Carrick Effect Over: Manchester United Still Making Same Mistakes, Fans Call for Amorim Return

Seven matches this season, only two wins. The Carrick effect at Manchester United ended long ago, but the team has not changed at all from last season. They repeat the same mistakes, face the same problems, and the results so far are not surprising. In the Premier League, they have won only once, on August 30 against Ipswich Town, along with two defeats and two draws, the latest being against Fulham on Saturday. They had a 4-0 win in the Champions League, but opponent Sabah Baku can hardly be considered a real test. Back in domestic competition, five points from five matches is the club's worst start since the Premier League was founded. Pressure mounts on manager Carrick after he signed a contract until 2028 with an option until 2029, after leading the team back to the Champions League. Carrick, who won every trophy under Ferguson as a player and impressed at Middlesbrough as a coach, called the sacking rumors 'ridiculous' in Friday's press conference, but scrutiny is inevitable. When results do not come, the manager is always the first to be criticized, even if the problem lies elsewhere. In such cases, the manager is the first to bear responsibility, but he cannot be the only one. The squad has been poorly built, and in some positions there are no alternatives to the starters. United spent a total of £150 million in the summer transfer window on Tielemans, Santos and Baleba, though the latter has not yet played due to an ankle injury. That amount is less than half of Tottenham (£315 million) or Chelsea (£348 million), and only a third of Manchester City's investment (£451 million). Liverpool (£227 million) and Arsenal (£195 million) also spent more than United, while newly promoted Ipswich (£190 million) and Hull City (£151 million) are almost equal. Under the Glazers and Ratcliffe's cost-cutting policy, Carrick faces a squad in desperate need of rebuilding. Shaw and Dalot, the first-choice full-backs, have no adequate cover. The midfield lacks creativity and leadership. Up front, everything revolves around Rashford, returning from a loan at Barcelona, and he must play to justify his £325,000-a-week salary. On top of that, no one scores consistently, despite the presence of Cunha, Sesko and Zirkzee. When I analyze Manchester United's seven matches this season, one recurring thing reminds me of the phrase: "The moment the naked eye misses, data never forgets." The numbers indicate that United create fewer chances from wide areas than most top-10 teams. They rely too much on set pieces and individual moments. Rashford is the only player with the ability to break through, but he alone cannot change the situation. The data shows that in the last three matches, United have had only two shots on target from outside the box, a number too low for a big club. I do not believe in luck. I believe in numbers repeated a hundred times. And when I look at United's expected goals (xG) after matchday five, it does not lie. They had lower xG than their opponents in three of the five matches played. That means not only bad luck, but simply too few clear chances created. Carrick can talk about bad luck, but the numbers indicate that the problem lies in the organization of play, not fortune. Another blind spot is counter-attacking defense. In the match against Fulham, United lost the ball in midfield too often, allowing opponents to launch quick counter-attacks. They do not have a holding midfielder capable of reading the game to stop threats from distance. Kobbie Mainoo has potential, but he is still too young. Tielemans has not settled, and Baleba is injured. As a result, United's midfield is easily pierced by simple passes. The transfer window story is also worth discussing. While rivals spent hundreds of millions to upgrade their squads, United spent only £150 million, and more importantly, they did not address their weakest positions. Not having a quality backup left-back for Shaw is a strategic error. Dalot is forced to overplay, and when he declines, there is no worthy replacement. This lack of depth prevents United from maintaining a dominant style for 90 minutes. The counter-intuitive point here is that hastily sacking Carrick will solve nothing. The problem lies in the squad structure and transfer vision. The English manager is just the tip of the iceberg. Fans are calling for Ruben Amorim to return, but Amorim currently manages AC Milan and is under contract until 2029. Antonio Conte could be a candidate, but he was not successful at Tottenham. Brighton's Fabian Hürzeler and Brentford's Keith Andrews have also been mentioned, but they lack experience managing a club of United's stature. I learned from the U19 tournament that mistakes are not as scary as no one measuring them. Manchester United are stuck in a vicious cycle: changing managers, buying on emotion, then changing managers again. The scouting system has no clear philosophy. They bought Tielemans for his reputation but did not consider whether he fits Carrick's style. The result is a patchwork squad with no identity. An empty stadium taught me that noise never scores goals. Whether fans boo or cheer, referees do not change their decisions. In football, only goals, passes, and correct decisions make a difference. Manchester United need to look at the data to see that the problem is not Carrick but the way the entire machine is run. The next three matches against Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, and Leeds will decide Carrick's future. If results remain poor, a change is almost certain. But the bigger question is whether the board dares to face the painful truth: noise from the stands never scores, and blaming one individual cannot hide a poorly built squad. The winter transfer window will be a final chance, but only if decisions are made based on data, not emotion. Looking at history, the most successful clubs usually have a long-term plan, from recruitment to youth development. Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United was like that. Now they are chasing short-term solutions. Carrick may be sacrificed, but without changing the way they operate, this season will end in disappointment again. It is time for the owners to look at the bigger picture, rather than searching for a 'savior' on the touchline. Football does not change because you look at it closer. Football changes because you look at it correctly. The sooner Manchester United realizes this, the sooner they escape the current crisis. Patience is running out, and all eyes will be on the next three matches. Can Carrick turn things around, or will this be the start of another major overhaul? History shows that hasty decisions rarely bring good results for United. Let the data speak.