13 May 2026 12:55:48
So, it looks like that's it, Michael Carrick to be permanently appointed as Head Coach of Manchester United. That is the recommendation from the football committee going over to SJR according to ever reliable Laurie Whitwell.
What are people's thoughts?
Personally, there are only a few top managers I would have at the club, Simeone/Enrique/Tuchel but it looks as though none of those are available. So aside from those we have a raft of managers such as Iraola (whom I really like), Glasner, Nagelsmann, Poch (maybe) and none of these jump out.
Carrick, I believe is seen as a safe pair hands and has clearly been able to get a tune out of the current crop of players. He will only do as good as expected if we manage to sign 4/5 top class players.
And for those that will bang on about his credentials or that his another Ole like candidate, (we can not judge Carrick based on what Ole did or didn't do) just think on these other managers who went from lower jobs to top of the heap.
Arteta - Pep's assistant into the top job at Arsenal
Kompany - Relegated Burnley to Bayern
Pep - Barcelona B to being Barcelona's top dog
Zidane - Real Madrid B to top dog
Maresca - Leicester to Chelsea
Flick - Hoffenheim to Bayern
Enrique - Celta Vigo to Barcelona
He has been chosen now, so we must get behind him and hopefully the club give him the tools to succeed.
Best of luck Michael!
13 May 2026 13:50:42
Honestly, Angel, I really don't know, but I think I'd feel the same if they said thanks, Michael, and brought in someone else. Enrique aside, I'm not sure there was an outstanding external candidate or a sure-fire thing. I'm just praying it's the right choice, and the club support him with proper recruitment this summer.
Next season will be a completely different animal, so we need a strong squad to cope. I think I have Ole PTSD that's clouding my judgment, though I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Good luck to Michael. I wish him all the success in the world. GGMU. ?
13 May 2026 14:14:38
There are similarities, but this is not the same as the Ole situation other than the fact they're both ex players. In Ole's case, the club rushed into a decision in March when they had another 6-8 weeks to further assess the situation and options. A then-utterly incompetent management team, already shrouded in failure, took shelter behind his initial success. In Ole's day the psyche was totally different. The club was still living on past successes. Now this group looks a whole lot hungrier to create the future.
We'll see. There are no guarantees. The current squad is clearly behind the manager, but by the beginning of next season there will, no doubt, be at least 5 or 6 new personalities who may or may not fit in with the rest of the players, or respond to Carrick.
As Angel says, it's now up to the management team to give him the tools. I have no doubt that's what they intend to do. With Champions League revenues, I can see them spending up to £300m, but hopefully, with the new scouting teams and analytical systems they'll not just bring in the obvious high price players but a couple of diamonds in the rough. Plus, there may be a surprise departure or two.
Opinions are divided, obviously. It's going to be a big season for us. More games, more injuries, higher expectations, etc etc. We've all seen with both Liverpool and Chelsea this season that expensive new players don't necessarily bear fruit.
Carrick has earned a shot. Good luck to him.
13 May 2026 14:24:05
Bad idea - (most) performances have been very poor despite results. Maybe, with a good window, he will prove me wrong. I hope so.
13 May 2026 14:38:19
You know my thoughts already, Angel. I think our performances have greatly lagged our results under Carrick, and we've seen no evidence he can set up in anything other than a counter attacking style. There are numerous amber flags from his time in Middlesbrough that we have seen here, e.g., poor rotation of the squad members, and so on.
The counterpoint is that there are obvious flaws in our squad and that his results have been good. In close game scenarios, i.e., the start of the game at 0-0 or when a goal behind, we've seen the xG performance is consistent with Amorim, which suggests that he hasn't caused a performance regression, so it may be a conservative approach towards protecting a lead, which has worked.
The players also seem to like him, and getting a coach appointed now gives good clarity.
So, despite my reservations, I'll support the guy, and hopefully he pushes on and those amber flags are lowered.
13 May 2026 14:59:46
If that's who they appoint then we just have to get on with it.
I've very low expectations from Carrick, but I'm full of hope.
I'm not against him.
Angel, anybody could prepare a list of managers who have failed to step up as well.
Carrick was a coach under Ole, so there is a direct comparison.
Very low on expectancy, and confidence high on hope, but you never know.
If it doesn't work out, we fire him and go again, simple as that.
13 May 2026 16:34:07
Wasn't the point of the list, Ken.
13 May 2026 16:39:52
Hansi Flick would have been my choice... Done great everywhere, with good football and a mix of young and old, may have been ready for a change too....
Carrick is very uninspiring, too laid back for my liking. Not sure if he adds that extra 5% when the team is flat and the football has not been great, but he got results, so it is hardly surprising...
So maybe just more of the same. Does he kick us on? I am not convinced, but Ineos backed themselves into a corner and could not do much else....
13 May 2026 16:47:54
A direct comparison because he was a coach that worked under him? So did Kieran McKenna.
He's his own man, and I would not hold it against him, or use it as a comparison at all, because he was a coach that worked on Ole's team.
One thing you're right about there is, you never know.
13 May 2026 17:20:12
He's been chosen, so now INEOS and the Glazers need to get behind him, and back him with some good signings. We need at least 5 players, and they need to be top players. imo 2 central midfielders, a backup forward for Sesko, a right back, and a left back.
13 May 2026 17:47:46
He deserves a shot, let's see how we progress next season.
If he fails, then maybe there will be a better choice of managers available next summer.
13 May 2026 17:54:43
Or even October, Grim!
Angel, McKenna was too, you're right. He can cut it in the Championship, but not the Premiership. All we can do is wait and see and hope.
13 May 2026 18:26:49
Seen rumours that Carrick wants Aaron Danks, currently Bayern's assistant, alongside Holland potentially staying on. I think this is key. A lot of focus on Carrick, but the staff he has around him is vitally important. Danks is highly regarded, as is Holland. Sadly for McKenna, although I don't agree with it, I suspect, especially with certain individuals on the playing staff at the time, his age, playing career and lack of coaching experience at that time went against him when it came to respect and trust in him from players.
I'm glad McKenna has gone away and forged his own career, because I think he is a good coach.
A good coaching team and good recruitment in the transfer window, then I think there's no reason Carrick can't succeed, but I also think the club should just give him a 2 year contract. No need to complicate it. This may be seen as not trusting him, but review it after a year and the club can then extend or look elsewhere.
13 May 2026 19:49:18
Unfortunately, it seems the list of managers available isn't what it needs to be, and so Carrick gets it by a process of elimination. That shouldn't be the position of 'the biggest club in England'.
I'll be behind Carrick 100%, but I don't see the current streak of luck lasting across a season with a lot more games to be played.
14 May 2026 00:00:30
We do need someone on the coaching staff with attacking intent. Bringing different skills and perspective. We have a lot of defensive minded coaches.
I agree that who he surrounds himself with will make or break him.
A shrewd appointment in that regard will help no end.
The biggest thing he had in his favour is the camp looks united and the players like playing for him.
All we can do is look for the positives and hope he can answer the negatives as time goes by.
I've never had such a neutral feeling. I've been hugely optimistic with previous appointments and hugely critical of others, but with this one I feel it can go either way and I'm prepared for either scenario, tbh.
I see things he has done very well and other things not so much.
I don't see it as an emotional appointment in any way. Or a comfy one.
I do see it as cautious but calculated.
There are big questions he still has to answer, but he has answered most so far and he can only answer others as they arise.
I see leadership qualities in him and he has proven to be a fast learner so far.
I'd say the odds are against him as it's such a difficult job, but he has earned the respect of most, if only for his results, so I will be all in and full of hope if he is given the job.
14 May 2026 08:36:50
Other than the top 2/3 coaches, all of which are in posts and not leaving, I am unsure who would be better currently (without all the risks that would come with them) than giving Carrick the job. As Madrid are finding, it takes a certain type to manage our club, and who is to say that Carrick will not be a success.
Ports, I think you raise a good point on the coaching staff.
The team Carrick has currently was pulled together to do a short term job, he now has the opportunity to evaluate the ones he has and look to bring in some additional ones that could elevate the whole coaching team.
If he gets this right, alongside being able to instil his style and new recruitment, we may see a very different plan from him next year.
14 May 2026 09:45:00
Some great comments on here. Like many, I am not massively excited by Carrick, but I am struggling to see alternatives. Enrique is the standout, but is going nowhere. Who else? Carrick is not phased by United, but needs experience around him... and better players!