Leeds deserved to win. Just want to get that out of the way. And if we're being completely honest, 2-1 flattered us.
It also wasn't because of arguably the most stupidest red card given for 'violent conduct' I've ever seen.
The game is well and truly gone.
I don't want that Martinez sending off to be the talking point and why we lost this game.
This was coming. A result like this to an opponent like this at Old Trafford was coming.
I've been saying for a while now that I think we've been awful. I don't believe we've actually seen good, dominant football from United ever since Carrick took over.
And this is why he cannot be the manager.
There's too many question marks over him and the coaching staff.
Let's start from the start.
A lot of fans were a bit upset about the starting XI. No Mainoo, Ugarte in the team, where's Mbeumo? I would argue that it was actually as good a team as he could've picked.
Mainoo has a small problem and couldn't play which is why Ugarte HAD to start - we have no one else. And why midifled is of utmost priority for United, especially after the performance he put in.
I agreed with Mbeumo being benched because his form has been poor recently and when Amad was displaying the same level of performances, everyone wanted him out of the team.
This for me, is the same.
But beyond the XI...
United might as well have stayed in Ireland because what they showed was a side still on holiday. And clearly that's what it was in Dublin because once again, that team showed no urgency, energy or intensity from the first whistle.
Leeds should've been ahead after 2 minutes.
Calvert-Lewin had a point blank shot saved by Lammens.
From that point on, you would've thought that United would then kick into gear.
I suppose we sort of did: reverse gear.
However, it was all Leeds, and literally a couple minutes later, they deservedly went 1-0 up. Some poor defending from United as we allowed them to get the ball out wide and put a cross in. Crap marking and a simple finish to give them the lead.
If we hadn't woken up before, surely going a goal down would do the trick?
Nah, forget about it 🙄.
Leeds went from strength-to-strength and doubled their lead on the half hour mark. Again, deservedly so. Okafor with his second of the night.
United failed to clear the ball after some head tennis before a deflected volley beat Lammens.
Still, nothing thereafter from the home side.
Instead, Leeds could've had a 3rd! However, Martinez with a late goal-saving challenge denied Tanaka making it 3-0 on the stroke of halftime.
Booes rang around Old Trafford as the referee blew the whistle for the break.
Not something you want to hear when trying to push for the permanent manager position.
I can't understand why Carrick didn't make changes at halftime. It was clear something needed to happen but he kept the same XI out for the second half.
This is one of the things that I say is a problem - he doesn't act fast enough nor is he brave enough.
A lot of fans were calling for Ugarte to come off for Mbeumo with Bruno dropping into midfield and Cunha shifting over into the no 10 position.
That would've made sense given the situation.
This lack of changes was then compounded with that Martinez red card for, I don't even know what for exactly. That was on 60 minutes but weirdly, what we were all calling for - energy and intensity, arrived when we went a man down.
It was almost as if playing with ten men and being 2-0 down suddenly made United wake the fuck up!
We played better with ten men than we did with 11 and that could only be because of one thing: a mentality shift.
I didn't really see anything tactical from the manager that influenced the game although Carrick eventually made substitutions as Mbeumo came on for Amad and Dalot for Mazraoui.
That never improved us that much but we did see Bruno in a deeper position where he was more involved in the game. That's where he and his big mate Casemiro combined for the goal that gave us a lifeline.
A brilliant ball to the back post saw an unmarked unc. Give him space and time, you know the outcome. Bruno with his 17th assist of the season and one closer to breaking the all-time record.
That was probably the only positive from this game.
While it was admirable that United did show some spirit to try and get back in the game - Sesko had a good header saved late on - it was too little, too late and Leeds got their first victory at Old Trafford since 1981.
The talk from Carrick and Bruno after the game was all about the red card and decisions that were inconsistent like a potential foul on Yoro before the opener for Leeds.
That is pathetic, and classic deflection tactics.
As I said, we were better after the red card. But we have to ask the question: why?
Why were United flat from the start (again)? Why did we not look up for a game that Carrick himself said was a 'big night'? Why did we not compete as Bruno said the club need to be 'competitve' for him to consider staying? Why were we better with a man down than with 11?
Why, why, why.
Poor in-game management, lacking energy, not reacting quickly to going behind, didn't control the game, late subs. Even when the camera panned to him, he just stood there. No emotion.
Pretty much all the things I was concerned about came to pass.
Carrick is simply NOT him. Sorry to say.
Ratings
Lammens - 7 MOTM
Mazraoui - 4
Yoro - 5
Martinez - 5
Shaw - 5
Casemiro - 5
Ugarte - 5
Amad - 5
Bruno - 5
Cunha - 4
Sesko - 4
Mbeumo - 5
Dalot - 5
Carrick - 3
Michael Carrick suffers first home defeat as Man Utd manager in 2-1 loss to Leeds | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)