcome and a statement from both him and the club saying they won't be speaking about a full time contact until the end of the season would only help everyone at the club.

At times we have struggled to put away the bottom half teams which has been frustrating - I completely agree, but it’s been a fairly even mix. 17 points dropped against bottom 10 teams, 14 against top 10 teams - if Everton win tonight that flips around to more points dropped against top 10 sides.

It feels like there is this narrative going around where the last two games are ones where we’d normally do well in but the “real test” is Fulham at home, Everton away etc and I think it undervalues what just happened. Maybe people are trying to stay grounded and not get carried away I don’t know - but those 2 games in terms of performance and results were remarkable and should be appreciated for what they were. They don’t need a caveat of ‘yeah but what about the next two games’.

We hadn’t won in the league at the Emirates since 2017. Arsenal are the hardest team to beat and score against. That fixture is the biggest test imo. 3 years since we beat City at home and we didn’t just beat them, we battered them.

In the first half of the season against the teams above us:

• Arsenal at home, played well but ultimately didn’t score and lost.
• City away - in fairness weren’t terrible either but we were punished badly and lost 3-0.
• Villa away - played well and lost.

Carrick and his team have faced the two toughest tests in the league and have done exceptionally well given where we were 2 weeks ago. He can only be judged on what’s happened so far. Of course the challenge now is whether they can build on that.

What must happen now is they must put away the sides lower down the table .

They must match the hungry dogs who fight for every ball, are in your face as you get the ball, are on your back and first to every loose ball.

Fight fire with fire……. that's the challenge now. Are they tough enough?

I think you are right about not letting the 'failure' of Ole cloud our judgement.

We should also not forget that Ole had us playing some of our best post-Fergie football - finished 3rd and 2nd (though well off the winners points wise both times). And Ole also suffered from being under the 'guidence' of Woodward and Joel Glazer. He wanted Haaland, club messed it up. He wanted Rice, club said not worth the money. He wanted Bellingham, club couldn't convince him. IMO Ole had the right vision - hell there is even reports the he tried to create a proper transfer comittee at the club too, to try get a long term vision in place. The club failed Ole, as it has failed many managers.

personally, I always wonder if a guy like Ole, or now Carrick, can prove that managers aren't the massively important factor we would think them to be. And I don't mean that as a criticism of them.

Maybe Carrick isn't and won't be the greatest manager in the world - but if you get him enough good players, are his general ideas good enough and correct to get a great group of players competing at the top? Almost that they don't overthink things and try to revolutionise a game style (cough… Amorim…) but 'simply' platform the players qualities.

And, as I thought with Ole at the time - if you put a proper structure around them, can Carrick simply be the right guy. If we aren't asking the manager to control and be responsible for everything - if we give them proper support on recruitment, and proper backing - do we need a tuchel? Is Tuchel actually a better fit than Carrick would be?

I wouldn't have picked Carrick as a favourite, or even an option. and maybe in a month i still wont (!!) but are we (and football) overthinking it to a large degree?

The keeper is such an upgrade. I was explaining to my young lad last night, the next corner after their equalizer, he came and punched it clear. Great mentality, to come again after missing the previous one and us conceding. He looks so cool and calm.

Also, Arsenal have come along way from walking it into the net trying to score the perfect goal to the set up that they have for these corners.

I'm interested to see how Carrick handles Sesko. It was right to use Mbeumo the last two games where we weren't expected to dominate, but we did see under Fletch how getting bodies up around Sesko improved him and led to goals.

If Carrick can utilise Sesko the same way Fletch did that would make things interesting for his future here.

I think what we have in Carrick is someone that seems to have excellent man management and is a hugely respected coach. Then he is backed up by Holland( who I admit I haven't really heard much of until two weeks ago) who comes with a reputation of been an excellent trainer and tactician. And then we have Woodgate who should be hated by united fans but when you look at it we have another young English coach that has been topped over last few years as a really good trainer.

It just seems the focus around all the new coaches is the training pitch they are all comfertable on it.

The players seem to be buzzing for them, cunha should be unhappy but he looks like he is fully on board and wants to work his ass for the manager.

By the way I don't think ole would bench Sesko or Cunha he would be to afraid of loosing the good vibe feeling. Carrick seems to have a balance that he is liked but won't be lead by players.

Their focus in the last few games has been on simply defending, and not moving around covering space in a system.

Amazing how well a player can play when they're asked to keep it simple and do what they do best.

Same with Bruno moving into the AM role behind the front man. We look so much more at ease and threatening when he gets near the ball.

Early days, but very encouraging.

I think Sesko will be used more against teams lower down the table who defend more. Both Arsenal and City play attacking football which allowed our quick & skillful players to play through them. For teams who are more defensive will need someone like Sesko up front to link up the play and get on crosses. At least im hopeful Carrick is adaptable, moreso than Amorim was

As other have said way too early to make a call on Carrick but if he does have us playing good football and gets top 4 I don't think I'd be too opposed to him getting a crack at the job.

A few managers have stepped up from the championship and have shown they can do a good job at big clubs.

I do also feel like we wouldn't get stuck with Carrick if he was plodding along, tbf to inoes they sacked Amorim in a position that the glazers wouldn't have.

Maybe Carrick can provide the next platform going forward maybe he can develop himself into a tip manager who knows.

Still a long way to go yet but he has gotten us 5-6 more points then anyone was expecting after the fa cup game to Brighton