Is Fulham a truer test of Carrick’s Man United?
Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show
The Athletic
4.6 • 771 Ratings
🗓️ 29 January 2026
⏱️ 52 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A 'gentle glow' is still lingering over Michael Carrick's Manchester United but, with seventh-placed Fulham coming to Old Trafford this weekend, are we now entering a run of games that will give us a clearer indication as to whether he has turned the team's fortunes around?
Tactically, there aren't too many obvious concerns, but Fulham are a big strong side and physicality will be paramount. Because of that, Patrick Dorgu may be a big miss. Ruled out for an estimated ten weeks with a hamstring injury, the young Dane has put in some powerful, intense performances recently and is showing glimpses of real potential.
There are a few variations Carrick can implement in Dorgu's absence, but it puts a little more onus on the fitness of Luke Shaw. The team will also rely on the experience of Casemiro, Harry Maguire, and Bruno; with the Brazilian's departure this summer confirmed, do the club need to hang on to their other veterans?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Athletic F.C. |
| 0:19.0 | This is Talk the Devils, the Athletic Show dedicated to Manchester United. |
| 0:23.3 | Coming up today, it's Fulham next after beating the top two. |
| 0:27.0 | Should be straightforward, shouldn't it? |
| 0:28.4 | We'll preview that game. |
| 0:30.1 | Patrick Doggou, unfortunately, is out for 10 weeks. |
| 0:33.0 | We'll take a look at how United can look to cover for the man of the moment. |
| 0:54.4 | And we'll have more detail on Harry McGuire's future, some last minute transfer detail maybe, and an old face returning to the youth team coaching staff as well. We've got Carl Critch and Andy with us. So hello everyone. How we're doing? You're okay? Another good week. Smiles all round still. Still doing the queen you thoughts, mate. |
| 0:55.5 | How many times have you pulled that off, Carl? I saw something online. |
| 0:58.7 | Just people randomly doing it, boiling the kettle, buttering bread, posting letters. |
| 1:04.2 | People still do that. |
| 1:05.4 | Yeah, yeah. Seven times on the Monday, start to finish. |
| 1:09.4 | And then I think I did it once when a mate asked me |
| 1:13.7 | how I was doing on Wednesday just how you're doing I just went boom and then once while we're |
| 1:20.4 | waiting to pop on the kettle so it still works it's been a good week again go back and have a look |
| 1:25.7 | at our reaction to the Arsenal result if you've not listened or watched that already. |
| 1:30.0 | There's also Talk the Devils extra in there too. |
| 1:32.5 | Lots of questions answered, including some detail about who could be next for Manchester United as the permanent boss in the summer. |
| 1:40.4 | But it has been a good week. |
| 1:42.8 | We've had good weeks before though |
| 1:44.3 | Andy haven't we and they've not always been followed up |
| 1:48.1 | now the city result was followed up with the Arsenal result |
... |
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