Man Utd fans should be concerned by Michael Carrick’s reaction to Everton draw

Everton 2-2 Man Utd (George 83′, Maitland-Niles 90+6′ | Mbeumo 46′, Sesko 88′) HILL DICKINSON STADIUM — Never has a team been more there for the taking. Goodison Park, at various junctures in its history, was a mutinous place. Rarely, however, have we seen Everton fan groups withdraw their support entirely, after being “disgusted” by the summer transfer window. Having emerged with a squad weaker than when they started, David Moyes’ side put in a first-half showing against Manchester United that typified their weak and vulnerable state. They offered nothing in attack, failing to provide their only senior striker with any service at all, and looked susceptible to any attack of any pace or vigour down the other end, knowing angry supporters were waiting with bated breath to get on their backs with every missed tackle, every limp pass. The hosts represented the perfect opponent, in the perfect week. United may have scored five against Ipswich Town, but the rout masked plenty of frailties. A trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium was just the panacea Michael Carrick needed: not just a win, but a convincing one was surely in the offing. "That is something SPECIAL!"Ainsley Maitland-Niles earns a draw for Everton on his debut with an unbelievable 96th minute strike! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/HNdx9PxrUP— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 6, 2026 Yet having lead twice, United inexcusably dropped two points after conceding two for the third league match in a row. Good teams won’t drop points against this Everton. To fail to compound the Mersey blues around the stadium is a damning indication of, psychologically, where United are at. This wasn’t a result born out of a lack of quality, or opportunity. United should have been in front by half-time, Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes both going close in the first half. The opener when it did come, early in the second half, could not have been simpler. It was a microcosm of the weakness of opponent they were up against. Bryan Mbeumo just simply ran in a straight line, past three defenders, before arrowing the ball into the bottom corner. The crowd started to turn, with worse to surely follow. Another team with ambitions to mount anything like a title tilt this season would have smelled blood. Sir Alex Ferguson would never have passed an opportunity like this up. Marcus Rashford was doing his part, giving Merlin Rohl a torrid time down the left flank. The direct running and relentless threat was the antithesis of everything else United were offering in attack. Marcus Rashford showed his class on the left wing (Photo: Getty) Between Mbeumo’s opener and Tyrique George’s bolt out of the blue equaliser, some 37 minutes, United did not have another shot on target. Forced into some assertion, United quickly retook the lead through a fine Benjamin Sesko header. But that’s the thing – you never felt, even with two minutes left, that United could hold on. A team who concede two against Hull, Ipswich and Everton are not going to get anywhere this season. The fact it was the most run-of-the-mill deadline day signing who arrowed home a stunning 95th-minute equaliser was the icing on the cake. Everton started the final day of the window with the prospect of USA striker Folarin Balogun joining, only for it to finish with a 29-year-old right-back, brought in on the cheap, being the only arrival we didn’t already know about. Six days later, Ainsley Maitland-Niles comes up with that equaliser, with one of his first touches for his stricken club. These things only tend to happen to modern-day United. Carrick’s reaction to questions over a poor start to the season should be of real concern for supporters who think that “Project 150” is anything like a possibility. Read more Kat Lucas: Fulham have built a new era on sand Mark Douglas: The moment Matthias Jaissle convinced me he’s the right man for Newcastle “We haven’t started the season that bad,” a tranquil, smiling Carrick said. “It’s not that bad. We’ve got that 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.” Fine? Just where United supporters want to be. If Carrick thinks four points from three matches is not a bad start, then there is no greater indication of what the reality is for United and its fans. It seems mediocrity will be tolerated for a while longer yet.