Man United were defeated by Brighton, who came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford. Following the match, The Athletic journalist Andy Mitten wrote that Man United fans' morale has hit rock bottom, and INEOS's honeymoon period is completely over.

"I've been going to Old Trafford for 62 years, and I've seen between 1,700 and 1,800 first-team matches, but tonight's performance was the worst I've ever seen," Molyneux wrote on social media this week. He is the same fan who displayed the famous banner "Three years of excuses, Ta-ra Fergie" in 1990.

"How can so many players, including substitutes, play so poorly for 85 minutes after we were 2-0 up? I really can't understand it."

After the 3-2 League Cup home loss to Brighton on Wednesday, anger and disappointment among Man United fans were palpable. This was the first time in 50 years at Old Trafford that the home team lost after being two goals ahead. The last time Man United lost at home after leading at halftime was in 1984 against Ipswich.

I distinctly remember that match; it was the first Man United game I ever watched. Back then, there was no expectation for the team to contend for the league title, but the subsequent two decades of glory transformed the club, its fanbase, and everyone's expectations.

Undoubtedly, fan morale is currently at its lowest point.

But what does this mean? The positive atmosphere within the club during pre-season was shattered when Hull City defeated Man United 2-0 in the opening match.

In the first six games of this season, Man United have won only two and lost three.

The usually reserved Old Trafford crowd booed the team at the end of Wednesday's match, and fans chanted in unison, questioning what the team was doing. Such scenes were also common in the 1980s, when thousands of fans would shout for the manager to make changes if things were going badly in the first half.

Can Carrick save Man United now? Can the coach who led the team to a strong performance and into the Champions League last season help the players regain their form? The club's senior management certainly hopes so, as their decisions are constantly under scrutiny.

The current situation is not just due to poor results. There is low trust between the attending fans and the club.

As usual, the Glazer family continues to draw heavy criticism for burdening one of the world's top football clubs with massive debt, thereby restricting its operations.

The honeymoon period for INEOS, who arrived with new ideas, resources, and capital, is now over. The necessary redundancies implemented to stem the outflow of funds from the football business have genuinely impacted many ordinary people. When Sir Jim Ratcliffe speaks publicly, his statements often fail to gain approval. The promised appointments of top talent also seem hollow as relevant personnel have steadily departed. In good times, these issues could be overlooked, but once the halo fades, everything will be scrutinized under a magnifying glass.

Man United insists that reform is imperative; after years of lavish spending, the club must salvage this sinking ship and rebuild steadily and rationally towards a brighter, more sustainable future. However, such rhetoric is hard to accept when Brighton has just delivered a harsh lesson to the Man United first team at home.

Criticism is rampant, and everyone is constantly re-examining the vicious cycle the team has fallen into since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. Man United's immense size and the global attention on the team also compound the club's challenges. Almost daily, there is negative news about Man United. You might not have heard, but Man United's actions last year prompted the Premier League to announce the Christmas fixtures early to help fans plan their travel. Could it be that this positive news for Man United is rarely mentioned because of its positive nature?

But the club's challenges are undeniable. The debt is enormous, while competitors have no debt burden and unprecedented financial strength, whether backed by state capital or billionaires. For most clubs, the Premier League is a source of wealth, but for Man United alone, it has become a bottomless pit for spending.

The Glazer family has been the core reason for sustained fan protests since 2004, with many loyal fans even forming their own club, FC United of Manchester. Yet, the Glazers also allowed the club to make significant signings in pursuit of glory, though these goals were never achieved. When they realized the financial pressure, they put the club on the market, allowing investors worldwide to bid for or invest in Man United. Two parties participated in the bidding, but ultimately only one could provide proof of funds.

So now, the club must rely on a detailed plan to escape its predicament, but many previous rebuilding plans have failed, making the path ahead difficult. Summer recruitment was weak, but it's too early to judge, as new signings have yet to play.

Like many, I was frustrated that a new left-back wasn't signed during the summer window, as the need for reinforcement in that position was obvious. But I recall being very annoyed in 1992 when Man United failed to sign David Hirst from Sheffield Wednesday and instead signed the unheralded, low-cost Cantona.

The most direct data reflecting the team's poor start is the Premier League standings. After five rounds, Man United's points tally is the same as at the same point last season, when the team also exited the League Cup early. Although last season's goal difference was worse, everyone feels much worse now. People had expected things to improve.

Various match statistics are also being widely discussed, and a compiled infographic circulated widely on Thursday, causing strong dissatisfaction among fans.

"An average fan looking at these stats would think it looks bad, but physical data must be interpreted with context," a top football analyst told The Athletic anonymously. "When a team has possession and the opponent rarely counter-attacks, running distance and high-intensity running distance usually decrease.

There is almost no correlation between league position and physical data. In fact, teams with lower physical data often control the game's tempo more effectively.

Let's look at a few more statistics: Man United is first in shots, third in possession (Brighton is first), tied for fifth in goals scored, fourth in big chances created, fourth in shots on target, and second in expected goals (xG).

Comparing expected goals (xG) with expected goals against (xGA) after four Premier League rounds, Man United's offensive and defensive metrics are better than Chelsea, Liverpool, Brentford, Aston Villa, Everton, Hull City, Bournemouth, and seven other teams. I'm not saying Man United are playing well, but some of the data is indeed positive; the team is just lacking wins."

The analyst who provided this analysis is an authority in the industry, has worked with Carrick, and also supports the coach. However, data can be interpreted in multiple ways. Man United's data has some biases: the team played against Hull City, who actively conceded possession, and over half of this season's expected goals came from the match against Ipswich.

The key is that if Carrick continues as manager, he needs the support that his predecessor, Amorim, received.

Carrick once said: "I know this club, I understand this job, and I comprehend the expectations for the team's playing style, competitive level, and results on the pitch. I understand all of that.

As for the future, club ownership, and the duration of my tenure, I don't even think about 'how long can I last.' It's ridiculous to dwell on the length of one's tenure in my position, and I won't consider it."

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