Michael Carrick isn't the biggest problem facing Manchester United right now, and sacking him won't magically solve their current issues. He hasn't covered himself in glory since taking the manager's job permanently, claiming just two victories in all competitions since the start of the season. But getting rid of him would just maintain the same vicious cycle that has plagued the Red Devils since the end of the halcyon days under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Deep-Rooted Issues at the Club
The issues at United are deep-rooted, and the club is essentially rotten from the top down. From the boardroom, to the manager, to the players who aren't good enough, to the ex-pros running their mouths in the media every few days.
Sacking the head coach only addresses one of those areas, and if Carrick is eventually axed, who would United even get in? For starters, no decent manager with their head screwed on would touch United with a barge pole.
Limited Replacement Options
The job is a poisoned chalice. It chews up and spits out anybody who is foolish enough to think they can be the one to buck that inevitable trend. Fabian Hurzeler already knows this, which is why he's reportedly not interested in leaving Brighton to take over at Old Trafford.
Secondly, the options to replace Carrick aren't particularly tempting. Even if Hurzeler wanted to join, he's not proven at the very highest level and has never worked under the pressure that comes with managing United, which is on a completely different scale. Antonio Conte is a loose cannon, and if United are going to ditch Carrick, the volatile Italian is exactly the sort of manager they should avoid.
Comparing Potential Successors
Eddie Howe struggled at Newcastle last season and resigned over the summer when he felt the board weren't supporting him in the transfer market. If he can't cope with that, how exactly is he supposed to deal with those same issues, but worse, at United?
Mauricio Pochettino would be a popular appointment with supporters, but we all know deep down that it would end in tears, as it always does.
What's Next for United?
So where does that leave United? Should they just stick with Carrick until someone better comes along? The main problems at the club lie in the boardroom, but the suits aren't leaving any time soon, are they?
Their only option, therefore, might simply be to keep their current boss and tread water until the penny finally drops. They might get the brief joy of a new manager bounce if they replace him, but in the long run, pulling the trigger won't change a thing.
