He's Carrick, you knoww....

If this is Michael Carrick’s job interview for the permanent United gig in the summer then there is a tick in every box so far.

Carrick, United’s dapper head coach with the Midas touch,  has got pretty much everything right to date. In winning a third successive game, he did in three matches what Ruben Amorim took 36 to manage.

At full-time after another nail-biting, harum scarum victory, Carrick was serenaded with his popular terrace chant: “He’s Carrick, you knowwwww, hard to believe he’s not Scholes.” Paul Scholes and Carrick formed the formidable fulcrum of United’s engine room for over a decade, with their fire-and-ice partnership driving the Reds to every major honour there is to win.

United manager Michael Carrick

Calming Carrick rolls back the years 

The two men’s contrasting styles dovetailed perfectly. Scholes was all action, often arriving in the box at the just right moment to smash in a scorcher before getting United moving again with a rapier-like pass or lung-busting run. Carrick, on the other hand, was the calming spoiler. Sitting in front of the back four, breaking up play and cutting out opposition attacks at source, subtly keeping United ticking and quietly dictating the tempo. Scholes was far more heralded and celebrated, yet Carrick arguably more influential.

If Scholes' fire and brimstone was the irresistible force, Carrick’s ice cool unflappability was the immovable object. It is this calm and unassuming temperament that has proved so invaluable in the early weeks of Carrick’s second coming. He doesn’t command an audience or court controversy. Not for him the emotional outburst or soporific soundbite. He is composed, sensible and measured but knows exactly what to say and when to say it. For those of us who remember Carrick’s safe hands on the tiller in his playing days, it is no surprise to see that taken from the pitch into the dugout.

Simplicity is everything

His quiet United renaissance has been nothing complicated. Rather like when he was at the peak of his considerable string-pulling powers in midfield, Carrick has kept things simple. But yet that is precisely what this squad needed after the confusion and chaos of the Amorim era.

The players never got to grips with what Amorim was trying to do -  or it never looked like it anyway. By simply giving players jobs they all understand, in their proper, natural positions, Carrick’s United look a team transformed. Kobbie Mainoo, whose ease on the ball and ability to cruise through games makes Amorim’s treatment of him look more baffling by the week, has been restored. So too has the back four of which the refusal to utilise proved a significant part of Amorim’s self-inflicted fate. Quite what the Portuguese coach makes of United’s sudden revival now he’s gone, I guess we will never know.

As the late, great Bill Shankly once said: “Football is a simple game made complicated by people who should know better.”

There is no magic formula, no tactical revolution, no blinding the players with science. He has brought clarity, simplicity and belief to a squad in need of direction. Maybe simply because he’s not Amorim, the players are buying into it and it’s working. This side’s togetherness, spirit and renewed belief in each other has been inspiring and uplifting – although the last two games haven’t been so kind on the ol’ ticker…
Carrick has gone back to basics but has taken risks too: bringing Benjamin Sesko on for Patrick Dorgu at Arsenal with United holding a slender lead. He could have introduced Mason Mount or Nouss Mazraoui but opted to bring on a striker. Whatever the Manchester United ‘DNA’ is (if, indeed it even exists), embracing risk and going for broke is part of it. 

Belief and hope spring eternal

Even by replacing Matheus Cunha with eventual matchwinner Sesko, Carrick’s simple switch was something his predecessor never would have done.

Carrick had to get all this right in the first instance and deserves huge credit for the job he has done so far. Of course, we all want the Manchester United manager to do well but surely Carrick’s emotional bond with us fans is helping him to succeed? Amorim never truly won over large sections of the fanbase and had no credit in the bank. 

Carrick has that connection after 18 trophies, 464 games and his first stint in the dugout (in which he beat Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta and drew with Thomas Tuchel). In those tense final moments against Fulham as Carrick orchestrated from the touchline, the backing was loud and unequivocal. He has struck a harmonious chord with fans and player and, to continue the musical analogy, now everyone is singing from the same hymnsheet. 

Carrick has brought United right back into contention for a place in the Champions League, and even as an outside bet for the league title. That scenario remains highly improbable and unlikely, but we were 12 points behind Newcastle at this stage in 1996. Stranger things have happened. Dare I start to dream? 

He’s Carrick, you knowwww, hard to believe he’s not Scholes!

Who might be Ruben Amorim's long term successor at Man Utd?

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS leadership group will lead the search for United's seventh permanent manager in twelve years.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim (not including caretakers or interims Ryan Giggs, Ralf Rangnick, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy) have had a crack at one of the biggest and most high profile jobs in world football with varying degrees of success.

Amorim looked to be the guy tasked with the long term rebuilding project as the first boss of the INEOS era, but has fallen on his sword after 14 months in the job. It leaves United back at square one and looking for Yet Another One. This board, this regime, were meant to be the antidote to the Glazers 19-year long reign of terror, but have turned out to be even dysfunctional, even more clueless. The Glazers had the excuse of knowing nothing about football but Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox are meant to be best in class. They have instead turned the manager, or head coach's job, from already difficult to almost impossible.

It doesn't matter who the manager is, as he will encounter the same problems, the same flaws, as all of his predecessors. It is a bitter, endless struggle for supremacy with INEOS wanting full and total control over all matters both on and off the field. 

United are back here again: back to the future with a former player to steady the ship as interim before beginning the endless rinse and repeat cycle again in summer. 

We take a look at the possible runners and riders in line to be the next man to occupy the famous Old Trafford hotseat as Amorim's successor.

Oliver Glasner

Palace manager Oliver Glasner

Amongst the favourites to take over at United, INEOS are said to be huge admirers of the erudite Austrian's body of work at Crystal Palace and Frankfurt. Won the Europa League with the latter before steering the Eagles to a major trophy and into Europe for the first time in their history. Glasner is out of contract in the summer which would save United have to pay for compensation. It would also explain the decision to appoint an interim. There are concerns, though, as Glasner plays the same three at the back system as Amorim, has only ever taken charge of underdog teams and sets his side up to play without the ball. Palace have faded after a strong start to the season and have dropped to 14th in the league. Glasner is clearly a contender but would not set pulses racing amongst the United faithful.

(Sir) Gareth Southgate

A lot of what Southgate did as manager of England would go down very well at Old Trafford. But, as well as he did internationally, the jury is still out on him as a club manager. Southgate made his England players proud to play for their country again,he speaks very well and gave fans a team to genuinely like and believe in. He brought unity, cohesion and man management to a previously fractured dressing room. Something that, let's be honest, is badly needed at United. But his failure to win anything with the finest generation of players in years is a red flag as is his poor record at club level. His only club job, at Middlesbrough, ended in relegation. 

Enzo Maresca

One of those quirks only football can throw up, but could a job swap see Maresca jump out of the Stamford Bridge frying pan headlong into the Old Trafford fire? He has connections with United's top brass as he knows Wilcox, Berrada and Vivell from Manchester City. He fell out with the Chelsea hierarchy for much the same reasons as Amorim did at United - namely a lack of control over transfers. Despite winning the league at Leicester and both the Conference League and Club World Cup at Chelsea, he had the best squad each time and neither fanbase seemed unhappy when he left the club. But if he's a viable option for us, we would surely move for him now and not the summer. Unlikely but you never know with this board.

Thomas Tuchel

Ticks all the right boxes as a high profile serial winner who knows the Premier League and would fit the 'head coach' role. Tuchel's contract with England expires after this summer's World Cup and, as much as he has admitted to enjoying life with the national team, could the United job tempt him away? Been linked with United in the past but can be combustible and has a track record of falling out with club hierarchies - something INEOS really won't want to happen again. Tuchel has the experience, a proven ability at managing big egos, and can organise teams quickly. Looks a good option but the timeline is tight considering we couldn't get him until July. 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will lead the search for the next manager 

Andoni Iraola

Led unfancied Bournemouth to ninth place in the Premier League last season and will have attracted many an admiring glance in doing so. Iraola has built up a fine body of work on the south coast and, although that progress has somewhat plateaud this term, there is no doubt the Spanish boss is destined for bigger things. Bournemouth is a stepping stone and, although his coaching career is modest to date, United aren't exactly in a position to be picky. He has the Cherries playing an exciting brand of football. They have scored the most goals out of all the clubs in the bottom half but have lost three quarters of their defence and the departure of their best player, Antoine Semenyo, is imminent. Iraola may be wondering if he has taken them as far as he can. Has no major trophies on his CV, but finished six places and 14 points above us last term.... United could do a lot worse. Like Glasner, he is out of contract in the summer. 

Michael Carrick

Perhaps more likely as an interim appointment, Carrick is, statistically speaking, the most successful United manager ever in terms of win % with three wins and a draw. Had a mixed spell at Middlesbrough in his first managerial job, but, if United want safe and steady, they may turn to the calming influence of the 44-year-old. Carrick is familiar with the inner workings of the club and played 463 times in Red across 12 trophy laden years. He's available, would save United the hassle of negotiation and would no doubt be happy to further his managerial credentials at a club he knows. 

Other candidates include Mauricio Pochettino (a long time managerial target), Xavi, Carlo Ancelotti, Julian Nagelsmann - like Tuchel, out of contract after the World Cup - and Unai Emery (although he would be very expensive and is unlikely to leave Villa). 

Rudderless INEOS have left United all at sea

As the dust settles on the sudden departure of Ruben Amorim the vessel named HMS Manchester United is back in familiar waters.

Any strong and seaworthy vessel needs a captain, a leader, and a capable hand on the tiller to steady the literal ship and guide his crew through the darkest of nights and stormiest of seas. Without a man in charge, the vessel is rendered useless - listing leeward at the mercy of the conditions - rudderless, punctured, holed below the waterline.

And that's where United find themselves at right now. A craft that has been left to the mercy of the sea with unstable parts that don't fit together, components which aren't fit for purpose with an inadequate, badly assembled structure that's creaking at the seams. There is a man at the head of all this, in Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but he has an INEOS crew hopelessly out of their depth and one whom have never done lifeboat drill. No one knows who's meant to be in charge, no one has a clue who should be doing what or who should be where. To continue the analogy, changing the manager is like shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic. 

Whatever your thoughts on Amorim, you have to feel a shred of sympathy for him. This cannot have been the plan. In October Ratcliffe spoke, and spoke well, on giving their man three years to prove himself because previous managers "haven't had long enough." His words. At the time, it was refreshing to hear an owner speak so openly and candidly on the future. At least he was giving us a timeframe, a vision, something to suggest INEOS would go against the grain and give a manager time.

Yet here we are, three months on. 14 months into that self-confessed three year project, and Amorim has gone. Pushed out the door for daring to question Ratcliffe and his merry band of minions on the board. 
It is a third black mark against INEOS in just over two years. They promised the earth but have delivered nothing except a few savings on Sellotape. Put bluntly, Ratcliffe and his cohorts have got nothing right since taking on the giant, unwieldy beast of Manchester United back on Christmas Eve 2024.

United are no less dysfunctional now than we were on the day Ratcliffe and his millions walked in, portrayed as the mega-rich knight in shining armour destined to clear the clouds of ill-feeling under the poison of the Glazer regime. 

But the reality has been somewhat different. Ratcliffe is a rich businessman, and rich businessmen are ruthless. They do not take kindly to having their nose put out of joint. The decision to sack Amorim cannot be purely based on results - if that were the case, then surely he would have gone after Bilbao. Or Grimsby. Or Everton. We're 6th and within touching distance of Champions League football - we are on track to achieve our aim. No, Amorim was sacked for what he said after Leeds. For daring to challenge his paymasters. He wanted more control and was prepared to go nuclear to get it. 

You can view this situation both ways. As the manager, or 'head coach', you should be able to get on with your job, to coach and set your team up however you see fit without any outside influence. You can see why Amorim felt having those methods questioned might be outside the remit of a board member. Yet on the other hand, the manager of a club is only one piece of a chess board. He has others above him who he's answerable to. As in this case, those 'others' are often powerful, influential moneymakers with little patience who want to see their investments rewarded. 

They have stumbled from one bad decision, one misstep, to the next with the Amorim debacle the very latest public demonstration of their failures. 
This of course came hot on the heels of the shambles surrounding the sacking of the Portuguese's predecessor in Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman was given a contract extension and 200m to spend in the wake of winning the FA Cup only for the folly of that gamble to be exposed when he was out on his ear only two months later.

Dan Ashworth questioned their call of going for Amorim and he, too, was sacked. They don't want anyone challenging them - they want a yes man, a nodding dog, who will sit quietly in the corner and do everything they say. 

For a regime earning a reputation for cost-cutting, the cost of sacking ten Hag then appointing and sacking Amorim just over a year later have been two (very expensive) mistakes costing almost 20m. 

Then there was forcing Amorim to take the job mid-season when he didn't want to, preferring to wait until the summer, then the impression of surprise that he was sticking to the principles he's made a career of. Going over his head to sign Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko when he wanted Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins. 
Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell clearly never did their homework. If they had, they would have known Amorim's fixation on the 3-4-3 had put Liverpool off going for him. They would have known United's squad was completely unsuitable for the manager to play how he wanted. 

It's true Amorim certainly did not help himself. He stubbornly and religiously stuck to a formation totally alien to the squad at his disposal. His substitutions were baffling and in game management questionable. He was honest with the media - perhaps a bit too much so at times - and, whilst he came across as a nice bloke you'd want a beer with, he was naive and didn't seem to understand the unique rigours of the Premier League. 

Ratcliffe, Berrada and Wilcox now find themselves back at square one. Darren Fletcher will take charge in the interim to hold the fort and let things calm down. It is the latest huge decision facing United's powerbrokers and one they simply have to get right. 

INEOS are completely rudderless and have left the sinking ship of Manchester United exposed to the elements.