I saw a Manchester United fan on Sky Sports earlier saying the club shouldn’t consider anyone other than Michael Carrick as manager. I completely disagree.
It feels like everyone in the studio is only looking at the results, not the performances. We’ve been down this road before with Solskjær — good runs and good vibes but without a clear long-term structure.
If United fall into that same trap again, I fear it ends the same way. The club needs to think bigger than just short-term results. And I hope INEOS make the right call.
I rate what Michael Carrick has done so far — he’s steady and the results have been decent. But if we’re thinking long-term, I still believe Manchester United need a manager with a clear philosophy. That’s why I’d take Luis Enrique.
What I want is a properly coached team with a defined way of playing — the kind where opponents know exactly what’s coming but still can’t stop it. Look at PSG the last couple of years under Enrique: structure, patterns, identity.
I don’t want a United side full of talented players who show up when they feel like it. At times under Solskjær and even Carrick it feels more like good vibes than real coaching — players expressing themselves but without a clear system.
If the goal is to win the Premier League and Champions League again, vibes alone won’t get us there.
🚨 | Pochettino does NOT answer to Berrada and Wilcox in the same way that Ten Hag, Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick have. He transcends the structure imposed by Ratcliffe. The #mufc hierarchy will be skewed from now on. [@ianherbs]
Ineos wanted Howe ❌
The Glazers overruled for Pochettino ✅
A really interesting read on the ongoing #mufc power shift, by @ianherbs
https://t.co/ZACe8ATA51
Being a “top lad” is enough to get you the Manchester United job nowadays. And when you have 3 wins in 15 games you get sacked but you “leave with your head held high.” This is the culture I was talking about. A culture of celebrating mediocrity and failure.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United finalising deal to appoint Mauricio Pochettino if ultimate decision made to replace Michael Carrick. 54yo lined up & terms being done with camp. #MUFC yet to contact US but straight-forward should plan proceed @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/YTEGRxbVpF
Mauricio Pochettino would be keen to become the next head coach of Manchester United if, as expected later on Tuesday, Michael Carrick is sacked.
The likelihood is that Carrick will be dismissed on the recommendation of chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox that a change be made.
@JBurtTelegraph has more ⤵️
https://t.co/XlYZthqQAH
When Michael Carrick goes, should the director of football Jason Wilcox go as well? Was he over-promoted when Dan Ashworth left? Ashworth was “best in class”, very experienced. Wilcox wasn’t/isn't "best in class". Recruitment has been a mess, namely the transfer strategy of targeting one area, midfield, this summer. So naive. Some strengthening required with Casemiro gone and Ugarte injured/not good enough but the team were crying out for investment at left-back and striker. £50m for Andrey Santos? United are not buying best in class.
DoF should be working to a club’s DNA. United’s historic identity is well-known: attacking with pace, width, intensity, expression, defiance and the dash of youth. Playing football the Matt Busby way, the Alex Ferguson way. Those days are long gone, United don't have anywhere near the quality of player or manager, but attempting to follow principles laid down by Busby and Ferguson, which fans crave, should be Wilcox's stated ambition.
But Wilcox hasn’t recruited to restore that DNA. Properly-run football operations like Brighton sell players/change coaches but have an established DNA and way of playing (attacking, pressing). Brighton have best in class recruitment, data with due diligence into character. United don't.
Carrick can go but the problem remains. Reports suggest that United pursue Mauricio Pochettino as Carrick’s successor. Good choice. He’s a very good manager, man-manager, great with the media (coffees and chats in London with journos he knows), diplomatic with those upstairs and popular amongst staff. Poch would have a short-term bounce but will he have the players? United's problem is short-term and long-term, and Wilcox has to take responsibility for that.
United will remain stuck in a doom cycle until best in class is appointed to run recruitment and better players - with the right character - are bought. United will continue to drift until the debilitating, debt-stained ownership model changes, and they get back to being a great football club first and foremost with the whole commercial operation supporting that, not interest repayments. #MUFC
🚨 Manchester United expected to part ways with Michael Carrick. Work undertaken on successors. #MUFC insist no final decision made. Sir Jim Ratcliffe across.
Mauricio Pochettino emerging as candidate in thoughts.
w/ @David_Ornstein@AdamCrafton_ ⬇️
https://t.co/3P56wEwWwP
🚨 Manchester United intend to relieve Michael Carrick of duties. #MUFC say no final decision & nothing set in stone but work undertaken on replacements + multiple sources anticipate change before Liverpool. W/ @lauriewhitwell@AdamCrafton_@TheAthleticFC https://t.co/E1W3QbGYx1
Tar Pochettino. Sorry Carrick men eg ser ikkje korleis du skal snu detta svære skipet av ein klubb. Eg ser verken ein stødig ledar, ein god kommunikator eller ein spelestil som me kan bli kjent med.
Where the fuck were you when Hojlund, Garnacho and Antony were missing sitters, and Onana was leaking goals for fun?? Why didn't you hold the players accountable then? You are an utter embarrassment. Fuck off!! Joke of a legend.
Sånn jeg ser det så var det du som meldte drit. Å melde en 20-åring som flopp er skivebom. Kan nevne et par flopper i din klubb uten problemer. Vil også si det er morsomt med Arsenal fans som er eplekjekke etter ett seriegull på 30år. Ironien er jo også da at når dere først er best så er dere også det trausteste laget i ligaen. Alt dere hata ved Mourinhos Chelsea er dere nå blitt, bare enda verre.
@bennyblanco70 Tenk å angripe en landslagspiller for Frankrike som er 20-år som spiller ute av posisjon og attpåtil i et forsvar med en avdanket Maguire, en hjernedød Dalot og en tenåring fra Arsenal. Du kan ingenting. Gud hjelpes
Why could another manager do a better job? Let me tell you why.
Fresh ideas, new energy, a manager with charisma and an aura that can rub off on a group of fragile players who desperately need someone to lift them. Carrick cannot lift me from my fucking coach. First and foremost, get our defence in order. At the moment, they look like a bunch of players who have been given a trial at Manchester United to prove they’re good enough to play for us. We’ve conceded more goals than anyone else in Europe. That’s not just a personnel issue, that’s a coaching issue. Conte. He would climb that table in no time. His teams are organised, disciplined, aggressive and know exactly what is expected of them. That’s what proper coaching looks like.