Manchester United

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"I can't see a way that this gets better for Manchester United," admitted BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater on the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast following Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick's side, who have taken just one win and four draws from their opening eight Premier League games of the season, are currently one point above the relegation zone.

"I don't think it has ever been as bad as it is right now for Manchester United in the modern era," Drinkwater said.

"The club has sacked managers in the past when things weren't going well.

"Going back to the final days of Ruben Amorim, we all know he deserved to get sacked. We were watching his team, thinking: 'If we could just play Kobbie Mainoo and change the system, things will change' - and things did change because those things did happen.

"But this is a situation where I can't see a way that this gets better for Manchester United. What are they going to do? Sell all the players and buy a load of new ones? That isn't going to happen.

"Every team around us strengthened massively in the areas they need to, whereas the people who make the decisions have refused to spend money on a defence which clearly needs improving.

"It is total ineptitude from the people above making the decisions.

"No manager fixes this."

United fan Jordan Smith added: "Do you know what I miss? The joy of watching a game. We are in the Champions League for goodness sake, for the first time in years, we should be buzzing!

"It's got to a point where us fans are left questioning when it got to a point where we didn't expect to beat, or at least compete, against Bournemouth at home.

"The fact Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez were left out, it was almost like Michael Carrick was saying: 'This is probably going to be my last game so I'm going to show them what they need to be shown'.

"They need to stick with someone like him. You could see he was nearly in tears walking around the pitch at full-time, that isn't a normal thing."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds here

Former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe may insist on bringing his complete backroom staff should he receive an approach from Manchester United over their manager's position. (Express), external

Manchester United would have to pay a hefty £6m in compensation to Newcastle to land Howe under the terms of his departure from St James' Park. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Manchester United have been told they will have to pay more than £70m to sign Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall, 22. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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True football fans may well be thinking: is it fair that Michael Carrick carries the can for Manchester United's long-term incompetence?

He found himself in a no-win situation, and I'm not just talking about the previous six games.

He had to make a decision about Bruno Fernandes after the midfielder's blatant insubordination following the Como match. There were no good options open to the head coach, but he dropped his captain against Bournemouth.

He knew that another defeat would then leave him defenceless in the board's eyes.

On the other hand, if he had started Fernandes or even brought him on as a substitute, any respect in the dressing room would have evaporated.

I'm sure he had many thoughts the night before Sunday's capitulation, but one must have been: what is the right thing to do? The next question might have been: what would Sir Alex Ferguson have done? The answers are clear.

It doesn't matter if you're David Beckham, Jaap Stam, Cristiano Ronaldo or Bruno Fernandes, player insurrection is a flag of a deeper red than any fluttering in the Stretford End.

It didn't help Carrick but, if and when he is sacked, he will know he did the right thing not the expedient thing.

Last week, Erik ten Hag was telling the world about the shambles at Manchester United while he was there. The players he desired weren't acquired because those above him knew so much better than him, apparently.

So it would seem years of this control from above has left the club in a tailspin.

Happily, we are in a new era and fans understand that the days of the manager being nothing more than a flak catcher to cover the deeds of the real culprits above are now gone.

There's a phrase within business: responsibility without control or authority leads to failure. That's what too many football managers have to live with now. Meanwhile, control without immediate responsibility and consequences sits in the comfy boardroom seats above them.

I'm saddened for Carrick, but there is a large part of me that also thinks: 'You are probably better away from there, mate'.

Fine coaches have been made to look ridiculous under their methodology. Maybe they will finally give their next coach a decent level of control, especially regarding signings, and also some time to build.

Somehow, I doubt it though. People with power tend to grimly hold on to it.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Jason Wilcox joined Manchester United in April 2024 - initially as technical director after 15 months in a similar role at Manchester City, where he had previously been in charge of the academy.

At City he worked with current United chief executive Omar Berrada and also Stephen Torpey, who was appointed United's head of academy in August 2025.

When he arrived, it was said by United officials that Wilcox would work across all technical areas of the club to achieve "highest standards of performance" and would be answerable to the sporting director.

That changed the following December, when that sporting director - Dan Ashworth - was sacked amid a difference of opinion over who should replace Erik ten Hag as manager.

Ten months on, a poor series of results and dissatisfaction with transfer business has put Wilcox in the spotlight.

There are some who have sympathy with the position Wilcox finds himself in. The 55-year-old is not in charge of transfer budgets, which are set at a higher level.

Wilcox was also - obviously - not responsible for the injury Manuel Ugarte sustained playing for Uruguay at the World Cup, which wrecked a plan to sell the midfielder in the summer to bolster the transfer budget.

He, too, was powerless to prevent Barcelona backing out of a £26m deal to sign England forward Marcus Rashford.

Both issues affected the amount United could spend in the summer - both on transfer fees and wages.

Wilcox rarely speaks to the media, and a general lack of communication means we don't know why United decided to focus exclusively on strengthening their midfield in the summer, rather than bring in competition at left-back for Luke Shaw and striking support for Benjamin Sesko.

With both players injured, that looks like a major error.

The general consensus is Michael Carrick has been sold badly short, and Wilcox's job title - and the fact he is often photographed with United's new signings and quoted in official press releases - means he is being blamed.

Read more about Wilcox here

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We asked you whether Michael Carrick should remain as Manchester United manager or if a change is the only option for the club.

Here are some of your comments:

Brian: I think Carrick should go. It took until Como for him to say we were poor. We've been poor in most games this season when we haven't shown passion or desire. I didn't want an ex-player to be manager after the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer time. The owners and players are also to blame, but it's the manager that picks the team and motivates them.

Norma: Not much point in endlessly changing managers as it's the players who are the problem. I don't think Carrick should go, but I wouldn't blame him if he actually wanted to! Must be soul destroying for him.

Chris: Carrick deserves so much more than this. He came in last season and got this lot playing. I say get rid of Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford, etc as they will throw any manager under the bus. Stick by your manager and get rid of the bad apples.

Vicki: He should stay. Changing managers at every bump unsettles the team and costs the club millions in payments. Give him a chance to turn things around like he did last season.

Oliver: Stick with Carrick. We have a man who cares about the club and is immensely proud to be manager. The players have to think that way as well or leave. Enough is enough!

Ken: Carrick has to be backed at all costs. He is absolutely the right man. Back him unequivocally as he roots out the toxicity from the likes of Fernandes, who is an utter disgrace for undermining a manager who helped him win the individual awards last season.

Joe and Gaz are joined in the studio by Manchester United fan Jordan Smith to discuss the latest, with Michael Carrick's position is under major threat.

The team reflect on yet another disappointing defeat and contemplate what may happen next.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Manchester United content on BBC Sounds

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Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville says he's "got no time" for the players and their "lack of standards", as the club's dismal run of form continues.

United's defeat by Bournemouth was their sixth in 12 games in all competitions this season.

"I've got no time for them," said Neville on the Gary Neville podcast. "There's a few of them that don't go to bed at the right time. Don't eat the right things. Don't think about Manchester United every single minute of every single day.

"They are not living and breathing this football club, as they should be, like professionals should.

"And why? Why? Because it's gone to their heads. But they still walk around like they're King William... they're not, they're nothing.

"Nothing, some of those players. I can't believe the... lack of standards. There was a banner in the first half that was held up in the Stretford End – 'standards'. They went a long time ago.

"He [Michael Carrick] has not been able to get a tune out of them and they've turned on him. I know that because if Bruno [Fernandes] has turned on him publicly, with that little statement, imagine what they're like behind the scenes."

Neville is just one of the many pundits who has spoken out on the situation at Manchester United since Sunday.

Clinton Morrison said the the crowd booing the players after Carrick had left the pitch "says everything" about the supporters' opinion on the situation.

"They're with Carrick," Morrison said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "They're not with the players. Wow. That was alarming.

"Carrick got a big cheer but as soon it was just the players, they got booed.

"They've not been good enough and they deserve to get booed. There's only so much a manager can do. The players are not good enough to win football matches."

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Senior football writer at The Athletic, Oliver Kay, said the post-match scenes represent the suffering the supporters have felt in recent years.

"It feels toxic and it has felt toxic all for a few short spells over the past five years," he told the Football Daily Podcast.

"I don't blame the fans for that one little bit because, if anything, you could say they could apply more division and hostility towards the ownership."

In response to whether Carrick will still be manager against Chelsea on Saturday, Ex-Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson said: "I can't answer that honestly. I really don't know because of how the club is. I think there's so many different options.

"The club could decide to go in a different direction, and Michael Carrick, who would blame him if he turned around and went in a different direction.

"To give you my opinion, I don't think he will be [in charge], but for whichever reason, I don't know.

"But then from Manchester United's perspective, who do you get? What do you want? Because Unai Emery's not coming and who wants to be in control of this football club?

"No-one would touch them at the moment and the way the club is and the structure of it."

Do you want Carrick to remain as manager? If so, why? Or do you think a change is the only option now?

Get in touch with your views here

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"We can still have a good season but something has got to change quickly," said Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire after the Red Devils extended their winless run to eight games against Bournemouth.

The 33-year-old defender is also yet to play a part in a clean sheet in 10 appearances across all competitions this season.

"We are very disappointed," Maguire told BBC Radio Manchester after the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford. "Obviously we wanted to get a performance coming into the game. We wanted to get a win for our fans.

"The first goal isn't good enough, you've got to remain focused. When things aren't going your way, and you aren't playing as good football as you can, you cannot be giving away set-plays.

"The second goal is obviously a mistake, then we find ourselves 2-0 down at half-time and we couldn't react."

On the overall mood in the dressing room, Maguire added: "If you look at the team, there's a bit of a confidence issue at the moment. The results haven't been good enough. The performances haven't been good enough.

"We have to look at ourselves individually. We have to find something within ourselves to bring more to the team.

"When times are tough, you have to do the basics well - and conceding a simple set-play like that is nowhere near good enough.

"We have to stick together as a collective. We can still have a good season but something has got to change quickly. It has been a disappointing start, there's no doubt about that.

"We are fully behind Michael Carrick. He came into the team last season and turned our season around with a third-place finish and Champions League football.

"We just aren't playing well enough as individuals."

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Ian: I've been a United supporter since 1963 and this team must be one of the worst I've ever seen. No fight, too many mistakes, defence pathetic, attack non-existent, absolutely no idea whatsoever. Rubbish once again. What on earth is going on?

James: Sad to watch. No fight in the players at all. You don't need to be the best in the world to have grit against losing when things are bad, but these lads showed none of that.

Mick: Lacklustre doesn't even cover it. Off the pace, disjointed, no relationships, passion looks gone and passing so poor. No one seems to want to own the ball or boss possession. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is deluded if he thinks a new stadium will fix this. The club is rotten from the very top.

David: If Carrick is dismissed whoever replaces him has an impossible task with this group of players. No energy, no passion, no pride, a disruptive dressing room and as a group that as a team have no idea what they are doing. It will need a massive turnaround to survive this season.

Bournemouth fans

Paul: Another wonderful team effort against an admittedly woeful Manchester United. Superb finishing for the first and third goals and we could have (and should have) scored two or three more. No complaints though; it's great to see all the hard work that Marco Rose and the boys have put in start to pay off.

Rob: Better in every position, we bullied them from start to finish. It really feels like we've turned a corner now. Onwards and upwards!

Richard: Not long ago it was suggested that Marco Rose's position was under threat. Based on the team's recent performances he is suddenly turning out to be a great appointment. Well done Marco for not letting pressure get to you and ensuring that Bournemouth continue to play the way that they are best at.

Simon: I was about say a real pinch yourself moment…but it's not - we absolutely belong in these ranks and we're simply back to doing what we do best. Pacey, dynamic and assured football. Distribution was awesome. Can't wait to have Kroupi and Scott back at full tilt. Next stop, Villa!

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

There was an air of inevitability about Michael Carrick's walk around Old Trafford after the 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.

It is not unusual for Carrick to applaud the Manchester United fans. If anything, his acknowledgements were not as pronounced as they were in Como after the equally devastating loss.

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 Carrick, with his bosses in serious talks about his future.

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.

United fans delivered their own verdict on the performance as Carrick disappeared down the tunnel to the dressing room.

After repeatedly singing the former midfielder's name, as soon as he was out of view they turned on the players. The booing lasted until the last of them, Diogo Dalot, left the pitch. They simply feel they are either not good enough or don't care enough, or both.

But there was more, much more.

The game was less than a minute old when the first anti-Glazer and anti-Sir Jim Ratcliffe songs were heard.

The Glazer family have been public enemy number one among the United faithful ever since their leveraged takeover in 2005.

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.

Instead, a succession of decisions have led to major questions over his handling of the club.

Read more on Carrick from Simon

Former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe - who is out of work - would be interested in speaking to Manchester United if the Old Trafford club part ways with under-pressure manager Michael Carrick. (Sky Sports), external

Manchester United are targeting a move for 24-year-old Everton and England defender Jarrad Branthwaite as they aim to make big changes to their defence. (Football Insider), external

Manchester United will not terminate the registration of academy forward JJ Gabriel, 16, meaning he will not be able to leave the club until January, as Barcelona and Paris St-Germain seek to reach an agreement. (Football Insider), external

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are monitoring Bayern Munich's 18-year-old Germany midfielder Lennart Karl. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport