“A s a United fan who was around for the early 90s seeing Carrick go is a sad end to a horrible situation. He was the only likable thing about the club … I took my eight-year-old lad to Old Trafford for the Brighton game in the FA Cup in January and I’ve never experienced a more toxic atmosphere at a football ground. The fans deserve better … Better owners, better attitudes, better standards. Nothing will change with the setup of the club today and we are in this macabre holding pattern of failure, hope, anger and disappointment” – Chris
“Wilcox, [Berada] and [Jim] Ratcliffe should have fired themselves. They are the common denominator of all this failure. [Mauricio] Pochettino will last 12 months if he’s lucky” – Deb
“I have been a United supporter for over 60 years and this sacking just depresses me. Everyone knows the problem lies elsewhere … We were in desperate need of a left-back and centre-half. What did they do? Recruit several midfielders. So it starts again. Does anyone really believe changing manager will make any difference?” – Barry
“This feels sadder than every other time it’s happened since Alex Ferguson retired. Each of the previous managers had to go, as in large part the underperformance felt like it was their fault. This doesn’t feel like that … But, because the owners and executives aren’t going to sack themselves, and because you can’t fire the players, you change the only thing you can: the manager. And then repeat the cycle” – John
“I think it was Jonathan Liew who made the eminently sensible suggestion of a positional switch for Michael Carrick – by having him replace Jason Wilcox as director of football. That would have made sense” – Geoff
“Just waiting for Mr Mediocrity Wilcox to do the honourable thing and admit he is out of his depth and responsible in part for the situation and resign” – Andrew
“Since Fergie left there have been 12 managers at United, including interims, with little reward. Can all of these have been wrong? Surely they could not have been? It highlights the systemic failures of the club at all levels” – Simon
“Carrick remains a Manchester United legend, he will always be. Without corresponding changes in the club’s recruitment process and the people driving it, we will be back here after 12-18 months” – Wale
“There are many problems at United but the biggest is short-termism. Carrick, like Ole Gunnar Solskjær, was given the permanent job because he did a good job as caretaker, but those roles are very different. Building for the long term, even at a well-run club with solid foundations, is different from getting the best from the hand you’ve been dealt over a few months. Since Fergie retired managers have been sacked because results have taken a downturn, and those who’ve suggested things might need to get worse before they get better (Ralf Rangnick and Ruben Amorim) have been shown the door. There are no reasons to think it will be any different for Pochettino” – Jason
“Is Pochettino a good manager? He did well at Spurs – albeit without winning anything – and in a short spell at Southampton but that was a long time ago. Since then his record has been pretty underwhelming, up to and including an uninspiring time in charge of the US men’s team. He just seems to have a reputation as a good manager but I’m not really sure what it’s based on any more” – Jon
“The similarities between ENIC’s ownership of Tottenham and the Glazers stewardship of United are striking. It doesn’t bode well for United given Tottenham’s unprecedented two-and-a-half decades of underachievement since then. The main difference, further bad news for United, is that Tottenham’s perilous debt load primarily funded a new stadium rather than facilitating the owners’ stake in the company and subsequent dividends to themselves. Football clubs can’t withstand money being extracted – it all has to be re-invested to keep the wheels turning” – Paul
“In 53 years of supporting United this is the most depressing time. Worse, even, than the pre-Fergie years. The club is completely broken. The owners don’t really care about anything other than money. It’s a matter of public record that they see winning as nice to have [but] not the core objective of an elite football club … I feel deep sympathy for Carrick. His lack of experience was clear when appointed as interim. He did a great job and they rushed to appoint him permanently. It was predictable that the financial constraints of the club would mean he would fail and fail quickly. Our first team squad is completely below average quality and Carrick was completely undermined before the season started by an appallingly negligent transfer window. Every supporter knew where our problems would be and every one of us has been proved right. Why couldn’t Wilcox, Berrada et al see the same as us? It doesn’t matter who the manager is. With this squad and these owners the cycle will just continue” – Robert
“I have supported United for over 70 years through thick and thin but no more, to support United means supporting the Glazers. And I just wonder would a fans’ boycott get rid of them. An empty Old Trafford might do it” – Paul
“I am 62. I have followed Manchester United since the age of four (I found a picture of George Best, and told my mum I liked him). I stood on the Stretford End in my teens and took my son during the 90s. The fanbase needs to wrest control. The only way this will change is for the fanbase to boycott games. Stop going, stop providing matchday revenue. If the Glazers are only interested in the money, stop providing them with an income” – Bob
“Carrick delivered United back to the Champions League and have the team and the fans hope. He did more than I dared hope. But a one-front war is not a four-front war. He should never have been given a new mandate. A manager experienced at dealing with a totally new and different challenge, with Premier League experience, was always the need. Carrick is just another in a long list of managers who has a hands tied by the club. I’ve nothing but admiration for his effort and conduct” – Ben
