THE BETRAYAL BY MICHAEL CARRICK 🔴 🧵 What could have been? Last season Man United’s three forwards finished with double figures in goals: Sesko (11), Cunha (10) and Mbeumo (11). First time three players have done that in their debut season at a new club since Arsenal’s Giroud, Podolski and Cazorla in 2012/13. After a very impressive second half of the season, it was a working set-up, a style of play that gave fans joy, attacking and the United way. We were looking forward to an even better season, with a working formula, expecting better numbers even from a trio that should have the power and ability to cause damage even to the strongest sides. We were anticipating better returns the following season from a proven frontline, with some needed improvements in some areas on the pitch over the window. Regardless, Carrick seemed to have a working formula nonetheless. There was a different turn of events in the new season, prompted partly by the return of Marcus Rashford, forcing Cunha to play as a 9, a less preferred position, a player that helped lead United to UCL qualification with his impacts off and on the ball last season, leading to worse results, in games which United could have gotten more from. Not neglecting the impact of Sesko’s injury by the start of the season, but he recovered and Carrick maintained a stupid selection to accommodate a Marcus Rashford that was willing to drop United last season. Rashford has been inconsistent, and it was time to move him on. We didn’t move him in the window. Regardless, if Carrick wanted to bring the 28-year-old star back to the team, he should be brought in as a bench player, a sub, and not a starter, which disrupted a very effective chemistry built last season. Instead Carrick’s favouritism led him to continuously choose Marcus Rashford on the left wing, a position Cunha has shown more effectiveness in the same season. Rashford having 0 goals and assists in 8 matches at present, while his other attacking counterparts have done better in starting roles and even off the bench: Mbeumo 5 out of 11 (4 goals with 1 assist), Cunha 4 out of 11 (8 starts), Sesko 2 goals from 6 appearances (currently injured), Zirkzee 1 in 7, and the returning Amad 1 in 4, Bruno 5 in 11 as well… This is a huge part of our failures this season. You can blame the owners as much as you want, but regardless, not neglecting rotation, Carrick hasn’t made the most out of the team he has had. Disrupting a working system to accommodate an unconvincing player was betrayal to the players that helped United progress greatly last season, and betrayal to the fans as well. His sacking, if not imminent, is seeming inevitable, accompanied with some other mistakes on his path. He has played a great part in making the season worse than it should have been with making Rashford a starter prematurely and undeservingly. To put in context, Flick hasn’t had the most financial abundance in Barcelona but he has done well in getting the most out of the players he had. Michael Carrick brought back Rashford and made him a starter, a very avoidable mistake, visibly. Marcus Rashford is a defensive liability, not neglecting his talent, pace and dribbling, but there’s more that makes up a good player. His return hasn’t been productive either — no g/a in 8 games. It was all foreseeable from a good coach, and any fan with genuine football knowledge. Flick saw this, and preferred to sign Antony Gordon who cost more (around £69m/€80m), and even less goals and assists in the league over a Marcus Rashford that produced over 20 g/a in all competitions for Barca, even scoring in the season-ending Clásico. It wasn’t enough, because he wasn’t doing enough, and Flick chose a player who he felt was better for the team, even when Gordon cost double, and Rashford was interested in joining for €30m. Flick chose a player he felt was best for the team. Talent isn’t enough, there’s more to football in all honesty.