Carrick’s best Man Utd XI predicted

And so, once again, Manchester United have been forced into a managerial change mid-season, with Michael Carrick fending off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be named Ruben Amorim‘s short-term successor.

United’s newly announced ‘Head Coach’ – a title that intriguingly does not include any reference to interim or caretaker status – will take charge for the first time this weekend, taking on the small task of Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.

With Amad and Bryan Mbeumo back from AFCON duty, the Englishman is nearing a full-strength squad, not least with Noussair Mazraoui also set to return before the month is out.

That should ensure that in the coming weeks, the five-time Premier League winner will have ample options to choose from, providing him with the perfect opportunity to implement his preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

Incomings this month are looking less and less likely with each passing day, but no matter, here’s a look at how Carrick’s starting XI could take shape regardless…

1

Goalkeeper & Defenders

There would be no rhyme or reason in Carrick rocking the boat in the goalkeeping department, with Senne Lammens the clear number one, even while enduring a shaky moment in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton.

Ahead of the young Belgian should well be the aforementioned Mazraoui at right-back, with long-serving defender Diogo Dalot having arguably outstayed his welcome, having again squandered two key openings against the Seagulls.

There remains real depth in the centre-back ranks, although with Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven both having been at the scene of the crime of late, Carrick may well value the experience of Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, provided the latter man makes his own return from injury in the near future.

At left-back then, there may well be a need for more mobility and athleticism alongside that physical duo, ensuring Patrick Dorgu could get the nod, having started ahead of the absent Luke Shaw in that role last time out.

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Signed primarily to play as a wing-back, the young Dane was largely deployed as a full-back at Lecce, ensuring he could be deserving of a regular run of games in his actual, orthodox position.

2

Midfielders

The key area for Carrick to solve, the midfield unit is in real need of a revival, with the future of every senior midfielder currently uncertain heading into this summer.

Bruno Fernandes is among those who could depart, although in the short-term at least, he should remain United’s creator and chief, rightly restored back into his preferred attacking midfield role after being inhibited in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

That shift could allow Kobbie Mainoo to slot in behind – or almost alongside – the Portuguese genius, with Carrick previously suggesting that he doesn’t view the England starlet as a holding midfielder.

That deep-lying role could instead be taken up by something of a wildcard option in the form of Lisandro Martinez, with the Argentine warrior showing flashes of what he can do in that number six berth in the second half at Villa Park last month.

Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte, meanwhile, might well be pushed to the periphery.

3

Forwards

Starting up top, Carrick would be wise to allow summer signing Benjamin Sesko to maintain his recent momentum, with the Slovenian striker having been the biggest beneficiary of Amorim’s exit.

Three goals in his last two games under Darren Fletcher has showcased what the 22-year-old can do with regular service, with the relocation of Fernandes likely to help spark a newfound connection – as it did at Turf Moor last week.

On the right flank, Mbeumo will be hoping to pick up where he left off before AFCON, with the Cameroon international scoring seven times already for his new side, following his £71m switch back in July.

A 20-goal star at Brentford last term, the 26-year-old is the nailed-on starter on that side, ensuring that Ivory Coast talisman, Amad, could offer some desperately needed pace and energy in a new role down the left flank.

The 23-year-old has typically lined up as a number ten, right-winger or right wing-back for United, although a shift to the left could be a way to get him into this new system, with the diminutive “wizard” – as hailed by journalist James Copley – in fine form after netting three times for his country.

What does that all mean for Matheus Cunha? Well, despite impressive strikes away at Elland Road and Villa Park under Amorim, the Brazilian has tailed off in recent games, representing something of a bystander to proceedings in the cup.

The ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers star could very well take Amad or even Sesko’s place if required, but after such lofty Eric Cantona comparisons upon his arrival, he hasn’t quite lived up to the billing just yet.

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