Gary Neville believes it is "probably necessary" to fire Michael Carrick in order to drag Manchester United out of its deep malaise.
United were handed a 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth on Sunday to extend the club's losing run to eight matches, leaving Carrick on increasingly thin ice.
Pressure Mounts After Bournemouth Defeat
He had been tipped for the sack after the dismal midweek loss to Como in the Champions League, and it has been widely reported that he will not survive this latest embarrassment.
Fans appear to have accepted that Carrick is not solely to blame for United's situation. They sang his name as he left the pitch after facing Bournemouth, before promptly turning around to enthusiastically boo his squad, the product of sustained misguided transfer investment.
Neville and Carragher Weigh In
Neville has mirrored their cries, acknowledging that Carrick's dismissal will not magically solve the problems at the club, but that a fresh start could help get them back on track.
"It's going to get ridiculously difficult for Michael Carrick to be Manchester United manager moving forward," former club captain Neville said in his Sky Sports commentary.
"It's horrible to say that. I played with him, I know him."
And speaking post-match, he continued, pointing the finger at executives Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada: "The Manchester United fans are singing the Michael Carrick song because I think they know what's going to happen here. They've seen this before.
"He's one of their own and he's popular. But the owners, the sporting department, and the players are not popular.
"They have badly let this football club down and those two (Berrada and Wilcox) are probably going to make a decision that will disgust Manchester United fans, but is probably necessary.
"It's just an absolute mess. The football club is a mess right now."
Jamie Carragher added that it might be in Carrick's best interest to leave the club: "Manchester United need to make that change tonight, because it's getting to the stage where it's not nice to see.
"Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, are 16th in the Premier League and that cannot continue.
"Michael Carrick needs to be relieved of his duties tonight, not just for the good of Manchester United going forward but for the good of Michael Carrick.
"He's really emotional and really hurting, and it's not good for Manchester United or Michael Carrick."
