Carrick’s Quick Fixes: Is He More Than a New Solskjær?

February 2, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

This article discusses the potential appointment of Michael Carrick as the permanent manager of Manchester United, drawing parallels and contrasts with the previous appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

* The Solskjær Precedent (and Failure): the author argues that United rushed into appointing Solskjær permanently after a short period of positive results, specifically after beating Paris Saint-germain. They had a limited sample size and ultimately made a mistake, exacerbated by the later signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. the author emphasizes they could have waited for more evidence.
* Carrick’s Situation: Carrick has 16 games left to prove himself, a similar timeframe to Solskjær’s initial period. The author cautions against simply repeating past mistakes.
* Criticism of United’s Decision-Making: The article criticizes United’s history of making decisions based on public opinion or the suggestions of former players (like Rio ferdinand) rather than sound governance and thorough evaluation.
* Carrick’s Record: While not overwhelmingly extraordinary, Carrick’s record is described as “reasonable.” He has the second-best win percentage of any Middlesbrough manager in recent history and was unbeaten in a short caretaker spell at United. Though, the author stresses this doesn’t automatically qualify him.
* Avoiding Direct Comparisons: The author warns against assuming that as Sir Alex Ferguson was given time to succeed, every manager deserves the same patience. Each situation is unique.
* Context of Recent Win: The recent victory over Manchester City is downplayed, noting City was dealing with numerous injuries and recent poor form (including a Champions League loss to Bodø/Glimt).

In essence,the article is a cautionary tale about hasty decisions at Manchester United,urging the club to carefully evaluate Carrick’s performance over the remaining games before committing to a permanent appointment,rather than repeating the mistakes made with Solskjær.