REUTERS/Phil Noble
It's still only mid-September, yet Manchester United's trip to Craven Cottage already feels like a pivotal one for Michael Carrick.
Let's face it, it's a story that has been seen before at Old Trafford, the Red Devils needing a result to ensure this extended international break doesn't feel even longer.
Already out of the Carabao Cup, and with one win in four Premier League games so far, any pre-season concerns have been quickly realised amid a string of dour performances.
Reuters/Lee Smith
Failure to see off a struggling Fulham side might well prove the final straw for some in terms of Carrick's future. Is it really already time to replace him?
Why Carrick can't afford another poor result against Fulham
Having dallied over whether to sack Erik ten Hag two years ago, prior to hiring an ill-suited manager in Ruben Amorim, at some point the fingers need to start being pointed at Jason Wilcox and co.
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Sadly, however, the casualty for all the chaos, all the transfer mistakes, is set to be the manager once more, with Carrick's position already under scrutiny, externally at least.
The Englishman isn't the man responsible for the building of this squad, but the buck does stop with him in terms of results and performances, with the manner of Wednesday's collapse against Brighton and Hove Albion having been almost unforgivable.
For there to be such a dearth of confidence so swiftly into the season isn't a good look for the man at the helm, with United also running out of ideas against a ten-man Manchester City side last weekend.
There's also the issue of Carrick's substitutions, needlessly swapping out defenders late on against Everton, while waiting until almost 70 minutes to make a change in the derby.
Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
The ongoing comparison with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a tiresome one, not least when the Norwegian actually did a creditable job in the dugout, but moving from an interim to a permanent position rarely ends smoothly.
Another loss or poor performance at Craven Cottage would really slip United into crisis mode, with there never a better time to make a change than the international break.
How Man Utd could replace Carrick in the dugout
Replacing the former Middlesbrough boss so swiftly really should be a last resort, with the United legend showcasing last term that he can assemble a winning side at Old Trafford.
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Man Utd - Predicted XI vs Fulham
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And yet, if INEOS do have any doubts, it'd be better to make a decision now and nip things in the bud, before too much damage is done this season.
The issue there, of course, would be the prospect of hiring yet another mid-season interim, with United likely to be running out of options in that regard.
Thankfully, there are standout candidates on the market who could come in on a permanent basis, with ex-Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe surely a man to consider.
The Englishman has long been touted for the role, with Roy Keane even name-checking Howe back in January, tipping him to be the successor to Amorim.
Getting Howe out of St James' Park felt like an impossible task, yet following his surprise exit over the summer, INEOS now have a free route to hiring the 48-year-old.
He did depart the Magpies amid a disappointing final season, yet this was the man who brought silverware back to Tyneside, winning the Carabao Cup against Liverpool in 2025.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and assistant manager Jason Tindall celebrate
Newcastle had also reached the final against the Red Devils back in 2023 under Howe's watch, the former Bournemouth boss quickly reviving a club and a team that had been staring relegation in the face before his arrival.
He also twice guided the north east side into the Champions League, a fine achievement considering the recruitment chaos that has surrounded Newcastle in recent years.
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best managers in football
With two spells at Bournemouth also on his resume, even at 48, Howe is already vastly experienced, far more so than Carrick, despite the United man being just three years younger.
Howe is Premier League-proven and has already won silverware in recent times, boasting all the credentials to make a success of it at the Theatre of Dreams.
Indeed, in the view of Jamie Carragher, he is the "best English coach by a million miles", having been heavily linked with the England job prior to Thomas Tuchel's appointment in 2024.
REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
While Howe may now be set for a well-deserved break from the game, if United don't act sooner rather than later, they risk missing out on what would be a perfect candidate to take the reins.
If Carrick does lose against Alvaro Arbeloa's side, it may well leave INEOS with no other choice but to wield the axe. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.