After suffering another Premier League loss, former Liverpool player and current Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher declares Manchester United's recent performance as "relegation form." Under new manager Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle, with Carragher specifically pointing out the lack of fitness and ability of two players chosen to man the central midfield. Despite a better second half, Carragher believes the blame ultimately falls on the manager and that the team's struggles may continue if changes are not made.
The Decline of Manchester United: Jamie Carragher Declares "Relegation Form"
Background
Manchester United, once a dominant force in English football, have been struggling in recent seasons. After a dismal performance under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the club replaced him with Ralf Rangnick as interim manager in November 2021. However, Rangnick was equally unable to turn the team's fortunes around.
In May 2022, Manchester United appointed Erik ten Hag as their new manager. Ten Hag had a successful spell at Ajax, leading the Dutch club to three Eredivisie titles and a Champions League semi-final appearance. He was expected to revive the Red Devils and restore them to their former glory.
Carragher's Assessment
After Manchester United's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on September 3, 2023, former Liverpool player and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher criticized the team's performance, calling it "relegation form." He highlighted the lack of fitness and ability in central midfield, particularly from Scott McTominay and Fred.
Carragher believes that the team's struggles are ultimately due to managerial decisions. He questioned Ten Hag's tactics and substitutions and suggested that he needs to make changes to improve the team's form.
Concerns over the Team's Future
Carragher's comments have raised concerns about the future of Manchester United. The club has spent heavily on transfers in recent years, but the results have been disappointing. There are questions about the quality of the squad and whether Ten Hag is the right manager to lead the team.
If United continue to struggle, they could face the prospect of relegation from the Premier League for the first time in their history. This would be a major embarrassment for the club and a signal that the team has fallen a long way from its former heights.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why is Manchester United struggling? A: Manchester United is struggling due to a lack of fitness and ability in midfield, poor tactics, and questionable substitutions from manager Erik ten Hag.
2. What did Jamie Carragher say about Manchester United? A: Carragher called the team's performance "relegation form" and criticized the lack of quality in central midfield.
3. Who are the central midfielders that Carragher criticized? A: Carragher singled out Scott McTominay and Fred for their lack of fitness and ability.
4. What changes should Manchester United make? A: Carragher believes that Ten Hag needs to change his tactics, make better substitutions, and improve the fitness and quality of his midfield.
5. Is Manchester United in danger of relegation? A: If the team continues to struggle, they could face the prospect of relegation from the Premier League for the first time in their history.
Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma is expected to be given a break for the fifth and final Test match against Australia, with fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah taking over as captain. This decision comes after Rohit's poor performance in the ongoing series and his struggles to make an impact since joining the team. The head coach, Gautam Gambhir, hinted at this during a pre-match press conference, stating that the decision will be based on the pitch. With India trailing in the series and only one game remaining, this match holds great significance in their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship Final.
With the current series against Australia still ongoing, Indian selectors, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and team management are already planning for the future. Tough decisions must be made regarding the form and future of captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have both struggled in recent matches. The selectors are also facing a dilemma over who will be the next captain and whether to continue supporting Kohli or look for an alternative. Rishabh Pant, once a contender for captaincy, has also come under scrutiny for his performance in this series.
New Zealand's T20 team, which has undergone a major overhaul after their disappointing exit from the World Cup, have secured a 3-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka. Led by the impressive performances of four players who were not part of the squad six months ago, the Black Caps have once again dominated their opponents in the third T20. Veteran bowler Jacob Duffy and rookie Zak Foulkes were instrumental in restricting Sri Lanka's chase, while batting contributions from Tim Robinson and Mitch Hay helped the hosts set a challenging total of 186. This victory marks a successful start for the revamped Black Caps lineup, showcasing the potential of the new players who have stepped up in the absence of senior players.
In a thrilling Premier League match, Gabriel Jesus continued his scoring streak as Arsenal came from behind to defeat Brentford 3-1. Despite being 1-0 down at half-time, the Gunners remained composed and fired back with goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli. This victory places them just six points behind league leaders Liverpool and shows that they are serious contenders for the title. Manager Mikel Arteta praised his team's resilience and clinical finishing, particularly highlighting Jesus's impressive form.
Indian Cricket Team superstar Shubman Gill, along with three other Gujarat Titans players, has received summons from the Gujarat CID in connection with a Rs 450-crore Ponzi scam. The players are accused of making investments in Bhupendrasinh Zala's companies, which promised high returns but failed to deliver. However, there is no concrete evidence to suggest Gill's involvement in the scam at this point.
The Indian sports community is in celebration as shooter Manu Bhaker, chess world champion D Gukesh, men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar have been selected as recipients of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Bhaker's historic double-medal win at the Olympics, along with Harmanpreet's leadership in securing a second consecutive bronze for the Indian hockey team, were highlights of their achievements. Gukesh's victory as the youngest ever chess world champion and helping India win the gold in Chess Olympiad, and Praveen's T64 championship win in Paralympics, have also earned them the prestigious award. The award ceremony will take place on January 17, 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the awardees will receive this recognition from the President of India.
Indian athletes Manu Bhaker and D Gukesh have been selected to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, the highest sporting honor in the country. This announcement comes alongside the nomination of Indian men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar for the same award. The recipients will receive their awards in a special ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2025. Bhaker and Gukesh have made their mark in their respective sports, with Bhaker making history as the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympics, and Gukesh becoming the youngest ever World Chess champion.
Amid speculation of unrest following a crushing defeat in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and his childhood coach Sanjay Bhardwaj have denied any division within the Indian team. Gambhir emphasized the importance of honesty and performance in the dressing room, while Bhardwaj clarified that reports of a rift often surface after a loss. Gambhir also addressed rumors about captain Rohit Sharma's absence from the pre-match press conference, stating that the final playing XI will be decided after assessing the pitch.
After a year of criticism and scrutiny, Arsenal's young player Ethan Nwaneri finally gets a chance to prove himself in the starting lineup against Brentford. Despite the opposition's strong record at home, Nwaneri's impressive performance helped secure a win for Arsenal. Manager Mikel Arteta explains that it was a decision based on the player's skill and the significance of his Premier League debut. With a strong start to the year, Arsenal shows potential for the rest of the season.
Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has shared his personal life with fans, revealing his happy marriage and no intention of remarrying. During a podcast appearance, Shehzad also gave advice for viewers in the year 2125 and talked about his shift to YouTube. Download CricRocket for live cricket updates and more exciting features.