How do Man Utd 'get a grip' after worst league start in 40 years | "I worry for Carrick"
How can Man Utd get a grip after their worst league start in 40 years? Pundits worry for Carrick
The clip discusses Manchester United's crisis after a 1-1 home draw with 10-man Tottenham and their worst league start in 40 years. The pundits criticise the lack of pattern and energy, the over-reliance on Bruno Fernandes and recruitment/squad issues, while debating whether changing the coaching staff is realistic. The overall conclusion is that United look far from convincing, though Tottenham showed signs of improvement.
- United will struggle to turn things around soon, and Carrick's position is worrying — He saw no clear pattern or enough energy, felt Bruno looked frustrated and under-supported, and expects the fixture run to get tougher
- The most realistic change is the coaching staff; Carrick must get the players performing — He cannot change the playing squad, and six points from six games, including only one point from home games against 10 men, show they are not performing
- United should not rush to change manager because there is no obvious, affordable candidate — No one stands out as a definite Man Utd manager, and hiring such a person would cost big money that the club may not be prepared to spend with this squad
- United were overrun in the first half and failed to control the game even with a numerical advantage — They did not compete for second balls, and after Spurs went down to 10 men Tottenham still dominated
- Bruno is a top Premier League midfielder but United cannot rely on him alone; playing with teammates below his level would frustrate him — He needs help and is the kind of player who would be frustrated by the gap in quality
- United's pulling power and recruitment quality have declined; they can no longer be judged by Ferguson-era standards — Old United could take players from Arsenal or Chelsea, now they buy from Chelsea's bench; players who looked good at Wolves may not make the step up
- Given what he is seeing, Champions League or Europa League qualification would be a good achievement for United — There are too many problems and the current level is not high enough for more
- United are a one-man team around Bruno; the lack of a striker occupying the centre is breaking up their attack — No centre-forward pins the centre-backs, the wide players do not make runs in behind, and if Bruno does not play well United do not play well
- Carrick was not properly backed in the summer; the signings were not his and Santos was not the type they needed — The club seemed to bring in bodies late, and the money would have been better spent on areas such as centre-back
- Martinez must do better physically; this defensive issue cannot all be blamed on Carrick — He was physically pushed aside, which is about the player's desire and responsibility
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Transcript
Now Gary Neville has warned Manchester United's players to get a grip or face a worrying few weeks after their one all draw with 10 man Spurs on Saturday. Right Tim, it's their worst start to a season in 40 years. How do they, as Gary says, get a grip? >> On the evidence of what I saw on Saturday evening, um it's going to struggle and I don't want to take it away from Tottenham. I thought they played very well, but I didn't see a pattern. Um, I didn't see a lot of energy around the pitch. Um, and I saw their talisman starting to show his old tricks, throwing his arms around, looking at others in uh, the man there, Bruno Fernandez, who they need. They need Bruno, and he stood up for them time and time again, but they he needs some help himself. It looks like he's getting fed up with the situation. Um, they've had good runner games from the start of the season till now. Now it gets tougher. They go at Athletici tomorrow night, I think it is. Um leads um and then the games come thick and fast and they come very tough for United. I worry for Michael Carrick. I really worry for Michael um because they can't change the personnel of the playing staff. Um but they can certainly change the coaching staff. It's it's it's it's what becoming a football manager is all about. You know, sometimes the players if they're not standing up, you know, as a manager, it's it's your it's your job to get them to perform. And at the moment, they're not performing. There's some stats there that you can see. Six points from six games. They've played the two promoted teams. In fairness, they did beat Ipsswitch. That's their one win in the league this season twice. They've been against 10 men at home and picked up one point in those games. And they've played the bottom team twice. Drew against Fulham and Drew against Spurs. They were bottom at the time, albeit very early in the season. They were also leading Everton in stoppage time, but ended up drawing that game as well. Jay, are the fans right to expect more? But picking up on something Tim just said, if it's easy easier to change the coaching staff rather than the players, how long will Michael Carrick get? >> I mean, that's that's a tough one. Um, but Tim's absolutely right. You're not going to change the playing staff. You know, the only people you can change is the coaching staff and the manager. Um, the only other thing I would say though, Tim, is there's no one out there that really you look at saying he could definitely be a Man United manager. >> Um, and if there was, then you have to pay them people big money. >> Yeah. >> Um, and I'm not sure Man United are prepared to do that right now with this team. >> Um, but it is worrying times. Again, I agree with Tim. They didn't play particularly great football. First half, they got overrun. They didn't compete. They didn't get the second balls. They had a period just after Halime um when they did, you know, they were they were at it and they scored in that period and but then after that Tottenham just, you know, they got the red card and still dominated. >> Yeah. >> You know, and and that's what you look at and you say, "H how is that? They should be controlling the tempo. They they've got the numerical advantage." Um but again, I I look at Bruno Fernandez and I think, you know, he's one of the best midfield players the Premier League's ever had. Um, but he does need help and you would be frustrated if you are that kind of player playing with players that are just not on your level. I don't think Man United's fans listen the the times of the theater of dreams is gone. I'm sorry. Like Man United are where they're meant to be. They kind of they Man United I remember the Man United teams that I remember with Alex Ferguson there. They were going to sign players of Arsenal of Chelsea. They could go and pretty much take anyone from any club in the world. Now they're getting players from Chelsea's bench and they're buying them. Like that doesn't tell me that you're doing great business. Yes, there was, you know, some signings that you look at and you say Kuna, yeah, he was good at really good at Wolves, but it's a big club. >> Can you go and do it there? And I'm not even sure if he's playing, he's not playing in his best position for me as a striker. He's not that. >> Um the midfield is a problem. They just got a lot of things going on right now. And I look at that and I say if they can get into the Champions League or they can get into Europa League, that's a good achievement for what I'm what I'm seeing right now. >> Well, they're playing without a striker, aren't they? >> Yeah. >> In Burbo up there as a force nine, not occupying the center. The center can come in as as high as they want. You got Dallow on one of the sides. You got Kuna on the other side not making them runs into out to pin them center back. There's no space in there as load of space without the ball in the midfield area. They're not linking up off of Bruno. If Bruno don't play well, Man United don't play well. It's a one-man team at the moment. This guy is and he always gets a criticism, but rightly so. That's part and parcel of being a top draw player. You are the tallies man. If you don't play well, you're going to get criticized. If you do play well, then we're going to lord you up. That you that's part and parcel of being a captain there at Manchester United. >> Do you think Sorry, sorry to interrupt. >> I don't think Carrick actually got backed in the summer. I know they made signings, but I don't think they were Michael Carrick signins. I genuinely don't. I think they was just like, it got to a point where we need bodies in the door. >> Believer, come on. Yeah, >> he looked decent to me. >> Santos is is a head scratcher. I'm not sure why they brought him in today. I think he's I'm not sure he's what they needed. I already said I just think they they could have used their money in better areas of the field. Certainly at center back. They need centers in that in in their squad. They need so much. There's so much wrong with them at the moment, but we're on the back of a def uh obviously it weren't even a defeat. It was a it was a draw at home to a a very you have to say on the day Tottenham played very very well, >> but also see on that one there you're talking about center half. I'm sorry, but Martinez just needs to do better. >> Like he's just been ragdoled there. That's it. And he's just been pushed out the way physically. That's not Carrie can't do nothing about that. >> That's that's the player's desire. And he has to be in a situation where he's saying, "I'm not getting beat. I'm holding on to this. I want to get the one- nil win with a bad performance. >> So, Manchester United poor, but signs of improvement for Tottenham maybe. We'll be discussing them next.