MANU FANS NO LONGER PATIENT ... CARRICK MUST GO

 

This is Part 2 of a two-part series dealing with the growing mess that has developed in big-time futbol … and how it recently effected a franchise that has been going in the wrong direction.

YOU WANT a real mess … look across the pond to what’s happening at Manchester United. The once-proud, dominant flagship team of the English Premier League is 13^th after a 1-1-2 start, and even loyal supporters are cranking up their displeasure with management including coach – and long-time employe – MICHAEL CARRICK, who seemingly restored order as a temporary ... but hasn’t been able to get similar results since interim was removed from his job description prior to this season.

Naturally, there have been all kinds of excuses for the overall downturn in fortunes since legendary SIR ALEX FERGUSON retired in 2014 … like hiring a bunch of highly-regarded replacements who simply weren’t able to create anywhere near his crazy streak of success -- 13 EPL titles, five World Cup championships … etcetera, etcetera and etcetera … In 26 years (1986-2013) in charge at ManU, he won more trophies (38) than any other manager in the history of futbol. 

More to the point, however, is the undeniable fact that American ownership is to blame. Ask anyone with even casual interest in The Game ... and a finger is pointed immediately at the Glazers, who purchased the franchise as an investment but have been reluctant to spend the money required to keep pace with such natural rivals as Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and the current-team-to-beat, defending champion Arsenal.

TO SUGGEST ManU fans are unhappy “is probably understatement … that traces back to the 2005 takeover that was leveraged by debt by the Glazer family,” EPL-on-NBC insider DAVID ORNSTEIN told viewers last week. “It’s been a pretty unpleasant relationship between those on the terraces and those in the boardroom ever since.”

There is no probably about it. The network was at Old Trafford for the Manchester Derby (pronounced Darrr-be) and, prior to kickoff, Ornstein warned viewers they were about to see for themselves just how restless the natives had become.

“We are going to see some protests,” he said. “The pretty influential 1958 Group, they are called, [is] launching a peaceful protest … a march from a local park against ticket price rises [as well as a] countdown on ticket touting ...which in essence is a good idea but has been perhaps overzealous from the club. That is the perception of fan groups … and has captured a lot of innocent fans. 

“A number have been banned from their season tickets, others are under review, some have been given final warnings … and has led to another group called The Red Army, usually responsible for the red-flag display … but that won’t be there today. The flags will be taken down … and there will be one banner unfurled above the players’ entrance reading: THE WAY YOU TREAT US IS A DISGRACE.”

AND … ON THE PITCH? “Of course, they will get behind the team,” Ornstein said, “... even though they are unhappy with certain elements. Should they have spent more in the transfer window? Well, they did spend quite heavily again ... [despite] restrictions from the Glazer family.”

The problem was, the Ratcliffe Investment Group, which joined the club as minority partner to run the operation made some poor choices, and its “financial contribution has been scrutinized ... and has become a bone of contention as well,” Ornstein said.

WELL, at least for the moment, the ManU faithful were faced with a more pressing problem. Apparently undone by a questionable decision that left them a man down with more than an hour to go, the visitors became beneficiaries of poor officiating … that only added to the misery for the home team as well as sellout crowd of 74,161 … when Erling Haaland – who else? – scored the game’s only goal despite a teammate

twice being in violation of the rules … which was clear to everyone except the man in charge of VAR who discounted the fact that City’sENZO FERNANDEZ came oh-so-close to heading the ball home and, thereby, was guilty of distracting the ManU goalie.

The goal should not have counted. A few hours later, ProRef admitted the mistake, citing “human error” and apologizing to

ManU … which was nice but worthless to Carrick and his players.

Not only that but instead of coming to his defense, the coach’s growing legion of naysayers actually blamed Carrick for not taking advantage of playing 11-on-10 for such a long time.

Things didn’t get any better Wednesday night when United blew a two-goal advantage at home … for the first time in 50 years … and dropped a 3-2 decision to Brighton in the third round of the Carabo Cup.

Guess what? The team left the pitch accompanied by a very loud chorus of boos, not to mention some fans chanting “What the f----ing hell was that?”… and next day one local headline screamed: 

TIME FOR A CHANGE!

“As the game progressed, the [United] players’ intensity and urgency dropped. This was not the reaction one would expect following a Derby defeat … and the manager appeared devoid of ideas to improve things. At this stage of the season, a managerial change is the major move the hierarchy could make to prevent another season from going to waste.”

The writer didn’t stop there, noting ...“There are not many elite managers available whom United could realistically pursue and, at this stage of the season they are not going to be able to convince a high-profile tactician to jump ship.”

Nevertheless, he recommended KIERAN MCKENNA, one-time ManU assistant and former Ipswitch coach … who just happened to watch the Derby from the team director’s box.

“Now might be the perfect time for McKenna to swap the directors’ box for the hot seat in the dugout ...on a permanent or an interim basis.”

Until next time ...