28 Oct 2026 09:49:11
The communication from Manchester United is an absolute disgrace.
From the silence on Sunday to the stories emerging now, what exactly is going on at this football club?
Is Michael Carrick backed by the club or isn't he? It really shouldn't be that difficult to answer.
Last night, we're hearing that the club wants the players to take responsibility. If that's genuinely the position, then come out and say it. Make a statement backing Carrick, make it clear where the responsibility lies, and stop leaving the fans to piece together the club's position through media leaks.
The fans have backed Carrick. They've made their feelings clear. That support deserves to be acknowledged, not left hanging while the club hides behind silence.
Then we have the stories suggesting the club can't afford to sack him. Whether that's true or not, it's another absolute mess. In my opinion, those stories have potentially made Carrick's job twice as difficult. What message does that send to the players? What message does it send to the fans? Some will now believe he's only in the job because the club can't afford to get rid of him, rather than because the people running Manchester United genuinely believe he's the right man.
And now we have stories about Ratcliffe considering the positions of Wilcox and Berrada. On the face of it, that sounds encouraging, because accountability needs to start at the top. But forgive me for being cynical. Given the reaction from fans on Sunday, I can't help wondering whether this is simply another PR exercise designed to appease supporters rather than a genuine attempt to address the problems at the club.
That's the problem with Manchester United right now. Every decision, every leak and every supposed change in direction creates more questions than answers.
This club is an embarrassment, both on the football side and in the way it communicates with its own supporters.
The fans deserve honesty. Carrick deserves clarity. The players need to know where they stand. And those running the club need to start acting like they understand the responsibility that comes with their positions.
Back Carrick publicly, or make the decision to move him on. Explain what's happening behind the scenes and take responsibility for the situation you've created.
Enough with the silence, the leaks and the apparent attempts to manage the PR fallout.
Manchester United is supposed to be one of the biggest football clubs in the world. Right now, it can't even communicate a clear message to its own supporters.
Absolute shambles.
28 Oct 2026 09:58:49
Great post Ports.
28 Oct 2026 10:08:19
Agreed the latest communication from the club is laughable, Carrick is backed until Saturday.
I know managers do get into a position where their status is "week to week" or "game to game" but pretty farcical for the club to actually admit it.
I mean what happens if by some miracle the ball goes in off someones backside and we beat Chelsea, Carricks safe until another loss?
28 Oct 2026 14:17:15
Is SJR is seriously considering changing management, you are not going to get clear communication about any of it. I think It is encouraging that the Carrick firing was paused, it would have been easy to make him the fall guy.
Hopefully there are changes above Carrick. Then the new team can consider the future. I don't trust the current regime to make these changes, so I welcome change above him. Leading to better future decisions.
We will not get better until we realize where we are. Sticking a bandaid on it and trying to get Europe this season is not necessarily the solution. What is the quickest path back to the top? Let's take that path.
Mcguire, shaw, rashford, dalot, Martinez zirkzee, and others should probably all be leaving on the next 12 months. That is a massive change. Amorim's message jt will get worse before it gets better was right, you have to change half the squad. We need to bring in and develop new leaders. We need young promising players to have time to grow.
I don't think amorim's system was ever a right fit for utd. But I think his personality was bang on. We need to find the right manager to set the standard but with a system that feels more like man utd. Attacking fullbacks, wingers, crosses, passion. Fight, youth given opportunity, success.
This week of silence and dithering could possibly lead to the changes we need at the top, so be patient a little longer.
28 Oct 2026 17:34:59
You're not going to get blow by blow executive updates about what's happening- that'd be farcical.
When there is news to share we will find out.
28 Oct 2026 18:28:29
No one expects that Eric. What I don't expect is complete silence and for the media to decide their own stories.
28 Oct 2026 19:14:32
I understand the fans having some sympathy for Carrick, but let's be honest, the football has been atrocious. Last year against Leeds, the Martinez sending off masked the appauling team performance and the ineptness of Carrick for continuing to play Ugarte.
From my perspective, employ a credidable and proven DOF and manager/head coach. Make it f*****g work!!!
28 Oct 2026 20:39:36
But Ports, what I'm saying is there may be bigger considerations and discussions afoot that mean the club will stay silent until they've made a clear decision.
They're not releasing any press statement saying they've lost faith in the CEO
Or DoF, so they won't sack Carrick until that's sorted. Or if they are seeking a Carrick replacement, they won't say he's staying for a few games until they've made an appointment.
28 Oct 2026 21:33:40
Ports i think Eric is right.
We lost a match on Sunday and on Tuesday it was said Carrick will remain in charge.
What more do you want?
There has been a raft a poor outcomes from the decision making of berada and wilxox. Perhaps sjr it's looking to change them now.
Its a time for calm rational decision making by sjr.
I don't subscribe to the view that he is an idiot and i don't think he got to where he is today by not seeing the obvious. Very critical of the pervious regime for their financial waste he will see what the poor decision making of berada and wilcox is costing. Their waste is undermining all the other good but difficult financial pruning that was needed.
This is just my opinion
Sjr and owners must be calling into doubt the decision making of B&W.
Maybe they have lost his trust he is looking at alternatives and or seeking external advice.
If i'm in his shoes i would be strongly considering not allowing them appoint another manager at this time.
An internal review of their positions needs to be conducted before allowing them to appoint another manager.
I would suggest that B&W are hanging on by the thinnest of threads. SJR does not stand on ceremony and won't suffer fools. Replacing a structure from the top down is harder than from the bottom up.
This is an inflection point in the ineos project and the fact SJR has said nothing tells me that he has a lot to think about.
Would you allow them to pick another manager? So if you don't trust them who is going to make the decision? Changing ceo is huge but add to that your most senior football exec role is massive when unplanned.
It takes out both chains of command above the manager and from the owners perspective it cuts off their chain of command downwards.
When there is something to communicate we will hear but i think silence is good news.
As i always look to the positive and look to the best likely outcomes to any given strategic dilema i'm hoping that there is more afoot. If sjr is considering either of their positions then its the wrong time to sack the manager.
I think we need to remain calm and hope all this gets us a little bounce? I'm not a hopeful on that front.
Its all well saying fire them but in a well oilled machine that's a huge upheaval in a dysfunctional machine it will only make things worse unless its done well.
For those that want everybody fired wilcox berada and carrick and i think most would agree they all should go for one reason or another then who do they appoint? Who makes the decisions? When can we get them?
If sjr is considering their positions then its hugely complex.
I don't know the under structure to Berada too well after wilcox on the football side, where Vivell sits is anybody's guess he appears to be at odds with wilcox so that's a positive.
Carrick is in all likelihood a dead man walking but he might hand the pressure of being the last one out the door if he can get a few results.
28 Oct 2026 23:06:29
Clubs dead!