Carrick gets injury boost as United head to Fulham

Three back, and Fulham is next

Michael Carrick gets three players back for Sunday's trip to Craven Cottage (2). United go there with four points from four league games and sitting 13th (2). Your team needs this one. Kick-off is 17:30 CEST.

Baleba could finally make his debut

Carlos Baleba is ready. Carrick said the £65m summer signing is "desperate to get started" and "bouncing around the place" (4). A pre-season injury has kept him waiting. Fulham could be the day he finally pulls on the shirt (4).

Carrick: it's a collective problem

Carrick did not hide from it after the derby. "It's certainly not the start we wanted. We need to improve, no doubt, as a team collectively, it's not just a backline or certainly a goalkeeper, it's a collective thing" (3). He also backed Yoro and Heaven, who took the heat for the midweek showing (3).

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He still trusts VAR

The derby error cost your team, but Carrick is not turning on VAR. He still has faith in the system despite the blunder in the home defeat to Manchester City (8).

The blame game has started upstairs

Recruitment chief Christopher Vivell is taking heat over a failed summer window (1). One fan put it bluntly: "Christopher Vivell shouldn't get away with INEOS' failings either" (1). Six games in, and the finger-pointing is already loud.

Hargreaves called "an embarrassment"

Matt Hargreaves is the other name in the firing line. He is "seen as an embarrassment internally at United by many figures and someone who isn't fit for the job" (6). Reports point to low morale and a director of football who cannot close deals (6).

Eyes on Endrick and Ndour

United are monitoring Endrick. Real Madrid will not sell him, but United and Arsenal are watching the situation ahead of a possible January move (10). United are also interested in Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour, a 22-year-old valued at 240m DKK (9).

Arsenal 1–1 Manchester United: Holmberg breaks your hearts

United's women were seconds from a first WSL win. Arsenal 1–1 Manchester United at the Emirates, Smilla Holmberg scoring the last-gasp leveller (7). Eva Olid is still without a win after three games in charge (7).

Fan reactions

The mood on r/reddevils is split between hope and frustration. Carrick's own words about the defence are doing the rounds, with "it's a collective thing" the line most fans are quoting back. Alongside that, a fan group has gone public calling for Ratcliffe to leave, which tells you how quickly patience has run out.

Thread: Carrick's press conference, part two

Sources

  • 1. thepeoplesperson.com — Man United’s head of recruitment had vastly different transfer plans for the summer
  • 2. sportsmole.co.uk — Man United lineup vs. Fulham: Michael Carrick's triple injury boost ahead of Premier League clash amid sack calls
  • 3. thepeoplesperson.com — Every word of Michael Carrick’s Fulham pre-match press conference – embargoed section
  • 4. soccernews.com — Baleba ‘bouncing around the place’ in wait of Man Utd debut
  • 6. thepeoplesperson.com — This Man United official is “seen as an embarrassment”, he has made the club “look like a joke” in the market
  • 7. bbc.co.uk — Arsenal score last-minute equaliser to deny Man Utd first WSL win
  • 8. bbc.co.uk — Carrick has faith in VAR despite derby error
  • 9. footy.dk — Manchester United er interesseret i Cher Ndour
  • 10. sport1.pl — Real Madryt nie chce sprzedać Endricka, ale Arsenal i Manchester United badają grunt
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