Michael Carrick: The case for the prosecution

We are now coming towards the end of Michael Carrick's time on trial at Manchester United.

For that is what these last four months have been. Ever since January, Carrick has faced the jury as he presents his case to be the next Manchester United manager. 
It will soon be time to study the evidence and then that jury will make their decision. A decision which will set the course of the next few years and take United into a new era. 

Imagine this interim period like a court case. We have heard from the defence. They have given their reasons as to why he should stay on. Carrick himself has shown what he can do. Now it is the turn of the prosecution to take to the witness box. They will put forward their case as to why Carrick should not get the job despite his body of work at United. 

Here, we take a look at the counter-argument: why Carrick should not take charge beyond this season. 

The style

Carrick's United welcomed Brentford to Old Trafford on Monday night. The first twelve minutes were probably the best we have seen from the Reds since his first game in charge against City. United forced four corners in the opening moments, Sepp van den Berg cleared off the line and the Reds had Brentford pinned back and unable to get out.
But after Casemiro's eleventh minute goal, this was a familiar pattern. The Bees took control and - were it not for the heroics of Senne Lammens - should have been 2 or 3-1 ahead a half-time. United's shape and structure subsided and we were forced to hold on for the win. 
Carrick, to his credit, rectified the issue by making a tactical switch to a back five with Nouss Mazraoui as a third centre-back. He wanted to solidify it, and it worked in disrupting the flow of the game and stopping Brentford cutting through us. 
It worked, but - once more - United did just enough for victory. Just as we did against the ten men of Crystal Palace, just as we clung on at Everton and at Chelsea. True, just enough will be enough. It will get us to where we need to get to. But surely no further that that. 

Will the manner of the performances come into the thinking of Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox and co? Or will they just look at the results? Think of the acronym 'PVR' - Performance. Vision. Result. Whilst the third is the most important, especially at this time of the season, Carrick has to show the other two as well. In my view, he has not yet demonstrated anything to show how he would have us playing in the long term. We have to have something to buy into. 

This level of performance is not sustainable - if this is what a Carrick-led United future looks like, I don't want it. It is basic, predictable and quite boring. It's too nervy, too edgy, too white knuckle ride. Winning when not playing well is a fine trait to have but catches up with you eventually. 
We are not going to get anywhere in keep-it-simple survival mode. Four months in, and there is no discernible pattern of play. Of course, it is possible Carrick is just doing the bare minimum to get the results we need. It might simply be a means to an end. A 'just do what it takes to get what you need' situation. But we cannot play like this in the Champions League next season. 

Carrick's (lack of) experience 

Now we come to that age old paradox. The fresh out of college student needing a job to gain experience, but the employer wanting you to have three years worth of experience before considering you for said job. It is similar for Carrick. He is learning on the job, a young manager with no Premier League experience save for his brief experience as a caretaker the first time round in 2021. 
United is no place for a learner driver. You only have to look at Chelsea to see how quickly these mighty behemoths can swallow up even the most promising of managerial talents - Liam Rosenior falling by the wayside 109 days into a six-year tenure. Rosenior is clearly a good coach but never stood a chance amids the chaos in west London. 
Carrick is under no pressure at the moment. The job was a free hit when he came in and there was no pressure or expectation. That will not be the case in 2026/27. Carrick will be thrust into a transfer window, he will be set long-term targets and will be expected to compete with some of the biggest clubs on the continent. Everything he says and does will be forensically analysed x 10. 

For a guy whose only previous managerial job was at Middlesbrough in the Championship, the step up will be enormous and daunting. 

Player regression 

It has been United's veteran old stagers - thirty somethings Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire - whom have shone brightest under Carrick. Players who have been here before, and know what's needed at this level. These three players have been influential, leading United's charge towards the promised land of the Champions League. All three are experienced, quality leaders and they have done more than most to get us to this position. That is not to discard the efforts of others, but certainly that triumvirate have been big players at big moments. 
With the exception of the excellent Senne Lammens, United's newest recruits have either regressed, or plateaud, under Carrick. 

Bryan Mbeumo came in over the summer to much acclaim - United had acquired one of the best players, and finishers, in the Premier League. He has had a good season and there is no doubting his ability but he has not scored for nine games, since the 2-0 defeat of Spurs in February. Mbeumo has gone off the boil and looks a shadow of the player we saw over Christmas and ino the early months of 2026.
Amad's struggles continued as he was withdrawn at the interval against Brentford having endured another poor 45 minutes. He snatched at a gilt-edged opening set up by Kobbie Mainoo - which would have been goal of the season - and seemed to run into traffic at every turn. He did, however, play a role in Benjamin Sesko's match clinching goal when he started the move on the edge of our own penalty area. Amad was one of the only United players who emerged from last term with credit, with 11 goals and ten assists to his name. This term, he has two and three respectively.
Matheus Cunha may have scored the winner at Chelsea but he is another whose influence on this side has gradually waned. A player always capable of moments such as that goal at the Bridge, he has become wasteful, looks slower and at times seems unsure of his role. 

The managerial market

There are a number of in-demand managers on the market in the summer. Luis Enrique's future at PSG is still up in the air, Andoni Iraola is highly sought after, and Xabi Alonso is also available. So too Xavi and Oliver Glasner. Unai Emery may leave Villa should they win the Europa League. Can Julian Nagelsmann be tempted away from Germany after the World Cup? Iraola seems odds-on to go to his former side in the Basque country, Athletic Club, but his predecessor there, Ernesto Valverde, has been linked with United in the past. Valverde has managed at the highest level and Omar Berrada is a known admirer. Could they opt for someone like him instead? 

United run the risk of appointing Carrick and missing out on the managerial merry go round as other clubs swoop for these out-of-work bosses. 

But this time, unlike in previous years, there is no obvious no.1 candidate. Enrique would be the choice of many fans but even if he leaves PSG, his wage demands would be mad. United would be in a very long secure to secure the services of the Spaniard. Which path will INEOS decide to walk down, if they haven't already picked their man? If they do truly want the 'best in class' then you move heaven and earth to get Enrique.