India, Nov. 13 -- Michael Carrick's story with Manchester United manager has ended, but not in the way he would have hoped. The former midfielder returned to Old Trafford in January with the responsibility of rescuing the club in crisis.

Ten months later, he leaves the club after failing to build on a promising start, becoming the latest casualty of the club's post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

His dismissal raises the same questions that have followed the Red Devils through the last 13 years: are Manchester United appointing the wrong managers, or are they repeatedly failing to address the problems that make their jobs so difficult?

Carrick himself had his shortcomings, and the results made his position difficult to defend. Manchester United...