Manchester United lost in a very predictable fashion on Sunday, a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford to AFC Bournemouth for the third time in the last four seasons. It’s the third different manager to do so, and the same fate likely awaits Michael Carrick as it did Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
United began the match under pressure. They created a bit of a reprieve after the opening 15 minutes or so, but there was little to show going forward. Bryan Mbeumo awaited up top to run onto the end of desperate,
and often impossible, passes up the pitch. Youri Tielemans was mostly ineffective as the No. 10 and there was little help from either wing.
The opening goal still came against the run of play somewhat. A free kick was given away, and then lofted to the back post where Andrey Santos was outnumbered. Rayan connected well to slide a shot just inside the post and beat Senne Lammens for 1-0.
The position would have been somewhat manageable if there was any sort of confidence in the side, but an individual error from Leny Yoro quickly opened the floodgates of despair. He slipped and fell while sheltering the ball under pressure, gifting away possession and allowing an easy pass across goal for Marcus Tavernier to tap into the net.
The Reds had more possession after halftime, but conceded a third on another error. The defense seemingly waited for Senne Lammens to come and claim a ball that Evanilson was charging after, and the terrible awareness left the Belgian keeper out to dry after the Brazilian skipped by the challenge and launched the ball toward goal. It still wasn’t a given from the wide angle, but the disparity in confidence was evident again on the finish from Bournemouth’s No. 9 while the United defenders could only watch.
There’s no hiding for the United team, but the fans let everyone know where they stand. The songs in the second half varied between the Carrick rendition of “Magic” and calls for Glazers and INEOS to take a hike (although some wording about building a bonfire was much more to the point than our simplification).
Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada weren’t immune to the criticism either. They were both in attendance and became the subject of “wanker” chants as the product of their work was dismantled far too easily by a Cherries team that frankly had no business running rampant as they did. From a league table standpoint, it was a massive win, just their second of the season, as United continue to sink with seven points from eight matches.
What comes next is still unknown. Who comes next is still in question. There is no sacking the team, unfortunately, but the match on Sunday felt like the end for Carrick.
