Manchester United are in complete freefall after suffering another defeat, this time a humiliating 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

United have won just two of their 12 fixtures in all competitions this season and sit 16th in the league table. Michael Carrick's future looked increasingly uncertain, but questions are also mounting over the club's hierarchy.

Last week, Lisandro Martínez criticised director of football Jason Wilcox over the lack of summer investment, and supporters made their frustrations clear during Saturday's defeat.

Chants targeting Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada echoed around Old Trafford, alongside calls for the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sell the club, while the players were booed on the pitch.

On Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that Manchester United would stick by Michael Carrick after he arrived at the training ground at 07:30, as he always does. 

Roundtable understands that one of the main reasons United have stuck by their head coach is financial reasons. 

Michael Carrick became permanent head coach in May 2026, signing a contract that will run until summer 2028. Sacking him would force Manchester United to pay off the rest of Carrick's deal, as well as the coaching staff who would follow him out the door. 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe made the final decision after crunch talks with Berrada, Wilcox and the Glazers, but there has been internal disagreement within the hierarchy. 

Most at Old Trafford expected Carrick to lose his job after the 4-1 defeat to Como, with some amazed that he remains in charge, but he could remain in the dugout for Chelsea, Roma and Aston Villa. 

It has been said that Manchester United were underprepared going into the crunch talks regarding Carrick's future. 

The crux of the matter regarding what's happened under Carrick's reign this season stems from two core problems. One is the coaching on the pitch, and the other is the tools carrick was provided with.

There is near-unanimous consensus among keen watchers at Old Trafford that United's coach was hung out to dry this summer. It was widely reported that, beyond midfielders, he wanted a left-back and a striker, but never got either.

Since then, the left back and striker have been the two positions that have caused United problems in almost every fixture this season. Even then, with the three midfielders signed, United missed out on most of their first-choice targets.

At the same time, the football on the pitch has also come into question. Too many games have seen United look flat, uninspiring, and far too chaotic in defence to win enough games.

While Carrick wasn't given enough tools, he and his coaching staff have also been unable to utilise what they have, given that the squad includes the same players who secured third in the Premier League last season.