Owen Hagreaves names Man Utd transfer MUST SIGN after complete Hull debacle
Owen Hargreaves believes Manchester United have to sign another striker before the summer transfer window shuts, following the dismal season-opening defeat to Hull City on Saturday.
Michael Carrick’s men suffered a shocking start to the new Premier League campaign as they succumbed to two set-piece goals to the newly-promoted Tigers at MKM Stadium.
Despite having plenty of the ball, Man Utd offered very little cutting edge in attack, while new midfield duo Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans both struggled on their competitive debuts for the club.
United are set to welcome Carlos Baleba through the door this week, while they also actively remain on the hunt for a new left-back before the window closes.
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However, striker could remain a need after Carrick opted to start Benjamin Sesko on the bench at Hull, given the fact that he has not played a single minute in pre-season due to a shin issue.
Indeed, Matheus Cunha started through the middle but got very little change out of the three centre-backs deployed by the home side.
And former Red Devils star Hargreaves believes that while United have assembled a squad well capable of finishing in the top four this season, Saturday’s game highlighted why they should probably go out and buy a new striker in the closing days of the window.
“I think they could probably do with another striker option,” Hargreaves told TNT Sports.
“I think that showed today, Sesko didn’t start and Cunha played a little bit deeper. He’s a 10, and plays very effective off the left.
“But I do think with Baleba coming into the team, it is a good squad and it is a top four squad, I just think they were at their best last season counter-attacking teams. Remember the first ones, Carrick’s first games against City and Arsenal.
“Today where they had possession of the ball they didn’t look like scoring. I think it will be easier when the space opens up.
“Today there wasn’t that. I think they go back to the drawing board and look at what they can do differently.”
Carrick ‘exposed’ in shocking Man Utd loss
Meanwhile, The i Paper’s chief sports correspondent, Kevin Garside, wrote that ‘Hull set fire’ to the ‘myth’ that United are enjoying a comeback under Carrick, as his ‘total lack of philosophy’ was ‘exposed’ during Saturday’s demoralising defeat.
Garside asked: “What exactly is Carrick-ball? He is the only Big Six manager with no way of playing at all.”
He added: “Of all the ‘big-six’ coaches, Carrick is arguably the one without a philosophy attached. Is there such a thing as Carrick-ball? We know what Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal team might look like, one not dissimilar to that of fellow Pep Guardiola disciple Enzo Maresca at Manchester City.
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“The Guardiola-like emphasis on detail and emotion is equally prominent in the work of Roberto De Zerbi at Spurs.
“Andoni Iraola will seek to establish width and pace through the middle as he adapts his counter-attacking style at Liverpool. What Carrick-ball might mean is hard to know.’
Garside described the result as “the worst of Carrick’s short career as United coach.”
The Red Devils are back in action against another newly-promoted side in Ipswich Town next weekend.
