Manchester United’s board is still, somehow, without a final decision on Michael Carrick’s future as head coach, even after a truly brutal start to the domestic campaign that has them sitting 18th in the Premier League table. This squad, an absolute powerhouse historically, is suffering their worst start in 40 years, and it’s getting harder to ignore the silence from the top.
Staring Down The Relegation Zone
Carrick’s tenure, which started in January when he took over from Ruben Amorim, has seen the club win just 15 out of 32 games. But the real gut punch is this season’s start. That 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday, a game where they blew a lead, meant United are sitting 18th in the table, a position no one saw coming and certainly not one any fan wants to see. It’s their lowest position after 10 matches since the 1986-87 campaign. The board apparently gave Carrick “more time” to turn things around after a crushing 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on October 25, saying they felt he, and the players, had “earned the opportunity.” They even explored bringing in former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe or ex-Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann after that Bournemouth loss. But here we are, after three more games under Carrick’s continued leadership, and the mixed bag of one win, one draw, and one defeat, coupled with dropping into the relegation zone and conceding eight goals, paints a pretty grim picture. Carrick himself, bless his heart, said after the Villa draw that he wouldn’t step down, but with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox having huge influence, you gotta wonder if it’s his call anymore.
What Is Going On With This Defense?
Look, the numbers don’t lie. This team is leaking goals like a sieve, and it’s the biggest problem. They have let in 19 league goals so far, with only Crystal Palace and Ipswich having worse records. Think about that. In the last three matches across all competitions, they’ve conceded a mind-blowing 15 times! Their only clean sheet this season came against Azerbaijan title winners Sabah FK in the Champions League, which, let’s be real, isn’t exactly a high bar. Former United assistant boss Rene Meulensteen hit it right on the head, telling BBC Radio Five Live, “All the Premier League teams, whether they play home or away against Manchester United, fancy their chances because you can open them up and score goals.” He nailed it when he added, “Michael Carrick will be constantly puzzled as to what back four he can play because there’s no certainty they can keep a clean sheet.” The frustration is palpable, too. Full-back Diogo Dalot got absolutely ripped by the Old Trafford faithful on Sunday, with huge cheers when his number went up for substitution, which then turned to boos as he left the field. It’s not all bad though, the board did note that fighting back from two goals down three times over the past two games showed that the players still back Carrick. Maybe that’s the only thing keeping him in the job.
The Break And The Road Ahead
Now, with an international break coming up, there’s a two-week window for the hierarchy to “reassess the situation in a calmer manner.” Knowing this board, “calmer manner” probably means more agonizing over decisions that needed to be made weeks ago. Their first match after the break? A brutal trip to arch rivals Liverpool on November 22. That’s a true test for Carrick’s side, sitting 18th with just one league win all season. After the Anfield trip, five of United’s next seven league opponents are in the bottom half of the league, including four other teams currently in the bottom five. They’ll face Coventry, Nottingham Forest, and Sunderland, all at Old Trafford. This *could* be a chance to turn things around, to stack some wins. But honestly, whether Carrick keeps his job or not, this team is going to keep struggling unless they figure out how to stop conceding goals with such regularity. The question isn’t just who’s coaching, it’s what’s going to stop this defensive nightmare.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply