Michael Carrick already feels heat as Manchester United cycle threatens to repeat

As the Premier League pauses for another international break, one name sits firmly in the collective media crosshairs: Michael Carrick. Manchester United's dismal capitulation after leading 2-0 against Brighton in the Milk Cup has left the United head coach, just six games into his proper charge at Old Trafford, in the box seat for the first "crisis" storyline of the season.

"Under pressure? That doesn't bother me one bit," Carrick told reporters in the wake of the Brighton defeat. As words of defiance go, they may have sounded more convincing from a man who has not appeared to age 20 years across his first six matches, of which only two have been won. "I understand what goes on and how the world works," he added with a sigh.

What "goes on and how the world works" at United, in recent years, has followed a familiar rinse-and-repeat cycle: the dismissal of head coaches amid widespread media speculation about their ability to paper over the giant chasms caused by boardroom penny-pinching, dismal player recruitment and ongoing fan dissatisfaction — with somebody, anybody but the owners and their besuited yes-men, forced to carry the can. From Ole to Erik to Ruben to the new incumbent, the story only ever seems to end one way — and just six games into the new season, the die already appears cast for the cycle to begin again.

Carrick cannot be absolved of all blame, however. Outwitted by Brighton's Fabian Hürzeler while his players were torn apart on the field, the United boss shares responsibility for his side's many shortcomings on and off the pitch. Anything but a win in Sunday's "crisis klaxon derby" at Fulham, and his future — or lack of one — at Old Trafford will be a tedious but unavoidable talking point for the 16 already very long days of the international break ahead.