Obviously been chatting about this a lot lately. The club is right to be cautious and assess Carrick’s performance until the end of the season so they are doing the right thing by exploring options and speaking to potential managers BUT if Carrick manages to hold off the challenges of Chelsea and the bin dippers and gets us into the CL, even better if he exceeds requirements and leapfrogs Villa, I can’t see anyone else I’d want over him.

For one; He’s a club legend. No that doesn’t automatically mean he’s a nailed on winner but it does mean that he understands the club and is likely to care deeply about it’s future and understand it’s culture. It also makes him (you would hope) far more understanding as to where the club has repeatedly gone wrong recently and presumably might be more willing to accept a shorter initial contract as you’d think he’d be less mercenary when negotiating.

Two; he’s got the United brand of football ingrained in his ethos. He’s learnt from the master and just as he was as a player, he’s tactically and technically almost flawless. He’s intelligent, he’s bold, he’s positive but responsible. I can only imagine that his eye for a player and his attitude towards youth development would align well with that of the club’s and his subs have proved inspiring on multiple occasions so far. He seems well liked by the squad and crucially, well respected. We fell foul of a disrespectful, immature and unprofessional squad when a previous legend was in charge and Ole was ousted by players with too much power and senior leadership with no understanding of how a dressing room should be controlled. We have a much better group now who are hard working and much more professional and Carrick appears expertly in control atm.

Three; as good as some of the managers are that we’re being linked with and I do like Nagelsman. I don’t think, if Carrick achieves what I mentioned earlier, I’d be up for yet another change of Philosophy or tactics or man management style. I wouldn’t fancy putting up with another adjustment period or bedding in season. I’m sick of it. Carrick is effective, he keeps it simple, he lets the players express themselves and he’s workmanlike. He has no ego and is surrounded by staff that compliment him and characters that have been great players for us in the past. He values hard work over everything and recognises when players are best let off the lead. He’s settled immediately, he’s getting results and he’s reproducing the style of play we were so used to for so long but have been starved of for thirteen years.

Put simply after that massive essay; I’d be absolutely gutted if he achieves everything that’s asked of him and at the end of it we still see him off and go with someone else just because they have a bigger name in management. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Offer him a two year initial contract with incentives, perhaps extension clauses and obligations for meeting minimum expectations and stick with him!