Manchester United have a problem with Michael Carrick and now they have to pull the plug

To put it simply, Manchester United have a problem with Michael Carrick. And pretending otherwise will only make things worse.

There comes a point when patience ceases to be a virtue and begins to become a hindrance. For United, that point has arrived. Manchester United supporters would argue that the club has been patient for far too long.

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4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford was another reminder of everything wrong with this team. There was fight, there was character and there was a late comeback that briefly threatened to paper through the cracks. But there was also defensive chaos, individual mistakes and another afternoon without a win in the Premier League.

United enter the November international break in 18th place in the table with just eight points from 10 games. These are not temporary fluctuations that can be removed with talk of restructuring or giving more time to the manager.

Michael Carrick had an opportunity to arrest the decline. They came and went. And now Manchester United must pull the plug.

NO CREDIT LEFT FOR CARRICK

When Carrick took the reins at United, things were looking pretty grim. The Red Devils were drifting away from the Champions League places while Ruben Amorim left after a very public row with the board.

The United legend stepped in and produced a sensational turnaround. The club finished third, behind Arsenal and Manchester City, beating both sides during their inaugural spell.

Carrick also oversaw wins against Liverpool and Chelsea. Despite his questionable track record at Middlesbrough in the Championship, he was handed the permanent job to considerable fanfare.

23 – Michael Carrick has 23 points in nine Premier League games as Manchester United manager (W7 D2 – including both spells). This is the joint-best total after nine games by any manager in the history of the competition, along with Ange Postecoglou (also 23). Impression. OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 1, 2026

However, things have gone downhill for the former midfielder since the defeat to Hull City on the opening day of the season. United are now 18th in the table, with just one win from their opening 10 games and a paltry eight points for their efforts.

Premier League clubs have pulled the trigger on managers for much less. Given United’s current situation, it is increasingly difficult to justify Carrick’s continued presence in the underground.

United were humbled by Como in the Champions League before suffering a home defeat to Bournemouth. In both games, Carrick’s inability to change his tactics and personnel when things went wrong took center stage.

Time and time again, when his team needed a tactical jolt, Carrick seemed slow to react. His substitutions contributed to a win against Roma and a 4-4 draw against Villa, but his decision-making lacked consistency.

United’s inability to control games also cost them valuable points against Everton, Spurs, Fulham and Leeds. They repeatedly struggle with driving control even when they have had the advantage.

They allowed Manchester City to walk away with the win despite the opposition being reduced to 10 men. They also let the opposition back into the game against Spurs after taking the lead. Instead of going for the kill, Carrick became passive and let the game slip away.

This left Carrick with very little goodwill to fall back on.

NO VISIBLE IMPROVEMENT, TRUST NON EFFECTS

Perhaps the biggest problem during Carrick’s tenure was the lack of improvement in the squad. During the second half of last season, he brought United back to a more familiar identity with a four-man defense and a team that looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

This season, he was expected to take the side to another level and give them a more defined style of play. While recruitment and owners deserve their fair share of blame, Carrick cannot escape responsibility either.

Currently, it seems to have run out of the magic and new ideas that made its initial charm so exciting. The offense still shows flashes of promise, but the defense remains a complete shambles.

His decision to deploy inverted full-backs repeatedly left the wings exposed, giving opposition wingers room to wreak havoc. Against Roma, Diogo Dalot was caught completely out of position, allowing Soule to cut inside and score the opener. The same vulnerability was exposed against Villa, with Alysson repeatedly picking up Dalot and exploiting the space on that wing.

Carrick’s continued faith in Lisandro Martinez has also raised questions. The defender has made some costly mistakes this season but the manager has stuck with him and there is little sign that things are improving. Carrick appears slow to make tactical changes and substitutions (Courtesy: Reuters)

Martinez’s red card proved to be the turning point in the defeat to Chelsea, a game in which United dominated the first half. Another player whose continued presence in the starting XI has come under scrutiny is Dalot, who was booed by sections of the Old Trafford crowd after being substituted against Villa.

Dalot has remained a polarizing figure and in the last two games against Roma and Villa, he has made several costly errors that have directly contributed to goals. He played as a left-back and was repeatedly caught out of position, leaving his side exposed.

The numbers paint an equally grim picture. United have conceded 30 goals in all competitions, which is said to be the worst defensive record in Europe. They have also gone 11 games without keeping a clean sheet. For context, they conceded 50 goals in their entire 38-game Premier League campaign last season.

Amad Diallo hasn’t scored for United in almost a year, yet he’s playing regularly. Meanwhile, exciting young talent like Shea Lacey are still waiting for their opportunity.

A similar case can be made for Harry Amasse. At left-back, he could offer United another option in a position where they have lacked answers, especially with Luke Shaw sidelined through injury.

PERFECT CHANCE TO PULL THE TRIGGER

The current international break offers United the perfect opportunity for a change. There will be no further international breaks until March, so this is an ideal window to bring in a new manager and give him time to work with the squad.

The incoming manager would have the opportunity to start rebuilding the side in his own image, introducing new ideas and solving the problems that have plagued United for most of the season.

If the club decide to part ways with Carrick, the likes of Antonio Conte, Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe are being considered. All three have experience taking over clubs facing difficult situations and trying to turn their fortunes around. Conte and Nagelsmann in particular have impressive trophy-winning records at club level.

Postponing the decision could only make the situation worse. If United do eventually pull the trigger, they risk creating even more chaos by leaving themselves scrambling for replacements midway through the season.

When Amorim was sacked, United turned to Darren Fletcher for a few weeks. This temporary spell ended with the club crashing out of the FA Cup in the third round.

A similar situation is the last thing United need right now. They are already in serious trouble in the league and cannot afford another period of uncertainty, with the team without a permanent manager midway through the season.

Amid growing speculation surrounding his future, Carrick reiterated that he intends to stay in his role and has no plans to leave.

“We haven’t won enough games but I expect us to move forward and continue to work on what we’ve been working on, make up for a few mistakes and win football games,” Carrick said after the draw with Villa.

Manchester United have spent years talking about rebuilding, returning to their identity and restoring the club to its former glory. But none of that will happen if they keep making the same mistakes.

Carrick deserves credit for what he achieved during his initial spell. He brought excitement back to Old Trafford, restored confidence among fans and produced results that few expected.

But football doesn’t work on sentiment. What happened yesterday cannot guarantee success tomorrow.

United are 18th in the Premier League, have won just three games in all competitions this season and are conceding goals at an alarming rate. The warning signs are no longer difficult to spot.

Michael Carrick can forever be a Manchester United legend. But that doesn’t mean he has to remain their manager.

Time to pull the plug.

– The end