Game-wise, the answer is Wednesday’s trip to Como yet after failing, again, to double their league win tally to two, you have to wonder the destination for an already flatlining team. This display was the latest unconvincing outing under the 45-year-old. It featured an odd formation, zero rhythm or control, and the same prevailing sense that the wheels could clatter off anytime.
Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half opener was answered, inevitably, by Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the interval for hosts who were not markedly better but did not need to be, so fragile are Carrick’s cadre. Elland Road was the scene of Ruben Amorim’s last stand, Carrick’s predecessor reacting to January’s 1-1 draw by demanding his colleagues in the recruitment department “do their job”. Being sacked two days later.
For now Carrick should avoid a similar fate, but for how long? United remain stuck on one league victory – at the end of August, against Ipswich – and so Como, in the Champions League, becomes the next must-win fixture. To hear Carrick hail this result as a “fresh start” hints at desperation and the state his team are in.
Even more quaint was another comment. Precisely how else United having only seven points from their opening seven games can be viewed seems comical to even consider. As the Leeds manager, Daniel Farke, said: “We should have won the game but we move on.
We are slightly disappointed, it is just a point.” Five days after his scathing diatribe aimed at Jason Wilcox – for the director of football’s questionable recruitment – Lisandro Martínez was selected by Carrick, the defender’s apology on Thursday enough to clear the way, though his day ended at the interval due to a tight thigh. Farke’s team, unchanged for a fifth consecutive game, were roared on by a crowd who delighted in Martínez’s first contribution, a stray pass hoofed out of play. The visitors lined up in an “Amorim shape” of 3-4-3, a lesser-seen Carrick configuration.
In this, Bruno Fernandes was fielded as the nominal centre-forward, curtailing the captain’s ability to pull strings from midfield, though his was a free role. The noise from a febrile home support was dialled up when Carlos Baleba sent Anton Stach to the turf and Darren England saw no infringement. After Fernandes ran through and a clumsy touch caused him to scythe down Tarik Muharemovic, England did act – booking Manchester United’s captain when play next paused, to the delight of Leeds fans.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
