Carrick aligns United's U21 system with first team as Premier League grants festive schedule request

Manchester United have taken two steps toward longer-term planning this week: aligning their academy structure with Michael Carrick’s first-team system and securing an earlier announcement of the Premier League’s festive fixture schedule.

Academy mirrors Carrick’s system

U21 coach Adam Lawrence has switched the development side from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 formation, directly replicating the shape Carrick uses with the senior squad. The change is designed to give academy players a smoother transition to first-team football, ensuring they arrive already familiar with the positional demands of each role.

The Daily Mail reports that the U21 side has also adopted Carrick’s use of a false nine, mirroring the manager’s deployment of Matheus Cunha in that role. The move is particularly significant for 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who featured for the first team during pre-season and will now develop in Bruno Fernandes’ position within the U21 setup.

The restructuring comes alongside signs that United may be moving away from orthodox centre-forwards at youth level. Chido Obi has been loaned out, and academy forward Louie Bradbury has departed for Stoke City — moves that, taken together, hint at a longer-term shift in how the club develops attacking talent.

Premier League grants scheduling request

United have also won a practical victory for their supporters after the Premier League agreed to publish its festive fixture schedule significantly earlier than in previous years. The club met with senior Premier League and broadcast officials to push for the information to be released more than a month ahead of last year’s timeline, giving fans greater notice to arrange travel and accommodation.

The Football Supporters Association was involved in the discussions, adding weight to the case for an earlier announcement. As a result, United’s home fixture against Newcastle on Boxing Day 2025 was confirmed on 31 October — a notably earlier date than supporters had previously been afforded.

All December 26 fixtures were initially listed as 3pm Saturday kick-offs before being subject to broadcast selection, and the earlier confirmation window is intended to reduce the disruption that last-minute scheduling changes cause for travelling fans.

Derby focus

On the pitch, Carrick’s immediate attention turns to Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford. United head into the fixture looking to bounce back after a dramatic draw with Everton last weekend, with the manager weighing his options across a squad that now includes academy players increasingly prepared for the step up.