**Interesting bits from the article, via aggregators:**
**Among top-flight managers this season, Carrick waits the LONGEST to make his first substitution, only looking to his bench after 65 minutes on average.**
**As the team reemerged for the second half against Leeds, there was some SURPRISE** that none of the 11 players responsible for the most difficult 45 minutes under him had been replaced. #MUFC [@mjcritchley]
Looking at other Premier League managers to have taken charge of at least 10 games this season, **only Oliver Glasner, Sean Dyche, and David Moyes have made fewer substitutions than Carrick’s 3.5 per game.**
**Just once has he used his full quota of five changes,** in March’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle. #MUFC [@mjcritchley]
“Carrick’s use and timing of substitutions have been one of the more curious aspects of his three months in charge, though, whether that be waiting until the 68th minute to introduce Sesko while behind at West Ham in February or the apparent reluctance to change things on Monday night.
That’s what Middlesborough fans are telling me, so it’s not a one off. It’s a trait he has, and it’s going to be very annoying to watch
The-Black-Angel on
Not had a chance to read the article yet but does it touch on how he was like with subs while he was with Boro?
We have a very small sample size at United and the need to affect a game might not have been great in all the games given the number we have won under Carrick.
SyncVir on
*Is our bench good? Haven’t we spent most of the year saying we only have 16 first team players?*
Standard-Height2276 on
While earlier would be better, a massive part of that terrible 45 minutes were down to how barebones we are in midfield. I’m not on the Carrick for permanent manager train by any means but having to start a disinterested ugarte in midfield was down to bad squad building over the years so if there was anyone who could replace him from the bench they would have started themselves I’m sure
More_Culture_3006 on
We had to make 2 changes against Leeds and look what happened.
Apart from the xi he starts and whoever he leaves on the bench from either sesko and mbuemo I don’t think he trusts the rest
IcyAssist on
One of the more baffling points to me is why doesn’t he use Mount. The issue with Mount is his availability, not his skill set. Mount is partly the reason why we’re actually good in attack cause of the way he presses and makes runs. If I had to pick a first 11 under Amorim I would’ve put his name first after Lammens, he was that important to the team tactically.
Upstairs_Narwhal on
The squad doesn’t have enough depth. We have five good players for the front four and two good players for the midfield two. The only good sub you could possibly make is subbing in whichever of Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko or Amad doesn’t start for one of the others, and Carrick did that well with Sesko scoring loads off the bench when he first came in.
Don’t know what they expect Carrick to do. Start Ugarte just so he can sub him off for someone who isn’t shit?
Hits_and_the_Mrs on
Some managers just don’t like making subs it seems, almost like it’s admitting their game plan wasn’t right. But could also be they’re so convinced their plan will work, it just needs more time. Almost like you learn with experience to what works best and you can be more adaptable lol
michael654 on
Wouldn’t be a problem if we didn’t start the game like shite.
Brilliant_Bowler_994 on
Maybe worry about starting Ugarte first.
Derridas-Cat on
One bad game and the pressure piles on his perceived weak spot.
This is why the United manager had to be tough as fuck and not fussed by the media. Amorim got rattled. Car Rick has to stay calm.
I’m not convinced that subs would have made any impact against Leeds.
nowneat on
I’m starting to see how things can go south if he’s appointed permanently. Idk who’s a better fit out there anyway.
Sure_Landscape_1241 on
He is a interim coach and our bench is shit there is an abyss between our first choice and second even IF we had a second choice; like Mainoo >>>>> Ugarte and Shaw >>> ???? Inverted dalot/maz? Besides Cunha (that feels bad at LW IMO) who is the other? Only dorgu that is injured.
Like, okay, he waits 60+ min for a sub, but it worked before after going in behind.
Fuckin reporters were just waiting for united to lose to start shit talking lol
PaulaDeen21 on
Can’t be criticised for subbing on Ugarte if you start him, clever Michael, I like it.
niallmul97 on
I think Carrick has done great so far, is he “the one”? No probably not, but I think he’s most likely to get the job and I don’t see why we couldn’t do great things under him. Seeing that subs have been an issue under Amorim and now under Carrick, I personally think that’s more than likely down to squad quality. While against Leeds, we should have 100% brought Mbeumo on sooner, there wasn’t a whole lot of quality options on our bench. We have a great first 11, maybe one option or so off the bench, but that’s about it, the rest are not good enough yet, or not good enough period (or never fit).
To me, this is why Carrick had been leaving Sesko on the bench. Nothing to do with him not rating him, simply because he offers us a plan B. Amorim also suffered here because his formation had all our quality attacking players starting, where he managed to squeeze in Amad, Bruno, Cunha, Mbuemo, and Sesko into the one starting 11. We essentially didn’t have a bench beyond defensive options (outside of Kobbie but that’s another story).
Right now under Carrick, typically one of Cunha, Mbuemo, Sesko, or Amad has to be left on the bench. Besides them, we have Mount and Zirkzee (both massively underwhelming imo) for 10/forward line rotation options, Ugarte for midfield, whichever of Maz or Dalot as a fullback backup, and decent enough coverage at CB but young or predominately injured.
I feel like losing Dorgu has massively hurt us, and its clear to me that we need at least 2 midfielders regardless of our current players, so if Case + Ugarte end up leaving, then we really need to push for 3.
Utds9 on
As is the same with Amorim let’s blame everything except what we should be blaming. We have 0 depth and when we lose 1 or 2 players we fall off a cliff.
Get_Cheersed on
Carrick is great as an interim. Has never shown he is good enough for the permanent.
His previous job he was sacked by a CHAMPIONSHIP side and now all of a sudden he is qualified to take on arguably the most difficult managerial post in the world ?
Great as an interim, but permanent is a completely different set of expectations. Football has really not been good, results are sliding after honeymoon period came to an end.
This team hasn’t played for weeks, and couldn’t be bothered to put in some intensity against Leeds while playing home ? Lots of people in this sub would have put that on Amorim should he still be in post, so stay consistent and do the same with Carrick
nitrogeneater on
The thing with Carrick he is also not really rotating much either. So you end up with players like Maz who were pretty good barely playing since afcon. Then people wonder why he’s playing like shit against Leeds when he basically didn’t play since January.
When you sub a player on is not only for a game management reasons. It’s for squad management. When we have Europe next year what’s he gonna do play same 11 all year?
Jonny5H on
I mean sure. But the bench is also not very good, in particular with the recent injuries. So let’s see, Dalot came on but everyone always complains about him, Zirkzee not good enough, Malacia same, I assume Mount isn’t fully fit, Mbeumo came on but is a bit out of form in any case… So is the issue that he didn’t throw on Heaven and Lacey and Fletcher at half time???
tigertimtigertim on
Personally, the main problem is that the performance was just flat. They had 3 weeks off. Yes, i know it’s not like the whole team’s been off with the internationals going on etc, but with the coaches having more time with the squad/gameplan plus the trip to Ireland, I just expected more. Something more.
I actually suspected that the team would start a bit flat with the downtime. We’ve seen this countless times with many teams after a break. But i also expected the intensity to improve as the game went on, especially against a Leeds team desperate for points. But they never really responded.
Could better timing of subs make an impact? Sure. But i feel like thats plastering over the main point.
JosePRizaI on
Now imagine if Amorim did this…….
[deleted] on
[deleted]
longsightdon on
Its not just leeds! People keep talking about it like its an isolated incident. The whole stretch of sesko saving our asses – a lot of those game we needed him to start to come on much earlier, not after 60 and especially not after 70! If it wasn’t for those late sesko goals we would be having a very different conversation right now. He got bailed out numerous times by individual quality from our top players. Our actual play has fallen off significantly since the city and arsenal games lets be honest
ArcaneTrickster11 on
To be fair against Leeds who was he supposed to bring on? The issue was midfield and defence and we had no one on the bench that could change that
gmzzzz on
A very real problem we were having in the game was that neither maz or shaw were actually imposing any attacking threat. For all of dalot’s bad qualities the one thing he does offer is movement up front which draws defenders out of place. We were being overrun in midfield while also having no width to play. I dont know how dalot didnt come on at half time but it was so clear that something had to change
tearsandpain84 on
The Carrick experiment is imploding. It a ship in the dark of night on fire, hopefully it gets to shore/champions league before life, light and all hope is lost.
Rascha-Rascha on
I always hate it when results take a downturn and things get nit-picky. There’s not much to be done beyond those players we know are really useful for the league right now. Getting good stuff out of those players is already a massive success.
kevkiarbar on
Gutter journalism as usual. It would have a valid point if we had a team of galacticos primed and ready on the bench. But we don’t, so it loses it core argument immediately when the bench is a mix of academy prospects, semi crocked or returning from injury players (mount), those totally unsuited to the prem (zirkzee), plus anyone else to make up the numbers (malacia)
![[Mark Critchley] Michael Carrick’s substitutions are about to come under the spotlight](https://www.eucup.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Xa1jssZHwqC6ycV31JAYBeC2puqyHIBebGDiqunFt_w-1024x683.jpeg "[Mark Critchley] Michael Carrick’s substitutions are about to come under the spotlight")
29 Comments
**Interesting bits from the article, via aggregators:**
**Among top-flight managers this season, Carrick waits the LONGEST to make his first substitution, only looking to his bench after 65 minutes on average.**
**As the team reemerged for the second half against Leeds, there was some SURPRISE** that none of the 11 players responsible for the most difficult 45 minutes under him had been replaced. #MUFC [@mjcritchley]
[https://x.com/Utdtruthful/status/2044695657278234810](https://x.com/Utdtruthful/status/2044695657278234810)
Looking at other Premier League managers to have taken charge of at least 10 games this season, **only Oliver Glasner, Sean Dyche, and David Moyes have made fewer substitutions than Carrick’s 3.5 per game.**
**Just once has he used his full quota of five changes,** in March’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle. #MUFC [@mjcritchley]
[https://x.com/Utdtruthful/status/2044694147076956302](https://x.com/Utdtruthful/status/2044694147076956302)
“Carrick’s use and timing of substitutions have been one of the more curious aspects of his three months in charge, though, whether that be waiting until the 68th minute to introduce Sesko while behind at West Ham in February or the apparent reluctance to change things on Monday night.
[https://x.com/Utdtruthful/status/2044696321471164656](https://x.com/Utdtruthful/status/2044696321471164656)
That’s what Middlesborough fans are telling me, so it’s not a one off. It’s a trait he has, and it’s going to be very annoying to watch
Not had a chance to read the article yet but does it touch on how he was like with subs while he was with Boro?
We have a very small sample size at United and the need to affect a game might not have been great in all the games given the number we have won under Carrick.
*Is our bench good? Haven’t we spent most of the year saying we only have 16 first team players?*
While earlier would be better, a massive part of that terrible 45 minutes were down to how barebones we are in midfield. I’m not on the Carrick for permanent manager train by any means but having to start a disinterested ugarte in midfield was down to bad squad building over the years so if there was anyone who could replace him from the bench they would have started themselves I’m sure
We had to make 2 changes against Leeds and look what happened.
Apart from the xi he starts and whoever he leaves on the bench from either sesko and mbuemo I don’t think he trusts the rest
One of the more baffling points to me is why doesn’t he use Mount. The issue with Mount is his availability, not his skill set. Mount is partly the reason why we’re actually good in attack cause of the way he presses and makes runs. If I had to pick a first 11 under Amorim I would’ve put his name first after Lammens, he was that important to the team tactically.
The squad doesn’t have enough depth. We have five good players for the front four and two good players for the midfield two. The only good sub you could possibly make is subbing in whichever of Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko or Amad doesn’t start for one of the others, and Carrick did that well with Sesko scoring loads off the bench when he first came in.
Don’t know what they expect Carrick to do. Start Ugarte just so he can sub him off for someone who isn’t shit?
Some managers just don’t like making subs it seems, almost like it’s admitting their game plan wasn’t right. But could also be they’re so convinced their plan will work, it just needs more time. Almost like you learn with experience to what works best and you can be more adaptable lol
Wouldn’t be a problem if we didn’t start the game like shite.
Maybe worry about starting Ugarte first.
One bad game and the pressure piles on his perceived weak spot.
This is why the United manager had to be tough as fuck and not fussed by the media. Amorim got rattled. Car Rick has to stay calm.
I’m not convinced that subs would have made any impact against Leeds.
I’m starting to see how things can go south if he’s appointed permanently. Idk who’s a better fit out there anyway.
He is a interim coach and our bench is shit there is an abyss between our first choice and second even IF we had a second choice; like Mainoo >>>>> Ugarte and Shaw >>> ???? Inverted dalot/maz? Besides Cunha (that feels bad at LW IMO) who is the other? Only dorgu that is injured.
Like, okay, he waits 60+ min for a sub, but it worked before after going in behind.
Fuckin reporters were just waiting for united to lose to start shit talking lol
Can’t be criticised for subbing on Ugarte if you start him, clever Michael, I like it.
I think Carrick has done great so far, is he “the one”? No probably not, but I think he’s most likely to get the job and I don’t see why we couldn’t do great things under him. Seeing that subs have been an issue under Amorim and now under Carrick, I personally think that’s more than likely down to squad quality. While against Leeds, we should have 100% brought Mbeumo on sooner, there wasn’t a whole lot of quality options on our bench. We have a great first 11, maybe one option or so off the bench, but that’s about it, the rest are not good enough yet, or not good enough period (or never fit).
To me, this is why Carrick had been leaving Sesko on the bench. Nothing to do with him not rating him, simply because he offers us a plan B. Amorim also suffered here because his formation had all our quality attacking players starting, where he managed to squeeze in Amad, Bruno, Cunha, Mbuemo, and Sesko into the one starting 11. We essentially didn’t have a bench beyond defensive options (outside of Kobbie but that’s another story).
Right now under Carrick, typically one of Cunha, Mbuemo, Sesko, or Amad has to be left on the bench. Besides them, we have Mount and Zirkzee (both massively underwhelming imo) for 10/forward line rotation options, Ugarte for midfield, whichever of Maz or Dalot as a fullback backup, and decent enough coverage at CB but young or predominately injured.
I feel like losing Dorgu has massively hurt us, and its clear to me that we need at least 2 midfielders regardless of our current players, so if Case + Ugarte end up leaving, then we really need to push for 3.
As is the same with Amorim let’s blame everything except what we should be blaming. We have 0 depth and when we lose 1 or 2 players we fall off a cliff.
Carrick is great as an interim. Has never shown he is good enough for the permanent.
His previous job he was sacked by a CHAMPIONSHIP side and now all of a sudden he is qualified to take on arguably the most difficult managerial post in the world ?
Great as an interim, but permanent is a completely different set of expectations. Football has really not been good, results are sliding after honeymoon period came to an end.
This team hasn’t played for weeks, and couldn’t be bothered to put in some intensity against Leeds while playing home ? Lots of people in this sub would have put that on Amorim should he still be in post, so stay consistent and do the same with Carrick
The thing with Carrick he is also not really rotating much either. So you end up with players like Maz who were pretty good barely playing since afcon. Then people wonder why he’s playing like shit against Leeds when he basically didn’t play since January.
When you sub a player on is not only for a game management reasons. It’s for squad management. When we have Europe next year what’s he gonna do play same 11 all year?
I mean sure. But the bench is also not very good, in particular with the recent injuries. So let’s see, Dalot came on but everyone always complains about him, Zirkzee not good enough, Malacia same, I assume Mount isn’t fully fit, Mbeumo came on but is a bit out of form in any case… So is the issue that he didn’t throw on Heaven and Lacey and Fletcher at half time???
Personally, the main problem is that the performance was just flat. They had 3 weeks off. Yes, i know it’s not like the whole team’s been off with the internationals going on etc, but with the coaches having more time with the squad/gameplan plus the trip to Ireland, I just expected more. Something more.
I actually suspected that the team would start a bit flat with the downtime. We’ve seen this countless times with many teams after a break. But i also expected the intensity to improve as the game went on, especially against a Leeds team desperate for points. But they never really responded.
Could better timing of subs make an impact? Sure. But i feel like thats plastering over the main point.
Now imagine if Amorim did this…….
[deleted]
Its not just leeds! People keep talking about it like its an isolated incident. The whole stretch of sesko saving our asses – a lot of those game we needed him to start to come on much earlier, not after 60 and especially not after 70! If it wasn’t for those late sesko goals we would be having a very different conversation right now. He got bailed out numerous times by individual quality from our top players. Our actual play has fallen off significantly since the city and arsenal games lets be honest
To be fair against Leeds who was he supposed to bring on? The issue was midfield and defence and we had no one on the bench that could change that
A very real problem we were having in the game was that neither maz or shaw were actually imposing any attacking threat. For all of dalot’s bad qualities the one thing he does offer is movement up front which draws defenders out of place. We were being overrun in midfield while also having no width to play. I dont know how dalot didnt come on at half time but it was so clear that something had to change
The Carrick experiment is imploding. It a ship in the dark of night on fire, hopefully it gets to shore/champions league before life, light and all hope is lost.
I always hate it when results take a downturn and things get nit-picky. There’s not much to be done beyond those players we know are really useful for the league right now. Getting good stuff out of those players is already a massive success.
Gutter journalism as usual. It would have a valid point if we had a team of galacticos primed and ready on the bench. But we don’t, so it loses it core argument immediately when the bench is a mix of academy prospects, semi crocked or returning from injury players (mount), those totally unsuited to the prem (zirkzee), plus anyone else to make up the numbers (malacia)