The key number is 10. Reports say that quartet have started together only 10 times in four years. For a club that has spent much of that period searching for stability, that is a strikingly low total.
The result is simple: even when those four look like a sensible fit on paper, United have rarely been able to build rhythm with them.
Another report says Michael Carrick used that same combination six times last season. That matters because repetition is usually where defensive partnerships start to improve - distances tighten, cover becomes automatic, and buildup gets cleaner.
For United, the issue has often been less about individual quality and more about interrupted continuity. A settled back line helps everything in front of it:
If Carrick sticks with the quartet for the opener, it would look like a choice built on familiarity rather than nostalgia.
That is the real question. Reusing a back four from 2022/23 would be unusual enough. Doing it after so few shared starts would make it even more notable. United do not just need names on a teamsheet; they need repetition.
The next storyline is obvious: if those four do start the opener, can they stay together long enough to turn a rare combination into a reliable foundation for the season ahead?