Manchester United fans are torn on whether to stick or twist with interim head coach Michael Carrick.
The interim boss looks to continue his unbeaten record this evening, as Manchester United travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United.
Across Carrick’s three game spell as caretaker in 2021, and his current return as interim since Ruben Amorim’s departure, the former red boasts an 80%-win rate.
“It could be a big risk, because it is similar to the Ole [Gunnar Solksjaer] situation. It’s a club legend who’s come in and done a good job, instantly making us more likely to rush into a decision”, fan Alex Henderson said.
The ex-Middlesborough boss took over the Red Devil in 6th place, where just four points separated 5th to 14th.
United now sit firmly in the run-in for UEFA Champions League football next season, currently residing in 3rd place.
Alex Henderson, 23, from East Morton, like many, compares the potential permanent appointment of Carrick to that of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer back in 2019.
After recording an impressive 14 wins from 17 games, including a historic comeback away to Paris Saint Germain in the UEFA Champions League, Solksjaer was appointed full-time manager.
As fans chanted that ‘Ole’s at the wheel’, under the backing of fellow United legend Rio Ferdinand, the decision looked a wise one.
Solksjaer’s purple patch as caretaker was not to last, with his win rate upon permanent appointment sitting at 52%. This pales in comparison to his initial 74% success rate.
“I do think that Carrick could be a slightly better appointment than Ole, as he’s got more of a tactical identity than he did.
“He’s worked on his formation, the 4-2-3-1, that he employed at Middlesborough,” said Henderson.
The 4-2-3-1 in question has been key to Carrick’s initial success, stepping away from the stubborn 3-4-2-1 that was seen week in, week out under Amorim’s reign.
This move away from the five at the back system under the Portuguese, has allowed for far more fluid counter-attacking play under Carrick’s tutelage, and unlocked a prolific goalscorer out of Slovenian striker, Benjamin Šeško.
After his return, in just his first two games, Carrick toppled both league leaders, Arsenal, and the chasing Manchester City.
“Even though Ole played the same formation, it seemed like the squad determined his tactical approach, rather than his tactics determining the squad,” argued Henderson.
Tayshaun Pyne, 25, from Birmingham, also likened the potential decision to that of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s full-time appointment.
“When Ole came in, we were one of the most dominant teams in the league, and then that slowly fell off, but while it was working we all enjoyed it.
“Let’s get back into winning form and then we’ll see. Hopefully, it’s not going to be like history repeating itself,” said Pyne.
A lot of the debate also boils down to the current managerial market.
“In terms of top-level managers on the market at the minute, there’s quite few.
“People have been saying for years that we should get Zinedine Zidane or Carlo Ancelotti in, even Thomas Tuchel.
“But with Ancelotti signing a new deal with Brazil, and Tuchel seeming pretty committed to England at the moment, I really don’t know who United would bring in,” said Henderson.
Other names such as ex-Chelsea and Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino have also been thrown in to the conversation, but he is yet another head coach involved in the 2026 World Cup.
“As we’d have to wait until after the World Cup, and he’d need time to adapt to a United squad, Carrick seems to me as the current most obvious fit,” said Pyne.
The consensus among Manchester United fans thus rests on the extent to which Michael Carrick can continue this form.
And additionally, the shortage of top-level managers currently on the market.
Tonight’s visit to against the out-of-form Newcastle United, if victorious, could take Carrick one step closer to fulfilling the full-time coaching role.