Michael Carrick is starting to feel the heat at Manchester United, but it’s this group of players who deserve to be under the microscope, following yet another dismal start to the season.
It’s the same old story, in truth, with things going awry just when expectation levels begin to rise, this expensively assembled bunch wilting under the bright Old Trafford lights.
That was very much the case on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup, none more so than for Benjamin Sesko, the Slovenian drawing the ire of the home crowd time and again against Brighton and Hove Albion.
There have been calls to start the 23-year-old more regularly, not least heading into the derby, yet this was a reminder as to why he hasn’t earned Carrick’s full trust as yet. He’s not the only one…
Why Sesko’s Brighton display was so concerning
Sesko will undoubtedly be keen to shake this supersub tag, but on the evidence of midweek, he just doesn’t look ready to lead the line on a consistent basis.
A scorer against both Everton and then Sabah, the former RB Leipzig man had been rather poor otherwise in that Champions League clash last week, so errant in possession.
It was no surprise, in truth, to see Carrick utilise a more mobile forward line against Manchester City instead, with that tactic only really coming undone when the visitors were reduced to ten men.
Even when entering the fray at the weekend, Sesko’s impact was minimal, with the same also true against the Seagulls, as he put in a frankly limp and lifeless centre-forward outing.
From just 23 touches, he lost possession on 13 occasions, including in the build-up to Brighton’s opener. For the equaliser too, he was also a yard off it when Diogo Dalot’s albeit tame clearance had been made.
The most egregious moment, however, was Sesko’s sluggish play in the second-half, squandering what could have been a clear breakaway after seemingly believing he was offside.
Damningly, it felt like the kind of performance supporters had come to expect from his predecessor, Rasmus Hojlund, with the likeness between the pair still clear to see.
In Sesko’s defence, he has at least delivered in front of goal despite limited minutes under Carrick’s watch, with there perhaps more pressing issues in the squad right now.
Man Utd have overpaid for a worse signing than Sesko
It’s far too early to judge this summer’s recruitment, but it does feel as if INEOS’ plan is already going up in smoke, having sought to strengthen the squad in different phases.
It was all about the forward line last summer, and while Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo enjoyed solid debut seasons, the attacking unit is far from the finished article.
Even so, Jason Wilcox and co made the priority the midfield unit this time around, yet on current evidence, United haven’t necessarily improved in that department.
Carlos Baleba remains sidelined, Youri Tielemans has merely filled Casemiro’s shoes, if that, while Andrey Santos looks like another Manuel Ugarte in the making, with the merits of his £50m signing still to be seen.
Rather than attack the market, INEOS have played it safe this summer, you’d have to say. Brighton were willing to give up Baleba after a difficult season. Tielemans was available due to his £35m release clause. Chelsea were more than willing to cash in on the peripheral Santos for a significant profit.
The Red Devils have shopped in the bargain bin and are paying the price, with Santos the perfect case in point, the Brazilian already losing his Premier League place after a dismal debut away at Hull City.
Even against Sabah, Carrick favoured his first-choice pairing of Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo, while Santos was among those substituted early in the second half as United ceded momentum to the rampant Seagulls.
Man Utd vs Brighton – Match Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
Man Utd | Stat | Brighton |
50% | Possession | 50% |
1.31 | xG | 2.32 |
1 | Big chances | 5 |
12 | Shots | 18 |
2 | Saves | 2 |
4 | Corners | 3 |
5 | Fouls | 14 |
527 | Passes | 532 |
26 | Tackles | 20 |
14 | Free-kicks | 5 |
The former Strasbourg loanee, who actually won ten of his 11 duels on Wednesday night, looks safe and steady, yet nothing more than that, having failed to register a single key pass and recorded just an 87% pass accuracy rate last time out.
At a time when United’s rivals have spent big on ready-made midfielders like Mateus Fernandes, Elliot Anderson and Bruno Guimaraes, the mind does boggle at the £50m investment in a player who, checks notes, started just 13 Premier League games last season.
It’s early days, yet INEOS are already paying the price for that move, quite literally in fact, with it hard to view this deal as anything other than an overpayment.
As per Transfermarkt, for instance, the 22-year-old’s actual value is believed to be closer to €40m (£34m), well below the fee that the Old Trafford side forked out to sign him.
At least in Sesko’s case, for all his faults, he has now scored nine times in only 19 games under Carrick, just eight of which have been starts, with there still signs of life from the Slovenian.
For Santos, it already feels like this is £50m that could have been better spent elsewhere in the squad, including in defence, with INEOS seemingly overpaying for a player who is already firmly down the midfield pecking order.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
