The question now burning in the mouths of discerning football followers is a simple one. In the grand scheme of things, unless the powers that be at O...
The question now burning in the mouths of discerning football followers is a simple one. In the grand scheme of things, unless the powers that be at Old Trafford are prepared to bring in a manager of the calibre of Luis Enrique, what exactly are they waiting for? GoalZaza can report that the evidence on the pitch has been building for weeks. Michael Carrick, the steady hand at the tiller, has done what many thought impossible. He has steered Manchester United to the lion's share of points and, most crucially, secured their passage back into the Champions League. This is no small feat for a man learning his trade at the highest level. His tactical discipline and the resilience he has instilled in that squad have been nothing short of clinical. The players now wear their jerseys with a sense of purpose that was absent for so long. At the end of the day, one must ask what more a man must do to earn the full backing of the board. To give the job to anyone else would be a grave injustice, a step backward when the team has finally learned to march forward with authority. The football world watches with bated breath as the decision looms. Will they appoint a foreign name with a heavy price tag in Naira, or will they recognise the diamond they already have in their own dugout? For a club of this stature, the choice should be clear. Carrick has given a good account of himself, and the dressing room is firmly behind him. The Super Eagles faithful, many of whom follow the Premier League with the passion of a local derby, know the value of a man who understands the soul of his club. The Nigerian internationals plying their trade in Europe will be watching this story closely too, knowing that stability at a giant like United can only be good for the global game. At the Maracana viewing centre in Surulere, Lagos, the debate is already raging. As the final whistle blew and the red half of the screen lit up with joy, one fan, a stalwart of the Manchester United supporters club in Ikeja, was heard shouting above the din. 'If them no give am the job now, na wahala!' his voice cut through the noise. Another, sipping a cold bottle of Maltina, nodded sagely. 'We have seen this film before. They will go and bring a big name, spend millions of Naira, and the cycle will start again. Carrick has already shown he is the formidable one for the job.' The atmosphere was a mixture of pure celebration and deep, philosophical debate about the future of a sleeping giant. In the scheme of things, the fans know what they want. They are merely waiting for the men in suits to arrive at the same conclusion.
