BLAME GAME HAS NO WINNERS

By the time you’re reading this, Michael Carrick will probably have been sacked. If not, it will happen soon enough. Who to blame? The people have spoken. Acknowledging supporters after Manchester United did their usual and got pumped by Bournemouth to send the latest patsy handed the reins towards the door marked “Do One”, Carrick was applauded by the Stretford End, and Old Trafford’s stands east, south and north. A proud man walking, as Claudio Ranieri once described the fate of the manager who knows the end is approaching. Among the paying public, on the long list of those held responsible for the latest betrayal of a legend, Carrick is towards the bottom. If even on it. Those heading the list felt their ears burn in a atmosphere crackling with mutiny.

Once Carrick’s head dipped below the tunnel, the players behind him on the walk of shame learned their place in the hierarchy of culpability. Boos and insults rained down on the latest unfortunates to wear the red shirt. Bruno Fernandes, talisman turned turncoat, arrived at Old Trafford knowing his outburst in Como had led to his de-selection. The former fan favourite, last season’s player of the year, hardly heard his name sung all afternoon. Et tu, Bruno? Fernandes sulked under his club-issue hoodie throughout the game, less a leader of men than a moody teenager with his phone confiscated. With good reason, it turned out; later on Sunday, Bruno’s official InstaChat account was liking a motivational post on the subject of “loyal” people getting “pushed to the point where they no longer care”. That such things cut both ways has escaped the attention of his social media disgrace team.

Who else was on the list? “Sell the club and **** off home,” rang out, aimed at the Glazer family and Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe. What sounded like “Jason Wilcox, you’re a banker” was also heard. United fans doubt the credentials of the former Blackburn and Leeds winger and Manchester City backroom staff member as a club suit. Alongside Wilcox in the posh seats, Omar Berrada’s name was not taken in vain, perhaps mostly because it’s hard to scan into contemporary song. Berrada shook his head as Bournemouth scored their second. When “best in class, you’re having a laugh” rang out, they meant you, Omar. Ratcliffe was not present, though his biggest brainwave, his master plan for his beloved boyhood club, came into sharp focus. The call from United fans was to “stick your new stadium up your ***”. The weekend saw club members receive a survey, invited to give their thoughts on a design that resembles a circus big top, a truly irresistible metaphor. Presumably, Sunday’s request to Big Sir Jim will be filed under “other” in the collation of the survey.

Who’s next? Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte, Julian Nagelsmann, Unai Emery, Fabian Hürzeler, Sean Dyche, Shaun Ryder? Does it matter when so much is broken? The cycle of hope followed by failure that did for Carrick would surely do for them too.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I just opened my phone to a message from Vince saying ‘Well done’ and he was happy. I just replied saying ‘Brilliant – now go rest’. I sent him a kissing emoji, so hopefully he rests up” – Bayern Munich’s assistant coach, Aaron Danks, after his side reclaimed top spot in the Bundesliga with a 3-1 win at Freiburg, days after head coach, Vincent Kompany, was hospitalised when he collapsed at training. Kompany remains in hospital and is being treated for a mystery virus, with Bayern saying the coach is likely to be out for week, not days.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Time for The Daily Star to buy a lettuce from Tesco and place it against Michael Carrick – Krishna Moorthy.

Michael Carrick will probably have been politely asked to fold up his umbrella permanently by the time today’s Football Daily is published, but in the meantime I can’t help but wonder what sort of a brolly he owns, if it keeps other people dry, but not him? And why did he buy something that doesn’t perform the basic function for which it is purchased – isn’t that Jason Wilcox’s job? – Phil Taverner.

So, in the upcoming inevitable search for yet another Messiah, we’ve almost completed the cycle twice of the Dutchman Van Gaal to the Portuguese Mourinho to the ex-Ferguson player who knows the club Solskjær to German pressing-obsessive Rangnick and back round to van Nistelrooy, then Amorim and Carrick … which suggests that next chump to end up with a bunch of players who only try until the end of the season under a new manager and then give up completely and leave the manager to take the fall for their (and the board/owner) failings will be a German. Good luck in 2027/28 trying to get this mob to press, or even just make a basic effort and pass 5-10 yards to a teammate under no pressure, Julian Nagelsmann! – Noble Francis.

Is it too late to nominate Noble Francis for the Fifa presidency? I think we could get him 1,057 votes – Jonathan Chester-le-Street.

Your Memory Lane on Nwankwo Kanu’s glorious hat-trick against Chelsea (Friday’s Football Daily, full email edition) reminded me of the confusion he caused to some Dutch fans sitting in front of us at Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial, the first game at the Emirates Stadium in 2006. When he scored what would turn out to be the winner against an Ajax legends side, we all erupted in the standard ‘Kanuuuu’ roar, at which point the Dutch fans turned round and asked us, with real concern, why we were booing him. I don’t think they were entirely convinced by our explanation – David Madden.

So, in Friday’s letters, Daniel just assumed the good luck message that signed off Thursday’s full email edition was aimed at him? It’s all just “Mee, Mee, Mee” with some people, isn’t it? – Daniel Derek McGee.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … Jonathan Chester-le-Street. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here. 

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

Get your ears around the latest Football Weekly on United, Nicolas Jackson and Spurs actually winning a game of football, again. Prefer to watch? Here you go.

VINTAGE JOSÉ, MODERN KNEES

Never write him off. José Mourinho is back so feel the quality of the knee slide that followed Real Madrid’s win at Barcelona. “The world that loves football will have stopped to watch this and they won’t have gone disappointed; this was two teams that played to win,” said José, one of the great evangelists for attacking football. Kylian Mbappé’s two goals came too late for the voting for the Ballon d’Or but winning in Barça’s backyard will help Kiki’s place in madrileño lore. The Mourinho special move of celebration was a tad more halting than in his 2000s prime, the smouldering salt and pepper stubble faded from grey into a white full beard. “The group is very strong, internally with zero problems and growing empathy among everyone,” roared José. How long that lasts is the obvious question but there’s clearly life in the old dog yet.

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

Elisabeth Terland’s late strike for Manchester United ended Manchester City’s winning start in the WSL in a well-contested and at times breathless derby.

Liverpool managed their first Premier League win at Anfield this season after an impressive display from Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola against Brighton.

Pierre Sage’s troubles at Crystal Palace continue. “We missed 15 minutes when we came back from the dressing room,” he sighed, lamenting a lack of focus in the 2-0 defeat by Newcastle that leaves his side 17th.

Enzo Maresca isn’t too concerned about Marc Guéhi despite another error by the defender in Manchester City’s loss at Villa Park. “I’m not worried at all,” huffed the manager after his side’s first league defeat this season.

Burnley have binned Nicky Hayen after only 14 games in the job, with the Clarets third from bottom in the Championship.

Massimiliano Allegri has been handed a two-match ban and fined €10,000 for abusive remarks towards match officials and a Roma staff member after being sent off for protesting a late equaliser in Napoli’s 3-3 draw.

And the former Arsenal and ⁠Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant was saved by his ⁠dog, King, after ⁠a German shepherd attacked him in the street, resulting in 50 stitched needed for his leg. “I was on the floor with the dog still attached with no sign of letting go, until King intervened,” Pennant wrote on Instagram. “He fought the dog off and saved what could’ve ⁠been a horrendous situation for me. My hero, still protecting me and trying ‌to look after me, King you’re a legend love you, man’s best friend.”

STILL WANT MORE?

Michael Carrick’s gamble to drop Bruno Fernandes went very wrong but Manchester United’s problems go to the very top, writes Will Unwin.

Tonight’s Ballon d’Or ceremony is in London, a nod to Stanley Matthews’ victory in Blackpool town hall 70 years ago – and his family are “very excited”.

Ben Bloom reports on the circus of Ian Holloway, and why the Swindon manager’s antics are no laughing matter for fans.

Scott McTominay stole the headlines in Napoli’s seesaw 3-3 draw against a Roma side inspired by Messi-like Matías Soulé, reports Nicky Bandini.

Lille’s results under Carlo Ancelotti’s son, Davide, in Ligue 1 are encouraging but they have been exposed in the Champions League, reports Luke Entwistle.

‘Super player’ Alex Freeman scored his first goal in La Liga, playing three positions in Villarreal’s comeback. Jeff Rueter reports on his rise.

Barney Ronay watched on at Stamford Bridge as a glitch in Chelsea’s coding cost them against Spurs.

And talking points, get your talking points. Premier League and Women’s Super League for your reading. Look at those composites!

MEMORY LANE

Bournemouth love a big win over Manchester United. Taking you back to the third round of the 1983-84 FA Cup, where the Cherries beat the holders 2-0 and naturally celebrated in the batch. Bournemouth trainer, John Kirk (centre, wearing cap) joins the jubilant players while the assistant manager Stuart Morgan (right) supplies the champagne. Julie Welch was at Dean Court and wrote for Big Paper: “With a minute of the match remaining, fighting broke out in the terraces behind Bournemouth’s goal, halting the tie for five minutes as spectators spilled on to the pitch. But the hiatus was irrelevant: the cause had been lost long before for United, who had started off timorously, played without style or daring or adventure, and finished up on the wrong end of one of the most staggering wins in Bournemouth’s history.”

WE’LL DO THIS AGAIN IN 18 MONTHS