Last updated on October 16th, 2026
Manchester United’s alarming form is more than a managerial headache, it’s a genuine problem for FPL managers holding Red Devils assets. With just 6 points from 6 games (United’s worst start in four decades) and a flat 1-1 draw against 10-man bottom-of-the-table Tottenham, the question for fantasy bosses isn’t just whether Carrick survives, but whether his players are worth the squad slot.
Carrick looked composed during his interim spell, but that calm now reads as a lack of answers. For FPL purposes, a manager under this much pressure rarely experiments or rotates confidently, which matters hugely when deciding who starts, who gets subbed, and who you can trust for a clean sheet or returns.
Why United assets are becoming a risk
Six points from six, including a shaky single win over newly promoted Ipswich, tells its own story. United have thrown away winnable points against 10-man Spurs and 10-man City, exactly the kind of fixtures FPL managers expect returns from. Even the Ipswich win came after United fell behind in the first half.
This slump shows up clearly in the outright markets too. United opened the season around 7/4 for a Top 4 finish, now drifting to 10/1, while a Bottom Half finish has shortened from 16/1 to 7/2. That shift matters for FPL: if the bookies rate United as a mid-table side rather than a top-six one, their attacking and defensive assets lose the fixture-swing value that usually justifies a premium price tag.
With an early EFL Cup exit adding to the gloom, United’s next test is a tough away trip to Elland Road. The best betting sites in India now have Leeds as 6/4 favourites, the draw at 5/2, and United out at 19/10, numbers worth checking before locking in a United player for your starting XI or captaincy armband.
Should FPL managers hold, sell, or avoid United players?
Lisandro Martinez’s comments after the Atletico Madrid defeat suggested the dressing room isn’t blaming Carrick directly, and squad backing can buy a manager time. But for FPL purposes, player sentiment doesn’t fix underlying attacking returns or defensive solidity, and that’s what actually fills your points column.
Carrick isn’t the type to go down swinging like Amorim did, he’ll likely get a longer rope if results stay mediocre rather than disastrous. Still, prop markets have him at 2/1 not to be in the dugout for the match after Leeds, a signal worth noting if you’re planning transfers more than a gameweek ahead.
The safer FPL approach right now is to treat United assets as speculative rather than essential. Hold if you already own a cheap enabler, but think twice before investing significant budget in a United player while the side’s attacking output and fixture outlook remain this shaky. Other struggling clubs like Fulham or Ipswich face similar questions, so this isn’t a United-only problem, but it’s the most pressing one for FPL squads this week.
