Reading FC told what they need after sacking Noel Hunt - Wayne Rooney & Michael Carrick mentioned | OneFootball

FLW's Reading fan pundit has been discussing the potential replacement for Hunt, with Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney mentioned.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Reading are on the search for a new manager after relieving Noel Hunt of his duties at the Select Car Leasing Stadium following the 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers.

It's been a frustrating start to the 2025/26 season for the Royals.

After years of decline that consisted of Championship relegation and a brush with danger in their first season back in League One in 2023/24, the Berkshire-based club looked to be moving back in the right direction last term, finishing seventh and just three points outside the play-off places.

However, the Ding haven't been able to build on that positive campaign so far this season, with inconsistent results and a leaky defence being two of the leading causes of Hunt's departure from the Reading dugout.

Naturally, speculation has begun over who will succeed Hunt as Reading manager, with ex-Wigan and Rotherham boss Leam Richardson reported to be one of the leading candidates.

However, there is a significant amount of chatter and speculation among Reading fans on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) over the possibility of a move for former Middlesbrough head coach, Michael Carrick.

So, we asked our Royals fan pundit, Johnny Hunt: 'Lots of Reading fans on X are urging (Rob) Couhig to make an ambitious move for Michael Carrick to replace Noel Hunt. Do you think this is possible, or perhaps a stretch too far for the Royals? Would you welcome Carrick?'

Johnny said: "Looking at the names going around, Michael Carrick started off very well at Boro, and obviously is a name from his playing past.

"I think having an ambitious manager that would take the club forward is huge for us. I think going around the whole tried and tested route; the Steve Bruce's and all the ones that have been in the game a long time, you need fresh eyes.

"You need a new face. You need someone that's going to be a leader of the club, and I guess would give the owners a bit of 'wow factor' publicity-wise, that the club can attract a name, as such.

"I just hope it's not Wayne Rooney, because I think that would be pretty painful. But Carrick certainly is an opportunity, if he did come along, to develop and build this club, and get us back towards the top of League One.

"But I'm sure we'll see many more names mentioned as well."

If Reading chairman Rob Couhig wants a big-name appointment to replace Hunt as Royals manager, then either Michael Carrick or Wayne Rooney would certainly fit the bill.

However, as much as either of those names being hired to take over in Berkshire would cast a huge spotlight of interest on the football club, that doesn't mean that they would be the most suitable candidates in regards to their coaching credentials.

Starting with Carrick, the 44-year-old was handed his first full-time managerial role with Middlesbrough in October 2022, and in his first season in charge, took Boro from Championship relegation contenders under Chris Wilder, and transformed them into one of the best and most exciting teams to watch in the division by the end of that term.

The Teessiders finished fourth in the 22/23 season, before losing to Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals. Unbeknownst to anyone of a Boro persuasion at the time, but those first few months under Carrick were going to be as good as it got for their team under the Manchester United and England legend.

Over the next two seasons, Carrick's Middlesbrough would finish eighth and 10th in the Championship respectively, with that high-octane, energetic style from his early days in charge replaced with a slow build-up, possession-oriented approach that didn't win much favour with the Riverside faithful.

As a result, he was sacked this summer, and was replaced by former Luton Town boss Rob Edwards, who has got Boro among the early-season automatic promotion contenders this term.

Moving over to Rooney, the 40-year-old has been out of work since December last year, having been axed by Plymouth Argyle at the halfway point of last season.

His previous two roles in charge of Birmingham City and MLS side DC United were both short-lived and fairly disastrous too, garnering win percentages of just 13 per cent with Blues, and 26 per cent with DC United respectively.

That means that his best stint as a manager remains his very first with Derby County, during which he valiantly worked through an incredibly testing time in the club's history, and was able to keep the club in the Championship in the 21/22 season.

However, despite having to contend with a 21-point deduction in the 22/23 campaign, Rooney's Rams were able to put up a remarkable fight against relegation to League One, which ultimately ended in them finishing just seven points shy of safety.

But as outlined above, since leaving Pride Park, Rooney has endured a torrid time of things as a manager, and as such, his reputation as a head coach is as low as it's currently ever been.

Therefore, Carrick would surely be the safer appointment out of the two Old Trafford icons, but even that hire would come with clear red flags regarding his tactical nous and flexibility, as well as his in-game management, despite the fact he will no doubt have learned a lot about the management game from his time in the North East and should be better for having had the experience.

It's a tough call to make for Couhig, but perhaps passing up a big-name like Carrick or Rooney would be the wiser decision in terms of likelihood of on-field success, as with Reading currently hovering over the League One drop zone, this isn't an appointment that he can afford to get wrong.