Michael Carrick has landed the Manchester United job – but does he deserve it? And how will the front squad? | football news

It’s Carrick, you know?

Michael Carrick, the former Manchester United midfielder who spent 12 years at the club during his playing career, can now realize his dream of leading the club as head coach.

Carrick, long sung in the stands for his elegant playing style, will be debated as to whether Carrick is the right man to lead the club, but my question is… why?

If we’ve learned anything from the managers and head coaches that have taken over at Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson, it’s that it takes a unique person to lead a club.

It hardly mattered when veterans Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho took over, and it became less significant when United went down the path of some of Europe’s brightest young coaches Erik ten Haag and Ruben Amorim.

The appointments showed how big the job can be, no matter how motivated you are to tackle Manchester United’s challenges.

Carrick is different. Coming alongside Paul Scholes in United’s midfield for many years as he did as a player, Carrick has brought much-needed calm back to Carrington and Old Trafford.

No matter how disappointing the win or loss, Carrick is never too much or too little, which sounds like an old cliché but is something that was needed after the previous head coach. The impact is telling across Carrington as well as the playing squad.

D A win against Chelsea in April Felt like a big turning point. Despite Carrick’s reign getting off to such an impressive start following wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, their season looked likely to unravel after a disappointing loss to Leeds in April.

Comparisons with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign were inevitable at the time but Carrick’s side shrugged it off with wins over Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool in the following weeks – a run that secured his long-term future at the club.

That’s what Carrick has done so far

Carrick’s appointment in January felt like the right man at the right time, but don’t underestimate the task he and his backroom staff have taken on.

Manchester United had a chaotic first five months of the season under Ruben Amorim. Let’s summarize and tackle them head on.

United suffered defeats against Brentford, Grimsby and Everton (against 10 men), which appeared to be a new low compared to the previous season. Although they won back-to-back league games for the first time under Amorim in September, it took 35 games to do so.

Under Carrick, back-to-back wins were not a problem; He even went into the field with four league wins in a row.

The playing squad was disconnected from what was being asked of them and confidence was an issue – especially after Amorim’s comments in his press conference. Lenny Yoro and Patrick Dorgu were two examples of this when Amorim suggested the former “thinks too much” after a mistake at Crystal Palace, while the latter was “nervous” during the match. Kobi Mainu also didn’t start a match in the Premier League under Amorim until he was sacked in January.

In contrast, Carrick and his staff have had full buy-in from the squad. Mainu is a prime example, signing a new contract at the club in recent weeks and reintegrating into the starting line-up. His backroom staff was vital to this.

The importance of Steve Holland is consistently mentioned. His experience is crucial as is his familiarity with squad members from his England days. Jonathan Woodgate has contributed to reforming an error-prone and leaky defense into a more solid unit that can be built on next season.

Jonny Evans is also very popular in the playing squad and works independently with Aiden Haven and Yoro. Travis Binion is a bridge to the academy and while working with the forwards.

Manchester United’s captain and arguably the most important player, Bruno Fernandes, gave a series of interviews last summer about how a potential exit could happen, leaving his future at the club in doubt.

Perhaps common sense prevailed over this. Carrick helped Fernandes return to his preferred position at number 10, but the midfielder’s game also rose to another level, earning him the FWA Player of the Year. Fernandes is clear about his great respect for Carrick and the two share a close bond with Carrington.

Hindsight is easy, but if United had looked elsewhere in January, Fernandez’s future would likely have been much debated and debated, but the United captain seems happier than ever with his future and looks very much at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future.

That’s a lot to unpack, but it’s important to keep in context before appreciating what Carrick and his staff achieved in 16 games, securing the Champions League for next season.

What will Carrick face next?

It will be a big summer for Manchester United in the transfer window. A return to the Champions League next season will require reinforcements to keep the club competitive.

But what does the Carrick squad look like? It feels like it has been ignored. While Jason Wilcox and Christopher Wivell will have a big say in the direction United go in terms of signings, Carrick has also been canvassed for his views.

There isn’t much to Carrick’s brief managerial history. At Middlesbrough, he has consistently lost some of their most valuable assets but at Old Trafford this summer, it will be about offloading players who may not have a future at the club and bringing in players to help in certain areas. For example, the midfield will become crucial with Casemiro gone – his defensive qualities, as well as crucially timed goals, will be sorely missed.

United’s squad will undoubtedly look different at the start of next season but the intrigue will be how Carrick adapts and the style and results we have seen so far.

The win over Brentford a few weeks ago showed how pragmatic and adaptable he can be when he switched to a back five at half-time to ensure wide areas were being exploited.

That was a positive sign, but Manchester United managers of the past have often collapsed in games where they needed to dominate. Be it Ten Haag or Amorim, they have struggled to break teams on a consistent basis.

And consistency is the key word. Ultimately, the biggest challenge for Carrick and his staff will be to keep this United team competitive and secure Champions League football again next season.

United fans will go into the summer full of optimism after what they’ve seen over the last five months or so but also a sense of ‘we’ve been here before’ with previous head coaches, who ultimately led to disappointment.

Carrick, as a fan of the club himself, will be keenly aware of that but that’s why this appointment is intriguing – as we look ahead to next season already, the history and future is really a mystery, but United will have one of the most intriguing stories going forward.

Your Opinion: Contrasting Opinions About Carrick…

Dell: How can you not give it to Carrick? The players are all behind the manager. Bringing in someone else will upset the dressing room.

StefanL: big mistake Horrible football apart from the first two matches. Being in the bottom half by Christmas will keep the money.

Sam D: good decision Utd need to continue building on what Carrick has done and bring in someone else that could be wasted. Return him in the summer window.

Ryan: Carrick has done brilliantly but there is no reason why he should get the job if there are better candidates out there. Sunderland’s performance should have raised alarm bells. And by mid-January, we’ll be looking for another interim manager because he’ll be fired.

Keith P: I love Carrick. He has made us all proud but is he really ready for the Champions League? Why not go all out for Luis Enrique?

Ants: It may not be an exciting choice but it is the right choice. Pundits thought Utd would finish no higher than eighth this season. To finish in the top four, Carrick did a fantastic job.

Josh Opray: His man management is like Fergie. The whole dressing room loves him and will play for him no matter what. It is such a big factor in football that it cannot be ignored. Why not give him a chance!

Bob came: I hope what happened with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t happen again. A good season as interim boss, then struggles the following season as permanent boss, eventually being sacked.