Michael Carrick's spell at Manchester United began with genuine promise. He took over midway through the 2025/26 season and steadied a rudderless team, guiding them to third place in the Premier League.

His early numbers were eye-catching. United won 12 of his first 17 league matches, restoring belief among supporters and creating a genuine sense that the club's long decline could be halted without another expensive managerial overhaul.

That optimism proved short-lived. By October, the wheels had come off spectacularly, with Sunday's 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth extending United's winless streak to eight matches across all competitions.

The statistics paint a damning picture. In their opening eight Premier League fixtures this season, United have managed just seven points—one win, four draws and three defeats—their worst return at this stage since 1986/87.

The contrast couldn't be sharper. Carrick appeared to possess something close to managerial genius.

Now he must explain why that early magic has simply vanished.

Some observers have suggested United were merely enjoying a typical bounce under a new manager, a temporary lift that was never sustainable. That interpretation misses something crucial, though.

The qualities that made those early months successful didn't disappear.

Carrick's initial success was grounded in something tangible. United played to their strengths more consistently, emphasising quick transitions, faster attacks and the technical abilities of their attacking players.

His third-place finish made a compelling case for permanent appointment. After years of constant managerial upheaval, continuity seemed preferable to another experiment in the dugout.

Yet the new campaign has exposed a hard truth. Improving a team over a short spell is entirely different from building a reliable system across a full season.

The evidence extends beyond league results alone. United's only victory in their opening eight matches came against promoted Ipswich Town, whom they thrashed 5-2.

They've since lost 2-0 away to Hull City, drawn with Everton, Fulham, Tottenham and Leeds, and suffered defeats to Manchester City and Bournemouth.

These results reveal deeper problems than simple inconsistency. They show a team struggling to impose itself against varying opponents, whether facing compact defences, protecting leads or responding when under pressure.

The European campaign has compounded the difficulties. Defeats against Atlético Madrid and Como, coupled with a League Cup loss to Brighton, suggest United's troubles run far deeper than their domestic league position.

Carick's early record created expectations that the club's fundamental problems had been solved. The current evidence suggests they were merely papered over rather than truly addressed.