Manchester United’s Carabao Cup campaign came to a screeching halt on August 27, 2025, as they suffered an astonishing defeat to League Two’s Grimsby Town—a result that’s sent shockwaves through the fanbase and left manager Ruben Amorim under intense scrutiny. The penalty shootout loss didn’t just knock United out of the cup; it exposed deep-rooted issues in both tactics and personnel, sparking passionate debate among supporters and pundits alike.
Andre Onana, United’s much-discussed number one, found himself at the center of the storm following two goals that, according to many, should have been routine saves. Mark Goldbridge of The United Stand Xtra Podcast didn’t mince words: “A one for our number one,” he declared, before assigning manager Ruben Amorim a rating of three “just for picking Onana.” The frustration was palpable, with Goldbridge capturing the sentiment of a fanbase running out of patience: “Both goals conceded were goals that should have been saved.”
But the criticism didn’t stop with Onana. The night’s player ratings painted a chaotic picture. Young Fredricson, thrown into the deep end, was given a five. Goldbridge was sympathetic, saying, “He’s a young player and he really struggled… I’m not here to burn him or anything like that.” Harry Maguire, so often a lightning rod for criticism, emerged as the unlikely man of the match with a rating of six—a testament to just how far expectations have shifted at Old Trafford. “Probably our man of the match,” Goldbridge admitted, highlighting the topsy-turvy nature of the evening.
Amad Diallo, expected to provide flair and incision, came under fire for a lackluster and self-centered display. “He can be as bad as Garnacho at times… tonight it was bad and selfish,” Goldbridge lamented, awarding a four. Sesko fared no better, with Goldbridge quipping, “Welcome to the Graveyard Club,” as he handed out another four for a “poor” performance. The substitutes—Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Joshua Zirkzee—each received 5.5, with Goldbridge conceding, “We do miss him [Bruno] even though I don’t like him in the midfield.”
On the flip side, Bryan Mbeumo’s goal for Grimsby was lauded as “really good,” earning him man of the match honors from the opposition’s perspective. The overall assessment from Goldbridge was damning: “The penalties were an embarrassment,” he said, before summing up the team effort with a manager rating of three and voicing dismay at tactical choices and squad selection. This pointed critique echoed a growing chorus of United fans questioning not just results, but the very direction of the club under Amorim.
So what’s gone wrong for Manchester United under Ruben Amorim? The answer, it seems, is as much about philosophy as personnel. Amorim’s preferred 5-2-3 system, built on rigid positional play and carefully orchestrated overloads—especially in wide areas—has struggled to translate into success in the Premier League’s high-octane environment. His approach, borrowed from his successful stint at Sporting, relies on players sticking to their zones and executing specific passing routines with minimal touches. There’s little room for improvisation or individual expression.
Against Grimsby, these tactical limitations were ruthlessly exposed. The League Two side employed aggressive man-to-man marking, neutralizing United’s attempts to create numerical superiority on the flanks. When United’s players were pressed in their designated zones, the lack of rotations and dribbling ability made it easy for Grimsby to disrupt the Red Devils’ rhythm. The result? United’s passing patterns became predictable and easy to defend.
Yet, there were flashes of quality—most notably from Kobbie Mainoo, whose dribbling broke Grimsby’s press and set up Mbeumo’s goal. As the analysis put it, “By beating his marker in a duel and carrying the ball upfield, his individual quality pulled apart Grimsby’s defensive shape.” But such moments were few and far between, largely because Amorim’s system discourages players from taking extra touches or roaming out of position. As one tactical breakdown noted, “In his system, there is less room for individual expression and problem-solving.”
United’s main attacking routine—the so-called ‘up-back-through’—involves a direct pass up to the forward, a layoff, and then a through ball over the top. While this approach can be effective, it becomes predictable when overused. Opponents like Grimsby and Fulham have countered by defending with a back five and applying man-to-man pressure, making it difficult for United to find the two-on-one situations they crave on the wings. The outcome? United’s attacks fizzle out as opponents match their numbers and anticipate their moves.
Defensively, United’s 5-2-3 shape is designed to press high and win the ball back, but it often leaves the two central midfielders—recently Fernandes and Casemiro—dangerously outnumbered. Fulham provided a textbook example of how to exploit this, pushing their full-backs high and flooding the midfield. “With Iwobi joining Fulham’s two central midfielders, Fernandes and Casemiro were outnumbered. Josh King dropped from attack to become a fourth man at times,” one analyst observed. Once the initial press is bypassed, United’s midfield is left exposed, allowing opponents to dictate the tempo and control possession.
Off the pitch, the mood is no less fraught. Having spent £200 million on new signings this summer, United’s hierarchy expected a significant improvement on last season’s dismal 15th-place finish. Instead, the club finds itself lurching from one crisis to another, with questions swirling about recruitment, development, and the suitability of Amorim’s methods for the Premier League. Even the manager himself appears to be feeling the strain. In a candid admission on August 29, Amorim confessed, “Sometimes I want to quit, sometimes I want to be here for 20 years.” Such honesty reflects the mounting pressure in the Old Trafford hot seat.
For now, the debate continues. Fans are demanding accountability—particularly from Onana, whose high-profile errors have cost United dearly, and from a squad that, despite its hefty price tag, remains maddeningly inconsistent. The podcast panel’s verdict sums up the prevailing mood: “Several signings have just lost their edge and the team is a midfield that’s getting run through.”
As the dust settles on this latest cup exit, one thing is clear: Manchester United’s problems run deeper than a single defeat. With the transfer window closing and expectations sky-high, the pressure is on Amorim and his players to find solutions—and fast. Whether that means tweaking tactics, restoring confidence, or making tough selection calls, the next few weeks could define not just the season, but the future direction of one of football’s biggest clubs.
For United supporters, the hope is that lessons will be learned from this humbling setback. But with fan frustration mounting and results failing to match ambition, the road back to glory looks as challenging as ever.
