Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 12.02.26

It's not about upsetting an interim manager and you surely know this, it is about sending a message to players both current and incoming and the wider United community, 'this is our guy'….not 'we tried a load of other guys, and they wouldn't come so this is what we're left with'….. the difference in talent between 99% of players at the top level is minute, the big differences come in mentality and psychology and environment, that's why this stuff is so important.

Plus, I'm not sure they ever committed to this process you are talking about in your other post, wasn't it noted that Carricks official title never explicitly said 'interim', his contract was short term alright, but in the appointment statement they talked about him as if it was just a standard 'head coach' appointment.

All that being said, I would be shocked if the likes of Enrique or Ancellotti were not sounded out on the very, very QT, guys of the stature and character that wouldn't leak it to The Sun or Football 365. They are basically the only managers that are an obvious immediate upgrade.

Ole finished second and third. Recent seasons have us in the likes of 8th and 15th.

Well I hope performances will catch up with results. That'd be great :D

I said when Amorim was fired and then conveniently no new midfielder was signed in January that Fletcher had his work cut out as aside from relying on his sons the depth behind Case and Mainoo was feckin Ugarte or out of position Mount/Bruno/Martinez. Carrick inherited the exact same problem when he replaced Fletch.

I dont think any manager could have done better than Carrick with the tools at his disposal. And whether Carrick or not the next manager not only inherits the same paper thin midfield but ALSO starts with an even more dramatically weaker hand as Case will be gone.

I do think there are certainly issues with it, especially if Martinez, Maguire and Shaw are also in the team (as they have been) as the overall lack of pace between them all causes a cascade of problems.

And that can be a reason for our press being as poor/passive as it is - but a passive press was how 'boro played so I think it silly to assume replacing some of those players will trigger a signififcant tactical shift.

I do think it is hard to judge carrick on what he is showing, cause the team has clear issues.
But I also think that makes it hard to put faith in him at the same time - I don't see anything in how we play that gives me faith. How much of that is on him vs the players, thats the key question.

My big issue is the availability thing.

I'd have less of an issue with us going for Carrick, if i believed we had made a proper attempt at better managers such as Enrique, Nagelsman, Alonso.

Chelsea in discussions with Alonso - we've been clear we have not spoken to anyone and won't til the summer.
Nagelsmann managing a team at the WC - so clearly he won't be talking to any club in the summer.
Enrique has been in active discussions on a new contract - and given we have been clear we have not spoken to anyone and won't til the summer, we have made no attempt to convince him coming here should be his decision.

People are saying Carrick if we can't get a better manager… my issue is there is nothing to back up a view that we have tried to get a better manager. If we hired Carrick tomorrow it would be because of the results, a feeling inside the club - and in a vaccum of zero conversations with any other manager on how they would look at the job.

Carrick can be the best available pick, but I've no faith we have put the effort in to find that out.

Yeh I'll give him props having to deal with a poor defence but in no way can we say hes struggled with a mid of Casemiro/Mainoo/Bruno with 1 game a week.

We didn't keep it quiet when we were interviewing managers around ETH.

And look how that circus turned out.

I thought Ancelotti had renewed his contract with Brazil but seems nothing official has been announced after reports last month from Brazil said he's verbally agreed a new deal. CBF president said last week though that he's certain Ancelotti will renew his contract.

Its not proof no.
But they have been clear they have spoken to no one. That not just silence (but could be lies)
And maybe Ineos can keep their side quiet - but agents aren't going to use our interest for their benefit for talks with PSG, or Chelsea etc?
Wilcox and Berrada have no incentive to go with a vibes choice, really? Of course they do. People aren't just seeing it as hiring a new manager, it is being spoken about as if we are sacking Carrick to do it. Carrick is absolutely the easier call to make - they will get way less criticism if Carrick fails next season than if they sack him and whomever they pick fails. You have people saying Carrick is a good pick to keep us stable while we build a squad - so immediately the expecations for the team under Carrick are less than they are under any other pick. Thats the incentive. Its easier.

Say he might fancy tryna fix Italy before he packs it in. If anyone can its him.

But how would you know who United have or haven't had informal discussions with? In the past you have believed lots of transfer rubbish that you have seen reported. Now you are believing what is not being reported regarding managerial approaches, be it formal or informal. Whoever gets the gig I am delighted there has been no news in the media about it. It makes a welcome change if I'm honest. If Carrick gets the job next season I don't think it will be because the United hierarchy just decided that he was their man and neglected to check on the appetite of other managers to take the job.

Maybe they have no interest in Alonso? Maybe they have and they have spoken to him without it being reported. Who knows?

Maybe. Let's just say it is to make ourselves feel better about the people in charge.

Maybe they do just rate Carrick higher than alonso, and that's not worrying at all.

Enrique - has show previous interst, hasn't signed the new deal at PSG. You 100% have to make a push for him.
Nagelsman, though in fairness I think that should have been done in March - now it is too late.
Pochetino - not a massive fan but check it out, but neeeded to be done in March as well, imo.
Alonso - fantastic at Leverkusen - Madrid was a basket case. Should be sounded at at minimum.

After that there are good managers that I do think prior to the interim stint would be easy picks over Carrick, but the interim stint does make it harder to switch to them from Carrick cause they aren't big enough. Pochetino might be in this list too, not cause of a lack of 'name' but heading off to manager the US puts me off him!

Iraolo I'd talk to as well, would need to impress to make a change to be fair.
McKenna - has done FANTASTIC with Ipswich. Again, would need to impress but if Carrick is a valid target than McKenna should be - he's totally outshone what Carrick did with Boro, with ease, twice.
Should probably have Inzaghi on the list too, but Saudi money might be keeping him happy.

And I don't believe we have spoken to any of them.