Carrick's United: what pre-season actually showed

What pre-season told us

Pre-season is a limited sample. Friendlies lie, fitness levels vary, and managers rarely show their full hand in July and August. But they are not meaningless either, and BBC Sport's read of United's summer suggests Carrick has found some genuine encouragement from his new signings, even if the squad as a whole is not yet where it needs to be.

Carrick arriving at Old Trafford was always going to be the story of the summer, regardless of who came through the door with him. The former United midfielder knows the club, knows the weight of the job, and knows that goodwill only stretches so far at a place that expects results. Pre-season is where you start to see whether a manager's ideas are landing.

Squad gaps: BBC Sport flags unresolved issues

BBC Sport's assessment notes squad issues that still need addressing ahead of deadline day. The specific positions are not detailed in the available reporting, but the framing is clear enough: Carrick and the recruitment team are not finished, and the window is still open.

United finished last season needing significant rebuilding. A new manager brings new demands, and not every inherited player fits every system. Some of those mismatches tend to surface in pre-season, and if they have here, the pressure is on the club to move quickly.

Carrick's first real test

Carrick now has to apply what he has learned from pre-season against opponents who have had their own summers and their own ideas. The signings who impressed will need to back it up when the points are real. BBC Sport's assessment puts United in a position of cautious optimism, with at least one transfer window's worth of work still to do.