When Michael Carrick waved to the Stretford End supporters singing his name after Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, many around the club expected it would be his final act in charge. But 24 hours later, Carrick was back at Carrington, this time to watch a different United team. By the time he drove out of the training complex, the anticipation had risen that he would return to oversee training for his senior side the next day. Monday was a day off for players who are still Carrick’s to pick from. Some of those involved at Old Trafford the day before were at Carrington, though, to take part in an under-21s game against Hull City, behind closed doors, including Shea Lacey, who got 12 minutes against Bournemouth, and Tyler Fletcher, who was on the bench. Harry Amass, who came on during Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat against Como, also featured against Hull. Carrick’s presence was the most pertinent, however. The way he departed Old Trafford, following a sixth defeat in 12 games to start this season, looked like a farewell. He insisted it was not, and backed it up by showing up for work at the next opportunity. Watching United’s under-21s would not necessarily be something in the in-tray for all managers, yet Carrick takes that responsibility seriously. Last season, he travelled to Oxford United for United’s FA Youth Cup tie He was not summoned to Carrington early in the morning when chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox arrived. On Sunday, they had spoken to him briefly after he gave his post-game broadcast interviews at Old Trafford. Instead, he went about his day as normal. Sources, speaking anonymously — like all in this piece, because they were not authorised to do so publicly — say crunch talks are ongoing over Carrick’s future, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Joel and Avram Glazer, Berrada and Wilcox involved. But all indications are that no final decision has been taken and so he continues. There have been no guarantees he will stay in place for the visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday and so he and United are in limbo. That situation cannot be entertained much longer. Clarity is needed, and it must be communicated properly. Some people with deep bonds to United, watching on, believe the board backing Carrick could break that cycle of change in the dugout. But if that is the case, it requires Berrada and Wilcox to say so publicly, and why. Conversely, there are lingering suspicions that financial factors are at play. The cost of dismissing Carrick four months into a two-year contract, combined with inevitable exits of his staff and the price of hiring a replacement, could be considerable for a club that declined to sign even a budget striker or a left-back on loan in the summer market because of the bottom line.   submitted by   /u/ChiefLeef22 [link]   [comments]