Football is a different world from the days of the all-powerful Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, now that control is in the hands of those in the boardroom rather than those in the dugout.
It all says that Michael Carrick signed this summer to become United’s ‘head coach’ rather than manager, a point of contention for Ruben Amorim during the Elland Road meltdown in January.
The title matters little, in fact, like Amorim before him, he could be a major loss if results don’t improve, the INEOS regime having previously sacked Erik ten Hag within months of the 2024/25 season.
At some stage, fingers must start pointing at those who are really pulling the strings in the background, with Jason Wilcox still a key figure at Old Trafford.
Why should Jason Wilcox be under scrutiny at Man Utd?
Wilcox, currently United’s acting director of football, has had his fingerprints all over United’s affairs in recent years, be it in terms of transfers or managerial appointments.
The Englishman, among others, launched a public search to replace Ten Hag in the summer of 2024, eventually hitting out at the Dutchman despite deciding to back him later.
In the case of Amorim, Wilcox and co plucked the Portuguese from Sporting Lisbon midway through the season, having not proved to be a key issue with the manager’s stubborn 3-4-3 system.
The former Southampton and Manchester City man is quick to put his name on new signings and contract extensions but hides when things go wrong, a perfect situation again this summer.
Carrick was left with a squad short in key areas, with Wilcox and his recruitment team opting not to strengthen at left-back and centre, decisions which have now backfired due to injury.
Not looking beyond the midfield almost bordered on negligence, it must be said, another summer under the Glazer regime where the club failed to start after securing Champions League football.
As already mentioned, if this on-field disgrace continues, Carrick will eventually pay the price, but the real decision-makers at Man United must also be held to account.
Man Utd contract decision is another Wilcox disaster
For a sense of balance, one positive thing about this INEOS regime has been the ruthlessness of their handling of late, particularly in 2025 replacing underperforming stars like Alejandro Garnacho, Antoni and Rasmus Hojlund.
This summer too, the club did not succumb to Casemiro’s end-of-season heroics and made the right decision to part ways with the aging Brazilian at the end of his contract.
Similar decisions will be made in 2027 with the likes of Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw out of contract in June.
Upcoming contract period – Man Utd | |
|---|---|
Player | Duration of the contract |
Heaton | June 2027 |
Maguire | June 2027 |
The show | June 2027 |
Martinez | June 2027 |
Fernandes | June 2027 |
collect | June 2027 |
T. Fletcher | June 2027 |
Darlow | June 2028 |
Rashford | June 2028 |
Mazraoui | June 2028 |
Sharing | June 2028 |
the mountain | June 2028 |
Fernandes aside, you’d expect the rest of the trio to be part of a beleaguered defense in need of an overhaul, assembled by various managers over the past decade.
However, as reported by Football Insider, Wilcox and co are planning talks with the aforementioned Shaw over a potential contract extension, with talks set to take place in the New Year.
United are said to still view the 31-year-old as a “long-term” option and are prepared to “consider his needs” when discussing a new deal.
What those needs are remains to be seen, although in terms of wages, previous reports suggest he is currently earning around £200,000-a-week amid his return to the Champions League.
Yes, the long-serving defender started all 38 league games last term, but he already feels out of touch in his 13th season at Old Trafford.
What elite club could a player with Shaw’s unfortunate injury record still be at? United have struggled to get the Englishman out of left-back for a long time.
They pinned their hopes on him again this season, barring any cover or competition signings, and that decision has already backfired, with Shaw suffering an early season injury.
He then missed the Manchester derby as well as the fixtures against Sabah and Brighton and Hove Albion, relying on makeshift options in Carrick’s Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui.
Getting back to two or three games a week already seems a challenge for Shaw, no doubt an extension after showing the likes of Casemiro the door of late.
Not signing the left-back and then handing out a new contract to the unreliable Shaw would indeed cause an uproar among the United faithful. If Wilcox wasn’t already on the edge of a cliff, that’s certainly a sackable offense in and of itself.