Can Michael Carrick Make Manchester United Relevant Again?

Manchester United appear to have found some stability in the dressing room with Michael Carrick in charge. If they recruit well in defence and midfield, I believe they could compete strongly in the Premier League next season. What are your expectations for them? – Sterling.

Carrick’s performance last season may have left the board in a difficult position. The football was not consistently outstanding, but 12 victories and three draws from 17 matches made a compelling case for appointing him permanently. Producing those results without cup or European commitments and with relatively little pressure, however, is very different from sustaining them throughout a demanding campaign. United could play around 15 more fixtures than they did in 2025-26 without even having an exceptional season.

That does not mean Carrick is destined to struggle. Several aspects of his work last season were highly encouraging. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans strengthen a midfield that urgently needed reinforcements. A new left-back is expected before the transfer window closes, while another experienced central defender of proven quality would also be valuable. Marcus Rashford’s situation remains uncertain following his loan spell at Barcelona, but with two years remaining on his contract, he could provide pace, energy and goals from the left. This squad may not be ready to win the title, but it should be capable of securing Champions League qualification.

Two major uncertainties should become clearer during the campaign. The first concerns Carrick and whether he can manage a schedule featuring two matches per week while working with players experiencing the same fatigue as their rivals. The second is the club’s mentality. Like many historically successful teams that have declined, United have become accustomed to disappointment. Positive results are often treated with suspicion, while every defeat is interpreted as further evidence of a long-term collapse. The opposite reaction could be equally harmful if a strong opening run convinces everyone that all the problems have disappeared. Maintaining perspective and judging progress realistically may be the greatest tests for a club attempting to rediscover its former status.

What wider effects do you expect from the VAR reforms introduced by Fifa this year? Could other leagues adopt the quicker, increasingly automated and less human system used this summer, even though the Premier League has declined to implement most of it? – Dennis.

The principal adjustments introduced before the World Cup permitted VAR officials to correct wrongly awarded corners, review certain fouls by attacking players and overturn clear errors involving red cards caused by a second yellow. The Premier League has accepted only the final measure. VAR may cancel an incorrect second booking that results in dismissal, but it cannot advise the referee to issue a second yellow. If the technology must remain, this is a sensible use of it because no team should be unfairly forced to continue with 10 players.

Incorrect corner decisions were reviewed only occasionally during the World Cup, although it seemed inconsistent that a wrongly awarded goal kick could not be changed into a corner. My preference would be to remove VAR entirely, or at least abandon its current format. Nevertheless, mistakes should probably be corrected when that can happen rapidly and without disrupting the match. It is also understandable that the Premier League would hesitate while pursuing a more restrained approach to intervention.

The general trend still appears to point toward broader use of video technology. Offside decisions are likely to become almost completely automated in the near future, which would be reasonable if verdicts are delivered almost instantly. Questions about camera frame rates and narrow margins will remain, but an automated system should still be more dependable than an assistant referee trying to judge the position from 30 yards away through a crowded group of players.

The Premier League’s new measures against timewasting may have a greater immediate impact. Substitutions must be completed more quickly, treated players must wait 60 seconds instead of 30 before returning, and an outfield teammate must leave the pitch for 60 seconds when a goalkeeper receives treatment. Throw-ins and goal kicks will also be subject to a five-second countdown. These rules should increase the pace of matches and create a better viewing experience. Another issue to monitor is how strictly officials punish wrestling inside the penalty area, particularly offences committed by attackers, after the league appeared to apply a different standard from much of Europe last season.

Which newly promoted Premier League club is most likely to avoid relegation, and what gives it the best chance? – Nicholas.

Sunderland’s seventh-place finish and Leeds ending last season in 14th should offer encouragement, but Coventry, Ipswich and Hull all face an extremely difficult challenge. Sunderland and Leeds committed substantial resources after promotion, a level of investment that the three newcomers are unlikely to match. Hull rose unexpectedly and appear to have the weakest prospects of survival. Coventry could benefit from the excitement surrounding their return to the top division and from Frank Lampard’s influence, although their transfer spending has been limited. Ipswich may have the strongest chance because of their recent Premier League experience and the additions of Daizen Maeda, Abdul Fatawu, Issa Diop and Chuba Akpom. However, they must cope without Kieran McKenna, who chose to take a break after leading them to promotion. Gary O’Neil may view the role as an opportunity to settle unfinished business, but survival for any of these clubs will probably depend on at least one established side enduring a disastrous season.