8 Players Have Outscored Man United's Mbeumo After 3-0 Loss

Manchester United lost 3-0 to Bournemouth on Sunday, extending the club's worst start to a league season in 40 years. Fans applauded manager Michael Carrick as he left the pitch, then booed the players who followed him. The reaction marked a change for a support base that does not typically turn on managers or squads.

The defeat put the manager's position in question, along with the ownership, senior management, and playing roster. Eight players currently sit above United's leading scorer, Bryan Mbeumo, who has four goals in the Premier League scoring chart this season.

The club has not found a regular goalscorer since Cristiano Ronaldo left in November 2022. Benjamin Sesko arrived in the summer of 2025 to fill that role, but injuries have limited his appearances. In his absence, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have been used as strikers, though both are naturally wide players, and Bruno Fernandes has been deployed in a false nine role.

Fernandes, 32, criticized Carrick's tactics following the defeat in Como last Wednesday. He did not enter the field during the Bournemouth match but was booed by supporters after it ended. The Saudi Pro League has shown interest in signing him, and Galatasaray was another suitor during the summer.

Recruitment has drawn criticism. Since 2013, United has signed 75 players. Ed Woodward served as CEO until 2022. The current recruitment team includes CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox. Defender Lisandro Martinez criticized the lack of summer investment after the defeat at Atletico Madrid.

The Glazer family has owned the club since 2005. Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS Group invested in United two years ago, which led to cuts off the field alongside plans for the training ground and proposals to rebuild Old Trafford. No left-back was signed during the summer transfer window; Lewis Hall of Newcastle United had been linked with a move throughout the period.

Former United and England defender Gary Neville spoke on Sky Sports on Sunday. "There are a few of them that are not that professional," Neville said. Ralf Rangnick, now Austria's national team coach, previously said the club required "open-heart surgery".

The club's history includes attacking styles under Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson. Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal each faced player discontent over tactics. Ruben Amorim used a 3-4-3 formation, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Carrick opened up play similar to Ferguson's approach.

United has not won a league title since Ferguson's retirement in 2013. The loss to Bournemouth left the club with its lowest points total at this stage of a season since 1986.