Paul Merson has issued a damning assessment of Manchester United's transfer window, claiming the club's recruitment has left Michael Carrick with a thin squad and a defence that falls significantly below the standard required ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby. Three midfielders were brought in during the summer, yet the left-back slot remained unaddressed despite late interest in targets.
Left-back concerns persist
Luke Shaw remains the sole senior left-back at the club, with 19-year-old Harry Amass the only natural alternative. This has left United vulnerable in that area, particularly with Patrick Dorgu being deployed in more advanced positions.
It means Carrick is heavily dependent on the 31-year-old, whose fitness has already been carefully monitored throughout the campaign so far, and any injury would compel United into improvised arrangements across the defensive line. Six goals have already been shipped in just three Premier League fixtures.
Merson's verdict
In his latest Sky Sports column, Merson has pointed to the club's transfer activity and their patchy form in matches to date - branding Sunday's encounter as a 'defining one' despite the early stage of the season.
The former Arsenal man wrote: "Man Utd have got the Manchester derby - and their season is in the balance too. If you beat Man City, you're flying. If you get beat by Man City, here we go again. It would be one point from two games including the Everton game and other teams are winning around you."
"I've said all along: I don't think Man United have bought very well. The squad isn't big enough. It's nowhere near enough. Defensively they're nowhere near good enough. They let in two goals against Everton - and they were two good goals, but one of them was from the edge of the box. Everybody's behind the ball."
Tactical criticism and top-five snub
Merson also criticised United's game management, writing: "When you're winning, put another forward on. Don't take a forward off and put a defender on. Don't give that team the opportunity. Instead, if you put a forward on for a midfielder or a forward, it changes the game completely. If you're the other manager, you think: 'Oh no, what am I going to do?'"
"Instead, Man United just invited pressure on. Just don't do that, especially if you're a big team. If you're Coventry and you go in front at Everton, you of course put a defender on 100%. But when you're Man Utd, I don't see the need to do that. If you're dictating the game, Everton don't get that chance for Ainsley Maitland-Niles."
Merson also expressed his worries about the Reds, explaining why he omitted Carrick's team from his top five predictions this season. "I am worried - and this is why I didn't put Manchester United in my top five at the start of the season," he continued. "Nothing's changed for me since then. When you draw games, it hurts you."
The former Arsenal man has tipped his old club to clinch the title for the second year running, with Liverpool pipped to the post in second place. He then placed Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham in his top five, with United languishing down in sixth.
