Carrick clings on as United's decision-makers enter self-preservation mode

The writing appeared to be on the wall for Carrick in the wake of arguably the two worst back-to-back performances of the gloomy post Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Even though the issues at United clearly run much deeper than the manager, it was hard to make a case for anything other than yet another change in the dugout as the 4-1 drubbing in Como was followed by a pathetic performance in losing 3-0 at home to Bournemouth.

Even members of Carrick’s own coaching staff feared the axe would inevitably come on Monday morning to coincide with the opening of the New York Stock Exchange. Yet as the day went on the silence from an increasingly inept United board became deafening.