FA Cup loss shows new caretaker has a mountain to climb, thanks to years of INEOS mistakes

Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup in the third round after a 1-2 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Sunday. The Red Devils have exited both cup competitions at the first time of asking, which means they will play fewer than 40 games in a season for the first time since the 1914-15 season. Darren Fletcher picked an attacking team, while the visitors rested as many as six players for the tie. Yet, despite 10 more shots and more of the ball, the hosts failed to progress. Diogo Dalot missed a sitter in the first minute, while Benjamin Sesko, despite his second-half goal, was extremely wasteful. Wasteful finishing, abysmal defending Fletcher played a 4-4-2 with Matheus Cunha supporting the Slovenian, but despite the presence of so many attacking stars, there was a real lack of fluidity. To make matters worse, the defence looked lost everytime the away side went forward. Both goals were a result of some questionable defending. The interim manager is unlikely to remain in the hot seat beyond this game, and whoever comes in as caretaker has a mountain to climb. This team can score the odd goal while continuously fluffing their lines from easy chances, but they are an absolute liability at the back. New caretaker has an impossible task on his hands All thanks to INEOS who have botched up operations spectacularly since taking over sporting affairs. Each and every decision — from keeping Erik ten Hag to sacking him mid-season, to then replacing him with a polar opposite coach in Ruben Amorim, to sacking him mid-season — the co-owners have got wrong. Whoever comes in, be it Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick, will have to play with a non-existent midfield and a backline that cannot handle three at the back and have forgotten how to play with four. A hotchpotch of ideas, with nobody really sure of how to go about things. Good luck to the new caretaker, he will need plenty of it. Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25