Man Utd are back in an all-too familiar position - where do they go next?

· Mirror

Manchester United have endured a poor start to the season and scrutiny is growing on Michael Carrick and the Old Trafford hierarchy in the wake of their limp Carabao Cup exit

The new season may only be six games old, but it feels as though Manchester United fans have already lived through it a thousand times.

A run of underwhelming results - yielding just two wins - and performances means the goodwill and momentum built up by Michael Carrick during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign has already waned significantly. And while questions will inevitably be asked of United's former interim coach during the upcoming, prolonged international break if the Red Devils cannot sign off with a win at Fulham on Sunday, scrutiny should also be directed to those above Carrick in the hierarchy.

United's disappointing week went from bad to worse on Wednesday as they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup. While there was a sense of injustice over the Manchester derby defeat last Sunday given the offside controversy shrouding Erling Haaland's decisive goal, United were bang to rights against Brighton.

They crumbled after surging into a two-goal lead with Carrick becoming the first Manchester United manager to oversee a home defeat after leading 2-0 at half-time since Tommy Docherty in 1976.

Carrick and his team left the field to a chorus of boos from supporters, whose early season optimism has already taken a pummelling.

And that has become a common trend for those taking their seats on the Stretford End. Just 12 months ago, United backed Ruben Amorim heavily in the transfer market, helping him rebuild their attacking options. But hopes of a second-season surge under the Portuguese were quickly extinguished, with his demise coming in January of this year.

Go back another year and it was Erik ten Hag - fresh off after another summer of investment - who was clinging onto a job he would ultimately lose by the middle of October.

This represents a first crisis period for Carrick, who was handed the reins on a permanent basis after providing the perfect tonic to Amorim's torturous tenure by overseeing 11 wins and three draws from 16 competitive games.

There were, understandably, parallels drawn between his impact in an interim capacity and that previously of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer. Crucially, though, Carrick has already proven he can navigate choppy waters; few would have envisaged a third-place finish for United given the condition they were in at the time of Amorim's implosion nine months ago.

Since then, United have spent around £150million on a midfield overhaul designed to give Carrick the tools to continue the club's rehabilitation as they seek a seat back at the Premier League's top table.

But not only did the new partnership of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans get outfoxed by Brighton, there are already glaring holes elsewhere in the squad.

Luke Shaw's absence again highlighted United's failure to bring in adequate cover in that area during the transfer window for the here and now. And while it has already been suggested that the club will look to level up their defence next summer, choosing to rely so heavily on Shaw and Harry Maguire given their previous arcs - and where they are in their careers - for another year feels like a big call. Leny Yoro, signed for a significant transfer fee, has also yet to hit the desired levels in defence.

In Benjamin Sesko, still yet to start a Premier League game this season, United have invested significantly. But the Slovenia international did not make the most of an opportunity to impress leading the line against Brighton. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have Premier League pedigree and been rare transfer wins for United, but the fact Sesko was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee punctuates up a real dearth of quality depth in that No 9 area.

Strategic shortcomings like that cannot be attributed to Carrick, rather those above United's manager hierarchy. And solving them will not be cheap, nor will they be straightforward, even though United have managed to successfully move away from inflated figures in the transfer market.

Teething problems after a transfer window are not uncommon and perhaps United's business will age like wine rather than milk. After nailing their colours to Carrick's, he must, at least, be given the opportunity to steer United back on course. After all, a rinse and repeat would do nobody any favours.

In two years the club will celebrate it's 150th anniversary; an event which Omar Berrada, United's chief executive, targeted back in 2024 as an occasion for United to mark by winning both men's and women's league titles.

Right now that feels fanciful. And while it will ultimately be down to Carrick to achieve the results which will ensure he gets the chance to see 'Project 150' through, others will be just as culpable if he is unable to do.

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