A Flat Performance: Why Michael Carrick Is Not Ready For The Permanent Job
I went into this game expecting a comfortable win. Just like Aston Villa, Bournemouth is a team that will come right at us. Under Ruben Amorim, we showed we know exactly how to handle teams like that. We beat Manchester City and Arsenal by dealing with their pressure, so I expected nothing but a win today.
The Lineup Confusion
Before the match even started, Michael Carrick made a decision that left me scratching my head. Benjamin Sesko was left on the bench again. This is a massive shame because Sesko is the one player performing the absolute best under Carrick right now. I understand that Bournemouth is a high pressing team and maybe Carrick thought benching him made tactical sense, but given Sesko’s current form, I strongly feel he needed to start.
If we wanted to bench an attacker, we really should have tried benching Amad instead. He just does not look good right now. He is completely lacking that spark and has not been looking like the dangerous Amad we saw under Amorim.
A Flat First Half
I thought this game would be super intense, exactly like the first leg. Instead, the game felt completely flat. It was super flat. It felt exactly like a glass of diet coke that was left open for more than an hour. We had a quick start for the first four or five minutes, but after that, it was quite boring. Amad managed to get a good shot away, but Petrovic made a solid save. After that, the game just did not have much to offer.
Our best moment of the first half came when Diogo Dalot set up a beautiful cross for Bruno Fernandes. Bruno hit a lovely half volley, but again, it was saved by Petrovic. You have to admit, Petrovic was having an amazing game so far.
Second Half Chaos and Penalty Drama
The second half started a bit better than the first one. Matheus Cunha started doing the rough dribbling that he is very good at. He really showed his Brazilian flair and drove into the box. Alex Jimenez panicked and pulled his shirt, which won us a penalty. Bruno takes the penalty, and Bruno scores the penalty. Simple.
Then came a very debatable moment. For me, it is not even a debate. Tuffert challenges Amad and pulls him down. It was a light challenge for sure, but we have seen these exact type of incidents given as a penalty so many times. The referee says play on. Bournemouth immediately attacked us on the counter, and Ryan Christie scored from the center of the box. It was a class finish nonetheless, but it felt incredibly harsh on us.
Late Scares and The Final Collapse
We managed to get another goal from a Bruno corner. It was a good cross put into a very tough position to deal with. Everyone initially thought Harry Maguire scored it, but it was checked and officially given as a James Hill own goal.
We were still struggling though. We looked totally out of touch and out of energy. Alex Scott, a midfielder that many of the Premier League clubs are watching, scouting, and tracking, took an unbelievable shot from outside the box. It hit the woodwork. It was a very near miss and we were incredibly lucky not to concede there.
Then the real disaster struck in the 81st minute. Ryan plays an amazing pass to Evanilson. Evanilson was just too fast for Maguire, and Maguire pulls him down. He gives away a penalty and gets a red card. Now, I feel this is a penalty, but if this was a penalty, then the foul on Amad should have been one too. The inconsistency is frustrating. Kroupi Jr takes the penalty for Bournemouth and scores with a perfect finish.
The Final Verdict
Absolutely nothing happened from the 81st minute right up to the final whistle. It was a very dull game by United. After a performance like this, serious doubts are looming over Michael Carrick. For me, he should not be the permanent manager because he clearly is not ready for the job.
UNITED SCRIPTED. 
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