I like Michael Carrick. I really do. He’s done a good job — better than I expected, if I’m being honest — and he’s taken things to a point where even someone like me, who has doubts, can say he absolutely deserves to be in the conversation for the permanent role.
Top of the league since January?
No one saw that coming. Not even his biggest fans.
So yeah, credit where it’s due.
But if you’ve followed anything I’ve said before, you’ll know I’m not fully sold. Not yet. There are still a few things that don’t quite sit right, and over these next seven games, those things matter more than ever.
For more on my doubts about him as manager, you can read what I said regarding the interim here: Reached Ceiling?, Uncomfortable Truth.
This is where the conversation shifts from:
“He’s done well”
to:
“Is he actually ready?”
Because with names like Julian Nagelsmann being mentioned, “doing well” might not be enough.
1. Style of Play — Results Are Hiding Something
This is the BIG one.
Right now, the football under Carrick feels very… familiar. And not necessarily in a good way. It’s giving strong Ole Gunnar Solskjaer vibes — moments, counter-attacks, late goals, and the occasional bit of chaos that somehow works itself out.
Throw in how dangerous we’ve been from set-pieces, and you start to see where a lot of the results are coming from.
But beyond that?
It’s a bit thin.
There’s very little in terms of repeatable patterns. You don’t really see structured build-up, or consistent movements that tell you this is a well-drilled side. Full-backs aren’t overlapping enough to stretch teams, and at times it feels like we’re forcing players into roles rather than building a system around them.
And this is where Carrick has to level up.
If he wants this job long-term, he needs to show he can control games, not just survive them. That means a team that can hold possession, push opponents back, and actually pin them in rather than waiting for a moment to appear out of nowhere.
Right now, it feels like we’re hoping something happens.
He needs to build something that makes things happen.
Because relying on one moment, or Bruno Fernandes pulling something out his arse, is great… until it isn't.
Carrick needs a team instead of one dependent on a single player or key moments.
2. Intensity — The Drop-Off Is a Problem
There’s been a noticeable shift since Carrick came in.
Under Ruben Amorim, the team pressed high and played with energy. Now, the line has dropped, the press isn’t as aggressive, and overall, it feels like we’ve taken a step back in intensity.
The Athletic also confirmed this when they put out that United's pressing line went from 43.1m under Amorim - which was the fourth-highest - to 41.8m under Carrick which sees us drop to mid-table in this aspect [SimplyUtd].
You can see it in how we play. Sitting deeper, looking to break, managing games instead of dictating them.
And to be fair, it’s worked. The results say that and is why we're 3rd in the league, a position nobody saw coming.
But there’s a catch.
This kind of approach has a ceiling, and we might already be brushing up against it. The recent performances have felt flatter, slower, and just lacking that edge that was there before.
The bigger concern is what this means going forward.
Next season won’t be one game a week. It’ll be relentless. If the energy levels are already dipping now, what happens when the schedule doubles?
That’s where Carrick needs to act.
The intensity has to go back up — in games and, more importantly, in training. If the reports about reduced intensity are true, then that needs flipping immediately. This league doesn’t let you coast and right now, we look like a team that’s trying to manage energy instead of imposing it.
That’s a dangerous place to be.
3. In-Game Management — A Step Too Late
This is more subtle, but it matters.
Carrick often feels reactive rather than proactive. He waits for things to happen, and then responds, instead of anticipating them and acting first.
And at this level, that delay costs you.
Take the Bournemouth game. At 1–1, it was obvious we needed something more up front as Bryan Mbeumo just didn't cut the mustard, and yet the change came late. By the time Benjamin Šeško came on, the game had already drifted.
Even when Harry Maguire got sent off, I would've taken the risk and tried to snatch the win. I just didn't feel threatened by Bournemouth and thought that with a bit more courage, we could've beaten them.
It’s those small windows that top managers recognise early and act on immediately.
There’s also a slight tendency to play it safe. Even in games where the opposition are there for the taking, it doesn’t always feel like we go for the throat. We win, sure, but sometimes it’s more controlled than convincing.
Spurs and Palace both had ten men for large portions of those games. We only won 2-0 and 2-1. Most other sides would've put them to the sword.
Control is good but sometimes you need a bit of ruthlessness.
Carrick doesn’t need to reinvent himself here. He just needs to be a bit quicker, a bit braver, and a bit more willing to trust his instincts before the game drifts away from him.
4. Coaching Staff — Good Enough… Or Just There?
This one might sound harsh, but it’s worth asking.
The current setup feels a bit… thrown together. Which, to be fair, it probably was given the fact that Carrick needed to assemble a coaching staff pretty quickly.
You’ve got Jonny Evans stepping into coaching almost immediately after retiring, Jonathan Woodgate who if I'm being honest, doesn't really fill me with confidence, and then Steve Holland — who, on paper, is the most experienced of the lot as he was assistant to Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and most recently with England under Gareth Southgate.
I mean SIR Gareth Southgate.
Guess they give knighthoods to just anyone these days.
And now, that England influence is starting to show.
Efficient? Yes.
Convincing? Not always.
We’ve seen this before — solid structure, ability to pick up decent results, but a style of football that isn't sustainable in the long run.
If Carrick gets the job, this is where he has to be ruthless.
Loyalty is great. Keeping people around because they helped you get there makes sense.
But this is Manchester United, not a group project where everyone gets credit for showing up.
If the coaching staff feels inadequate, it needs upgrading. Simple as that.
5. Emotion — Show Us Something
This one’s more intangible, but it matters.
Carrick is calm. Composed. Measured. All good qualities and was great when he was a player.
But sometimes he's a bit too calm.
Football is emotional. Fans feel it, players feel it, and managers are supposed to channel it. There are moments where you’re watching the game, losing your mind at what’s happening, and the camera cuts to Carrick just standing there like he’s waiting for a bus.
You want to see something.
Not theatrics. Not fake passion.
Just… something.
You know when we didn't get the penalty for Amad? I would've loved to have seen him lose his shit and pick up a yellow card. To see your manager back his players to the extent where he gets a booking, is pretty great.
When decisions go against you, when the team needs a lift, when the game is on the edge — that’s when a bit of fire can make a difference.
I’m not saying he needs to turn into a touchline maniac.
But a bit less “calm observer” and a bit more “this actually means something” wouldn’t hurt.
Final Thought
Carrick has done a lot right.
He’s stabilised things, brought results, and given the club something it didn’t have before — a bit of belief again.
But this next step is different.
It’s not about doing a good job anymore. It’s about proving you’re the right man when the standards go up and the expectations follow.
With someone like Nagelsmann in the background, this isn’t just an opportunity.
It’s a test.
And these next seven games will tell us exactly where Carrick stands.
If you're a sceptic like me, what would you say Carrick needs to improve that will make you feel more confident about him being our permanent manager?
Michael Carrick is said to be leading the race for the Man Utd permanent manager position | Image credit: Getty Images via Goal