A strike partnership to dream of
The Manchester United strike partnership against Tottenham had a combined age of 70 and a combined goals tally in club football of 1,050 (before kick-off).
United's problems have been so thoroughly dissected this week that even Cristiano Ronaldo was presented as one of the problems. That's not as outlandish as it seems, but this shift to a back three and two up front covers up any issues he may be giving the team.
With Edinson Cavani alongside him to do his running he was freed from any real pressure to press Tottenham's centre backs and instead could focus on producing some moments of real quality.
In a tepid first-half his stunning volley from Bruno Fernandes' fine pass was the only standout moment and in the second half he showed the other side of his game, prodding through a perfectly weighted pass to find the brilliant run of Cavani, whose clipped finish of Hugo Lloris was impudent.
This might have been a system that took an attacking player out of the starting XI, but there's no doubt it helped Ronaldo and it got Cavani back on the pitch as well. Forget the age, focus on the goals. They've spent 138 minutes on the pitch together for United and have now produced four goals. They look a partnership worth persevering with.
Varane's big responsibility
Roy Keane was a notable absentee in the Sky Sports studio last week but he saved his ire for yesterday. The build-up to United's trip to Tottenham was fairly brief but Keane still had time to label Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw "a disgrace" for their performances against Liverpool.
The defence was a calamity last week, conceding 11 goals in three games, but Maguire, Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof all kept their places. The only change was the return of Raphael Varane after he recovered from a groin injury.
Varane slotted straight in at the heart of a back three, organising the defence either side of him. Giving the limited change in personnel it was significant responsibility.
But the defence was much improved on recent displays and as expected the reversion to a back three brought more stability, although Varane's role should be credited. The 28-year-old communicated well throughout and controlled the line impressively, tracking the runs of Heung-min Son when he felt it was necessary.
This looked an ideal role for him and he displayed the leadership you would expect of his CV.
An unexpected wing-back
One of the great bemusements of watching Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the idea he was a winger for most of his days in the Crystal Palace academy. He's often looked overwhelmed and uncertain when entering the final third for United.
So it's fair to say nobody really thought of him as wing-back material but at the Spurs' Stadium he gave a few hints that it's a role he can thrive in.
There were times when the service was lacking but starting from a more advanced position he was much more of a threat, timing his runs down the right very well and regularly getting into dangerous positions.
Solskjaer fronts up
One of the criticisms of United's collegiate approach to coaching in recent weeks has been the revolving door approach to the technical area.
It's not unusual to see all of Solskjaer, Mike Phelan, Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna take turns to stand on the touchline and pass on instructions to the players during a single game.
But it was noticeable at Tottenham that Solskjaer was the one stood front and centre. Whether it was his attempt to front up to the pressure, or he felt he had a particular handle of the tactical shifts he wanted from his team or this was the Norwegian showing he is the man in charge, it was a clear shift in policy.
Solskjaer spent huge chunks of the game in the technical area and there were times he would spring from his seat to race out and point something out to one of his players, a sign he was taking a more hands-on role.
What next for Sancho?
The biggest loser in United's shift to a 3-5-2 is undoubtedly Jadon Sancho, who must be wondering how he gets a game if Solskjaer survives and sticks with this formation.
Maybe this is only a short-term measure to steady the ship, but the absence of wingers isn't ideal for a £73million winger. While Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood could play in the front three that isn't really a role Sancho has experience of.
At Borussia Dortmund he played on the right-wing and left-wing and occasionally as a No. 10, but none of those roles really existed in the set-up that beat Spurs. Sancho's frustration at Old Trafford is likely to continue.
