Jack Gray
BBC Newsbeat

BBC Newsbeat has been out in Manchester catching up with a few fans - and it's fair to say the wind and rain is matching their mood.

"We’ve just been going down and down and down, and Manchester’s weather sums up how Manchester United have been playing for the last few years," says Chenai Masunungure.

Chenai, 20, thinks the club hasn't brought in enough "world-class or top-quality players" and thinks the blame needs to be split between the board and the players.

"You can tell from who we’ve brought in, there’s not enough thinking put into it," she says.

"But then as well as that when you’re watching them [the players] you can just see there’s not enough intensity."

Rafael Millin Fialho agrees and says fans are "fed up constantly".

"It seems like the same cycle, constantly sacking managers and getting behind [them] and then sacking," the 18-year-old adds.

The first season Rafael remembers is when David Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2013, saying the squad he inherited "wasn't good enough".

"From then onwards it’s been a mix of not the right signings, wrong managers, I think the club’s been going downhill and there’s a toxic environment around the club at the minute," he says.

Rafael was at the game yesterday and admits he feels bad for Michael Carrick - but Chenai thinks he does need to be sacked.

"As much as I love him as a person, he does need to go because I don’t think he’s up to the role enough," she says.

"But not in a toxic way, in a nice pleasant way."

Here's a look at what other news outlets are saying about Manchester United and the latest talking points surrounding the club:

• Daily Mail says United are locked in crisis talks as Michael Carrick's future hangs by a thread. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers join Carrington summit to decide under-fire manager's fate.
• Telegraph is running that United's thrashing by Bournemouth leaves head coach’s position in major doubt.
• Bruno Fernandes gamble leaves Carrick to carry the can for United’s institutional failures, reports Guardian
• Sky Sports is reporting that Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are expected to be the frontrunners to replace Carrick, if the United head coach departs.
• And TalkSPORT say Fernandes has appeared to make a cryptic dig at Carrick after United benching with social media post.

Image source, Getty Images

After Sunday's defeat to Bournemouth, Gary Neville suggested that Michael Carrick's time as Manchester United manager could already be done and dusted, saying the feeling is that he was already a "dead man walking":

"They're probably going to sack Carrick in the next two, 12, 24 hours. There were rumours on Thursday, Friday about Jason Willcox being torn over whether the replacement will be Eddie Howe or Julian Naglesmann and Carrick is a dead man walking already.

"When he comes into his presser on Friday and starts speaking about the club's history, it just feels like the end."

Neville also questioned why Carrick felt the need to remind players of the club's history and the standards expected of them.

He said: "Don't sign a player for this club if you have to explain to them how big it is. They should be privileged to be out there."

The former United defender also argued that the supporters' anger is not simply about the results, but also the decisions being made behind the scenes.

"The history is why the fans are here," Neville added. "That's why they're angry because they can't accept the decision making, from season tickets to lack of recruitment.

"Tottenham have taken their two big targets [Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali], they should be out their wearing red shirts."

Neville also raised the question of whether a change of manager would actually address the deeper issues embedded at Manchester United.

If Jamie Carragher's assertion is correct - that the Manchester United manager wanted to "embarrass" his captain in front of the club's supporters at Old Trafford, then the question has to be where does the United hierarchy go from here?

BBC Sport's Simon Stone has reported that the "end is approaching" for Michael Carrick, Gary Neville has used a slightly more vivid phrase...

Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports

I don't think Michael Carrick was ever going to bring Bruno Fernandes on. I think it was a deliberate decision just to leave him on the bench and almost try to embarrass him a little bit in front of the supporters - I don't know.

I think what Bruno did after the game in Como was on the back of him getting brought off and I think Michael Carrick never had any intention of bringing him on at all - that sub was never going to happen.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Carrick's decision to drop captain Bruno Fernandes for Sunday's defeat to Bournemouth followed the Portugal midfielder's criticism after Wednesday's 4-1 loss at Como in the Champions League.

Fernandes was seen shaking his head as he walked around the pitch in Como after being substituted in the second half, with United trailing 3-0 at the time.

Following the defeat, Fernandes aired his views in a post-match interview, in which criticised the choice of tactics.

He said that it was "a decision from the staff to not press man to man...but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence".

Asked directly whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes added: "That's on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."

Carrick delivered a curt response in his post-match news conference, when asked about the comments: "Whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you aren't going to win."

On Sunday, Carrick was asked why Fernandes was left on the bench and the manager confirmed that his captain was fit and available, but he chose not to put him on.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, on the current squad's failings:

“The bare minimum for any team to get any kind of success starts with a few things, which is hard work and compete.

"Now to be able to do that, you need to run, you need to run and put intensity and energy into the game. The next thing is teamwork and team spirit, both of those things are non-existent.

"That is the reason, because the moment you step over the line you take your own responsibility for what effort you’re going to put in that day and for whatever reason that is not happening.”

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Carrick kicked off his pre-match news conference before Sunday's defeat at home to Bournemouth with an emotional five-minute address, after which he said he was "100%" the right person to take Manchester United forward.

He refused to discuss his plans for captain Bruno Fernandes after the Portugal international criticised the tactics he employed in a damaging midweek Champions League defeat at Como.

But as soon as the team sheet was revealed, it became clear that Fernandes was being made an example of.

Lisandro Martinez, who had previously criticised the club's hierarchy for failing to back Carrick in the transfer market over the summer, also started the match on the bench, but as a precaution as he returned from an injury.

Despite Carrick's best efforts, United's starting XI failed to respond, putting in another lacklustre display as goals from Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson handed the Cherries a deserved victory at Old Trafford.

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking on his podcast after Manchester United's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, former United defender Gary Neville shared his fears that Michael Carrick has lost support, with tensions between players and the manager threatening to worsen.

Neville said he has expected problems to emerge this season, but was surprised by how quickly the situation had deteriorated.

"It was my fear this was going to happen this season. I didn't think it'd happen this quickly, but the players were booed off at the end with real anger by the supporters in the Stretford End. Usually the fans are supportive of the players and manager."

Neville also highlighted the reaction to Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez, following their recent comments about Carrick and the club's leadership.

"So the fans are telling those players you've turned on your own in the last week."

Neville believes the public criticism could represent only a fraction of what is being said behind closed doors.

"I always say if a footballer speaks out like those two have, you're only getting the one or five per cent of what they're actually thinking. Can you imagine what they're saying in that dressing room? What the toxicity between them all must be like?"

We've had plenty of you getting in touch to have your say on Manchester United - from your thoughts on Michael Carrick to the wider issues at the club.

Here's a look at some of the fan comments we've had so far.

Steven, Matlock: "I hope Carrick resigns. He looks drained. Fighting for a club that isn't willing to fight for him. He has been let down in the summer. What he was given was like giving a chef a welly instead of a knife and asking him to prepare a meal."

Stuart: "As a club United are finished until the Glazers are gone. As a fan we should all boycott home games, but this won’t happen because there are too many tourist fans. Carrick is not to blame and if he is sacked and another manager comes in nothing will change."

Jacob, Oxford: "Footballers get paid too much and don't care about the results. A loss should impact their weekly wage. It will mean more to them and really want to win. I feel players get paid and just don't care."

Steven, Glasgow: "One telling thing from Harry Maguire's post-match interview is him calling his boss Michael. You wouldn't have seen any players from the Fergie era calling him Alex."

Tim, York: "I think it is disingenuous to claim that certain individuals are to blame for the current state of MUFC. The whole club needs resetting, similar to Arsenal in 2019. Much derision at the time, some pathetic attempts to destabilise Arteta, but Trust The Project worked."

It's time for a recap, for anyone who missed this morning's discussion around Manchester United.

There's been plenty to talk about, with questions raised over the club's direction and Michael Carrick's future.

Here's a look at what's been said:

• End approaching for Carrick but Man Utd fans make clear who they blame
• Is the Man Utd squad good enough?
• Bruno Fernandes triggered more questions with social media activity
• Man Utd's managerial nightmare that continues to haunt them
• Gary Neville says accountability must go beyond Carrick

Manchester United

If Michael Carrick stays in his job as Manchester United manager then what awaits him is a tough-looking run of fixtures.

And if he doesn't stay in position then any potential successor will have to hit the ground running.

The Red Devils travel to Chelsea on Saturday, before hosting Roma in the Champions League the following Tuesday.

In-form Aston Villa arrive at Old Trafford on 8 November before the international break.

Things do not get any easier after the break as a trip to Liverpool is next, before an away match against Portuguese side Sporting in the Champions League.

The month is rounded off with a home match against Brentford.

Man Utd's next six fixtures:

• Chelsea (a)
• Roma (h) - Champions League
• Aston Villa (h)
• Liverpool (a)
• Sporting (a) - Champions League
• Brentford (h)

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick brushed off questions about his future when speaking with Sky Sports after Sunday's 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth.

Carrick on an emotional day at Old Trafford: "The third goal, the fans were there waiting for us to get something in the game second half if we'd got one chance, one goal in the second half they would have been with us. We just couldn't find that moment and that third goal is a killer moment. From that time it was what it was.

"It's obvious to say that - strange mixed emotions of a finish of a game. Not a nice way to end the game."

On the players' emotions: "Tough day for them - we went into the game being rocked a bit and you could feel that on the pitch. They kept going and they're disappointed, they're hurt. The players are feeling it. It's not a nice feeling when you see the disappointment. It is what it is, you have to accept it and that's the situation we're in at the moment.

"It's difficult for me to have a day like this at this club and feel the emotion - the dynamic of what it was like today. Not for me personally, but for Man Utd. It was really mixed today. I feel a lot of responsibility, I've been at the club a long time. It hurts an awful lot to see us going through this at this moment in time."

On leaving Bruno Fernandes on the bench: "There's always times when you're trying to make decisions that are to change the course of play and made a difference but those are the decisions we made today."

On his lap of the pitch at full-time: "It wasn't a farewell from me. I've mixed emotions, I'm feeling it for my players, they're going through a tough spell. Some of it we can help, some of it the situation unravels and the boys are feeling it at the moment. Mixed emotions for the supporters to respond in that way.

"To have that connection with the supporters, it's mixed emotions, it'll take a bit of time to digest but I certainly appreciate their support. The situation is where we are and we haven't had results or performances that have been good enough.

"It's a tough situation, there's no hiding from it. What it looks like and what's next I really don't know. I will always do my best for the football club and I won't change that now. I love what I do and I feel the responsibility - we'll have to wait and see."

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes' only involvement at Old Trafford yesterday was in the warm-ups and post-game lap of appreciation to a rapidly emptying Old Trafford, which voiced their displeasure at Michael Carrick's squad in no uncertain manner.

Fernandes is at United's Carrington training ground today, for pre-planned treatment on an injury Portugal coach Jorge Jesus revealed last month the midfielder was carrying.

Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Sesko, Luke Shaw and Manuel Ugarte, who all missed the Bournemouth game through injury, are also there.

So too are chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.

Carrick isn't there as his players have a day off but talks about his position are thought to be continuing.

Image source, Getty Images

Thanks Simon, not your fault but I have just started humming the Disney tune "We Don't Talk About Bruno". Fans of the film Encanto will know the one.

Anyway, we actually do need to talk about Bruno, as he's among the injured players who reported for treatment at Carrington this morning...

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is a miserable day weather wise, which just sums up the mood of most Manchester United fans today after successive three-goal hammerings.

Michael Carrick's squad have a day off today, which gives space for the hierarchy to decide what to do about the present situation.

They could of course decide to let Michael Carrick take charge for Saturday's trip to Chelsea, in which case it will be business as usual.

If not, who will take training tomorrow?

Former United midfielder and current Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher took over on an interim basis following Ruben Amorim's dismissal in January.

Fletcher was assisted by former team-mate Jonny Evans, who had resigned his role as United's head of loans, and Travis Binnion, who was the head of the club's academy.

Evans and Binnion subsequently became part of Carrick's coaching team and were confirmed on a permanent basis in the summer.