Michael Carrick's position as Manchester United manager is under renewed scrutiny ahead of Sunday's Premier League match against Aston Villa, with the win over Roma buying him time but not guaranteeing his future.
Pressure mounts after heavy defeats
Carrick survived recent back-to-back defeats to Como and Bournemouth by three-goal margins, but the victories have shifted the narrative around his tenure. Before the Roma fixture, there was growing expectation within football circles that he would be dismissed, though the result has eased some pressure.
While Manchester United's decision-makers accept their share of responsibility for wider issues at the club and not giving Carrick all the tools he needed, doubts had grown earlier this week as to whether the 45-year-old was the right man to dig them out of this crisis.
Potential successors considered
Alternative options have been looked at, although the lack of a clear alternative is a drawback to pressing ahead with change. Director of football Jason Wilcox is a big admirer of Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, and the work Unai Emery has done at Villa Park is also admired within United, but convincing either to leave and paying a hefty compensation fee is considered unlikely.
That means Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann remain the front-runners if a decision to change is made. How Carrick gets on this week will have a major bearing on that.
Timing of any change
United have midweek games for three consecutive weeks after the international break, with the week of December 14 the next gap in the schedule. The November break might offer the most realistic and convenient time to make a change in the dugout.
But if Carrick can make it back-to-back wins this weekend, then he will be almost certain to remain in post for the trip to Anfield after the international break. A damaging defeat could reaffirm those doubts as to whether he is the right man for the job.
Lacey's international question
Shea Lacey's eye-catching cameo against Roma has made headlines across the Irish Sea, with a question on Lacey's international future directed at Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson on Thursday. The 19-year-old was born in Liverpool and has played for England age-group teams, shining for the Under-20s in the last international break, but he qualifies for Ireland through his dad, Paddy.
Asked if he had been in contact with Lacey, Hallgrimsson said: "That would be for other guys in the association, but it was interesting looking at his Irish connection." Lacey has once again been named in the England Under-20 squad for this international break.
UEFA fine fears
Matheus Cunha dodged a UEFA charge after he returned to the pitch at full-time after being sent off against Roma, but there is an expectation that United won't be so lucky. The Champions League fixture was briefly halted in the 21st minute when fans in the Stretford End threw tennis balls onto the pitch in protest at the Glazers' ownership of the club.
Although the game was paused for a Roma substitute at the time, UEFA are still likely to bring a charge against United. Article 16(2)(b) of the latest UEFA Disciplinary Regulations states "the throwing of objects potentially endangering the physical integrity of others present at the match or impacting the orderly running of the match" is considered an offence and clubs are held strictly liable for "order and security inside and around the stadium before, during and after matches."
Further protest plans
That was one of a couple of protests on Tuesday night and the idea of a walk-out after 21 minutes of Sunday's game against Villa, to signal 21 years of Glazer ownership, has been pushed online. But that protest has gone viral through fan accounts that don't go to games and is considered something dreamt up by non-matchgoers, who are trying to tell regular attendees the best course of action.
It is the latest example of a split in the fanbase and finding consensus on protests has become more difficult this season, with splinters appearing between those at games and those trying to protest online.
Carrington dispatch
Footage posted by Amazon Prime of the United bench celebrating Cunha's heroics on Tuesday went viral, mostly because it showed pundits Wayne Rooney, Nicky Butt and Ashley Young, sitting next to the dugout, celebrating wildly as well. Rooney was serenaded by the Stretford End when he did pitchside TV work for the streaming platform before kick-off and the footage showed what the club means to former players.
All three had distinguished spells at Old Trafford. There are plenty of former United stars in the media now and Peter Schmeichel was present again as he did TV work. Schmeichel took up a seat in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand during the game, and when he wasn't needed on telly, he showed his allegiance by wearing a United scarf during the game.
Quote of the week
"He's got that little glint in his eye, he plays with a bit of mischief." An excellent quote from Carrick to describe what Lacey can bring to the United team, which makes his failure to use him more often a little bemusing. He got four minutes at 4-0 down against Como and 12 minutes at 3-0 down against Bournemouth. Surely he has to start against Aston Villa?
What to look out for next week
United will hope that there is nothing on the agenda for next week. A win against Villa on Sunday will almost certainly make for a quiet couple of weeks, with no players in the England squad and no chance of Carrick being dismissed. But the possibility remains that all that could change, and if United fail to build on the win against Roma there is every chance they end the weekend in the relegation zone, with Carrick's position up for debate and crisis club talk dominating once again.
