MANCHESTER UNITED are at a managerial crossroads once again.
They are on a five-game winless streak with a manager, in , who does not appear to be inspiring much confidence of a win again anytime soon.
SunSport understands there is no change in management planned, but that has done nothing to stop the rumour mill from going wild.
Three big-name bosses have been linked to the Man Utd job during the time even since ‘s sacking at the start of January.
One of those is one of the man tipped with the job even when Dan Ashworth was at the club during his ill-fated spell at the club.
Another is a serial winner who has won titles in and .
And the other is the newest trendy name in Premier League .
Each offer something strikingly different to the other and by extension massively different approaches to the squad.
However, this confusion regarding the trio who are linked to the Red Devils all threaten to repeat the cycle seen since Sir ‘s retirement.
Starting off with the biggest name on the list, is about the hotseat.
He appeared to hint at it last month when he mentioned going to big clubs who had lost their way.
The Italian, 57, won the Prem and during his time at , and got Spurs into the after that to save their season.
There is no doubt he is a serial winner, but his pragmatic, arguably defensive approach with three at the back and no-nonsense nature towards club hierarchy threaten to repeat the time was at the club.
Conte could win United trophies, there is little doubt of that. But would he be allowed to remain in position long enough to create such a miracle? Who knows.
The five-time winner has won leagues in Italy with fallen giants in the form of and , while he sparked a dynasty with winning three in a row including an unbeaten season and one with over 102 points.
He champions a three-CB system, which may not be received too well given the recent manager who played that way and led the club to record lows.
Another boss who SunSport is Brighton manager .
The German has Brighton up to third in the league and playing some of the most dynamic football in the division.
Hurzeler, 33, is the youngest manager in Prem history and very much the hipster boss.
He champions an almost obsessive philosophy rooted in spatial compactness and baiting principles with a high defensive line and high-running intensity throughout the squad.
United, compared to Brighton, don’t fare too well in the running stats this season.
But the Seagulls are flying in both an attacking and success sense at present.
No team has scored more than them in the Premier League, and the Old Trafford faithful had a first-hand showing of Hurzeler-ball when his side inflicted United’s first home loss when leading 2-0 at half-time for 42 years in the third round.
His Brighton also knocked United out of the FA Cup third round in January last season.
The evidence is hard to argue against, but you wonder how it will convert into the current squad, and it very much reeks of a repeat of or Ruben Amorim with the appointment of an up and coming boss.
represents the manager who would be most suitable to the current squad.
He champions a fast counter-attacking brand of football that is embedded into the United way.
United forked out plenty of money to make their midfield more dynamic in the summer, and Howe had one of the meanest trios in world football at Newcastle in , and Bruno Guimaraes.
Replicating that blueprint would be quite the task given the aforementioned running stats, but Howe’s style would resonate with United fans and tap into a number of core principles – including the featuring of academy graduates.
The 48-year-old was wanted by Ashworth at United, and the former England and Newcastle chief was dismissed over that differing opinion with the Ineos board.
But regardless of his pros, it would be nothing short of embarrassing for the likes of to green light the appointment of the Englishman after fighting so hard against it two years ago.
Each offer a unique brand of football, experience and temperament to a possible appointment if Carrick is given the boot.
Yet the variety in choice is a blessing and curse because the lack of clarity is mind-numbing to supporters who just want some clarity and direction to rally around.
Carrick’s under siege United side travel to Leeds on Sunday.
The discontent in the squad is well known given Lisandro Martinez’s public outburst calling up the board, and even after his apology on social media the reputation damage is long done.
And it certainly doesn’t make for a pretty picture, even in isolation of the rest of the issues currently plaguing the club.
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