Michael Carrick's tenure as Manchester United's interim manager faces fresh scrutiny after a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Newcastle, with Paul Scholes' scathing social media comments adding fuel to the fire. The former United midfielder questioned Carrick's credentials, suggesting the team has been poor in recent weeks despite Carrick's six wins from seven games.

Carrick's critics point to concerning patterns in his eight games in charge, including failing to capitalize on opponent red cards against Everton and Newcastle. While United have shown flashes of quality against top teams like Arsenal and Manchester City, their performances against mid-table sides have been unconvincing. The Newcastle loss highlighted deeper issues - United were outshot, out-chanced, and ultimately outscored by a Newcastle side playing their 45th game versus United's 30 this season.

With Champions League qualification still within reach, Carrick's remaining fixtures against Aston Villa, Bournemouth, and other key opponents will determine his future. The 43-year-old faces an uphill battle to convince INEOS executives he's the right long-term choice, especially given the eerie parallels to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's early tenure. United's hierarchy must decide whether Carrick represents their ceiling or if he can evolve into the special coach Scholes and others doubt he can become.