15 Mar 2026 18:53:13
This does feel like a poor league this year with a lot of teams being very inconsistent. Liverpool and Chelsea have been erratic, City look unconvincing, and even Arsenal have flattered to deceive.
Our teams looked good in the Champions League initial league, but are getting found out now they are facing knockout games against big teams.
That has presented an opportunity, one Carrick has seized pretty well. This weekend's results strengthen our position and we are now looking up and chasing City, instead of panicking who might be catching us.
So back to the continuing question about the new Manager. I have not heard a name that excites me, and we currently have Carrick delivering League winning form, 7 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat. I know many are not convinced, but tell me who you think would do better? I'm struggling to think of anyone.
Managing United is a unique role, and character is key. Carrick is not fazed by it and understands the club, he is an inexperienced Manager but right now he's delivering.
Glassner and Iraola, think Frank going from Brentford to Spurs, a whole different ball game. Emery, good with underdog teams but one where he is expected to win things? I'm not so sure.
De Zerbi, really? I think he would be out of his depth. And Nagelsmann, he intrigues me but brief success in one role brimgs great risk, and Bayern dumped him.
Martinez, not for me, failed with Belgium with an amazing team, and aamcelotto. Is well. Pastnhis best, in both ability and moti action.
The one manager I would get excited by is Klopp, but we all know that isn't going to happen.
Let's assume Carrick continues to deliver, so tell me, who would be a better fit than Carrick?
15 Mar 2026 19:10:32
Hoeness, Pochettino, and Nagelsmann, to name 3. Carrick has done well but there are plenty of amber flags. Those were ignored with Ole, and we cannot afford to do that again. Results are great, and I know plenty just want to focus on that, but it would be foolish to ignore the other metrics, especially those that have better long term predictive value.
15 Mar 2026 19:26:19
Ole, it's always Ole.
Poch, I used to like that idea, but again, what has he achieved?
Hoeness, never managed a big club, huge risk. I know you and I might disagree here, but I think Amorim struggled with the scale and size of our club, the same way Frank struggled going to Spurs, and, in my view, how Rosenior will be found out at Chelsea.
Nagelsmann, I think, is an option, Bayern dumped him, but he wasn't the first they've dumped, so perhaps it was them, not him.
I get the amber flags with Carrick. We have had a few lethargic games, but the 9 games overall have been, at worst, solid, and a massive step up from what we were seeing before.
15 Mar 2026 19:26:42
Not convinced by Poch at all. Hoeness is getting a lot of praise, but is it too soon for a manager who has never managed in the prem? Luis Enrique would be the obvious choice, but not sure he wants the move.
I like Iraola, and he has prem experience, but would the step up be too much?
Massive decision the club needs to get right. Not an easy one to make. Interesting months ahead.
15 Mar 2026 22:27:35
For goodness sake, are we really going down the Ole route again? I despair. A couple of games, and some are willing to throw everything up in the air.
Carrick was Boro manager, judge him on that. Stop being enticed into this dreamy nonsense.
I really can't be doing with another year of give it Carrick, he has the DNA.
16 Mar 2026 04:08:20
Enrique, Flick, Xavi, Zidane, Nagelsmann, the list is endless, but it will probably be Martinez; he is high on the list of the powers that be, the plan is with Carrick being his number 2.
Does it thrill me? No, a bit foolish to say, cos he's done nothing with Belgium.
If you're going by that route, virtually every manager everywhere fails somewhere. It's a matter of finding the right fit, same with players.
16 Mar 2026 05:54:25
By the way, in answer to Ajh, who would be better than Carrick? Quite a few. Understand the club is not a requirement. Nagelsmann, Enrique. I agree with Keane, he said it a few times. Simeone has done wonders year after year, and broken up the big two in Spain. Time for a new challenge.
16 Mar 2026 08:15:29
I'm finding it difficult to name a preference, but I'm very much with DonRed and Red Man re the amber flags and the Boro experience.
16 Mar 2026 08:25:23
I also don't have anyone I see as exciting and a strong choice. I would include Carrick in that bracket. So, in summary, I think we have a problem. The bigger question I would ask is whether we think the club has a plan, a shortlist, a timeline, and where they should be, and where they are in that process?
16 Mar 2026 09:44:03
If Martinez gets the job, I give up. Biggest fraud in football.
16 Mar 2026 10:18:31
He's thrown his name into the hat, but I think overall we need a strong manager with a proven track record. Luis Enrique is my 1st choice. I'd have Simeone over him, and possibly even Iriola, or maybe even Nagelsmann. All more experienced managers who are probably ahead of Carrick.
16 Mar 2026 14:04:03
Nagelsmann has just signed a contract till 2028 with Germany, so he isn't an option. Enrique is signing a three year extension with PSG, so expect lots of United rumours until he gets the money he wants.
Poch is going back to Spurs, hopefully.
Martinez, er, no. Iraola is in talks about extending his contract. Zidane will take over from Deschamp in the summer. Flick is at Barca, not likely to move, and Xavi is just the Spanish version of Carrick.
The pool of potentials isn't that big.
16 Mar 2026 14:33:23
Grim, that's not a new contract. His existing one runs till 28.