The case for Carrick
Manchester United appointed ex-player Michael Carrick as ‘head coach’ until the end of the season — Getty Images
Two games. Two victories. Top four. . . Title charge?
Okay, there’s probably not going to be a title charge coming from the red side of Manchester this season but Manchester United haven’t looked this impressive in years. The team looks completely different from the sorry side that was dropping points to relegation battling sides weekly under Ruben Amorim. Since the dismissal of the Portuguese ‘head coach’ United have not only secured victories over two of their biggest rivals — and arguably the two best sides in the country — but they have done so in a manner that has often eluded them over the last decade.
Michael Carrick’s side beat both Manchester City and Arsenal in a style that harks back to the United teams that he played in. There has been a newfound energy and confidence. The players are playing with freedom and excitement. No more back five. No more overplaying for fear of making a mistake and losing the ball. Instead players are expressing themselves and knocking the ball around with flair and intent.
For much of Amorim’s tenure, players seemed confused on the pitch — like they didn’t know what they were supposed to be doing. There was a lot of passing the ball for the sake of it, a lot of turning back and retaining possession at a safe distance from the opposition’s goal. Reports since his dismissal have suggested that Amorim’s training sessions followed a similar pattern — slow, boring and confusing the players.
Carrick has come in and immediately changed that. An indicator of what was to come was revealed before the derby, when he made training sessions shorter and more intense. He has completely changed the style of play. Not only has he reverted to a back four, he has set up his side to play with width and energy. Proper wingers, vertical passes and an allowance for players to take on their man or have a pop from long range. Entertaining football — for the fans and the players. Everybody is always banging on about ‘the United way’, this is it.
One of the most effectual decisions that the former England international has done since taking charge is bringing Kobbie Mainoo back into the fold, starting the 20 year old midfielder in both matches — his first league starts all season. Reverting to a back four has allowed Carrick to play three in midfield and bring Kobbie back into the starting XI while also allowing Bruno Fernandes to move back into his favoured attacking midfield position.
One of the biggest issues for fans during Amorim’s tenure was his reluctance to play both Bruno and Kobbie with him repeatedly stating that they were competition for each other and could not play together. These last two games have shown that the pair not only play well together but actually bring out the best in each other. With Casemiro completing the midfield three and the performances against City and Arsenal — both in which Mainoo covered the most ground of any player on the pitch — it really makes you question Amorim’s reluctance to adapt and try the trio together.
From a personal point of view, Mainoo could not have a better coach than Carrick who was a mainstay in a United side that won the Champions League and five Premier League titles before going on to captain the club.
Kobbie Mainoo starting again, Bruno in his best position, WINGERS! and attacking, entertaining football has United fans buzzing. Almost from the start under Ruben Amorim, there was division among the United fanbase. Many thought he deserved time while others were sceptical of the formation and style of play. There were even sections that questioned United’s decision to sack the Portuguese manager but all of that division and angst has dissipated over the last two weeks. The fans have watched their team beat league leaders Arsenal and City back to back and in emphatic style too. Dominating City at home — handing them their biggest ever xG defeat in a game that could have ended 6–0 if not for marginal offsides and the woodwork — and coming from behind to hand Arsenal their first home defeat this season. They have played the United way and they have won. Carrick could not be in a better position with the United fanbase. It's only been two games but fans and pundits alike are already contemplating him becoming the next permanent manager.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became the permanent Manchester United manager following a successful stint as caretaker manager in 2019 — Getty Images
Of course there is always the possibility that this is just another new manager bounce. Many sceptics are quick to point this out. Most clubs have at least a few positive results and performances when a new manager comes in. Players feel freed of the old regime, fans are optimistic of better days to come and everything is romanticised.
Manchester United have had this type of run before with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the 2018/19 season which led to Rio Ferdinand’s infamous “get the contract out, put it on the table. Let him sign it, let him write whatever numbers he wants… Ole’s at the wheel, man. He’s doing it.” And that did not quite end how we all wanted it to — he got close but ultimately it ended in a tearful parting. That is where Carrick’s first experience as caretaker manager came from. After Solskjaer’s sacking it fell to Carrick — who had been part of the backroom staff at United since Mourinho’s tenure — to take over for three games until they found the longer term caretaker in Ralf Rangnick. The Austrian is another example of a short term fix turning sour quickly. However, this time it feels different.
Carrick’s first stint as caretaker in 2021 brought two victories and one draw. They beat Unai Emery’s Villareal 2–0 away from home in the Champions League, drew 1–1 with Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before a final 3–2 win at home to Arsenal. Three impressive performances against three top managers.
That impressive run led to his appointment as Middlesbrough head coach the following October. Carrick took over with the club sitting 21st in the Championship, only one point above the relegation zone. He would go on to lead the club to a fourth placed finish securing 16 wins from his first 23 matches in charge, making it to the playoff semi-final before losing to Coventry City.
While they did drop to an eighth placed finish the following season and him getting sacked at the end of his third season at the club — a tenth place finish with performance levels having dropped since his first year in charge— a lot of that came down to Middlesbrough losing their best players. Chuba Akpom who was the club’s top scorer during his first season in charge was sold to Ajax that summer, Morgan Rogers left for Aston Villa the following January and Emmanuel Latte Lath — who was Middlesbrough’s leading goalscorer at the time — left halfway through last season’s campaign. It would be cruel to say that the progress Carrick was making at Middlesbrough and the promotion push they were after was not thwarted by these departures.
Now with better players at his disposal, he is showing what he can do. Two impressive victories, a revitalised squad and a rejuvenated fanbase. He could not have had a better start. It is yet to be seen if this continues, he has arguably faced the two toughest sides he can this season — with United already out of both cup competitions and no European football — they only have 15 games left to play but that is where we will get a clearer picture of Carrick’s United.
Fulham will be the truest test of this new tenure. United weren’t expected to beat City or Arsenal — many didn’t even expect them to compete. But now they have a run of easier fixtures. Games they should compete in, games where they will control possession, the emphasis will be on them to dominate. This is where Solskjaer’s United often got stuck. They could pull out a big result against City or Liverpool but when it came to breaking down a stubborn side, Solskjaer often came up short.
They play an in form Fulham side at Old Trafford on Sunday. The two drew 1–1 back in August and Marco Silva’s men can get within a point of United if they win. If Carrick wants to get the job permanently you feel as though a definitive 2–0 win — or a similar result — is necessary this weekend to keep momentum and spirits high. They have a decent run of fixtures coming up — after Fulham they play free falling Spurs at home before trips to West Ham and Everton. These are the matches that have tripped up United over the past decade when they had looked like they are turning a corner and might be about to do something — it has happened a couple of times this season alone.
If United can continue with this newfound momentum and win the games that they are supposed to win, pick up the points that they should, with only one game a week they could find themselves close to the title race come March. If he secures Champions League football and the fans are happy, that would surely be enough for Sir Jim, Berrada and Wilcox to consider giving Carrick the job full time. It doesn't feel like there are a lot of options out there so maybe Carrick is simply the right man at the right time.
Current Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has been tipped for the Manchester United job by Gary Neville — Getty Images
Gary Neville and Roy Keane have both said that the next permanent Manchester United manager needs to be a big name. Neville thinks that they need to ‘eliminate the risks’ while Keane doubled down on his stance this week stating that Carrick doesn’t have the necessary experience. Many United fans agree with this. The club have tried a variety of managers; Ferguson’s choice, been there and done it Louis Van Gaal and ‘The Special One’, up and coming European names. None of them have worked out.
Eliminating the risks leaves you with only a couple of names that have managed in the Premier League, won the biggest titles and dealt with challenging egos and big personalities. Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel. Both currently focused on the 2026 World Cup with Brazil and England respectively, but also both likely available afterwards — especially for a club of United’s stature.
They are two great options — I have personally wanted Ancelotti for years and this feels like it could be his last ‘big job’. However, if United continue to win and play great football until the end of the season and get even within touching distance of the title race, maybe it should go to Carrick. On a one year contract I don’t think there is a lot of United fans that would be completely against the idea.
Guardiola, Arteta, Kompany — three of the best managers around right now all landed their first big job with little managing experience or success. Plus Carrick has the respect of the squad having played in one of the greatest United sides of all time. He has been there and done it — with Manchester United. He knows the players and so far he seems to know how to get the best out of them. He appears to have the tactical nouse and man management skills necessary. If a new manager comes in the club will be starting from scratch yet again. Players having to learn a new system, a new coach with new ideas. Will it be the United way? Will the players adapt? Will fans be happy? With no outstanding, sure fire long term replacement lined up, if he earns it why not give it to him?
Whether Carrick gets the job next season or not, the fact that we are even having these conversations highlights the job that he has done so far. In the space of two weeks he has taken a team struggling to beat anyone and turned them into a throwback to the United teams that he played in. It might not last long, but for the time being Carrick has brought the fun back for Manchester United. If it continues, he deserves a proper shot.