How Michael Carrick's stint as Man United boss unravelled - a timeline

Michael Carrick has been sacked as Manchester United head coach after a series of poor performances and results, the latest being a rollercoaster 4-4 draw at Old Trafford against Aston Villa.

After a stunning period as caretaker manager that saw Carrick power a seemingly down-and-out United into the Champions League places last season while accumulating more points in the league than anyone else in that period, it all fell apart as he started this season as the full-time boss.

At the time of sacking, United are in the Premier League relegation zone in 18th, above Sunderland only on goal difference and just a point above bottom-placed Crystal Palace. They have just one league win in 10 (five draws, four losses), sit 17th in the UEFA Champions League with two wins in four (two losses) and have already exited the Carabao Cup. 

We trace the timeline of woe that culminated in Carrick's dismissal:

The summer transfer window

Despite the incomings of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and long-time target Carlos Baleba, there were murmurs of discontent hanging around Carrington as the transfer window ended. It all culminated in the final hour of deadline day when, sources said, United rejected a bid for Joshua Zirkzee -- who'd been in the shop window all summer -- because the bid came too late for United to line up a replacement.

With Benjamin Sesko struggling with his fitness, Rasmus Hojlund moving to Napoli in a permanent deal, and Zirkzee not high on Carrick's favourites list, it left United short in the centre forward department as the season got underway. Just as it turns out they were at left back and [fill in the blanks with position of your choice, United fans].

The Hull City warning

The biggest exit of the summer, though, was Casemiro and his absence was felt immediately by United. In their season opener against newly promoted Hull City, United struggled aerially -- both in their own box and Hull's and paid the price as they lost 2-0, both goals coming from set pieces.

United looked strangely lethargic for an opening-day fixture, and the mind went back to an interview Rio Ferdinand did with Youri Tielemans, where the new United midfielder said that there wasn't too much running involved in their training sessions, especially for those who had just returned from the World Cup.

The Man City controversy

A solid start to the derby was exactly what the doctor ordered for Carrick and his United side -- after Ainsley Maitland-Niles had popped up and scored an absolute worldie in the 96th minute to take two points off United at Everton -- and Phil Foden's early dismissal meant the game was there for the taking.

But a very controversial Erling Haaland goal and a meek United attack saw Manchester City win the derby 1-0. Although the post-match discussion revolved around the VAR mistake that allowed the Haaland goal to stand, United's sluggishness facing 10 men didn't go unnoticed.

The Brighton collapse breaks historic run

On the back of that volatile derby, United needed a strong start in the Carabao Cup and got just that as academy graduate Shea Lacey and Mason Mount put United up 2-0 at Old Trafford against the in-form Brighton & Hove Albion. Only for it all collapse as a first-half stoppage time goal from Charalampos Kostoulas started a comeback that saw Pascal Groß equalise in the second half and Maxim De Cuyper win it five minutes later. It was back-to-back embarrassments (albeit for different reasons) in the EFL Cup for United, after they'd been dumped out by Grimsby Town last season. 

The result marked the first time in the Premier League era (from 1992-93) that United lost a home game in which they led by two goals in all competitions -- and the first time in 50 years going back to a 3-2 loss to Tottenham in 1976.

The fans made their anger heard at Old Trafford as boos rang out at full time.

The 'L' Clásico

Tottenham Hotspur came into their match vs United at Old Trafford with the two teams in terrible form and the trolls out in full force. Neither side did much good to stop said trolling for most of the match till Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead in the 73rd minute with a lovely finish.

Rodrigo Bentancur's red card five minutes later should have sealed the deal, but you already know United's deal with playing against 10 men. They failed to add to the scoreline, before Dominic Solanke punished Lisandro Martínez for some weak marking with a goal in the second minute of added on time.

Given the circumstances, the draw felt like a win for Spurs, and a loss for United.

Lisandro Martínez outburst

Looking to follow up on their 4-0 win over Azerbaijani debutants Sabah, United travelled to Atlético Madrid and saw all their positivity erased inside the opening minute when Pablo Barrios swept Atleti ahead ... and that was it really.

United did nothing of note except see Leny Yoro get sent off for what looked a soft foul, and then concede shortly after to Ademola Lookman.

The headlines, though, were dominated by Lisandro Martínez using his post-match interview to take shots at the suits above Carrick for their inactivity in the summer transfer window. Sample, this: "I expect more [investment]. 100%. I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]. I have to be honest, as players we have to do more, but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night."

The Como embarrassment and the Bruno Fernandes rant

First, Cesc Fabregas' Como wiped the floor with United in a display that showed just how poor a footballing side Carrick's side have been this season, and then Bruno Fernandes jerked the rug from out under Carrick's feet with another sensational post-match rant on a disappointing European night.

"It was a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind," said Fernandes after the 4-1 loss, a scoreline that flattered United, if anything. Carrick responded (indirectly) with a curt, "Whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you aren't going to win."

The night highlighted the issues that Carrick's United have been besieged with all season -- both on-field and off.

Bournemouth crush United at Old Trafford

Fernandes' statements meant Carrick had no choice but to drop him (even if he couched it with "pure football" reasons) but it made no difference to the team's performance as a lacklustre United were absolutely thumped 3-0 by Bournemouth at home. They were out-run, out-passed, out-tackled, and simply outplayed in every way.

Old Trafford let their anger be heard long before Evanilson's third looped into the goal in the 71st minute. As that ball arced into goal in slow-motion, Carrick's face told its own tale. At the end, the fans remaining at Old Trafford chanted Carrick's name as he went around the stadium applauding them, but as soon as a tearful Carrick went into the tunnel, the chants turned to loud boos and jeers aimed at the United players. 

If the Como performance was the final nail being placed, though, the Bournemouth one was it being hammered home.

The Chelsea unravelling

United started this must-win match rather well, outplaying Chelsea in the first half and creating many more chances ... But none were taken. 0-0 at halftime then became 2-0 to Chelsea in the space of 14 second half minutes as first Morgan Rogers ran through the United defence like they were not there and then Cole Palmer sealed the deal from the spot.

That penalty concession, and resulting dismissal of Martínez, saw United heads drop and they were played off the park.  The result saw United go winless in nine straight games (all comps) for the first time since 1988. Once again, the United fans greeted their coach with his chants but the players with more boos.

The Aston Villa rollercoaster

Carrick got a much-needed boost in midweek when United came from 2-0 down to beat a very good Roma side 3-2 in the UEFA Champions League in front of a raucous Old Trafford crowd. The optimism generated by that performance and result, though, lasted just four minutes as travelling Aston Villa went 2-0 up early against a shell shocked United. Carrick's men then recovered to make it 2-2, before conceding two again early in the second half to trail until stoppage time. Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu made it 4-4 in yet another thrilling finish that ended with Old Trafford chanting their manager's name yet again. 

The result, though, meant United would enter the international window in the relegation zone, and that was too big of a low for Carrick to survive.