I was thinking that there could be a a huge opportunity if Carrick is given the full time job, assuming he secures CL football this season.
If INEOS decide to adopt a football structure similar to Bayern Munich, where the DoF and the overall football department manage recruitment and long term squad planning, while the head coach focuses entirely on coaching and match preparation, then starting this project with Carrick could be a sensible approach. (I think the project has started already with the recruitment of several good players recently, like Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko, etc...)
What needs to be done IMO is: -
- INEOS appoint a top class DoF who is responsible for all aspects of player recruitment, player development and long term squad building. This would include ensuring that high quality players are identified and signed, along with creating clear progression pathways for academy talents such as Lacey or JJ, I am not sure Wilcox is the right man for this, unless he is given the freedom without interference from Ratcliff, Ashworth might have been onto something when he did not agree to Amorim, a top DoF will hire a coach that fits what's already built in the club.
- Carrick’s responsibility as Head Coach is to manage the first team only and concentrate on training sessions, tactical principles, style of play and match management.
- The new DoF and Carrick align on the club’s football philosophy to ensures it is sustainable for the long term identity, rather than changing direction because a new manager is hired (the new top DoF will also ensure we do not hire someone like Amorim ever again!)
Carrick being good coach but not an established elite level head coach will allow a top DoF to shape the long term plan while giving Carrick an environment where he can focus completely on coaching the team.
If it works (obviously that's a big if), it will eliminate some of the issues we faced in the past (no competent DoF, managers dictating which players to bring in, no clear style of play, no clear structure), roles and responsibilities will be clearly defined, Carrick will be judged only on the results on the pitch, while the DoF will be accountable for making the long term plan work.
I can also see if Carrick does well and the team is always top 4 and go deep in CL, but say does not manage to win something major (PL or CL) by summer 2029, then he is replaced and the new head coach will inherit a well built squad that has been competing at a high level and would not require a major rebuild, I mentioned Bayern as a good example, the head coach is expected to coach and win football matches and win major trophies, and they provided the environment for Kompany to just do that, they got him the right players like Diaz, Olise and Tah who are quality players, and he is doing extremely well so far. (basically breaking records!)
P.S. this is in no way comparing Kompany to Carrick, Kompany could be a tactical genius or something for all we know and Bayern just lucked into a generational top coach here, but the key point is that the model can work regardless of who is the head coach, provided the structure is correct.
. Also the late comebacks are great but they indicate a botched setup that has caused us to fall behind in the first place, looking at you Fergie 1999 CL final ?