We’re back for another Premier League season.
Manchester United will kick off the new campaign on the road at Hull City in the early window on Saturday. It’s the start of the first full season under Michael Carrick, who carries plenty of positivity with him and the squad after a strong finish to last season. His interim spell saw the Reds carry the best form in the league from his hiring to the finish line. Can they keep it up?
They’ll find out on Saturday.
Start Well
It’s the first game of a new season:
the possibilities feel endless; nothing good or bad has marked the team yet; and then the whistle blows. Hull are a newly promoted side, playing at home, and welcoming Manchester United. They’re going to be up for it, so we’ve got to be up for it.
The first pass, the first tackle, the first shot on goal, and all the other firsts will help set the tone. United fans haven’t had much to shout about in years, so it won’t take long for the mood to drop if the team gives us a reason to. Michael Carrick and the players know that, and it’s their job to set the tempo from the get-go. If they do, the fans will take care of the rest.
Wingers
Michael Carrick’s winger selections will probably reveal the most about his vision for the side – for the first couple of weeks, at least. He has a lot of options, but seems to prefer Patrick Dorgu and Amad Diallo. Looking at the make-up of this squad, it’s not hard to see why: both defend from the front, diligently track back, and offer some directness out wide. However, they lack the end product that some of the other wide players offer.
The team’s lack of agility in the midfield and the backline makes it difficult to nick the ball high up the pitch, which is an expectation against sides like Hull City; Dorgu and Diallo can bring some balance from the wings in Carrick’s compact 4-4-2 shape off the ball. It’s not ideal, and if Michael Carrick opts for another combination, it’ll be welcome, but this is probably the way to go before further additions are made in the side, and they get fully up to speed.
Backline
United’s defensive unit has struggled in preseason to push high convincingly. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw offer necessary experience, but they’ve looked a bit cumbersome – to no one’s surprise. If Hull City offer a threat in attacking transition, this could be a tricky fixture for United. United have enough firepower to get one over Hull City, regardless of the struggles they might face, but if Hull City sense it, the rest of the league will too. How Michael Carrick organises the team without the ball is something to keep an eye on in this game, and for the whole season.
