Michael Carrick has had his first actual setback with the home loss against Leeds, and it came due to two of the worst Ole Gunnar Solskjaer traits emerging in that game.
The spectre of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has followed Michael Carrick throughout his time at Man Utd, for better or for worse.
So far, by engineering a successful interim period and winning marquee games, he has shown the best of Solskjaer’s traits.
However, two of the worst traits of Solskjaer were visible in Carrick in the defeat against Leeds, and they need fixing against Chelsea.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United - Premier League
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
What position would Man Utd be in the league if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed instead of Michael Carrick?
How do you think it would have gone with Ole?
Getty Images
Michael Carrick’s worrying Solskjaer-like tendencies
Looking at it from a broader lens, it’s not a surprise that Carrick has some traits that liken him to Solskjaer, because he was a key part of the Norwegian’s backroom staff.
In fact, the questions about Carrick’s tactical abilities are ironic, because when Solskjaer was here, people wrote him off and were eager to give credit to Carrick and McKenna.
So far, Carrick has shown the best of Solskjaer’s traits, be it his mid-block defence, which thrives on transitions, his man-management approach, and the team’s performance in marquee games.
More United News
However, against Leeds, it was a worrying sign that he showed two of the Norwegian’s worst traits.
For all the credit he didn’t get, Solskjaer genuinely had two shortcomings – his inability to use his full squad, and tactical rigidity once his Plan A got figured out.
Against Leeds, Kobbie Mainoo’s injury threw a spanner into Carrick’s plans, and instead of flexing his tactical muscle, he put in Manuel Ugarte for Mainoo.
Those two players couldn’t be more different stylistically, and yet, United played the same way as they always do, just worse, obviously.
There was no Plan B, and it came to the fore when Lisandro Martinez was sent off.
Two like-for-like changes were made, and the two players who came on are Carrick’s favourites.
It’s clear that there is a chasm between players whom he prefers, because those he doesn’t will be found wanting for game time, even when the fixture list is busy.
The likes of Harry Maguire ran on fumes under Solskjaer because he just wouldn’t trust the backups, and the same seems to be happening with Carrick.
With United playing four competitions next season, those two traits are just asking for trouble. The positive thing is that he has Ineos on his side.
Carrick must be helped by Ineos
Solskjaer was in a sink-or-swim situation with the Glazers, but Ineos will help Carrick navigate the pitfalls which doomed Solskjaer.
Is Michael Carrick the right man? United have only won one of the last four games…
Getty Images
For one, the dressing room is a much more professional space now, and the recruitment is on point.
A manager will be more inclined to trust backups if they are good enough and signed with his agreement, while Jason Wilcox has already championed a Plan B when Amorim was here.
It’s not interference in a manager’s work; it’s simply empowering them to do the best possible job by providing a helping hand.
That’s something Solskjaer never had, so those bad traits became chronic and ultimately ended his time at Old Trafford.
The same doesn’t have to happen for Carrick.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox