Michael Carrick’s Manchester United honeymoon period seems to be facing its biggest test, at least in the eyes of rival supporters.
Just months after Carrick’s successful tenure in charge made Old Trafford optimistic, Manchester United’s difficult start to the 2026/27 season has given opposition fans plenty of ammunition to mock the club and its manager.
The latest trigger was United’s dramatic 3–2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on 16 September 2026, but the trolling is mainly connected to the club’s broader run of inconsistent results rather than one match.
Rival fans turn Carrick’s rise into a joke
Carrick’s reputation changed dramatically after he took charge midway through last season.
Under the former midfielder, United grew and finished third in the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League. And he won big games against top division sides, too, and so fans were encouraged.
That turnaround gave rise to lots of positive talk about Carrick on social media, with some Manchester United supporters saying he’s one of the club’s most promising managers in years.
And now rival fans are using those earlier claims as fodder for online banter.
There have even been social media posts from opposing supporters reposting and mocking previous praise of Carrick and pointing to United’s current results. The difference between the confidence surrounding Carrick several months ago and the criticism after United’s bad start has become a big talking point.
The ‘New-Manager Bounce’ Conversation
A big theme among rival supporters is the idea that Carrick benefited from a “new-manager bounce” after taking over last season.
The phrase is often used in football to describe a temporary improvement that can follow a managerial change. But this is not to say that Carrick’s previous results were entirely due to such an effect.
Carrick’s record last season was strong enough to earn him the permanent job, but his current results are giving rivals an opportunity to wonder if that improvement can be sustained over a full campaign.
United’s recent results fuel the trolling.
And the criticism has gotten louder because United’s bad results have not only been limited to Brighton.
Following the League Cup defeat, Reuters reported that United had just one Premier League win from their opening four games. The team had also suffered a 1–0 defeat in the derby to Manchester City recently. (reuters.com)
The Brighton match makes matters worse because United had a two-goal advantage before losing 3–2.
For rival fans, the collapse offered an easy opportunity to renew those Carrick comparisons and to raise questions about the optimism of Manchester United.
🗣️🔴 | The moment Manchester United fans boo the team after losing against Brighton! 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/EBaSNJm68H
— The Moment Football (@themomentfooty) September 17, 2026
Why rival fans are targeting United?
Manchester United’s size and history naturally make the club one of the biggest targets for football banter.
And when United is at odds with its rivals, fans of other clubs will frequently compare the club’s ambitions to how the club does in terms of performance.
Carrick has therefore become part of that conversation because his appointment was accompanied by expectations that he could build on last season’s revival.
The trolling is especially noticeable because of the pace at which the story has turned. Now a manager who has recently been hailed by United fans can be used by rival fans as a joke and social media banter.
Carrick Still Has Time to Change the Narrative
The online criticism is still in its infancy, but we are still at the early stage.
Carrick’s previous success cannot simply be erased by a difficult opening to the campaign, as the current poor results cannot be ignored because of what happened last season.
After the Brighton defeat, Carrick accepted responsibility for United’s second-half collapse and the club had to work on its problems. Manchester United published his post-match comments on September 16 (manutd.com).
The next matches will determine whether the current criticism remains a temporary reaction or becomes a longer-running issue around Carrick’s project.
But rival fans are enjoying the opportunity to remind Manchester United supporters of the confidence that surrounded Carrick only a few months ago.
