Eddie Howe concern voiced as Michael Carrick faces Manchester United judgement day

Carrick faces a critical match against Bournemouth with his job under threat after one win in seven league games; Shearer warns Eddie Howe may not be the right fit as replacement.

Michael Carrick's Manchester United tenure is in serious jeopardy after a disastrous start to the season. With just one win in seven Premier League matches—a 5-2 victory over Ipswich—plus an early Carabao Cup exit to Brighton and two Champions League defeats, pressure is mounting ahead of Sunday's clash with Bournemouth.

Alan Shearer has weighed in on potential successors, expressing concern about Eddie Howe despite acknowledging he doesn't want to see Carrick sacked. Howe, who left Newcastle in July after five seasons and won the Carabao Cup there, is among those being linked with the role. However, Shearer believes Howe requires total control at his next club and questions whether Manchester United's fractured structure would suit him.

Shearer highlighted the club's deep-rooted problems: multiple managerial changes under Rangnick, Ten Hag and Amorim, the Dan Ashworth situation, recruitment failures, and ongoing disputes over ticket prices. He suggested these systemic issues mean the manager's job alone cannot fix United's troubles, and questioned whether other top candidates would even want the position given the club's instability.