It is not unusual for Carrick to applaud the United fans.
asserted
Carrick → applaud → fans
But after eight games without a win, the worst run since 2015-16 and two horrific defeats in a week, the end is approaching for the United boss.
asserted
end → approach → boss
However, if anyone in a senior position at the club thinks the issues at Old Trafford will be solved simply by changing the head coach and, more importantly, the fans will be appeased by a new face in the dugout, the reaction from the stands on an awful day on and off the pitch would have very clearly told them otherwise.
asserted
reaction → think → them
On Friday, as he looked back on that 4-1 loss to Como and looked ahead to Bournemouth, Carrick said: "We'll be a different team on Sunday.
asserted
We → look → Sunday
We have to be a different team on Sunday."
asserted
We → have → Sunday
Carrick could not answer if he will still be in charge for next Saturday's trip to Chelsea.
uncertain
he → answer → Chelsea
He does not know.
asserted
He → know → ?
"The responsibility is mine," he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
"What else can I say really right now?
asserted
I → say → What
I totally understand the situation.
asserted
I → understand → situation
I'm not expecting anything either way.
asserted
I → expect → anything
I love this place and I'll always do what I feel is going to be the best for the football club."
asserted
I → love → club
'Third dismissal in three seasons won't reflect well on anyone'
United's fans delivered their own verdict on the performance as Carrick disappeared down the tunnel to the dressing room.
asserted
Carrick → reflect → room
After repeatedly singing the former midfielder's name, as soon as he was out of view they turned on the players.
asserted
they → sing → players
The booing lasted until the last of them, Diogo Dalot, left the pitch.
asserted
last → last → pitch
They simply feel they are either not good enough or don't care enough, or both.
asserted
they → feel → ?
The game was less than a minute old when the first anti-Glazer and anti-Sir Jim Ratcliffe songs were heard.
asserted
songs → hear → ?
The debt they initially landed on the club has now grown to over £1.15bn, according to their latest accounts.
uncertain
they → land → accounts
The amount it has cost in interest is £852m, according to respected football finance blogger Swiss Ramble.
uncertain
it → cost → Ramble
The argument is, that money could have been used far more productively to sign better players.
uncertain
money → use → players
There had been hope Ratcliffe, a boyhood United fan, would change that when he struck a deal with the Glazers to become a minority shareholder on Christmas Eve 2023.
asserted
he → change → Eve
Instead, a succession of decisions have led to major questions over his handling of the club.
asserted
succession → lead → club
On the management side, United's hierarchy eventually backed Erik ten Hag after talking with alternatives in the wake of the shock 2024 FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City, spending over £200m on the likes of Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte.
asserted
hierarchy → back → Yoro
Last week, Ten Hag told the Athletic, external the club went back on a promise not to sell homegrown Scotland international Scott McTominay to fund Ugarte's £50m move from Paris St-Germain.
asserted
club → tell → Germain
They sacked the Dutchman in October 2024.
asserted
They → sack → October
After that they persuaded Ruben Amorim to leave Sporting mid-season, when he wanted to wait until the summer.
asserted
he → persuade → summer
They stuck with him after an unprecedented 15th-place finish, and again after United lost to League Two Grimsby in the EFL Cup, then sacked him in January when he clashed with director of football Jason Wilcox over playing style.
asserted
he → stick → style
That led to Carrick's arrival to the end of the season, which turned into a permanent appointment after he guided the club back into the Champions League after a two-year absence.
asserted
he → lead → absence
A third dismissal in three seasons would not reflect well on anyone.
asserted
dismissal → reflect → anyone
The 'Standards' banner that was held up on the Stretford End showing the images of legendary skippers Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane was there to remind the executives running the club of the history they should be aspiring to.
Recruitment, tickets, new stadium - more reasons why some fans are annoyed
Wilcox has largely operated behind the scenes but he could not fail to hear the obscenities being sung against him during today's game, nor the boos as he climbed into the vehicle taking him away from the stadium nearly two hours after the final whistle.
Recruited from a similar role at Southampton following the Ratcliffe takeover and elevated in status following the dismissal of Dan Ashworth, amid the decision to recruit Amorim, the 55-year-old is blamed by many fans for the club's recent recruitment, even though the budget was set at a much higher level.
uncertain
budget → hold → level
Sat next to him at Old Trafford to watch the Bournemouth debacle unfold was chief executive Omar Berrada, who worked with Wilcox at Manchester City.
asserted
who → sit → City
Having senior figures steeped in City's recent history was always a potential problem if results didn't go well.
asserted
results → have → history
Berrada played no part in the recent Premier League proceedings that found City guilty of multiple breaches of financial rules, but the link is clear, and United's fans sang about that at Old Trafford as well.
asserted
fans → play → Trafford
If that wasn't enough, a ticket touting investigation launched in the summer led to condemnation from all United's major fan groups.
asserted
investigation → launch → groups
The club argued they were trying to catch touts, while fans felt it was an attempt to drive regular match-goers out in favour of more corporate sales.
asserted
it → argue → sales
The club are adamant that is not the case, but the argument is falling on deaf ears.
asserted
argument → fall → ears
The club conducted a survey which they said showed the majority of respondents were in favour of a new ground.
asserted
majority → conduct → ground
The stadium is likely to cost in excess of £2bn and United spent £63.5m on land for it earlier this year.
asserted
United → cost → it
Some supporters simply don't believe those figures.
asserted
supporters → believe → figures
The Stretford End impolitely told Ratcliffe they had no interest in a new stadium as well today.
asserted
they → tell → stadium
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
