MU finalizes squad: Red Devils expose weaknesses, beware of paying the price

When the 23-man squad list for the Premier League was announced, I didn't look for stars or blockbuster signings. I only counted the number of genuine center-forwards and genuine left-backs. The result: only one player for each position. Benjamin Sesko and Luke Shaw. That was the first crack I saw before the season began. In modern football, relying on a single individual in a key position is a gamble. And with a congested fixture schedule ahead, this gamble could cost United dearly. In the summer of 2026, Michael Carrick continued to rebuild Manchester United. He prioritized a midfield overhaul, spending most of the budget on the central area. As a result, the attack and left-back position were left exposed. Only Sesko is the sole out-and-out striker, and Shaw is the only genuine left-back. Other players can cover, but they are better suited to different roles. This creates a tactical puzzle: if either player is unavailable, the system must change. Carrick has players like Mbeumo and Cunha – they can play highest, but they are second strikers, not center-forwards. They need space to move, not to turn with their back to goal. This difference will affect how United build up play. Additionally, United kept Joshua Zirkzee despite Everton's interest. Zirkzee is assessed as not yet ready to lead the attack when Sesko is absent. This means if Sesko fails to recover or suffers a setback, United will fall into crisis. I have seen many teams collapse from this kind of single-point dependency. Every collapse begins with a crack I saw back in 2026. What is that crack? It's when a team has only one option for a crucial position and no Plan B. Look at the squad structure. Sesko is just returning from injury, having not started any match this season. He is the fulcrum of the entire attacking system. Without him, Carrick must use Zirkzee – a player deemed not yet at the required level. Or use Mbeumo and Cunha – but they are second strikers, not center-forwards. The difference in space and ball retention will blunt the attack. Similarly, Shaw's injury history is a major risk. If he gets injured, who plays left-back? Possibly Amass – a young talent, but not ready for the rigors of a congested schedule. The fixture schedule this season could increase by more than 20 matches compared to last season. That means each player will carry a heavier load. With a thin squad in two key positions, the risk of injury and loss of form is very high. I have followed United for a long time, and I see that this deficiency is not accidental. Carrick may be planning a more fluid system that doesn't require a traditional center-forward. But changing philosophy mid-season is extremely risky. Players need time to adapt, and in a congested schedule, time is a luxury. I don't see 11 names; I see 11 positions writing their own destiny. For United, their destiny lies in the legs of Sesko and Shaw. If they stay fit, United can compete. If not, everything will collapse. Look at the numbers: Sesko scored 12 goals in 32 appearances last season. That's a good return, but not outstanding. And currently he is not at full fitness. If United has to rely on a player who isn't ready, they will struggle in the early matches. As for Shaw, he has had many injury-plagued years. Having only one genuine left-back is reckless. Carrick could use other players like Dalot or a young player, but they don't defend the left flank as well as Shaw. This will create spaces for opponents to exploit. In a tough league like the Premier League, such small details can decide the final standings. I have analyzed many teams with similar structures. When a team has only one option for a key position, they often pay the price in decisive moments. A prime example is Schalke 04 – they didn't lose the dressing room; they lost their frame of reference. Here, United risks losing their frame of reference when Sesko or Shaw is absent. That frame is how they build up, how they press, how they maintain team shape. If one link breaks, the whole system falls into disarray. In modern football, controlling space matters more than possessing the ball. United can maintain possession, but without a center-forward to stretch the opponent's defense, they will be confined to the central areas. Sesko has intelligent movement, creating space for attacking midfielders. If he is absent, United will lack presence in the box. This will force them to rely more on long shots or set pieces. But that is not a sustainable way to win in a fierce competition. United still have a chance to fix things. After the January transfer window closes on February 1, 2027, they are allowed to adjust their squad list for the second half of the season. This means if Sesko or Shaw have problems, they can add personnel. But the January market is often expensive and limited. Finding a quality center-forward mid-season is extremely difficult. So United must survive with the current squad until then. This is a big gamble. Meanwhile, the return of Marcus Rashford could be a game-changer. Rashford has returned after a period away, and he can add attacking firepower. But Rashford is not a center-forward. He plays best on the left or in a counter-attacking system. Carrick could use Rashford as a spearhead, but that would alter the attacking structure. And with only one center-forward, United will need to be more flexible in their approach. Chelsea under Xabi Alonso signed Welbeck to add experience. This shows an opposing philosophy: Chelsea wants experienced players to navigate tough moments, while United bets on youth and potential. Both approaches carry risks. But with a congested schedule, experience often pays off in decisive matches. Many will say United missed the chance to sign Danny Welbeck. Welbeck scored 13 Premier League goals last season, more than any United player. He has scored 8 goals against United since leaving in 2026. But I believe not signing Welbeck is the right long-term decision. Welbeck is 35-36, he is only a temporary solution. The real problem is not the lack of a backup striker, but the lack of a system that can operate without a center-forward. Carrick may have considered that. He might use a fluid front line, with Mbeumo and Cunha interchanging, creating a 'false nine'. But that requires time to adapt, and in a congested season, time is a luxury. The execution blind spot is this: United relies on U21 players to fill the squad. They have Mainoo, Yoro, Heaven, Amass, Fletcher, Lacey, Gabriel – all exempt from registration. This masks the true fragility. In terms of numbers, they have over 30 players. But in terms of quality in two key positions, they have only one option. This is a big difference between quantity and quality. Young players can shine, but they cannot replace a top-class center-forward or an experienced left-back in big matches. On October 31, United will visit Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, where Welbeck now plays. If Welbeck scores, the 'missed Welbeck' story will explode. But I don't care about that story. I care about whether Carrick will dare to test a system without a center-forward before that point. If he does, and it works, the crack will be healed. If not, winter will be the time they pay the price. I no longer believe in luck; I only believe in the logic that remains.