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Michael Carrick is not a fan of social media. He doesn't allow peoples' opinions of him he might read elsewhere, both good and bad, influence or affect him.

He's too calm, level headed and mature to let the fickle tsunami of noise which engulfs football in 2026, define his work. Which is a good job.

Because the club he manages might have United in their name, but when it comes to the clamour for him to get the job on a permanent basis, 'Divided' feels more appropriate.

Those who follow the fortunes of the most talked-about club in English football, will know nothing is ever straightforward in the red half of Manchester.

And Carricknow appears to personify the chaos and confusion which has dogged United in recent times.Since taking charge on an interim basis, Carrick has somehow lifted a sinking oil tanker back to the surface.

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He took a rudderless squad and gave it come clear direction. He replaced failure and friction with harmony. He took Kobbie Mainoo out of the deep freeze Amorim had stuck him in - and revived his career.

He picked Bruno Fernandes in his best position. Heck, he's even turned Benjamin Sesko from a multi-million pound flop into one of the most in-form strikers in the Premier League.

And most important of all, he replaced defeats and draws with wins. When Carrick rode into Manchester to tackle 'Mission Impossible', United were sixth in the table and hurtling down a dead end road.

Amorim's team had won one of their last seven league games. Less than seven weeks later, United have reeled off six wins from seven to catapult themselves into the top three.

It has been a remarkable turnaround. One which is as damning of Amorim's failings, as it is complimentary of Carrick's managerial capabilities.

But despite all of the above, some people are still claiming he shouldn't be given the job on a permanent basis. Paul Scholes, among others, is one of them.

Now, Scholes was a magnificent footballer. One of the true greats of his generation. But what he knows about top level management, he could write on the back of a cigarette packet.

What do Scholes and his fellow detractors want? Someone who can rebuild the foundations of a winning culture, while getting positive results at the same time?

Or a proven winner from the past, who could take charge of United and find his reputation ruined? Aka Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Erik ten Hag?

The simple truth is that no-one truly knows who is capable of succeeding in one of the most challenging jobs in football.

Until they have been given the chance to sink or swim. Carrick was given that chance a almost two months ago, and has rescued a club which was drowning in its own mediocrity and entitlement.

And if the club's co-owners can't be strong enough to ignore the outside noise and appreciate Carrick has passed the test they set him, they must be even more incompetent than we already think.

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