Michael Carrick is a dead man walking after 10-man Manchester United lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Red Devils boss has now overseen nine games without a win in all competitions. It is their longest winless run since 1984.
Rumours about his future as Man Utd manager circulated all week. Former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is believed to be the United hierarchy’s number one choice.
But, like Gloria Gaynor, Carrick survived for Saturday’s early kick-off. Bruno Fernandes also returned after making up with his manager.
Chelsea climbed to fourth place after goals from England duo Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer. Meanwhile, Man Utd sit 17th and face the threat of relegation.
Poor old Robert Bore has supported Man Utd for over four decades. He has seen the highs and lows along the way. Here, Sports News Blitz’s resident Man Utd fan looks at the latest shambolic display.
Chelsea (a) October 31
Carrick was expected to lose his job during the week. Therefore, many eyebrows were raised when news emerged from Carrington that he would remain in charge for the trip to Chelsea.
Would he get much longer if things went south? Who knows?
It felt somewhat apt when ‘The Last Post’ rang out before kick-off. With Remembrance Day approaching, Stamford Bridge respectfully paid tribute to the fallen.
Carrick’s men had gone eight games without a win. They were in real danger of finishing the weekend in the relegation places. It felt like 1986 all over again.
After all the recent drama, Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez returned to the starting line-up. Everyone appeared to be friends again, at least on the surface.
Slates clean, everyone together, we are the world… Let’s go.
First shot in anger
Estevao had the first real shot in anger. He fired well wide from the edge of the box.
United then worked their way up the other end. Former Chelsea man Andrey Santos curled an effort a little closer, but still wide. The visitors had produced some lovely football.
United had started well, to be fair. Amad Diallo, Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes all looked switched on. Perhaps there had been a week of healing behind the scenes after all.
Diogo Dalot made his first balls-up before the quarter-hour mark. His touch and clearance on halfway belonged in Sunday League football.
Chelsea then found the back of the net before the move broke down. Thankfully, Estevao had gone too soon. Senne Lammens palmed away Pedro Neto’s shot, and the flag rescued United.
Next, Dalot and Leny Yoro got themselves in a muddle. It was painful to watch.
United then broke quickly. Amad nicked the ball outside his own box and released Bryan Mbeumo down the right.
Perfect first touch
Fernandes was steaming into space on the other side of the pitch and the former Brentford man wafted a ball into the Portuguese, who took a perfect first touch but the ball sat up a little on his strike and he blazed it over. It would have been a fabulous goal.
Amad looked to have the beating of Marco Palestra at will while Mbeumo maybe should have got on the end of Fernandes’ dangerous ball across the six-yard box as we reached the midway point.
The game wasn’t as much wide open as gaping.
Amad forced a save low down with a fierce effort from the edge of the box and Cunha couldn’t get onto the rebound.
Wesley Fofana was then a lucky boy, Amad robbing him just inside the Chelsea half but the defender recovered well to tighten the angle where the United man maybe should have tried to centre and not shoot.
A minute or so later United thought they were ahead.
Maguire got on the end of the corner to head goalwards and Cunha ducked in to nod it home – but the defender got a big enough nudge to bump Cunha narrowly offside.
Encouraging signs
It was another tough break for Carrick but more encouraging signs from United, who were playing some good stuff.
They came again, Cunha finding Amad in acres of space on the right edge of the Chelsea box but his effort was blocked again.
Chelsea were still there, though, and almost edged ahead with another stroke of luck, the ball coming off Moises Caicedo’s arm and onto a post.
And Amad again, oh Amad. The Ivorian got in behind Fofana and raced in on goal but ballooned his shot over the top, albeit with Colwill getting a little bit back on the ball.
Moments later Neto robbed Harry Maguire but flashed his effort across the face of Lammens’ goal.
Entertaining half
How was this game still goalless? Both sides looked about as secure as Bonnie Blue’s underwear. Peter Bankes’ whistle ended a thoroughly entertaining half.
All the optimism evaporated inside five second-half minutes.
Romeo Lavia did brilliantly on halfway to win the ball and Morgan Rogers just set off running, straight through the middle of the United defence who were woefully out of shape, drawing Lammens and dinking the ball into the back of the net.
Wonderful from Rogers, woeful from the visitors. Rogers may as well have moonwalked to goal for the pressure applied.
Carrick waited until the 58th minute to make his first change, Kobbie Mainoo back on the pitch for Carlos Baleba.
Silly hack
Martinez went into the book after failing to hack down Rogers, a silly caution and, frankly, embarrassing to watch as Rogers giggled at the attempt.
Then the Calamity Button started blinking…
The resulting corner was swung over and Martinez just jumped into Fofana, no real eye on the ball, just leapt into the Chelsea man, who dropped to the turf and made sure he stayed down.
VAR intervened after Bankes looked to have made an error by not punishing.
He made no mistake with his second bite, trundling over to the monitor and returning with his card pocket unbuttoned and the Argentinian’s fate decided.
Red card, game over.
Carrick didn’t even look at him. A World Cup-winning defender guilty of two self-inflicted yellows in the space of 122 seconds.
Shocking behaviour
It felt intentional. It probably wasn’t, just frustration and petulance, but shocking behaviour from a senior pro.
I hope when the January sales start, he’s front and centre.
Cole Palmer was fortunate to double the lead from the spot, Lammens getting hands on the ball but unable to keep it out.
Everyone thought it was 3-0 with 20 minutes left.
This time it was Fernandes at fault, trying to flick the ball round the corner on halfway but giving it away.
Chelsea countered with a big hole through the middle, Estevao smashing the ball past Lammens.
The Chelsea fans celebrated, some United fans started to walk, but this time Carrick caught a break as VAR determined his was three millimetres offside.
We were back to a two-goal deficit but it felt like five.
The lesser-spotted Mason Mount was already on the pitch as Joshua Zirkzee was prepared but it felt pointless.
One of his first actions was to piss around on the edge of his own box and give it away.
Woodwork rattled
I stopped looking beyond that, mildly interested when Mbeumo rattled the woodwork on the volley from 25 yards – the crossbar is probably still shaking.
Zirkzee, meanwhile, was proving to be dangerous around the box, unfortunately it was his own box. Another who needs shipping out with the Christmas decorations.
Where to start?
United were good for 45 minutes, then fell behind due to an equation of shabby defending multiplied by inspired play from Rogers.
The game was lost when one of the senior players, one who instigated dressing room chaos by complaining about the club’s standards, left his own level in the dustbin. Which is where he can stay.
Never give him the shirt again.
Fernandes, I genuinely don’t know. He’s been the best player for years and has also been let down by the lack of direction above, but again today, the histrionics, the mardy arseness.
They were better with him, no doubt, but watching him was tough.
Lemmings FC
It’s just a complete mind f**k, how the team have fallen off a cliff.
And it all appears to be self-inflicted – Lemmings FC – hauling themselves over the edge and plummeting into oblivion.
And there is every chance it gets worse before it gets better.
I’m dreading Roma on Tuesday, unbeaten this season in Serie A, and probably right up for it as reminders of that 7-1 spanking at Old Trafford back in April 2007 will no doubt provide irritation.
Carrick should have thrown Martinez under his own bus post match but relented. I guess he feels there’s no point.
I’m starting to feel the same.
