REUTERS/Jon Super
Manchester United's season just goes from bad to worse.
The Red Devils are now third from bottom in the Premier League, stuck in the relegation zone following an incredible draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford as they came back from 2-0 and 4-2 down to draw 4-4.
The domestic season now heads into another international break and there may be a change in the dugout at Old Trafford by the time Premier League football returns.
GIVEMESPORT understands that manager Michael Carrick was to be afforded the games with Roma in the UEFA Champions League and Aston Villa on Sunday, before the board had a discussion over the Englishman's future at the club.
Sporting director Jason Wilcox and director of recruitment Omar Berrada will be at the heart of those conversations, with a number of out of work managers linked with taking the job, if Carrick is dispensed with.
Whoever the manager will be will have some big decisions to make with regard to his squad, particularly with the January transfer window just around the corner.
United did not do too much business in the summer, spending their money on three new midfielders in the shape of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba. And the feeling is that more signings are required in the winter window.
Not only that, but certain players should be shipped out, and at the very least axed from the matchday squad, given their poor displays for the Red Devils.
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Manchester United fans alongside Old Trafford
Diogo Dalot is one that the Manchester United supporters will be keen to see the back of. The full-back often bears the brunt of supporter ire at Old Trafford and was once again derided for his performance against Villa. He touched the ball 47 times before being replaced after 65 minutes, enjoying only an 83% passing success rate. His substitution was cheered from the rafters inside the ground.
Those cheers may not have all been for his removal, with Amad Diallo also going off at the same time. The Ivorian has just one goal contribution in 22 matches since returning from the African Cup of Nations in January. He has failed to live up to the hype and could and perhaps should be replaced.
Youri Tielemans did score against his old club on Sunday, but his performance otherwise left a lot to be desired, not for the first time this season. He is another who, despite making the move in the summer, has not lived up to his billing and should be dropped.
No club in the top five European leagues has conceded more goals than Manchester United at this stage of the season and other members of the defence need looking at.
Noussair Mazrouai has never managed to tie down a regular place in the starting XI and it's clear to see why on the showing against Villa. He made eight defensive contributions and was only successful with four of his 12 duels, meaning he lost eight of them. Not what you want in a defender.
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Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are two young centre-backs who seem to share game-time and, while they are both young and have plenty of time on their side, are not up to the rigours of the Manchester United first team squad right now. Yoro was slow in getting out, playing Nicolas Jackson onside for Villa's second goal and then headed against his own bar, via a tremendous Senne Lammens save to set the ball in motion for Villa's fourth of the day.
Mason Mount came off the bench and had little impact apart from hitting the bar. Joshua Zirkzee barely had a touch when he came on late in the game, although he did score a late consolation, but his career at United looks to be over regardless.
All in all, there is plenty of work to be done by whoever is in the dugout come the return of Premier League football after the international break.
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