Premier League: Carrick On the Brink After Bournemouth Battering at Old Trafford
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Mixed Emotions After United Slump to Defeat Against Cherries
Manchester United saw their winless run extended to eight matches on Sunday afternoon, when they were handed a 3-0 thumping by Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Matchday 8 in the Premier League.
The Red Devils are now 16th in the league standings, just one point above the drop zone. They are out of this season’s Carabao Cup and 20th in the Champions League with two losses and just one win after their first three matches in Europe.
Following Sunday’s loss, Carrick is now 1/5 to be the next manager sacked from the top flight according to the latest Premier League predictions. However, the fans who remained at Old Trafford after the loss made their feelings clear toward the head coach and his players.
Fans at the Stretford End were heard chanting Carrick’s name during his lap to thank those in attendance after the match, but those cheers turned to boos toward the players once the head coach entered the tunnel. Speaking to the media, Carrick said:
"I have to say I have really mixed emotions, I wasn’t really expecting that of the supporters, if I’m honest. I’ve always felt their support, and always felt that connection with them anyway. probably sick of me saying it all the time and the amount of times I’ve sat here and said it, but the respect I’ve got for them, and for them to show that back meant an awful lot.”
Carrick made a massive call to bench club captain Bruno Fernandes, who criticised his tactics after United’s 4-1 defeat to Como in the UCL in midweek. Lisandro Martinez also started the match on the sideline but was brought on in the second half for Ayden Heaven.
Howe, Nagelsmann Frontrunners to Replace Carrick at Man United
Within hours of the final whistle at Old Trafford on Sunday, headlines across the globe suggested that the Man United hierarchy are speeding up the process of looking for a replacement for Carrick, with Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann being the frontrunners.
Howe has not been at the helm since he departed from Newcastle United during the summer, and he is considered the favourite for the role at Old Trafford due to his experience in the top flight with the Magpies and Bournemouth.
However, while expectations remain that it is just a matter of time before Carrick is asked to leave, the wider Man United fanbase seems to be in consensus that the 45-year-old should not be the only one headed for the exit.
Gary Neville summed it up perfectly in his post-match analysis, criticising Man United’s director of football Jason Wilcox for his role, which has contributed to the steady collapse of the 13-time Premier League champions over the past few years. Neville said:
“Jason Wilcox is a technical director who’s had an academy director background, who’s making a journey up, underneath the sporting director, all of a sudden, he’s then making the biggest decisions at one of the biggest football clubs in the world. And again, he’s been thrust into a position ahead of his time.”
Given that United are out of the EFL Cup, they have a full week off before returning to action against Chelsea next weekend. The big question is: Will Carrick still be at the helm to lead the Red Devils to Stamford Bridge on Matchday 9?
