Fan sentiment seemed to be the only thing that could possibly save Carrick, and those who stroll the corridors of power at Old Trafford aren't renowned for their willingness to listen to supporters and consider their opinions. Alas, Carrick remains at the helm.

This isn't the first time Ineos have lost their nerve. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has shown time and time again since buying into United that he isn't shy when it comes to making cut-throat decisions, even when they cause popularity ratings to plummet. Cost-cutting measures, ticket price hikes and the brutal sacking of Dan Ashworth just five months after his appointment don't scream a man afraid of making decisive and often unpopular calls.

He isn't quite so brutal when it comes to managers.

Before anyone at United had dared to consider a finish as low as 15th in the Premier League could be a possibility for one of European football's powerhouses, Erik ten Hag led United to what at the time was a Premier League-era nadir as they finished the 2023/24 season in eighth position.

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With no European football to look forward to next season, expensive signings made on Ten Hag's watch failing to live up to their price tags and the club clearly in reverse following an encouraging maiden season for the Dutchman at Old Trafford, it was evident a change needed to be made.

Despite meeting with Thomas Tuchel in Monaco as United's protracted end-of-season review rumbled on, Ten Hag remained in situ after the uplifting FA Cup victory over Manchester City.

Not only was Ten Hag allowed the chance to turn things around, he was backed heavily in the transfer window. Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte were brought in for a combined fee of £172million. Two years on and United are actively trying to sell two of the aforementioned quartet, one has played 79 minutes in 11 months and the other can't nail down a place in the team. Ten Hag was sacked two months on from his summer splurge.

The decision not to sack Ten Hag in the summer set United back years. A vast sum of money was spent on players wanted by a manager who would soon be heading for the exit door, Ruben Amorim was appointed mid-season when he wanted to wait until the summer to enter the Old Trafford dugout, and 2024/25 was essentially a write-off, confirmed by the dire Europa League final defeat to Tottenham of all clubs.

Two years on and another United manager who looks to have passed the point of no return has been thrown a lifeline.

Nobody envisaged United's stellar form during Carrick's stint as caretaker manager continuing. United's win percentage ratio since Carrick's first game in charge against City on January 17 usurped champions Arsenal's (70.5% compared to 68.4%) and nobody seriously thought United would win the title in 2027.

Recruitment wasn't good enough in the summer, the fixture schedule is far more congested with the return of European football, and Carrick's United are no longer a surprise package. But two wins in 12 outings is pitiful.

The players are letting Carrick down, whether that be on the pitch or off the pitch with incendiary interviews and puerile social media conduct. Far better teams than this current crop of players have graced the Old Trafford turf, but this side should not be getting battered 4-1 by Como, or beaten by newly-promoted Hull, or held by 10-man Tottenham, or outplayed by Fulham, or battered by Bournemouth, albeit they aren't the first United side to suffer the latter ignominy.

Carrick can point to the small margins United have fallen the wrong side of all he likes, but the simple fact is United's players have not been good enough.

And this isn't to say Carrick has been blameless in all this. For a man who was praised for going back to basics when he was appointed back in January, some of his selection calls have been baffling. In the last few weeks alone we've seen Diogo Dalot at left-back while Leny Yoro played at right-back, Mason Mount used as a left-winger, the dreaded wing-back system - as if there isn't a big enough body of evidence to show this United team cannot adapt to it - used and Bryan Mbeumo playing on the wing despite clearly being United's best back-up in Benjamin Sesko's absence.

Carrick has credit in the bank but it would be wrong to say none of the blame for United's poor start to the season lay at his door.

It's clear how much Manchester United means to Michael Carrick, yet it's going to take far more than passion to turn United's season around. He needs to be better and, more importantly, the players need to be better.

Otherwise Ineos will be left to rue yet another managerial blunder.