United View: Carrick to be given a second chance?

Michael Carrick’s Manchester United future is hanging by a thread after his side suffered yet another crushing defeat over the weekend, this time at the hands of familiar foes Bournemouth. 

The Cherries picked up their third 3-0 win at Old Trafford in four years, as the Reds’ extended their winless run to eight matches. 

Despite another dismal display, Carrick was applauded off the field by the Stretford End faithful, who let their feelings be known when applause turned to boos as the players approached the tunnel. 

It seemed inevitable that the United boss would be relieved of his duties at full-time, following yet another drab display, but the United boss looks set to remain in the dugout to Saturday’s trip to Chelsea. 

While I have my doubts about whether he is the right man going forward, it’s somewhat refreshing to see the higher ups at Old Trafford not let player power prevail, and resist the temptation to sack a manager the minute things go wrong. 

What is certain, is that former midfielder made a huge call ahead of kick-off, and it did not pay off. 

Carrick elected to drop skipper, and last season’s Premier League Player of the Season, Bruno Fernandes, with Mason Mount starting in his place. 

And while the 32-year-old’s performances of late have left a lot to be desired, and his post-match comments at Como seemed rather unnecessary, it’s fair to say the side looked no better in his absence. 

Carrick even resisted the temptation to give Fernandes a late substitute cameo, instead electing to send on Joshua Zirkzee and Shea Lacey, in an effort to presumably send a message after his Portuguese star publicly criticised his tactics. 

The Reds found themselves trailing by two at the break, with Brazilian winger Rayan ghosting in at the back post to tap in the simplest of openers, before Leny Yoro lost his footing to allow Marcus Tavernier to slide home an even simpler second. 

Another calamitous error at the back then led to a Bournemouth third, well and truly putting United out of their misery with 19 to play. 

With Senne Lammens misjudging the flight of Lewis Cook’s clearance, the Belgian found himself in no-man’s land, allowing Evanilson to skip past him and curl a perfectly weighted effort into the vacant goal. 

The defeat leaves United slumped in 16th place, having won just two of their opening 12 matches in all competitions. 

As mentioned, it looked a certainty that Carrick had managed his last game for the club, seemingly taking extra time to applaud the fans in what looked like a goodbye, as well as looking devoid of ideas in the press conference that followed. 

But astonishingly, Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS seem to be giving the 45-year-old a chance to turn around the club’s fortunes. 

However, the cynic in me would question whether their intentions are pure, or whether they are just delaying the inevitable. 

Whatever the case, what’s for sure is that United find themselves in an absolute mess, and one that won’t be getting better overnight.