Carrick ends the left-back debate
Patrick Dorgu can play there. Michael Carrick said it plainly: "He can certainly play there. He has done, without doubt. I'm not sitting here saying he can't do that" (7). United never signed a left-back this summer. Carrick is telling you the solution is already in the squad.
Baleba debut within two weeks
Carlos Baleba is close. Carrick says the £70m midfielder from Brighton is 10 to 14 days away from his first United appearance (4). That puts him in line for the Manchester City derby on September 13.
The squad backed Shaw all along
Fans wanted a left-back signed. The dressing room did not. Laurie Whitwell reports the players' faith in Luke Shaw is why left-back never felt pressing to them (1). Shaw has support from the squad after all his time at the club.
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WSL opener ends in defeat
London City Lionesses 2–1 Manchester United on Friday in the WSL season opener (3)(5). Simi Awujo scored late, but it was not enough. Alexia Putellas called it "amazing, incredible" after her debut for the winners (11).
Carrick forced to build on a budget
United finished the window having been outspent by their rivals (2). That is the reality Carrick works with. He goes into Sunday's match at Everton with 3 points from two games after the 5–2 win over Ipswich (6).
Endrick link resurfaces
United are reportedly eyeing a January move for Real Madrid forward Endrick, with a package potentially reaching €70m (12). Spanish reports name the 20-year-old as a Carrick target. It is January talk, not September business.
Fan reactions
The mood in the match thread tracked the WSL opener closely. Fans clocked the late Awujo goal right up to the 90+10 mark, and the frustration of a season-starting loss was clear. Meanwhile, the Champions League projection thread had supporters already sizing up the group stage draw against Sabah FK and the derby around the corner.
