Kolkata, Nov. 13 -- "Changing, changing, changing manager. But what about other areas?" Lisandro Martinez's question will remain unanswered for now because the conversation has shifted to what has become an annual autumn/winter affair at Manchester United: changing the head coach. So, goodbye Michael Carrick and an (almost certain) hello Mauricio Pochettino, Since this has happened for the third time in three seasons, Martinez questioning those who hire and fire coaches is relevant but things work differently at a club that once won a record 13 Premier League titles but are now in the relegation zone with one win in 10 games. "You are going down with City," Aston Villa supporters chanted at Old Trafford on Sunday. Even when they were relegated in 1973-74, Manchester United had not started this poorly. So, Carrick's position was untenable. Trailing 0-2 inside four minutes against Aston Villa was the earliest Manchester United had leaked a brace in Premier League history. Shipping 30 goals in all competitions is the most by any team in Europe's top five. Something had to give. Appointed last January to replace Ruben Amorim who had come in for Erik ten Hag in October 2024, Carrick, 45, had spectacularly turned things around. Manchester United took 39 points from 17 Premier League matches, the most by any team. They finished third, returned to the Champions League and were under a club legend whose son trains at the United academy. Injuries and a lack of squad depth notwithstanding, it made the fall even more stunning. Carrick achieved results by reverting players to their positions. That meant Bruno Fernandes playing further up and Kobbie Mainoo's career being resurrected. The club needed to buy in summer but they chose to strengthen only the midfield. The gaping hole at left-back remained. Luke Shaw started every Premier League game last term but he was injured. Diogo Dalot, who has seen nine managers come and go, is the symptom, not the problem. When Benjamin Sesko is injured, the club do not have a No.9. "Expected more from up," said Martinez in that interview after the loss to Atletico Madrid. He meant signings. Problem is: if you don't sell, you can't buy. Manchester United have players few want. Dalot would be on that list along with Joshua Zirkjee, Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire in his present avatar, Noussair Mazroui and Mason Mount. The list is by no means complete. Before they were sacked, Carrick's predecessors wanted Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Frenkie de Jong - players who can be leaders in the change room. They got Cristiano Ronaldo before he moved to Saudi Arabia. So, in fruity language, Manchester United supporters target their anger at and seek accountability from Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, chief executive and director of football respectively, men in black responsible for Carrick's hiring, firing and now his replacement. Television cameras turn to these former Manchester City employees when things go south on the pitch. And, of course, to the owners. All of this has led to what Martinez said in that flash interview. Players' body language tends to become negative when things don't go their way, he said. "Standards," said a banner with picture of former legends at one game. Never has one word conveyed so much. Into this cauldron (likely) enters Pochettino, 54, whose foul on Michael Owen led to David Beckham exorcising the ghosts of the 1998 World Cup. Pochettino made Harry Kane better, transformed Son Heung-min and Tottenham Hotspur. He took Chelsea to a final and a semi-final in England, won the league in France and who knows how USA would have fared in the World Cup had the Balogun saga not blown up in their face. But can he get a squad that regularly runs less than their opponents to adopt the kind of aggressive, pressing game he is known for? Manchester United are said to have been wanting him for 10 years, but after paying what should be a massive severance fee, are they getting him at the right time? "It's hard to hold a candle in the cold November rain," the Guns N' Roses line feels evocative as one comes in and another bites the dust. Or, days after Manchester United marked 40 years of Ferguson joining, will this be the start of a new era?...