Jason Wilcox’s mistakes at Man United go beyond transfers, here’s why it’s embarrassing

Jason Wilcox's mishaps at Manchester United extend far beyond his transfer decisions, which has led to criticism. While Michael Carrick is not entirely to blame for the team's poor start to the season, he should not be sacked either, and the Director of Football should have provided better support to his colleague. Every manager possesses their own strengths and weaknesses, and Wilcox should have identified what Carrick excelled at and created an environment conducive to his success.

Instead, United endured an average transfer window and hoped Carrick's previous form would carry over permanently. Last season, analysts pointed out Carrick's tactical shortcomings, even before his interim role was confirmed. The Red Devils were particularly easy to play against out of possession last year, and the current press is even worse, as Carrick seems to have shifted towards a high press and controlled possession tactic.

Despite a fresh midfield, United appears to be easily penetrable by opposing teams. Carrick's approach to the attack has also changed, with a focus on fluidity and counter-attacking rather than reliance on repetitive actions. However, his strategy might be overly aggressive for players who are still not ready to adapt to such changes.

Carrick's method could have been criticized even when he managed Middlesbrough, as fans complained about stale or unexciting attacks. When it works, Carrick's approach is beautiful but fails spectacularly against top defenses, stubborn blocks, or when a team is out of form. Wilcox failed to recognize these issues last season and failed to predict the consequences this season, given his understanding of the manager's intentions.

Instead, Wilcox left Carrick under-resourced in terms of both players and staff. It seems a miracle will be needed to turn things around, and if not, this would be the third manager under INEOS' ownership to be sacked, meaning higher-ups must shoulder some responsibility. How both Wilcox and Omar Berrada can retain their jobs despite consistent failures is perplexing, as one cannot keep attributing failures solely to players and managers year after year.

It is embarrassing that online Twitter critics could predict these issues, while insiders with millions at stake failed to do so.