Pressure at Old Trafford: Carrick on the Brink, Is Eddie Howe the Forgotten Solution?

Manchester United are once again at a crossroads. Michael Carrick, who last season led the team to 11 wins from 16 matches, now faces a bitter reality: only two wins from nine games across all competitions this season. The latest defeat to Atletico Madrid in midweek further underlines a worrying downward trend in performance, ahead of a crucial match against Leeds United at Elland Road next Sunday.

Elland Road is no ordinary venue for United. It was there that Ruben Amorim hit his lowest point last January, which led to INEOS's decision to end his tenure. Now, with an atmosphere similar to the dark period at the end of last year, Carrick faces a similar test. Though he is not as outspoken as Amorim in press conferences, results on the pitch remain the main benchmark. A defeat to Leeds will make Carrick's position even more difficult, especially given that Daniel Farke has previously recorded a win over United at Old Trafford last April.

The irony is that Carrick has not actually received adequate transfer backing. However, the drastic decline in performance with a squad composition almost identical to last season remains his responsibility. United, who once looked rampant under his stewardship, are now struggling to win, having only beaten Sabah and promoted side Ipswich Town so far in the 2026/27 season. The draw against Tottenham Hotspur last week, in which United looked overwhelmed from the start, is a danger signal that cannot be ignored.

Amid mounting pressure, INEOS are reportedly beginning to consider the option of changing coaches. If it happens, this would be the third mid-season coaching change in a row under INEOS ownership. This pattern raises doubts about competence and coordination at the decision-making level, including the role of Jason Wilcox as football director. Rather than pursuing elite coaches still under contract such as Thomas Tuchel or Luis Enrique, United will most likely look to the free market again.

Antonio Conte's name has been linked, but Eddie Howe emerges as a more sensible candidate. Though not the most glamorous figure, the 48-year-old has a solid track record in the Premier League. He took Bournemouth from the lower divisions to stability in the top flight, then at Newcastle he saved the team from relegation threat in 2021, led The Magpies to the Champions League twice, and ended the trophy drought with a win over Liverpool in the 2025 Carabao Cup final. Jamie Carragher once called him "the best English coach by a very wide margin", while Roy Keane openly wanted him at Old Trafford.

"Howe is the best English coach by a very wide margin," said Jamie Carragher, as quoted by Football FanCast.

At only three years older than Carrick, Howe offers a combination of experience and energy that may suit United. He is also known as a calm figure under pressure, unlike Amorim's explosive style. However, the final decision still depends on the result at Elland Road. A defeat will leave Carrick's position increasingly untenable, and pressure to bring in Howe will grow. Conversely, a win could ease the situation somewhat, though it will not solve the underlying problems.

For United, the question is no longer whether Carrick deserves to stay, but whether the management has a clear plan to break out of the endless cycle of coaching changes. If Howe is the answer, then the first step must be to fix the decision-making structure above him. Without that, a coaching change will only be a repetition of the same mistake.