The general consensus was that Manchester United lacked intensity against Hull City; even Carrick's close friend Wayne Rooney said so on Match of the Day. "For Manchester United to build on what they did last season they need to become a team other teams are scared of," he said. Former England striker and Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer felt it was a fitness issue, even though six of the side that started were there right at the start of pre-season training on 9 July.