Like ancient Rome, Old Trafford was considered by many to be impregnable as United won 13 Premier League titles under their emperor, Alex Ferguson, a modern football version of Caeser Augustus. Then in 2005 a gang of crooks invaded, namely the Glazer family, who stole - just like the Visigoths did Rome in 410 - Manchester United. Caeser Augustus, AKA Alex Ferguson, was strong enough and good enough at his job to hold back the tide of corruption this gang of marauders brought to Old Trafford.
Other lesser clubs suffered similar takeovers but it was the decline of Manchester United having ruled supreme which was most notable. Since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 United have had, including the present incumbent Michael Carrick, twelve would be successors including caretaker managers and interim post holders. Did Alex Ferguson retire because he could sense the winds of change which even he may have been powerless to stop? He had just won his 13th league title and was it better to get out while at the top?
I firmly believe he had another two seasons in him and had Manchester United, rapidly becoming a corporation with a football team attached, being managed at the top properly he may have stayed on. Perhaps he realised the wall of corruption built by the Glazers was growing in size and it was time to get out and if this was the case who could blame him! Alex Ferguson was in the managerial hotseat at Old Trafford for 26 years and during that time he had total control of buying and selling players, total command of the dressing room and all the latitude he required when dealing with the media. On one occasion he told Match of the Day’s John Motson he should have “known fucking better than to ask” and “fuck off” after the veteran commentator asked questions about Roy Keane.
The first of the twelve managers to be brought in, David Moyes, was reportedly Ferguson’s choice and, for me, was not given the time needed. Perhaps Ferguson in recommending Moyes thought the man would be given the time he himself was given to win a trophy, four years. He wasn’t and the rest is history. Michael Carrick, our present ‘Head Coach’, started off his temporary tenure with an unexpected win, 2-0, over bitter rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford with United completely outplaying the Blues that January day. This success was continued away at Arsenal where Man United came away, again unexpectedly, victorious 2-3. Things were looking brighter for Michael Carrrick as United finished third in the league and had regained entry into the once prestigious European Cup. In fact, if the league had started in January 2026 Man Utd would have pipped Arsenal to the title so good had been their form under Carrick.
Michael Carrick was given the job of ‘Head Coach’ – the job title relegated from Manager – later in 2026 after the team had taken the league by storm the second half of the 2025-26 season. They had played brilliantly at times and the future for the first time looked rosy. How wrong these perceptions were, United went down 2-0 away to Hull City on the opening day of the 2026/27 season and continued to underperform only beating Ipswich Town, 5-2, in the league so far. How in the space of a couple of months could players who had played so well, world beaters, in the latter half of the previous season suddenly not deliver the goods? They all hailed the arrival of Michael Carrick, after Ruben Amorin, a ‘breath of fresh air’ welcoming their new boss on a permanent basis. So, why are they not playing, just merely turning up?
The first of the twelve managers to be brought in, David Moyes, was reportedly Ferguson’s choice and, for me, was not given the time needed. Perhaps Ferguson in recommending Moyes thought the man would be given the time he himself was given to win a trophy, four years. He wasn’t and the rest is history. Michael Carrick, our present ‘Head Coach’, started off his temporary tenure with an unexpected win, 2-0, over bitter rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford with United completely outplaying the Blues that January day. This success was continued away at Arsenal where Man United came away, again unexpectedly, victorious 2-3. Things were looking brighter for Michael Carrrick as United finished third in the league and had regained entry into the once prestigious European Cup. In fact, if the league had started in January 2026 Man Utd would have pipped Arsenal to the title so good had been their form under Carrick.
Michael Carrick was given the job of ‘Head Coach’ – the job title relegated from Manager – later in 2026 after the team had taken the league by storm the second half of the 2025-26 season. They had played brilliantly at times and the future for the first time looked rosy. How wrong these perceptions were, United went down 2-0 away to Hull City on the opening day of the 2026/27 season and continued to underperform only beating Ipswich Town, 5-2, in the league so far. How in the space of a couple of months could players who had played so well, world beaters, in the latter half of the previous season suddenly not deliver the goods? They all hailed the arrival of Michael Carrick, after Ruben Amorin, a ‘breath of fresh air’ welcoming their new boss on a permanent basis. So, why are they not playing, just merely turning up?
A European Cup away tie at Athletico Madrid proved difficult with the Red Devils going down to a 2-0 defeat. After the game United star, Lisandro Martinez, attacked, and rightly so, the club’s hierarchy - the Glazers and Jim Ratcliffe - but saving special criticism for Jason Wilcox, Director of Football (whatever the fuck that is), for not strengthening the squad sufficiently during the summer. United have Jim Ratcliffe, the Boss of INEOS Petrochemicals, now as a minority shareholder owning about 27% of shares and taking charge of the football side of the business. Ratcliffe like the Glazers knows fuck-all about the game, its culture, the club’s fans, the club or anything about the sport. Martinez attacked Wilcox and indirectly Ratcliffe which he was forced to apologise for, giving a guarded apology after the Madrid defeat. United then got a deserved draw away at in-form Leeds United, 1-1, and the club put a gagging order on players talking to the media. Captain, Bruno Fernandes, angrily told the press he was ‘not allowed’ to talk to them. The Head Coach does not have the call on who the club buys and sells - that final decision rests with the Glazer’s, Ratcliffe, and Wilcox with Carrick having a minor consultancy role. Now, could anybody imagine Manchester United telling Alex Ferguson he no longer had control over the buying and selling of players, that he would have to ask Wilcox!
Following the draw at Leeds United Man Utd travelled to Italy for a game against minnows, Como. This should have been a formality for the Red Devils and the question was by how many would we win? Nothing could have been further than what happened with United going down 4-1!! So where is the rot, where did it start? Answer, it started back in 2005 when the Glazers took over the club acquiring it by nefarious means. Michael Carrick is not, in my view, the problem. How could a team which stormed the league latterly last season play so bad barely four months later for the same Head Coach? Are the players disillusioned with the club’s bosses? Are they protesting in their own way? If this is the case, and it’s only a theory, then perhaps Carrick should be supporting them.
Following the draw at Leeds United Man Utd travelled to Italy for a game against minnows, Como. This should have been a formality for the Red Devils and the question was by how many would we win? Nothing could have been further than what happened with United going down 4-1!! So where is the rot, where did it start? Answer, it started back in 2005 when the Glazers took over the club acquiring it by nefarious means. Michael Carrick is not, in my view, the problem. How could a team which stormed the league latterly last season play so bad barely four months later for the same Head Coach? Are the players disillusioned with the club’s bosses? Are they protesting in their own way? If this is the case, and it’s only a theory, then perhaps Carrick should be supporting them.
The club Captain, Bruno Fernandes, was played well out of position against Como, something which was unavoidable due to injuries, he was substituted. He complained about Carrick’s tactic’s almost stamping his feet like a spoilt brat. Imagine if Matt Busby back in the 1968 European Cup Final when he played Brian Kidd further foreword than usual due to striker Denis Law's knee injury, if he, Kidd, had started creating like Fernandez! He may have played his last game for United, 19th Birthday or none. Matt, in fact, could have played George Best in goal with immunity so much was his managerial hold over the club and player’s respect. Both United’s great managers, Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson, had total control of the players and there were no glaring eyes, no stamping of feet, and those who tried, Roy Keane comes to mind, were on their way. Michael Carrick’s lack of this authority such as that enjoyed by a manager could be proving a difficulty, and a case could be made for not taking the job until full control of playing matters was given. United’s greatest ever manager, Matt Busby, warned back in 1970 against the interests of the sport “being sacrificed on the altar of big business” which is what has happened. And this is where the problems begin but don’t end!!
After Sunday’s humiliating home defeat to Bournemouth the players again looked to me lethargic. Michael Carrick might be caught between players who are less than interested in playing and the hated club owners, the Glazers and Ratcliffe. The Stretford End are still with Michael, and rightly so, perhaps it’s time to up the ante in the get rid of the Glazers campaign! Against Como, Michael Carrick hauled off Skipper Bruno Fernandes who was frankly playing fucking shite, as were the rest of the team. Fernandes anger showed when he glared in the direction of his Head Coach expressing his dissatisfaction. Michael Carrick had played him out of position which he had little choice but to do. No manager likes putting players in less familiar positions but sometimes ‘needs must.’ Alex Ferguson often had to play somebody slightly out of position but there were never any tantrums like Fernandes expressed and being the club captain he should have known better. Imagine him glaring at Ferguson like that! Carrick had no option and if Jason Wilcox had done his job properly in recruiting players the situation would probably not have arisen. Better still let the manager manage and let him buy and sell players. The fault therefore lays not with Michael Carrick but Jason Wilcox and, indirectly, Jim Ratclifffe.
Manchester United have had 11 managers – including caretakers and interim – since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and they have sacked 6 of them. United have had success, the League Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup which, at any other club would have been considered successful. However, at Old Trafford these days coming fourth in the league appears to carry more weight than winning the FA Cup, though not with me and many of my generation. For us fourth place means fuck all, winning the FA Cup or even the League Cup is silverware. Albert Einstein is often misattributed to have said “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” something Manchester United have done six times and now, if reports are to be believed, are embarking on doing the same again! That logically means those at the top at Old Trafford are a bunch of clueless imbeciles who perhaps should be in a place where they can be cared for, a secure institution.
Michael Carrick will according to reports be in charge for the game at Chelsea this weekend. I for one hope he’ll be around for some time to come and not relieved of his post by halfwits who know fuck all about football, the players, the fans or the culture, a culture rapidly being eroded.
After Sunday’s humiliating home defeat to Bournemouth the players again looked to me lethargic. Michael Carrick might be caught between players who are less than interested in playing and the hated club owners, the Glazers and Ratcliffe. The Stretford End are still with Michael, and rightly so, perhaps it’s time to up the ante in the get rid of the Glazers campaign! Against Como, Michael Carrick hauled off Skipper Bruno Fernandes who was frankly playing fucking shite, as were the rest of the team. Fernandes anger showed when he glared in the direction of his Head Coach expressing his dissatisfaction. Michael Carrick had played him out of position which he had little choice but to do. No manager likes putting players in less familiar positions but sometimes ‘needs must.’ Alex Ferguson often had to play somebody slightly out of position but there were never any tantrums like Fernandes expressed and being the club captain he should have known better. Imagine him glaring at Ferguson like that! Carrick had no option and if Jason Wilcox had done his job properly in recruiting players the situation would probably not have arisen. Better still let the manager manage and let him buy and sell players. The fault therefore lays not with Michael Carrick but Jason Wilcox and, indirectly, Jim Ratclifffe.
Manchester United have had 11 managers – including caretakers and interim – since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and they have sacked 6 of them. United have had success, the League Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup which, at any other club would have been considered successful. However, at Old Trafford these days coming fourth in the league appears to carry more weight than winning the FA Cup, though not with me and many of my generation. For us fourth place means fuck all, winning the FA Cup or even the League Cup is silverware. Albert Einstein is often misattributed to have said “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” something Manchester United have done six times and now, if reports are to be believed, are embarking on doing the same again! That logically means those at the top at Old Trafford are a bunch of clueless imbeciles who perhaps should be in a place where they can be cared for, a secure institution.
Michael Carrick will according to reports be in charge for the game at Chelsea this weekend. I for one hope he’ll be around for some time to come and not relieved of his post by halfwits who know fuck all about football, the players, the fans or the culture, a culture rapidly being eroded.
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
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