Manchester United just need to find a bit of 'common sense' and appoint Michael Carrick if they sack Ruben Amorim, says one of their title-winning former coaches.
The Red Devils can be a 'fantastic' side again with a man who 'knows the club' and uses a more suitable system, according to Rene Meulensteen.
Amorim is staunchly wedded to his failing 3-4-3 system and it has once again been fruitless, leaving United 14th in the Premier League after four games - their worst start in 33 years.
United have no immediate plans to sack him but the squad are losing faith in his ideas, as Daily Mail Sport has reported, and club legends are increasingly turning on him.
By contrast, Carrick made quite the impression as a pundit for Amazon Prime as Tottenham beat Villarreal 1-0 in the Champions League. The former United midfielder enjoyed a fairly successful stint in charge of Middlesbrough, leading them to the play-offs and two other top-ten finished before being sacked in the summer.
And speaking to football betting site BetVictor, Meulensteen said: 'Michael Carrick might be the obvious option if Ruben Amorim is to go.
'Obviously Michael Carrick still knows quite a few players that were there when he was there. So he's still got some good inside information. He obviously knows the club.
'He knows what's expected from the club. Well, you always get that and there's always names being thrown around. Jose Mourinho's out of the job as well [but is reportedly set to rejoin Benfica]. So that will be thrown around and there's all other managers as well.
'But the key is that you need to have a guy that obviously has got a clear idea but puts some kind of a structure in place that the players buy into and that you get a spark from the players. Because they're not bad players, there's plenty of good players there.
'I'm sure that if they would play in a system that suits them, they really play at the best. I think you could see a fantastic Manchester United. Maybe Michael could well be the guy.
'It's not magic. It's common sense more than anything, that's it and Carrick has got plenty of that.'
Meulensteen was a first-team coach at United between 2007 and 2013, helping Sir Alex Ferguson to win three Premier League crowns and a Champions League among other honours.
Daily Mail Sport understands that some of United's stars have never been comfortable with Amorim's system.
Meanwhile, Carrick typically played a more conventional 4-2-3-1, though he did at times deploy a back three.
Despite their woeful start to the season - the nadir of which was their Carabao Cup embarrassment against League Two side Grimsby Town - United will be reluctant to kick Amorim for various reasons.
Firstly, his remarkable work at Sporting Lisbon, where he brought two league titles to a side who hadn't won one for almost 20 years, proves his potential.
United have also backed him to the tune of £236million this summer and willw ant to give him a chance to get his ideas across to his new players.
Finally, as Daily Mail Sport exclusively revealed, it would cost United a staggering sum to sack Amorim inside the first 12 months of his deal - an expense they could do without.
Appointing a former player who 'knows the club' is often a pitfall which leads clubs to further damage and it is certainly no guarantee of success.
Ex-player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's managerial legacy at Old Trafford is complicated but after seeing Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag, and Amorim after him, fans may see his tenure in a better light.
Carrick took charge of United for three games as caretaker after Solskjaer's sacking in 2021 and won two of those games, drawing the other. he beat Villarreal and Arsenal and drew with Chelsea.
Over 12 years as a player for the club, Carrick rose to the rank of captain and won 18 trophies including five Premier League titles and a Champions League.
After seeing his composed punditry on Amazon, many supporters took to social media to demand his appointment.
Hukaeilpru
0
Michael Carrick and ole
oladipooluwasayo
0
Manchester united problem is goal keeper…. Ever since DDG left who save the goal again… but we were blind to see it until we sent him out. He made mistakes but he will also save us at least 15 point. Until we find the right stopper that save us point.
Kkrexuke
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I still prefer man UTD play wingers instead of wingbacks. attack and counter fast
Melusisibs
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We don't know what we want exactly coz today we support this 1 and tomorrow u fight the same person again. I think the best way is to higher someone not Carrick
falcontech
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until united realized that the problem is Bruno shaw casemiro and maguire
How are they the problem
Fouabdimsy
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No one can succeed at United if you want call all the pundits to manage United nothing will change
Rangarirayi
0
your headline 🤔
Cekabcpsy
0
Until Man United realized that they don't need Dalot, Shaw, Mount and Zirkee in their Team. They'd keep losing match.
[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh] This guy is sincerely speaking trash 🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🙆🏼♀️
fuwackortu
0
Right 👍! Carrick can be the next Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United.
Waaclnoru
1
Carrick has the ability
hesabiklmp
1
Ruben amorim he's master mind it's only the formation which is making him to lose the games we want to see the changes please
hesabiklmp
1
the team is fine only the formation is making our players to be difficult please try to make a change
hesabiklmp
1
can Ruben amorim try to change the formation course we are not seeing changes on his formation
Teaabeiyz
0
Carrick may do well, but I think Van Nistelrooy, or Fletcher can do great too because like Fletcher is doing well with the under 18 team too
under 18 was good enough before appointed Fletcher
Rebabcdstz
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Until Man United realized that they don't need Dalot, Shaw, Mount and Zirkee in their Team. They'd keep losing match.
guy are they scoring own goals?
Isse21
0
until united realized that the problem is Bruno shaw casemiro and maguire
so true
Honabeiklr
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Carrick may do well, but I think Van Nistelrooy, or Fletcher can do great too because like Fletcher is doing well with the under 18 team too
carrick deserve it more than vanistirooy and Fletcher
luhbiklmou
1
until united realized that the problem is Bruno shaw casemiro and maguire
Muscilmn
2
how come he learned only one system in his coaching school
Godsp683
1
"player he wants " u say, do u know the amount that was invested in new signings last transfer window? these players were doing well in their respective clubs b4 being signed. there's nothing anyone would tell me, this coach isn't good.
cicalotz
0
Until Man United realized that they don't need Dalot, Shaw, Mount and Zirkee in their Team. They'd keep losing match.
I disagree with this statement. It's not Mount,Shaw, Zirkee & Dalot who're the serious problem never unless someone doesn't know football ⚽
tayknorsy
1
Until Man United realized that they don't need Dalot, Shaw, Mount and Zirkee in their Team. They'd keep losing match.
fibilortuz
0
Carrick may do well, but I think Van Nistelrooy, or Fletcher can do great too because like Fletcher is doing well with the under 18 team too
Ridbemotyz
1
how da he'll is Micheal Carrick an obvious choice like really why because he's whit and he's got and English passport and he's a ex player like seriously man u is a joke
Carringtonlife
1
Carrick didn't treat the club right. He should have remain at the club and be used as an alternative to all these nightmare
kiddyking17
2
Manchester united will go to division 17th if they appoints carrick
Chrismaris1
2
he will spoil his name too lol
Kacbeilmty
0
give the jop to Wayne Rooney
tufiakwa gi
Bobbeilpu
1
Carrick can fit united
Bobbeilpu
3
please sack him before it's too late
cahikotuy
2
stupid fans.... suddenly carrick is better than Amorin..this same Amorin we all prayed to get last season I still believe Amorin will work...all he need is just good midfielders that understand his style of play because he is forcing Bruno to play that position give him the players he want and he will be fantastic for this club
matzner
3
I would support Ruben Amorim getting a little bit more time, some matches, a couple of months or till christmas depending on the results. See if he can turn it around. If it doesn't improve or gets worse I'd like to see a change too for sure. Michael Carrick as head coach with Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney as assistants maybe.
Vowadeipru
0
I am completely on the same wavelength as the legend Rene Meulensteen for recruiting Mike Carrick, Darren Fletcher or Van nistelrooy to replace Amorim with further delay. Any of these legends know man utd very well because they have its DNA in them. please man utd board, don't go for those big names and restrict your choice among the three legends cited above.
dahalnopuy
1
Why was fired from his previous job? We can’t fool ourselves with old good players that now want to coach without properly proving themselves, start at the bottom and gain experience and climb to the top. Don’t give them too big of a job, experience coaches that know the game!
donreal1990
1
Carrick or ole G
Bokcelmopt
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Bokcelmopt
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Bokcelmopt
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Bokcelmopt
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Bokcelmopt
0
Emmaveli29
0
give the jop to Wayne Rooney
that will be the biggest mistake ever
jaubclmnu
0
Maybe Arsenal Wenger. because now it's wishful
Roklmnpts
1
Why they ignore Michael Carrick before ?
Jtikol10
0
You see that United, it’s now divided 🙌🏿
Vatckrtuyz
0
sack him today please.
Biucdlnrtz
3
Bring back Ten Hang
Lipaelnpsz
2
give the jop to Wayne Rooney
Ludaemnsz
0
The NEW CASTLE COACH or the OLYMPIC DE MASILLE COACH will be the better option to replace AMORIM. Notwithstanding AMORIM should be SACK CARRICK is not welcome
lbcrna
0
Mourinho is the right man if Amorim is sacked
dupdeklnpz
0
No coach can change your fate United. the problem is the management not the coach, bcos he has already told you that he proved that he can beat any team in the country after the Arsenal draw.