Carrick cannot solve United’s problems with optimism alone

Michael Carrick insists Manchester United will soon be winners again and, as the club’s manager, he is refusing to panic. But after just one victory in seven Premier League matches, even his most loyal supporters must be wondering how much longer they will have to wait. Pressure intensified following the 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

United have now gone six league games without a win since beating Ipswich Town. It is their poorest start to a top-flight campaign for 40 years and, while Carrick deserves enormous credit for rescuing their season last year, he cannot continue living on past achievements.

What concerns me most is that United still appear uncertain about how they are supposed to play.

Are they a possession-based team? Are they meant to press opponents aggressively high up the pitch? Or should they be using their considerable attacking talent to catch teams on the counterattack?

Carrick has encouraged his players to press higher, using the attacking qualities of Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford. The problem is that pressing only works when the whole team moves together. United’s defence and midfield have too often failed to provide the necessary support, leaving huge spaces for opponents to exploit.

Cunha has struggled to convince as a central striker, while Rashford’s return has forced Carrick to rethink his attacking structure. Injuries to Benjamin Šeško and Amad have hardly helped.

There have been some encouraging signs, not least the introduction of Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos in midfield against Leeds. Both have the energy to improve United’s balance, but individual improvements will mean little unless Carrick can establish a clear system. There are frustrations in the dressing room, too. I understand that players are not necessarily blaming Carrick for their disappointing performances, but questions have been raised about the club’s recruitment and long-term planning.

INEOS, under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, remain unpopular with sections of the support, while the Glazer family continue to attract criticism. United have spent enormous sums over the years without building a team that consistently looks capable of challenging for major honours. The failure to turn promising positions into victories points to poor concentration, questionable game management and a defence that remains vulnerable.

Carrick is optimistic. Of course he is. That is part of his job. But Manchester United do not lack expensive footballers or individual talent. They lack a recognisable identity. Carrick must decide exactly how he wants his team to play and find the right combination of players to carry out those instructions.

Otherwise, another manager could find himself paying the price for years of muddled recruitment.

Sunday’s home match against Bournemouth is another opportunity to begin putting things right. United’s supporters have heard enough promises. They want to see a team that knows what it is doing.

Haaland keeps scoring while uncertainty hangs over City

There are dark clouds hanging over Manchester City, but nobody seems to have told Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has already scored eight Premier League goals, leads the Golden Boot race and continues to terrorise defenders while the club faces one of the most uncertain periods in its recent history.

An independent commission has found City guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed the decision, leaving the eventual outcome and possible sanctions unresolved.

The remarkable thing is that the controversy has done nothing to slow down Haaland or City’s extraordinary domestic form.

Seven league matches, seven victories. That is an impressive achievement for Enzo Maresca, who has taken over from Pep Guardiola and demonstrated that City’s winning mentality remains firmly intact.

Haaland has already reached 100 non-penalty Premier League goals in record time. His appetite for scoring appears as strong as ever, and the suggestion that he might struggle under a different tactical system has so far proved wide of the mark.

But can City maintain this remarkable run with so much uncertainty surrounding the club? Maresca insists the controversy has brought his players and supporters closer together. That may well be true. Footballers are often at their most dangerous when they believe the world is against them.

The bigger question is what happens if City’s appeal fails and serious sanctions follow. Nobody yet knows what the final consequences might be, but the implications could extend far beyond the football pitch.

City’s owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has overseen an extraordinary transformation of the club and considerable investment in the surrounding Manchester community. How would the ownership react to severe punishment? What would it mean for future investment, recruitment and the club’s long-term ambitions?

Those questions cannot yet be answered, but they are impossible to ignore.

There are more immediate concerns for Maresca, too.

Antoine Semenyo is facing a lengthy absence following the knee injury he suffered against Ipswich, potentially keeping him out for around two months. Haaland also left the Etihad Stadium with a foot problem, although I am told the injury is not considered serious. Maresca has suggested Phil Foden could provide an alternative through the middle, while Rayan Cherki is another possibility as a false nine. Summer signing Iliman Ndiaye has previous experience playing centrally, having scored 14 goals for Sheffield United during their promotion season of 2022-23.

Jérémy Doku looks the natural replacement for Semenyo on the wing. City’s visit to Aston Villa on Saturday will be another examination of their strength in depth. For the moment, Haaland keeps scoring and City keep winning. But football has a habit of changing very quickly, and the greatest threat to their season might eventually come from events beyond Maresca’s control.

Mateta interested in move to United

My sources have revealed that Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is eyeing a move to Manchester United in January.

The Frenchman has shown little enthusiasm for committing his future to Palace, and the uncertainty surrounding his contract could force the club into a difficult decision when the transfer window opens. United’s need for a recognised centre-forward is obvious. Benjamin Šeško’s injury problems have left Michael Carrick short of options, with Matheus Cunha often asked to operate in a position that does not necessarily bring out his best qualities.

Mateta would provide a different type of attacking presence: a powerful, experienced Premier League striker capable of holding the ball up and giving defenders a physical battle. The complication is his fitness. A hamstring injury has restricted him to just 92 minutes this season, and United would need assurances that he is ready to make an immediate impact. Palace must also consider whether they can afford to lose another important player during a difficult campaign. Nevertheless, Mateta’s interest in Old Trafford is one to watch as January approaches.

Chelsea move to secure Acheampong

Chelsea are preparing to offer highly rated defender Josh Acheampong a new contract, despite his existing agreement running until 2029.

The youngster has featured in six of Chelsea’s opening seven Premier League matches and is attracting considerable interest.

I am told Manchester United are among the clubs to have shown an interest, but Chelsea have no intention of making it easy for anybody to prise him away from Stamford Bridge. The club have already moved to secure the futures of important players, including Cole Palmer and Moisés Caicedo, and Acheampong is regarded as another valuable part of their long-term plans.

For all the criticism Chelsea have received over their recruitment policy, keeping their most promising young players is every bit as important as buying expensive new ones.

Ayari attracting Arsenal and Milan

Brighton’s excellent start to the season is bringing a familiar problem. When their players perform well, Europe’s biggest clubs quickly begin watching.

Midfielder Yasin Ayari is the latest to attract attention, and I understand Arsenal and AC Milan are monitoring the 23-year-old Sweden international.

Ayari was another impressive performer in Brighton’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace, underlining why his reputation continues to grow. His energy, movement and ability to influence games from midfield make him an attractive prospect.

Brighton also have an important contractual decision to consider. His present deal is approaching its final months, although the club are understood to have an option to extend it by another year. That option could strengthen Brighton’s negotiating position considerably.

The club have built an impressive reputation for developing players and selling at the right price. Ayari could eventually become another example, although Brighton will be in no hurry to lose him.

Sage’s attacking gamble is leaving Palace defenceless

Pierre Sage is under enormous pressure at Crystal Palace, and after watching their humiliating 5-0 defeat against Brighton, it is not difficult to understand why.

Quite frankly, some of Palace’s defending was embarrassing. They have conceded 17 goals in seven Premier League matches, the worst defensive record in the division, and there is little evidence that Sage has found a way to correct the problem. I would not lay all the blame at the manager’s door. Palace’s hierarchy failed to provide sufficient defensive reinforcements during the summer, particularly following the departure of Maxence Lacroix. Chairman Steve Parish and sporting director Matt Hobbs must accept their share of responsibility.

But Sage’s tactics are also inviting trouble. He wants his team to press high and attack with numbers. That is admirable when it works, but Palace are leaving themselves hopelessly exposed when possession is lost. The wing-backs advance so far up the pitch that opponents are presented with acres of space behind them. Quinten Timber regularly pushes forward from midfield, leaving Adam Wharton with far too much ground to cover. One misplaced pass can leave three defenders and Wharton trying to contain an opposition counterattack.

Under Oliver Glasner, Palace generally maintained better defensive protection, with one wing-back often remaining deeper when the other advanced. Sage appears determined to commit more players forward without providing the necessary cover. There is nothing wrong with attacking football. Supporters love it. But attacking without defensive organisation is not bravery. It is recklessness.

The players also have to accept responsibility. There have been too many individual errors, too many occasions when opponents have been allowed to run unchallenged towards goal. The atmosphere among Palace supporters is changing rapidly.

Palace face Newcastle on Sunday, and Sage urgently needs to restore some balance. He may want his side to entertain, but the first requirement of any successful team is to stop opponents scoring almost at will.

Maddison gives Tottenham hope — but Chelsea will reveal the truth

Tottenham supporters have waited a long time for something to cheer, and the return of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski has finally given them genuine hope.

The reception for Kulusevski was particularly emotional as he returned to the matchday squad after 526 days out following his serious knee injury. But it was another of Tottenham’s long-term casualties who stole the show.

Maddison produced a magnificent performance against Coventry, controlling large parts of the game and scoring a spectacular opening goal in Tottenham’s 3-1 victory. It was his first Premier League goal for 610 days, an extraordinary wait for a player of his ability. There was added significance in the fact that it came against Coventry, the club he supported as a boy and where his professional career began. Maddison has endured a miserable succession of injury problems, including a serious cruciate ligament injury and further setbacks. There must have been moments when he wondered whether he would ever return to his best. His goal was a wonderful reward for the determination required to fight his way back.

One player does not make a team, but the return of two outstanding creative footballers can transform its possibilities.

But I would caution against declaring Tottenham’s troubles over. Coventry were beaten, but Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday will present a much more demanding examination.

How much patience will Marinakis give Glasner?

Oliver Glasner enjoyed considerable success at Crystal Palace, but his move to Nottingham Forest has provided a reminder of just how quickly a manager’s fortunes can change.

Forest have struggled badly, and Glasner has yet to find the formula that brought him so much praise at Selhurst Park.

The failure to score at the City Ground since the final game of last season is particularly worrying.

Glasner insists there are positives to take from his team’s performances. He believes the chances are being created and that the goals will eventually follow. He also remains convinced that his players possess the character to turn things around.

I admire his optimism, but I wonder whether Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis shares it. Forest went through four managers last season, and Marinakis has hardly established a reputation for unlimited patience when results are disappointing.

Glasner knew he was joining an ambitious club, but ambition brings expectations, and Forest’s supporters are entitled to demand better. There is an interesting contrast with his former club. Palace are struggling to replace Glasner’s defensive organisation, while the Austrian is struggling to reproduce the success he enjoyed there.