One of the clearest signs of Manchester United’s troubled reconstruction is the club’s failure to address several weaknesses at once. Vast sums have been wasted, leaving United to focus on one area during each summer window. The attack was prioritised last year, while the latest window concentrated on central midfield, despite the full-back options appearing inadequate for a campaign that includes Champions League football.
United continue to look like a club without direction. Supporters strongly oppose the ownership, and frustration among the fanbase is intensifying. Gary Neville was far from alone in expressing anger while covering United’s poor display against a Fulham side still searching for its first victory. The mood among the travelling fans at Craven Cottage also darkened, with Michael Carrick booed after replacing Kobbie Mainoo with 10 minutes remaining.
Carrick featured as an emergency centre-back when United previously lost this fixture in December 2009. The venue has generally brought them positive results since then, so their late recovery on Sunday felt somewhat predictable. However, the comeback owed more to Fulham’s anxiety while protecting a 1-0 lead than to any convincing resistance from visitors facing the possibility of a third defeat in a week.
The late equaliser came with considerable luck, as Matheus Cunha’s speculative effort struck the unfortunate David Affengruber before finding the net. The deflection wrong-footed Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, but United could not disguise the fact that they only responded after Lisandro Martínez scored a clumsy own goal. Neville criticised their lack of intensity during the 15 minutes leading up to Fulham’s opener. Players appeared passive, avoided challenges and conceded in weak fashion.
United struggled to escape their own penalty area, and when Cunha backed away from a challenge with Calvin Bassey, the Fulham defender charged forward and forced a save from Senne Lammens. Martínez then diverted the rebound beyond his own goalkeeper. The chaotic goal reflected the pattern of play at that point. United lacked authority and control in midfield. Bruno Fernandes operated as the No 10, with Mainoo playing deeper alongside Youri Tielemans, who arrived from Aston Villa last summer. Yet Sander Berge and Shea Charles dominated so comfortably that it became clear Carrick’s midfield overhaul is still far from complete.
United’s decision to pursue several additions during a summer when their rivals invested heavily in midfield talent was notable. Andrey Santos, who remained on the bench in this match, moved from Chelsea for £50m but has yet to establish himself in English football. Tielemans represented a £35m opportunity. Manchester City committed £300m to three midfielders, while Arsenal strengthened their squad by signing Bruno Guimarães for £75m. Carrick will be hoping Carlos Baleba, now recovering from an ankle problem, can make his debut after the international break.
Fulham covered more ground than United, whose players appeared short of fitness and badly in need of the physical drive Baleba could offer. The hosts repeatedly broke through central areas, especially during transitions. Alex Iwobi accelerated away from Tielemans in the first half, while Josh King impressed with runs through the inside-right channel. Fulham frequently opened United up before the interval but failed to capitalise because of wasteful finishing.
Carrick’s claim that United controlled much of the opening half was surprising. Cunha offered a more accurate assessment when he admitted Fulham “put in more energy than us” early in the second period. One concern is that the squad may already be failing to carry out Carrick’s instructions. Another is that the gradual, window-by-window rebuild has still not supplied enough creativity in midfield or attack.
Those parts of the team were supposed to have been repaired, yet United remained slow both in possession and without it. There were occasional promising attacking moments, but little sustained threat. Benjamin Sesko’s injury must be considered, particularly because it deprived United of an effective focal point from the bench, but the shortage of quality in the final third was still obvious.
Fernandes only struck the post at 0-0 after benefiting from a mistake in Fulham’s defence. Cunha also hit the frame of the goal following a substantial deflection, while Marcus Rashford failed to convert two chances.
It is strange that United’s reshaped forward line still includes Rashford as a starter after the club made him available for transfer last year. Used on the left, he showed glimpses of quality without making a decisive impact and was eventually substituted. However, Rashford is not the only United attacker capable of starting brightly before fading from the contest. Bryan Mbeumo nearly found an equaliser but delivered an uneven performance on the right. Cunha appears ill at ease as the No 9, while Carrick seemingly remains reluctant to place his faith in Sesko.
Carrick is facing mounting pressure. United have collected only five points from five matches and have already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup. Questions about whether he merited the position will inevitably become louder. Even so, he is neither the first United manager to be undermined by broader problems at the club nor likely to be the last. It was telling that Carrick had to introduce Joshua Zirkzee while searching for an equaliser. The Dutch attacker has scored only five league goals since arriving two years ago, raising questions about why he remains at the club. It hardly resembles a successful rebuild.
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