Manchester United are officially enduring the worst top-flight start in club history, entering the international break in 18th place after a chaotic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday. Patrick Dorgu's 96th-minute equaliser spared head coach Michael Carrick an immediate defeat, but it has done nothing to quell the mounting unrest at Old Trafford.
With Carrick's future hanging by a thread, serious scrutiny now surrounds his tenure as hierarchy-level contingency plans take shape. For supporters, the message is stark: brace for yet another period of turbulence as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's regime faces its starkest test yet.
Ratcliffe verdict made
Manchester United supporters have been warned to brace themselves for continued disappointment under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's ownership. The billionaire is nearing three years since acquiring a minority stake in the Premier League heavyweights.
While numerous fans initially viewed the 74-year-old's involvement as a promising development in the club's rebuild, United have continued to be starved of silverware, with disappointment becoming an all-too-familiar occurrence at the Theatre of Dreams.
An unnamed former Premier League executive has suggested that Ratcliffe's reluctance to take advice will leave United struggling for a couple more years. They told ESPN: "I don't think Jim listens to many people.
"In my experience, it takes about five years for owners to learn their lessons and take some responsibility. That's when humility starts to land. Up until year three or four, they are still putting the blame on what they inherited."
Carrick plan discussed
Manchester United are reportedly weighing up the possibility of bringing in a new coach to bolster Michael Carrick's backroom team at Old Trafford, should the head coach retain his position.
The 45-year-old has so far held on to his role heading into the international break, but faces enormous pressure given United's historically poor start to the campaign. Talks amongst the club's hierarchy, spearheaded by director of football Jason Wilcox, are understood to be scheduled for this week at Carrington, with Carrick's future set to be a central topic of discussion.
One proposal to reverse United's fortunes involves recruiting Bayern Munich assistant coach Aaron Danks, according to TEAMtalk. The Englishman, 43, is an integral part of Vincent Kompany's set-up in Germany and previously served under Carrick at Middlesbrough. Danks' connection with the former Manchester City skipper dates back to his spell at Anderlecht before departing Belgium to become an assistant at Aston Villa under Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard.
