The calls for making Michael Carrick the next Manchester United permanent manager are getting stronger by the minute. The Englishman took charge in a caretaker role last month following the dismissal ...
The calls for making Michael Carrick the next Manchester United permanent manager are getting stronger by the minute. The Englishman took charge in a caretaker role last month following the dismissal of former head coach Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils wanted someone to help see out the season to afford them time to make a calculated decision over the permanent appointment this summer. Carrick had previously worked at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and was briefly in the caretaker role after the Norwegian’s dismissal in November 2021.
After Amorim’s mixed spell at the Theatre of Dreams that had more lows than highs, the Englishman was deemed the right man to bring calm and push for a top-four finish. However, Carrick has exceeded expectations so far.
Carrick’s unbeaten run
Carrick oversaw three games in charge during his previous spell as United’s caretaker manager in 2021, winning two and drawing one of them. The Englishman appears to have picked up where he left off after taking over last month, and has instantly transformed the team.
From struggling to secure victories under Amorim to winning all three matches under Carrick, United have undergone a spectacular transformation of late. The Englishman had two stern tests at the start of his latest tenure and passed them both with flying colours.
Michael Carrick Managerial Stats
Source: Wikipedia.
First, his team dismantled Manchester City at Old Trafford, securing a 2-0 win with a fresh, attacking approach and perhaps one of their best performances in years. Carrick then masterminded a 3-2 win over Arsenal at the Emirates, ending the Gunners’ unbeaten home record in the league this season.
Fulham represented a different challenge last weekend and even tested United’s mettle at Old Trafford, but the Englishman cracked the case to pick up another scintillating 3-2 win. The situation has ignited talk of Carrick’s permanent appointment, and there is a belief that the Englishman must at least be considered for the job alongside his more established peers.
His efforts have already earned him praise from Diogo Dalot. However, former England manager Sam Allardyce has urged the Red Devils to adopt a more cautious approach while appointing their next full-time manager.
Allardyce wants United to be calculative
Speaking on Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Allardyce said: “Everybody wants him [Carrick] to be appointed. But is it the right decision? The board are under so much pressure now, once again, given the job that they’re doing. Is it the right thing to do? So they’ve got to be calculated, cruel, if you like.”
“You’ve got to make sure that your next choice is not built on heart. It’s not from the heart, it’s from the mind. Because [Ruben] Amorim couldn’t handle Man United for me.”
“It’s a special sort of internal desire as a player and as the manager to survive at Man United and then become successful. So you need to learn to live with it and flourish from it, not shrivel and end up getting sold on or losing your job as the manager.”
“The respect and praise he’s got from the players so far, that’s management, isn’t it? That’s not coaching. That’s managing.”
Final Thoughts
Allardyce is right to preach a pragmatic approach in United’s managerial hunt, given their lack of success with managers since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. The Old Trafford job has proven to be too big for both novices and experienced campaigners alike, so the next appointment could be one of INEOS’ most important decisions since taking charge of the club.
Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Category: General Sports
