Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe thinks Jarrod Bowen could be the man to take them to the next level. Speaking to MyBettingSites.co.uk, Sharpe shared his thoughts on the future of Carrick at Old Trafford, and his summer transfer hopes for the club, as they prepare to return to the Champions League.
Sharpe: Carrick has earned the Man United job
Manchester United’s results under Michael Carrick have exceeded the expectations of pundits and fans alike. He has taken them back into Europe’s elite competition and earned himself a nomination to be crowned as the Premier League’s Manager of the Season.
Sharpe’s position on the managerial question is clear. Carrick has done enough, and replacing him now carries a risk that the club simply cannot afford.
“Yeah, I think he’s done a good enough job to warrant the job. I think if you change him now, whoever you bring in, you’re taking a big risk. Because I think you’ve got to also realise that we do need good recruitment this year.”
“With good recruitment, I think he can do a good job. I think it’s a big risk to bring someone in that doesn’t know the Premier League or someone that’s not ready for it. It’s nice to see the potential of (Andoni) Iraola or someone like that who has done well at a smaller club, but Manchester United is a totally different animal.”
The weight of the United job is something Sharpe understands personally. The scrutiny, the expectation, the noise means that having someone in the dugout who has lived that reality is worth more than it is often given credit for.
“I think the expectancy, the pressures, and the scrutiny can be a lot, and so to have someone there that knows the club, someone that’s been at the club, is a big thing. When you’re used to handling the pressure and you’re used to the expectation, and that weight on your shoulders every single game, I think it makes a big, big difference.”
On external candidates, Sharpe acknowledged some appeal but was unconvinced. Luis Enrique set to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, while Julian Nagelsmann drew a more sceptical response.
“The Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique could be a good shout, but I think he’s about to sign a new contract. He’s got an unbelievable team there in Paris. Nagelsmann, I’m not sure about. I know he’s done a good job elsewhere, but I’m not really sure he’s the man for the job, so I think Carrick’s as good as anybody that you can look at at the moment.”
Why Carrick’s situation is different to Solskjær’s
The scepticism around Carrick from some quarters, including Gary Neville and the hosts on The Overlap Show, is understandable according to Sharpe. The ghost of Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s appointment lingers, and the parallels are obvious enough that while Carrick and Solskjær are two different managers, the similarity in scenarios is hard to ignore.
“I suppose I understand the uncertainty about Carrick to a degree because of what happened with Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and I think everybody has that a little bit in mind because we’ve gone back to an ex-player before and it was good for a little while and then it sort of crumbled a little bit. But I think Michael’s a little bit of a different situation, he’s obviously a different character.”
Sharpe believes Carrick’s temperament will make him the perfect appointment and sees echoes of Carlo Ancelotti in the former United midfielder. At a club that has been riddled with tension for years, that quality may be exactly what is needed.
“I watch Arteta on the sideline and I think I wouldn’t enjoy it as much if I played under him as he’s just not as calm as I would want my manager to be. Michael Carrick is a different animal. He lets the team play and he makes changes when he needs to make changes. He stays calm. I think he’s a lot more in the Ancelotti mould than he is the Pep and Arteta mould.”
“With the way the club is at the moment, I think they need that calmness, but I also think he’s intelligent enough to talk to the players, and I think all the players have had an arm put round them. He’s shown them some love, made them feel wanted, they will run through brick walls for him, so I think, at the moment, he would be the manager of choice.”
Sharpe urges United to move in on Bowen
Moving on from the managerial situation to United’s need for a wide player this summer, Sharpe was asked to assess the options. For him, Jarrod Bowen is the move United have to make, provided West Ham’s relegation is confirmed.
“Jarrod Bowen would fit really well at United. I like his work rate, his energy, and his pace. He can play a couple of positions if needed. He can play as a striker, but also as a wide man. I think he would be a very good option if West Ham do go down.”
“Jarrod Bowen is probably the best winger United could get in the Premier League, and he’s probably the one that you would have a chance of getting because it looks like West Ham could possibly go down. There’s Anthony Gordon I suppose as he has been linked with leaving Newcastle, but I would rather take Bowen.”
Beyond the domestic market, Sharpe’s admiration for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is clear. The PSG winger has been one of the finest players in European football over the past two seasons, and Sharpe places him in a category of his own. He also reserved particular praise for Michael Olise while questioning how English football’s biggest clubs allowed him to slip away to Bayern Munich.
“I love the guy at Paris Saint-Germain, Kvaratskhelia. He’s unbelievable. I think he’s phenomenal. I also think Olise at Bayern is another one. I don’t know how he ended up in Germany and not at a top Premier League club from Palace. The big Premier League clubs have missed a trick by not grabbing him at the time, without a shadow of a doubt.”
“I mean that guy just oozes class. He’s so comfortable on the ball, he makes good decisions, scores goals, creates goals. I think he’s a real player and somehow they’ve all missed out on him.”
One further name in Germany caught Sharpe’s eye, a player who has quietly impressed him whenever he has appeared on screen.
“I quite like (Karim) Adeyemi at Borussia Dortmund. I’ve always quite liked him whenever I’ve seen him. He’s causing problems, he’s quick, strong and works his socks off.”
