Michael Carrick has been handed the Manchester United reins permanently. The United powers that be have made up their minds. Roy Keane has made his opinions clear. And the gulf that exists between the two positions tells you pretty much everything you need to know about where Manchester United are right now.
A Season Saved, a Job Secured
When Ruben Amorim left Old Trafford in January, Manchester United were spiraling out of control. The season looked like it was going to end in pain and regret, but along came Michael Carrick, and he stabilized the ship. He managed to get Manchester United to win football matches. He brought a sense of direction to a dressing room that was all at sea.
This led to Manchester United finishing third in the league table, securing Champions League football for the next campaign. By all standards, this is a big achievement given the circumstances Carrick found himself in.
United’s directors were quick to jump to conclusions; they saw Carrick as the man for the job, and an official announcement on his permanent appointment is expected within the next few days.
Carrick spoke to the supporters at Old Trafford after the 3-2 victory against Nottingham Forest, a set of fans who had stuck with Manchester United throughout what can only be described as a roller-coaster of a season. His speech was direct, warm and genuine; “It’s a huge thank you from me for the support this season,” he told the crowd. “We enjoy the ups, we enjoy the downs, we support each other. The best thing about this place is the supporters. The connection that I’ve felt from the moment I walked into this place 20 years ago – the challenging times are when we stick together.”
The response was fantastic. There is genuine affection between Carrick and Manchester United fans. However the question remains, is affection enough when the going get tough in the near future?
Keane delivers his verdict
Roy Keane also watched the match that was played and it has given him a very different perspective compared to the Manchester United faithful.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, former United captain Roy Keane gave his usual outspoken opinion – an opinion which gave Carrick credit for the team’s achievements but was still to remain realistic about the future. “Yeah, he’s been in the driving seat the last few months,” Keane commented. “I’m guessing the remit for him was to get in the Champions League – they’ve done that. But there are still huge problems ahead. Was he still the best option out there? We obviously don’t know what other managers they spoke to. But the fact he was winning football matches – but still huge problems at United. Huge problems.”
The remark, stating “Huge problems” twice in the space of five words is no coincidence. Keane does not view Champions League qualification as a final destination, it’s just a minimum requirement for a club like Manchester United and therefore although Carrick deserves credit for getting them there in these challenging times, taking Manchester United onto the next stage requires a manager with that extra quality.
Keane pinpointed the key problems he feels Carrick must overcome:
Keane refused to sugarcoat things when explaining what Carrick has to work on now he is a permanent manager. Firstly he highlighted Manchester United’s issues in midfield. They lacked physicality and it was very easy for opposition teams to bypass them. Keane admitted that “getting the right players through the door this summer is not optional; it is the foundation on which everything else depends.” Secondly, he pinpointed United’s weak defensive game that has seen them concede numerous goals which has proved to be costly in recent weeks. Tackling both issues requires a greater degree of squad depth, tactical awareness and personal discipline – qualities that simply can’t be solved with good intentions and morale. “That’s now the bigger picture he’s got to try and fix,” stated Keane dryly.
The experience factor
The major question that was raised by Roy Keane was regarding Michael Carrick’s experience at the top level of management.
Safe but is safe really good enough?
Roy Keane was not criticizing Michael Carrick. Instead, he outlined why he thinks Manchester United chose Carrick and what that decision says about the current state of the club. “It seems like a safe decision from the club’s point of view,” Keane said. “Because their previous decision backfired on them. Carrick’s come in and settled everybody down and they’ve won some football matches. To me, it’s the safest decision – and sometimes there’s nothing wrong with that.” Keane does not want Manchester United to make reckless decisions after watching a lot of great United teams that had their managers fall short and has seen how disastrous a poor decision can be. He knows that stability has its benefits but at the same time he does not believe that “safe” is what you expect Manchester United to be at the top of their game.
Michael Carrick has been named permanent manager and the task ahead of him is clear. Manchester United need to act fast in the transfer market. If the appointment is to be seen as a smart one in 12 months time, then United must focus on signing players that possess the quality needed to add depth and steel to their midfield, whilst tightening up a defense that has looked too weak on several occasions. Carrick has proved that he can manage but the question Keane poses, and the answer the next Premier League season will give, is whether he can lead Manchester United back to the top tier of club football. The Champions League is the absolute minimum. Challenging and competing for major trophies again is what it is all about and the gap between those two points will determine how good Michael Carrick’s tenure is.
United have made their choice and the supporters have responded positively. Roy Keane however has thrown some doubt. As always at Manchester United, all three were never really going to go hand-in-hand.
