Could Conte light United’s fire?

A couple of billion for the thoughts of United’s Politburo at half-time in the Roma match on Tuesday.

Two-nil down. Roof leaking. Ritual demonstrations.

Tennis balls on the pitch at the start. It looked like ‘game, set and match’ for Michael Carrick.

And unsavoury songs about the owners throughout. Big Jim was in his tax haven but heard enough not to stand for Mayor of Manchester any time soon.

We wonder: were phone calls made? Did someone get the nod? Would the trigger be pulled at the whistle or after Sunday’s match with Villa?

Then a soft penalty. A calamitous encroachment. A retake and a glimmer. Then an Italian air-shot. And finally, a winner.

Was the equaliser THE moment? Would Roma defender Leonardo Balerdi’s name echo through United’s future like Mark Robins has in their past?

(Robins poked home the scruffy goal that is said to have saved Sir Alex Ferguson from the sack in 1990.)

United got out of jail then and now we wonder if this could be the unlikeliest of turning points?

After all, football history is full of them.

But there are already two reality checks: wonderkid JJ Gabriel is going to Real Madrid and Unai Emery is staying with Villa.

The Spaniard had, according to sources, been the choice to succeed Carrick, and matters came to a head as the teams meet on Sunday.

Uncanny coincidence? Fate taking a hand? Or the fixture list again revealing its wicked sense of humour?

Whatever, it forced Villa’s owners to move quickly to reward the man who has transformed their club with a whopping new contract.

So, it seems that the second-half comeback won’t save Carrick’s job, but merely provide a short stay of execution.

Could the presence of a Glazer – Edward, the lesser-spotted brother to the rare birds, Avram and Joel – mean the family is getting involved in football matters?

As the vitriol about the owners, with Ratcliffe getting his share, plumbs new depths, many observers recall him saying that if he had to take what the Glazers do, he would walk out.

Well, in recent weeks, the terms for his departure have been met.

He may not have been serious, but for all his stone-hearted culling of staff, he doesn’t possess the Glazers’ ‘Hazmat suit’ of distance.

But quitting now would leave unfinished business, and his reputation in tatters.

And who on earth would want to buy it? Besides the billion and a half debt, both the team and the stadium need that much spending on them.

Carrick gave Old Trafford’s atmosphere credit for the comeback. But the famous old stadium still has to be fixed.

Tax exile Ratcliffe wants to build a new one for his legacy – with taxpayers’ money, of course.

Plans have stalled as the team has sunk.

And fixing the latter has become more urgent.

After Emery, next on the list are Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann.

For instant impact, you’d go for Conte who does turn teams around quickly.

Not many have won titles in both England (one with Chelsea) and Italy (five), and he gave it a shot at Spurs.

He also wants the job. On the two countries’ respective finances, he says: “In Italy we shoot with pistols, in England they have bazookas.” He wants a bazooka.

Whether Ratcliffe or the Glazers would give him one is doubtful. Some writers have said he wouldn’t survive his first press conference.

But if United feel they want some fire after Carrick’s icy unflappability, they would follow an old Italian proverb, ‘Fat Pope, Thin Pope’ – about maintaining a balance between a liberal and a conservative.

United have not done that with their managers post-Fergie. Nagelsmann would be a strange choice, but young German bosses are in vogue with Fabian Hürzeler impressing at Brighton.

He would bring a bit of style in keeping with United’s reputation for flair.

But he never quite lived up to his sensational early success with Hoffenheim, either with Bayern Munich or the national team.

And he would be a rookie in the EPL, whereas Howe is a veteran.

However, the Englishman, who might be considered a safer bet, has a reputation for building from the back – a sensible method but not the ‘attack, attack, attack’ that fans demand.

Whoever takes over, assuming Carrick doesn’t engineer another comeback win at Villa, will have a list of signings for the January transfer window.

In terms of need, United could be the biggest spenders but will Ratcliffe – if he’s still there – cough up?

He’ll have to agree to busting his own budget or he won’t be getting anyone worth his salt. Players are needed all over the park except midfield.

United will get a look at how to build a club on Sunday when they visit Villa Park. A revamped young side will be gunning for them and the manager they wanted will be plotting their demise

Emery has found his perfect team and wants to build a dynasty there.

A 3-0 defeat at Barcelona was a reminder of how far they still need to travel.

But at least the new North Stand is taking shape, unlike the ‘ground under repair’ that is Old Trafford.

Progress all around. More than enough for Emery to turn down the poisoned chalice of United.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.

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