[Simon Stone] Man Utd are closing in on Champions League – how has Carrick done it? | United’s stance remains they do not want to be bounced into an appointment, and will take their time reaching a decision. The reality is they are yet to speak to anyone else.

**On The Manager Situation:**

* **United’s stance remains they do not want to be bounced into an appointment, and will take their time reaching a decision.**
* **The reality is they are yet to speak to anyone else.**
* During this period, some of the alternatives to Carrick for the permanent role have either suffered reputational damage or become unavailable – Roberto de Zerbi would become the latest
* There are some elements of Carrick’s management that cannot be answered this season – including how he copes with a 60-game campaign
* **There is also the reality that after pushing for Amorim’s appointment, Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada risk their own reputations if they get another major call wrong.**
* Nothing is certain until an appointment is made, but if United maintain their momentum and **qualify for the Champions League, it is hard to imagine Carrick not being given the job.**

**Other Bits**

* **Sources who know Carrick say his intention has been to strip training back to basics.** That has resulted in the shorter sessions critics have argued show the players are not being worked hard enough.
* **Sources close to the players say the squad are unified, happy and enjoying their work.**
* Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans have focused their individual sessions on the defenders.
* Travis Binnion has focused on the forwards, among whom Sesko is a big fan.
* Steve Holland’s appointment is viewed as a masterstroke. His previous relationship with Carrick’s brother Graeme through shared time spent working for the Football Association at St George’s Park was particularly helpful,

It’s totally the right move to consider all options to make the correct decision but at the same time we’re gonna need to see confirmation sooner rather than later otherwise what player is going to want to join with things up in the air? Especially with Pep looking a real possibility of leaving City, we’ll want a new manager in place to pounce on anyone who may have been swayed by playing under Pep. I hope an announcement doesn’t come too long after the end of the season, will be nice to have a manager sorted before the World Cup.

Can we stop celebrating CL qualification before we get there? As we saw with Bournemouth, one game with that bellend ref and our cushion is gone

Keeping it simple

I think we’re overlooking the importance of the manager vs his adaptability and staff changes. SAF kept the back room on their toes and changed assistants when needed. That was Oles mistake was loyalty to his staff when things weren’t working. If Carrick is willing to find the best people around him he will be successful.

I do understand the keeping it simple approach. But for us to not have talked to any candidate yet is abysmal honestly. A club of United size should absolutely have better processes in place.

This just makes Jim and co look lazy.

We need to be focusing on a proper , proven manager. My fear is that Carricks limit is what he is doing now. Stripping it back to basics and making us harder to play against. That’s all well and good for an interim manager (exactly what Spurs were crying out for) but long term has it got the ability to take us to the next level?

I’ve seen fairly one dimensional play recently (could be argued we don’t have lots of other options to change things I know) and other than mid block counter can he get us controlling games to give us long term results.

I think we are in a perfect position of getting champions league, then hiring while we are on the up rather than reacting when we are on a downward trajectory, like we had to do under Ole.

No point giving a contract now. Not like Real Madrid are sniffing around him. Biggest mistake Woodward made in sea of errors was appointing Ole early. Absolutely no point!