Manchester United are facing questions over their lack of striking options, Marcus Rashford's form, the change in playing style and the likely departure of teenage prospect JJ Gabriel.
Two weeks into a three-week international break, a different club in Manchester is the focus of the football world's attention. It has been a remarkable few days in the Premier League and it has meant it has been relatively quiet for Manchester United, but that is unlikely to last.
Attention may have been diverted elsewhere, but United have had a disappointing start to the season and as the domestic action resumes, the focus will soon turn to matters at Old Trafford and Michael Carrick's future.
Striker concerns
With so much going on at United, fans have been offered the chance to ask questions about the club. One question highlighted the lack of depth up front: "We only have one striker in our squad and Sesko is always injured. We know this could be a problem, so why did the board do nothing about it?"
It certainly feels like a mistake at the moment. United hoped Sesko was over his shin problem but the fact that it has returned is a major concern. Even so, Carrick and director of football Jason Wilcox were happy with the attacking options in the squad, so much so that they would have been willing to let Joshua Zirkzee go and use those funds to look at a left-back.
Marcus Rashford, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha can all play up front, but Rashford doesn't want to, it isn't working for Cunha and with Amad injured there is a shortage of options on the right to free up Mbeumo. Danny Welbeck looked like a no-brainer and it is amazing United didn't go for him, as they look short of a striker now.
Rashford's role
Another question asked: "Why is Carrick still starting Rashford when he isn't giving us what is needed?"
Rashford has done alright, even if the stats in terms of goals and assists aren't there for him yet. He should have scored by now, but he has created 13 big chances in the Premier League, which is the same as Bruno Fernandes. He also offers pace and directness on the wings, which is helpful. With Cunha playing as the No. 9 and Dorgu now injured, there isn't really another option to replace him.
Change in style
Fans have also asked why Carrick has changed the style of play, noting the team are not attacking quickly enough and the speed of transitions is not as intense as last season.
It was reported in the summer that Carrick wanted to bring control to his team and his Middlesbrough side were built in the same way, around patient passing more than rapid transitions. The approach of playing on the break did work last season, however, and it does feel as if United are better when they try and play that way. Carrick's new approach is yet to properly bed in.
JJ Gabriel's future
One question asked: "What is happening with JJ Gabriel? Has he left yet, and if so, why?"
He hasn't left yet, but it feels inevitable that he will. He turns 16 on Tuesday and that is the day he can agree a move to a European club, with his EU passport, and ask FIFA to approve it, which they are likely to do. United have done what they can to try and convince Gabriel to stay and there will be an offer of scholarship terms on Tuesday, but a departure is seen as the most likely outcome now.
As to why, it has been building for a few months, with Gabriel's camp unhappy that he got just eight minutes in pre-season and was then overlooked for a routine Champions League opener against Sabah. That appears to have caused Gabriel's family to look elsewhere, although there was a view that something like this always felt possible with the teenager.
