Man United missed massive trick not re-signing Danny Welbeck as 5/10 forwards flounder

Matheus Cunha’s fortuitous late leveller eases some of the pressure on Manchester United manager Michael Carrick heading into the international break.

However, a limp 1-1 draw against a Fulham side who started the day bottom of the table and who are still searching for their first Premier League win under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa does not paper over United’s early-season cracks.

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The harsh reality for the travelling fans, who booed loudly when Carrick took off their favourite son Kobbie Mainoo, is this was another toothless attacking display where their team looked far too open out of possession, as has become a recurring theme.

Lisandro Martinez’s comical own goal to gift Fulham the lead 18 minutes into the second half sums up the meandering manner in which United have started their campaign.

The fact that when they were in need of a game-changer off the bench at 1-0, Carrick could only call upon the willing but limited Joshua Zirkzee exposes one of many big flaws in the Red Devils’ summer recruitment.

With Benjamin Sesko absent due to injury, Carrick opted once again to start Cunha as the false no.9.

The only other options available were Marcus Rashford or Bryan Mbeumo, but, like Cunha himself, are both much more affective out wide.

Having to reintegrate the previously unwanted Rashford, mainly due to his huge £350,000-a-week wages, means Cunha has had to sacrifice playing in his preferred inside-left role.

If anyone deserved the slice of luck that came via his hopeful shot being deflected past a stranded Bernd Leno in the 89th minute, it was the Brazilian.

Cunha was the best of United’s attacking contingent throughout the afternoon and had earlier been denied by the post.

But that does not disguise the fact Rashford’s end product since returning to his boyhood club has left a lot to be desired.

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A lot has been spoken and written about the Old Trafford hierarchy’s transfer window failure to provide Carrick with the extra defensive cover he clearly needs, especially in the full-back areas.

But, serious questions also need to be asked as to why they didn’t make any meaningful attempt to add to their striking options.

Zirkzee has proved he is not good enough to get United back to where they publicly aspire to be and Sesko is not the finished article even when fully fit.

At the start of last season United toyed with the idea of re-signing their former academy graduate Danny Welbeck from Brighton but talks with his advisors quickly tailed off.

When it became clear Brighton were willing to sell Welbeck to Chelsea this summer, and sources have told me he went for as little as £4million, United should have been fighting hard to hijack the deal.

Not only could Welbeck do a job leading the line, but he would also bring much-needed character and leadership to a dressing room that, from the outside at least, still looks lacking in that department.

If Carrick had his former teammate at his disposal at Craven Cottage then United would surely have posed much more of a goal-threat and maybe would have come away with a bigger share of the points.

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Groves: Carrick 'won't last half a season'

In a conversation with me immediately after the final whistle, talkSPORT's Perry Groves said he believes Carrick's days as United boss are numbered.

"I'm looking at this and I said Man United are a half-and-half team," Groves said.

"When they close down, they do it half-heartedly. When they drop deep, they don't close the ball down when it's in their own final third.

"I can't see Michael Carrick lasting half the season."

"They had a bit of urgency when they were 1-0 down, but it's a different scenario," Groves continued.

"When you're one or 2-0 down, it's easier because the opposition sits deeper, so you then think you'll take chances.

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"They should be doing that before they go 1-0 down in the 63rd minute."

"From a player's point of view, I think they're nice to play against," Groves added.

"I don't think they really test you. We've seen it in the first half where Fulham played through them fairly easily. There was a period of 20 minutes in that first half where every time Fulham went forward, they looked like they were going to score.

"If Gonzalo Garcia had his boots on the right feet in the first half, this could have been a lot worse.

"I just think Manchester United have got away with it."