As soon as the final whistle went and Michael Carrick suffered his first defeat as Manchester United head coach, Paul Scholes was quick to jump on social media. The club’s legendary former midfielder was clearly unimpressed with what he saw in a 2-1 loss against Newcastle United.
Rightfully so, given the Reds were second best throughout at St James’ Park even after Jacob Ramsey’s sending off in the 45+1st minute. Lethargic, lackadaisical and lost.
Bruno Fernandes, of all people, gave away a penalty that Anthony Gordon converted. Fernandes quickly made amends when he found Casemiro with a free-kick, and the Brazilian headed home the equaliser.
The visitors failed to make the most of their one-man advantage and the hosts made them pay in the dying embers. William Osula came off the bench and scored a sensational winner to hand Carrick his first defeat.
Man United legends Carrick cattiness
You wouldn’t know Eddie Howe’s men were a man down, and Newcastle fully deserved the win. The performances have been a concern for quite a while now, and tonight was the wake-up call perhaps needed for those getting carried away over Carrick.
The problem Manchester United‘s caretaker boss has is that he’s trying to win over a set of individuals who are showing bitterness. Not so much members of the Old Trafford faithful, more so players he spent years winning titles with.
Scholes was Carrick’s partner for the majority of his spell with United as a player. Rather than criticise the team as a collective, he seemed to go after his former teammate with a strange post-match Instagram story.
He wrote, “Michael has definitely got something special about him… cos Utd have been crap last 4 games… night.”
Scholes isn’t the first to take aim at Carrick, as Gary Neville initially ridiculed the idea of appointing him permanently. After a fourth straight win over Tottenham Hotspur in February, the club’s former captain claimed that the club had to go out and pursue another manager in the summer.
It’s not even worth mentioning Roy Keane, whose issues with Carrick are well-documented, stemming from a rift with the manager’s wife. The Irishman insists he isn’t a United fan, so you expect him to be as scathing as ever, given his job as a pundit.
There has been a growing feeling that these heroes of Old Trafford have been waiting for Carrick’s first defeat to cast major doubts over his staying on. He’s eight games into his second spell in the dugout, and these individuals have got their opportunity to strike.
Time to ignore
United fans have long been highlighting the negativity shown towards the club. The only former Red who does seem to support the team through highs and lows is Rio Ferdinand.
Everyone is free to give their opinion, but it feels there is more to the story than just punditry. When the going gets tough, supporters look to the club’s all-time greats for optimism, and what they usually get is damning statements.
This might be because Scholes and Neville couldn’t hack it as managers. Carrick has taken on one of the toughest jobs in football and masterminded a surge to third place.
The toxicity does nobody any favours, especially after such a remarkable unbeaten period. Fans need to start realising that their past heroes clearly don’t want the club to be successful.
