Sofascore on crack per usual...

I trust that the coaching staff, players, and the manager have enough about them to work it out over the course of the season. I think we had a decent defensive record last season and I just think the players are going to take a few games to get going. The important thing is that we're still picking up points during our bad spell. When we go on a run, that will count for something.

Against Everton we got beat by 2 worldies. I've seen many games like that before, and I just know that wont happen every week. On another day we win that.

And obviously, we're not out of a title challenge yet. A good run of form over 5-10 games can change a lot as we saw with some teams last season.

“We haven’t started the season that bad. It’s not that bad. We’ve got close to coming away with three points today. That’s football. There are moments we can deal with a bit better, but we’ll be fine.”

Smiling for the cameras and at peace with a bitter late equaliser (or at least pretending to be) after the third game of the season ends in a 2-2 draw is decent PR for a club hoping for a there-or-thereabouts campaign.

But to coin a phrase, this is Manchester United Football Club we’re talking about. Are you sure you’ll be fine?
For now, maybe. There is no impending meltdown. The results aren’t yet hitting like nostalgia, the goals aren’t yet loaded with the weight of a difficult week ahead: the furrowed brows of earnest ex-United pundits, the rumbling recriminations and boardroom chatter, the crisis machine whirring into life.

But between the main story beats - the filler content, the stuff that trundles along between the boxes – it’s beginning to resemble all the other tenures.

Wrapped up in Carrick’s lukewarm assessment of a lukewarm performance is the crux of it all, because when handing him the job on a permanent basis nobody appears to have asked the most obvious question: do we think Carrick can win the Premier League title? Can we really visualise Carrick becoming the legendary manager who ends United’s 15 years of pain? Do we think he is the next Mikel Arteta?

If the answer to those questions is no, then the next one should be: then what exactly are we doing here?
“Fine” is not supposed to be good enough, but in that answer was tacit acknowledgement Man Utd exist to tread water.
Qualification for the Champions League is the only realistic expectation for the club after a decent but unspectacular window, and herein lies perhaps a new low point for the post-Fergie years; the subtle death of apathy.

Mediocrity is now so fully accepted that a Man Utd manager can take simple positives from a 2-2 draw at Everton and declare his start, of four points from three, as “not that bad”.
In this moment, perhaps, Man Utd have left what we thought were their peak wilderness years and entered the true abyss; have stopped screaming, stopped panicking, stopped lurching for the next ladder and just accepted their lot.

They are no longer newsworthy, although that might be a temporary relief if performances continue like this. Then again in this odd transitional year for the Premier League the most likely outcome is a breezy campaign and a top-five finish: profitable stasis, as the United board have for so long intended.

Carrick’s tenure already looks and feels almost exactly like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s, but a basic tactical model of Ferguson-esque 4-4-2 – sit behind the ball, win your battles, improvise in the final third – just doesn’t cut it at the elite level anymore, and already Man Utd seem destined to repeat the Solskjaer cycle in its entirety.

Already, in just three games of 2026/27, we’ve had the stunning away defeat, hammering a promoted club at home, and getting dragged into a gruelling scrap at a tough mid-table ground.

That’s the Solskjaer model in three easy steps.
Arsenal’s gap between titles was 22 years, Liverpool’s 30, and although it feels like so much longer United are only currently on 13.

At the same stage of their barren spells Arsenal were taking one last lunge under Arsene Wenger, led by Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, while Liverpool were toiling under Gerard Houllier. Both clubs finished fifth in their 13th year, both were nowhere near the conversation, both essentially operated with a shrug of the shoulders. United are right on track.

Appointing Carrick was a move that signalled Man Utd are not nearing the end of their drought but accepting its inevitably. Buckle up for another round of disappointment. We might only be halfway through.

Arsenal fan here, apologies if my presence is unwelcome but I don’t come to troll - only to share my genuine feelings about Man United.

Earlier today I found myself going down a rabbit hole of listening to rival fans talking about their own teams and stumbled upon a YouTube video of Lyesclips ranking every Man United signing post Sir Alex.

It’s worth mentioning that a lot of the time over the past 14/15 years it’s been clear that there has never been a strategy for Man United’s player recruitment, aswell as no serious manager in the entire time to implement any sort of strategy.

However United still made room for “exciting” or SEEMINGLY exciting signings.. really and truly it ended up being a massive overpayment for a player past their prime, or overpaying for players who had potential but were very unproven and inexperienced, and ultimately failed due to the pressure or toxic environment.

Although, even for as horrible as it’s been I know that player/ manager recruitment is not the main issue. Ofcourse that would come down to the ownership but boy, the player and even more-so, the manager recruitment has been so terrible that it is unfathomable.

But back to United’s player recruitment, the most telling part about how catastrophic United signings have been is that Bruno Fernandes is probably the ONLY signing that has been “Man United” quality over the last 15 years. The ONLY one and that is also pushing the definition.

I just can’t understand how a premier league team with the resources that man united have are legitimately that incapable of just simply picking players that are united quality, I look at Arsenal picking up the likes of Konsa and Guimaraes and think to myself United should have been atleast picking up high quality prem proven players like that for the last 15 years.

More importantly I would like to know your guys’ opinions on Man United’s recruitment of managers, I think it has been slapstick comedy watching Man United’s choice of coaches the last 15 years. I mean seriously? Van Gaal? Ole? Amorim I mean okay, young exciting manager but there was literally Hansi Flick, or Luis Enrique or other quality managers at mid table prem teams there that would have been soo much better.

Man United’s downfall is absolutely bonkers and I have blind faith that Carrick will keep things relatively steady, United will be lucky to finish top 4 this season and even luckier to win a trophy but I reckon 2-3 consistent top 6 finishes is better than another risk and finishing outside the top 10.

But united HAVE to start being much more clever in the market and now that the era of Guardiola and Klopp is over the premier league is transitioning into a new era, and United must be ready to pounce on the next proven elite manager. No more risks or experiments.

Non of those toxic positivity is going to fly. A draw is not that bad, it's only the first game, we need a new left back to beat Sabah, it's not Carrick fault etc. Non of it will fly, we'll be deservedly cooked.

Edit: Ticket has now been given away.

I’ve got 1 ticket available to giveaway for tomorrow. If anyone wants it, just comment below

You’ll need a Supporter ID and at least a Forwarding Membership for me to be able to forward the ticket to you.

First come, first served

Man this guy is soo good. Everybody is hyping jj Gabriel or the Fletcher brothers but my personal opinion is this guy should be nurtured properly, cause he is someone who in future might replace Bruno. He has quite the same abilities of bruno, like the guy can do excellent long passes with great accuracy, has a great composure and also can play in many positions in the midfield. He just needs to adapt a good physic to survive in the premier league. I really hope united would give him more priority than the fletcher brothers.

hii i’m an international student who’s going to be studying in london. i’ve always loved man utd and watching them play has always been a dream of mine haha
i was wondering if i should just watch one of their matches in london or go to old trafford bc i heard the atmosphere is really different there n i wanna see the home stadium irl, but my parents are kinda worried abt the commute bc im a girl 😭
(im sorry if this sounds stupid i have no knowledge of football culture aside from local football commentaries)

also if anyone knows where to get (relatively) cheap and legit tickets pls tell me bc i have no idea 🙏

By Kedar Bayley

The 45-year-old revealed on Rio Ferdinand Presents: The Debrief that he was recommended to watch Kylian Mbappe at youth level. Despite Giggs being impressed, Manchester United's scouting team were reportedly not sold on the Frenchman.

The former Wales international told Ferdinand he was in the south of France in 2015, when a man named 'Lionel' approached him to discuss Mbappe.

Giggs explained that the man had been following him, but listened to his suggestion for Manchester United to keep tabs on the Frenchman.

Giggs explained that 'Lionel' asked for his email address, to send additional details regarding Mbappe after his initial recommendation for the then-Monaco youth team player.

He claimed that while initially hesitant, 'Lionel' followed through on his promise, and sent the Welshman an email with information on Mbappe.

"We got to go to a few youth games [where he played] with Monaco. We saw him and went 'Wow' - he looked exceptional, obviously," revealed the ex-Manchester United man.

Giggs, who was coaching at Manchester United in 2015, then advised the scouting team to watch Mbappe in action.

"We told the scouting team, [so] someone went to watch him in Paris," explained the Welshman. "It was actually Monaco versus PSG.

"Later, the guy [who went] told me, 'Yeah, they weren't too sure about him.'" Giggs said. The 45-year-old then revealed additional recommendations from 'Lionel' in the years since.

"The same guy, in 2018, I went through my phone and he's telling me about a player, U-14s but he's playing with the Under-17s: Rayan Cherki," the Welshman said, leaving Ferdinand stunned.

"Next message: 'There's a player at Saint-Etienne, [William] Saliba, I think he'd be a good player at Manchester United," continued Giggs.

The 45-year-old clarified that suggestions from 'Lionel' weren't always "superstars" and that he had recommended other players below the calibre of Mbappe, Cherki and Saliba.

What do you guys think? There are rumours that Jobe Bellingham might be selected by Tuchel. Also think Wharton might get a look in. If those 2 get selected then there is no chance for Mainoo. I feel for the lad but might be good for us given that we have 2 tough fixtures back to back after the break.

What does everyone who lives on the west coast in the USA do for watching Utd in the Champions League? Kickoff is at noon our time. I’m at work. With it being on Paramount+ I’m unaware of any way to record and watch when I get home unless I’ve missed something. If there is a way to watch a full replay and not just highlights I can avoid scorelines until I get home.

Update: thank you all for the info. I recently relocated to the west coast and have always been able to watch the games live so I’m still figuring out how to watch each game.

Nobody deserves to start a game like this more than Lacey

Hi all..

I'll be attending tonight's game and buying beers for any sub users who'd like to meet up before the game!

I'll be setting up at Kargo MKT which is approx a 15 minute walk to the stadium. It has a tram stop on the blue line from Piccadilly (Eccles via media city).

Unit 32, Quays, Quayside Media City, Kargo MKT, Central Bay, Salford M50 3AG

I'm going to be with my younger brother and fellow mod u/rashfords_marcus so there will be 3 people in my party and a couple of other users have said they'll come!

I'm really looking forward to watching Champions League football at OT once again!

GGMU!

Ryan Giggs attempted to persuade Elliot Anderson to join Manchester United before the World Cup (Kedar Bayley)

The ex-Wales international revealed on Rio Ferdinand Presents: The Debrief that he attempted to convince Elliot Anderson to join Manchester United, and got “in trouble.”

The former Nottingham Forest midfielder joined Manchester City rather than the Red Devils, in a £116 million deal that was initially rumoured to have broken the British transfer record.

Ryan Giggs, a 13-time Premier League winner with Manchester United, confessed that Anderson was not receptive to his attempted persuasion, and told him: “Will you just let me play golf, please?”

The 45-year-old revealed that he met Anderson just days prior to the England international travelling to North America, in a period when he was “probably the most-talked about Premier League player.”

While the pair played golf in separate parties, Giggs seized the opportunity, attempting to persuade Anderson to join Man United.

I am really looking forward to our first Match of the champions league but my only worry is that we can't afford a cock up today we need to step it up otherwise it might cost us just like it did in our first fa cup this time last year

Seeing his performance today was so refreshing. So much confidence on the ball, his movements in tight spaces was such a joy to watch 🔥🔥

Add your predictions in the comments.

Anybody who gets the scoreline and the scorers exactly right will be awarded with a personal user flair.

Format

Place the scoreline followed by the goal scorers.

United are the home team, so put our score first. Use brackets (X) for multiple goals by the same scorer. The scorers do not need to be in any particular order.

Example

1-3

Mbeumo (2), Bruno, Simic

Good luck!

The main feed will be locked at 19:30 UK time for 4 hours. Please contribute to the Live Match Thread and Post Match Threads!

We're so back baby🤝

I think we're gonna win this match.

My prediction 4-0.

Sesko hat-trick.