Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Michael Carrick was confirmed as Manchester United's permanent head coach on 22 May
BySimon StoneManchester United reporter in Wroclaw- Published14 minutes ago
Calm is the word most used about Michael Carrick by people at Manchester United.
Outwardly at least, nothing knocks him out of his stride.
Take Thursday for instance. During extended chats with the UK media, one journalist asked, pointedly and with persistence, about realistic targets for the season ahead and questioned the club's willingness to spend enough to achieve them.
What Carrick privately thought about the questions, or the manner they were asked, is unclear. But seeing him navigate them was fascinating.
There was no sign of discomfort or irritation as he sat and spoke. Carrick remained relaxed and polite but, without hesitation, answers reduced from their previously expanded form to single sentences, questions were asked in response to questions. Points already outlined were restated.
Then, as the chat switched to other topics, unflustered, Carrick switched back to the in-depth answers from before.
It was almost like Carrick as a player. Take the ball in tight spaces, be aware of the danger, keep composed and move out of trouble.
Pre-season positives, negatives and unanswered questions
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, New signing Andrey Santos impressed across Manchester United's pre-season campaign
There are a lot of positives for Carrick to take from a pre-season of five weeks and six games.
Two wins, two draws and two defeats might look average, but the benefits are clear.
There is huge potential in midfielder Andrey Santos for a start. One of three players - Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were the others - to start every game, the 22-year-old, £48m summer arrival from Chelsea impressed with his ability to rotate the ball, his positional discipline and communication.
Like Carrick himself, there is an assurance about Manchester United's other major signing, Youri Tielemans, that should spread through the team. There are already signs his link-up with skipper Bruno Fernandes could prove productive.
It was the energised and impactful version of Bryan Mbeumo from the first half of last season that has been on view, rather than the tired one that returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Heaven impressed in defence, Leny Yoro also, particularly at right-back. Amad Diallo did well in flashes when he returned from World Cup duty. The same is true of Shea Lacey, the 19-year-old academy star who clearly needs to be eased in gradually, but of whom so much is expected.
But there are issues.
Neither striker Benjamin Sesko, nor new goalkeeper Karl Darlow featured. Mason Mount, arguably the best player across the first three matches, was not involved again after being taken off as a 'precaution' following a blow to his foot early in the game against Paris St-Germain on 8 August.
Some players in Carrick's squad in Poland this weekend are surplus to requirements.
Midfielder Toby Collyer filled in for Mount, but his future lies elsewhere. Club officials feel interest in him should be high.
Full-back Harry Amass was back-up to Luke Shaw, but the intention for him is also to leave, with sources feeling a loan is more likely than a permanent exit.
Of the more experienced members of Carrick's squad, Joshua Zirkzee is hugely popular and has ability. However, he lacks consistency, or an obvious position in the squad, and Lacey was used ahead of him in the number 10 role at times.
If interest from Italy stacks up financially, it would seem to make sense for the former Bologna man to return to Serie A.
The Marcus Rashford situation needs clarity.
Sources have said the expectation is Rashford will stay at Old Trafford.
However, there remains a chance he will not, which is why Carrick and team-mates who have been asked about the England forward avoid offering a definitive judgement.
Competition at left-back and 'third' midfielder?
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw started all 38 Premier League games last season
The lack of sales affects United's next move in the transfer market.
At the beginning of the month, as supporters began to get edgy at the lack of further deals following Tielemans' arrival on 14 July, a senior club source said their business should be judged at the end of the window.
Carrick's "we want more, we need more" assessment of the situation last week was an accurate reflection of the situation.
Competition for the left-back position is required as a matter of urgency. Shaw has a year left on his contract and his ability to repeatedly play three games in a week is unclear. In three weeks, Carrick will have a trip to Everton and a home game with Manchester City to prepare for; in between them is a Champions League game. He must have an alternative option he would feel confident of starting in those games.
Admiration for Newcastle's Lewis Hall is well known. But the club prides itself on its data team coming up with other choices. Surely they are getting to the point where they need to act?
Central midfield is also an area of debate. Can Mount really be the 'third' midfielder spoken about so often in the summer, with the potential signing of Leicester teenager Louis Page as back-up?
Then there are qualified risks. Senne Lammens was excellent in his debut campaign but has just two seasons as a first-choice senior goalkeeper behind him and his unhappy World Cup experience proved he can make major mistakes.
"We've got to be realistic, not get carried away and think everything is going to be rosy," said Carrick last week. "It never is, never was, never will be."
Hull and Ipswich offer a kind start to his first full season in charge, but also the kind of banana skin United have found it so difficult to navigate at points in the past when they had seemed well placed to kick on.
In conversation a year ago with former team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who he welcomed to United's training camp in Dublin last week, Carrick said he sometimes felt he was above the match he was playing in, which gave him a clear picture of what was happening.
That clarity of vision may be valuable in the weeks and months that lie ahead.
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