Beating those fools was E P I C 🙌!
Long have we desired to witness a game like that at Old Trafford and to do it against our noisy neighbours in a match where they were as silent as ever, made the win all the more insane.
What Michael Carrick brought back was positive vibes, a bit of nostalgia and keeping things simple on the pitch. What United displayed on the turf was not something we've seen in a while as it was a team that was absolutely purring. Some were even saying that it was the best performance of the season 👀. I wouldn't go that far but it certainly was unforgettable.
Everything worked out as the tactics were spot on, the players responded and the correct decisions were made.
However, this is where we've got to be very careful: one game doesn't define a manager. It doesn't change what has been going on at the club.
How many times have we been here before? I can't even remember because it's far too many. But that's why we have to look to the past so as to not make the same mistakes again.
As we've been here multiple times, we've seen these type of results arrive at the exact moment the club (especially owners) need it most: precisely when scrutiny peaks.
This then causes the wider conversation to soften and once more, the board that we all know is the real issue, gets away with it.
Prior to the Derby, I don't think I've ever seen as much scrutiny on the board as I did in the time between Ruben Amorim's sacking and that incredible 2-0 win. Almost every fan was on the backs of the likes of Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada and Sir Jim Ratcliffe as this INEOS-led football structure somehow managed to do worse than the Glazers.
That takes some doing.
Wilcox in particular was seen as a major issue with many calling for him (and CEO Berrada) to be sacked along with Amorim considering the Portuguese was their appointment. Given the fact that they got rid of him for calling them out for not doing their jobs properly - something that we can all agree with - this just made things worse for them as supporters were even more upset with INEOS.
We know that the structure is well, fucked at this club. Let's not mince words. INEOS appear as if they are out of their depth handling the football side of things as they seem to not know anything about football, funnily enough.
They are so undeniably poor at their jobs as they removed Amorim for hinting that United weren't going to help him out by signing players this transfer window. We all know that this squad isn't good enough as we've said for many years and can all agree that we need better players especially in a position like midfield.
Amorim gets sacked because he called out the board only for the reports to suggest that United might be looking to sign a player or two in January for an interim manager.
Make that make sense 😐.
The decision-making at that club is as woeful as what we see on the pitch. They are like the Diogo Dalot of boards.
On the other hand, I will give them credit for the appointment (or re-appointment) of Carrick. This is probably one of the better deicisions they've made in their two years at Old Trafford.
As mentioned, the ex-midfielder brought back nostalgia not just because of the performance and result, but because of himself. He is an ex-legend who won everything and was a superb midfielder who was underappreciated. Carrick also appears to have a great personality and character, one that is calmning akin to his presence on the field during his playing days.
This type of character may be better suited to this group of players rather than one fuelled by emotion and passion like Amorim's.
Carrick is also a familiar face not just because of his 13 years of wearing the red shirt as a player but because he was in dugout as assistant to Ole Gunnar Solksjaer not long after hanging up his boots in 18/19. He worked side-by-side with the Norwegian before taking over as interim for three games after Solskjaer's sacking. The likes of Luke Sahw, Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Dalot all know Carrick from his first spell as a coach.
Those three games he took charge of were also not unlike what we saw in the Derby. Carrick beat Unai Emery's Villarreal and Mikel Arteta's Arsenal whilst also drawing with Thomas Tuchel's Champions League-winning Chelsea. He now has another massive scalp after trouncing Pep Fraudiola last Saturday.
Not a bad four games. Let's hope he can make it five on Sunday when United travel to table-toppers Arsenal.
Carrick himself, the scintillating Derby win and the response from the players, has not only shifted the focus away from the owners but might have also made some think that perhaps Wilcox, Berrada and co were right to remove Amorim and hire Carrick.
All because of one game.
The pressure was building on the board like never before and a lot of questions were being asked of them on a consistent basis.
One win like this shouldn't undo all of that progress. The pressure should remain, the questions must continue to be asked. There was a planned protest ahead of the Fulham game at Old Trafford on February 1st to show how fed up we are of the way this club is run.
Should we beat Arsenal or get a positive result, will that protest occur?
The positivity and good vibes after a potential win at The Emirates could make the protesters think otherwise as that may be seen as negative at a time when things might be turning around.
We've seen what one good Derby win can do for positivity...
Real progress happens when standards stay high after wins, not just after losses.
Look, it was a great win, an epic win and I'm not saying don't celebrate it or watch highlights of Bruno's masterclass, Dorgu playing like prime Giggs or Maguire flingning Bernardo Silva to the floor like some ragdoll. All I'm saying is you can do both: celebrate the win AND demand better leadership.
Carrick did a great job and I hope he can keep this momentum going (mainly for himself as I don't want his managerial career to be tarnished) but you can also hold the owners accountable for all the problems they've caused.
Enjoy the moment without losing the mission.
United don’t need fewer celebrations — they need longer memories. Progress shouldn’t be measured in feelings, but in foundations.
Michael Carrick's debut Manchester Derby win has relieved some of the pressure off of club hierarchy | Michael Carrick during Man Utd's 2-0 win over Man City | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)