Sunday’s 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace moved Manchester United into third position in the Premier League, solidifying a six-point gap on sixth-placed Chelsea while sitting eight points behind second-placed Manchester City.
The result extended the Reds’ unbeaten league run to 11, further enhancing the feel-good factor inside Old Trafford at the final whistle.
Understandably, Michael Carrick is receiving his flowers for his role in this Mancunian metamorphosis, overseeing a phenomenal return of 19 points from the 21 on offer during his time in the hot seat.
Such has been the positive nature of his presence in the dugout that supporters are beginning to seriously ask whether the 44-year-old should be allowed to depart in the summer.
With a host of continental names repeatedly linked with a move to the club, an ambitious Ineos sporting department is craving a best-in-class name to steer the one-time English powerhouse towards Project 150.
However, having received their fair share of criticism following the handling of appointments like those of Dan Ashworth and Ruben Amorim, public confidence is not placed in Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada.
Still, while anger is a prevalent feeling amongst a perennially disgruntled fan base, who could have thought that a meticulously constructed backroom team could accidentally stumble upon their best decision to date?
It’s a sad state of affairs to see a never-ending conveyor of tacticians come and go. But opting to remain with the tried and tested may be their shrewdest option.
Michael Carrick appears to possess a simple solution for Manchester United.
As you and I are both aware, this beautiful game that we love so much has been complicated to within an inch of its life.
What was once a series of 442’s with a variety of big and little men up top has become a war of attrition with low-blocks, overloads, inside forwards and false nines.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy digesting this all the same, and various authors do it justice.
But modern football has evolved into a barrage of square pegs in round holes, with normal working-class spectators forking out their hard-earned money to endure god only knows what on any given weekend.
Carrick, alongside Steve Holland and his coaching team, have restored the simplistic idea that has allowed United to embrace their fundamentals.
They have identified individual roles and provided the catalyst for a wounded squad to enjoy the game again. The fruits of this have returned something resembling what Gary Neville may label as ‘the United way’.
Against City, we witnessed a Manchester revolution. While against Arsenal, we saw the 20-time champions of England cock their chests out in the old enemies’ backyard to deliver a timely reminder.
The Fulham result was hard-fought, as was the draw in East London and the win at Hill Dickinson Stadium. But each performance underlined a desire to fight for the badge and play until the final whistle.
Inevitably, the Old Trafford display against Spurs was routine, and Palace turned into a standard showing after a 30-minute hibernation. These are the type of fixtures a successful side must make its own.
The sum of all parts appears to be a well-oiled squad that is happy and willing to deliver its leader’s message on the field. That may seem straightforward, but it has been anything but for many years.
Do Bruno Fernandes and his team require a tactical connoisseur to tell them how to play football, or do they need a calm head who understands the game and is willing to put his arm around their shoulder from time to time?
We must remember that there is no pressure in English football like lining up at the Theatre of Dreams, with a weekly level of expectation only bypassed by the mandatory media response. Carrick knows this better than most.
| Statistics via sofascore.com | Premier League average during Michael Carrick’s current tenure |
| Possession | 52% |
| Shots | 14 |
| Big chances | 3 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.51 |
| Passes | 495 |
The above does not tell the story of Benjamin Sesko’s late strikes against West Ham or Fulham or how Matheus Cunha silenced a North London audience with a moment of brilliance, but it does paint an assured system.
Plenty of possession leading to ample passes and multiple chances created, returning 14 goals while conceding just six. This has been manufactured with basic football foundations and implemented by footballers who are enjoying themselves.
You need only revisit Lisandro Martinez’s public comments about how the interim coach has touched his heart, while referencing how the team is giving their all for the former midfielder.
The proof is right in front of our eyes, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Don’t get me wrong, a continental name like Luis Enrique, for example, could arrive in the North West and deliver another treble-winning campaign. But, like many before him, he could also fail.
Nothing is guaranteed at the highest level of this game, and if it’s not broken, why attempt to fix it?
Anything can happen between here and the end of the season, and I am equally intrigued to see how Carrick and his team will respond to adversity.
Still, it goes without saying that what we are witnessing today is the definition of night and day for this football club. Regardless of where you stand on this topic, we have Carrick and Holland to thank.
People question the potential drawbacks of players not wanting to sign for this management team. Respectfully, what player wouldn’t want to be part of this winning machine?
Wilcox and Berrada would do well to sit back and forget the history of an uneducated board. Instead, focus on what is occurring directly in front of them and the convenient solution that has presented itself.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels – photo by operations@newsimages.co.uk via depositphotos.com.
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