Jamie Carragher has launched a blistering critique of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's early tenure at Manchester United, suggesting the billionaire's much-hyped revolution is already showing alarming signs of déjà vu.
The Carragher Verdict: More of the Same at Old Trafford?
The Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit didn't hold back in his assessment of Ratcliffe's INEOS regime, pointing to recent decisions that mirror the failed approaches of previous ownership.
"It feels like we're watching the same movie with different actors," Carragher stated, highlighting particular concern over the handling of manager Erik ten Hag's position and the club's transfer strategy.
Warning Signs Already Emerging
Carragher identified several red flags in Ratcliffe's brief stewardship:
- The prolonged uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag's future despite end-of-season reviews
- Questionable transfer targets that don't align with a clear football philosophy
- Structural changes that appear superficial rather than transformative
- Failure to establish a distinct identity beyond corporate restructuring
A Pattern of Old Mistakes
"What worries me most," Carragher continued, "is that we're seeing the same reactive, short-term thinking that plagued the Glazer era. There was supposed to be a clean break, a new football-first approach, but the early evidence suggests business as usual."
The former England defender pointed to United's pursuit of aging stars and lack of coherent recruitment plan as particularly troubling indicators that the new regime might be repeating the errors that have kept the club in Manchester City and Liverpool's shadow.
Fan Patience Wearing Thin
With pre-season preparations underway and the new Premier League campaign approaching, Carragher warned that Ratcliffe's honeymoon period is ending faster than anticipated.
"United fans were promised a revolution, not a rebrand," he asserted. "The clock is ticking, and the patience that greeted Ratcliffe's arrival is already being tested by decisions that feel uncomfortably familiar."
As the INEOS era faces its first serious scrutiny, Carragher's stark assessment raises fundamental questions about whether Manchester United's new leadership truly has the vision and courage to break from the past or is destined to repeat it.
