Manchester United warned that sacking Carrick will not fix slump
Manchester United have been told that dismissing Michael Carrick would not solve their problems, as former United star Lee Sharpe warned TEAMtalk that the club’s expensive squad must improve, while co‑owners INEOS cautioned the team is in danger of falling behind the footballing elite.
Poor start fuels pressure
After a promising spell as interim boss, Carrick’s optimism has faded as United endure a grim start at Old Trafford. The side have secured only one win from five Premier League matches, a record that has intensified scrutiny of the 44‑year‑old manager.
A dismal home defeat to a ten‑man Manchester City was followed by a tepid display at Fulham, where United barely salvaged a draw. Those results have left the board and supporters questioning whether a change of manager is the answer.
Calls for change and spending
Despite the pressure, Carrick insists it is far too early for a SACK. “It is far too early to sack him. You would just be starting again with another manager who wants different players. I don’t see the point in doing that now,” he told TEAMtalk via Betwright.
He added that the board must accept responsibility, noting that “Tielemans was a good price, and Baleba looks a decent acquisition, but I think Carrick, the supporters and everyone around the club would have expected another one, two or possibly three signings.” He warned that “the players have started slowly and sloppily, and that needs to change. They have to play at a higher tempo and move the ball faster.”
Former United star Lee Sharpe echoed the sentiment, saying, “I would not sack Carrick now, but the period between this break and Christmas is huge.” He highlighted tactical issues, noting the team has missed Benjamin Sesko as a focal point and that the alternating roles of Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha in a false‑nine position have not worked.
Sharpe also warned that INEOS may need to abandon their frugal approach. “It’s a worry (the refusal to break their transfer record with the club the only side in the ‘big six’ yet to spend over £100m on one single player). It is ridiculous that players cost £100 million anyway, but if that is the going rate for top‑quality players these days… United have to be prepared to compete.”
He argued United are already behind, having not won the league or consistently challenged in Europe for years. “They could get really left behind – and that’s not Carrick’s fault,” Sharpe said, adding that the club needs players who lift the team, raise training standards and bring a different mentality, as Roy Keane and Eric Cantona once did.
Sharpe concluded that it is not merely about price tags but about quality and personality to improve everyone around them. “If United do not keep pace with the biggest clubs, there is a real danger of falling further behind,” he warned.