Luke Shaw did not look good the last time that he played, Manchester United’s 5-2 win over Ipswich Town. Shaw was directly responsible for a defensive breakdown that yielded one of Ipswich’s goals in that game, which so far is the only time that United have beaten a domestic opponent this season.
What are the Manchester United at Fulham FYIs?
Kickoff: Sunday September 20, 4:30pm
Venue: Craven Cottage, London, UK
Manchester United Team News: go here
Premier League Position: Manchester United 13th, 4 pts Fulham FC 18th, 1 pt
Premier League Form Guide: Manchester United LWDL Fulham FC LLLD
For all his good traits and bad traits, Luke Shaw is an important player for United, and they need him at full fitness, and in the starting lineup, in order to be their best. Sunday brings a trip to Fulham, a side that is way too talented to be where they are right now- 18th place.
Seriously, the Cottagers have spent way too money on the roster to be in a relegation scrap right now.
United have looked pedestrian, at best, on the young season, and there is already speculation that pressure is beginning to mount on Carrick.
The United manager dismissed this idea however.
“I think that’ll be a lot longer than one or two games of results,” Carrick said at his press conference earlier today.
“In terms of future and ownership and how long I’ve got in the job, I’m not thinking ‘how long have I got?’ It’s ridiculous to think that way in a position that I’m in. That’s just not on the radar.
“It’s two or three games that we haven’t had certain results, and two or three games too many because I really hate losing. But that doesn’t mean that the world caves in.”
Carrick is both right and wrong at the same time. Yes, it’s absurd that we’re talking about pressure starting to mount on him, after just four games.
However, on the other hand, this is the Premier League, where the expectations are so high and the patience so thin that it is not rare to see a club change managers not once, but twice, in the same season.
Who would you start if you were Michael Carrick?
This is the strongest lineup possible, probably:
Senne Lammens; Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw; Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans; Bryan Mbeumo, Mateus Fernandes, Mattheus Cunha; Benjamin Sesko
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.