Off the back of a flat West Ham draw and an even flatter first half, we take stock of Carrick’s United at the point where “new manager bounce” meets reality. There are clearer ideas and better control than before, but the soft goals, the lack of box presence, and the squad’s physical limits still show up the moment United have to break a team down.

We discuss selection calls, why Šeško changes the shape of games even when he’s not at his sharpest, and what the draw means for a Champions League race that suddenly feels very live. Plus: Everton away next, VAR’s never-ending identity crisis, and why Jim Ratcliffe keeps making himself the story.

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This was more a match about competence than brilliance. The opposition going down to 10 men is not the guarantee it may be seen as, as this United team proved against Everton. But with Spurs, we saw an accomplished, professional performance with little drama.

Goals from Mbeumo and Bruno, and assured performances from Maguire and Martinez, meant this never got nervy or edgy; instead, it was defined by comfort and calmness - a welcome break from the dramatic wins of the last three weeks. Can United overcome another hurdle when they visit West Ham this week? We discuss all this and more, with a brief musical interlude. Thanks for listening!

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United spent most of the afternoon looking like a team that knows what it is doing. The press was sharp, the midfield compact, and Fulham found little joy between the lines. Two goals felt like a fair reflection of the control exerted, even if the chances had been few.

Then the final minutes arrived, and the old chaos briefly returned. A penalty, a wonderful strike, and suddenly a stroll became a scramble. But this time, United had an answer. Sesko's strike was not luck; it was a player ready for the moment, evidence of a squad with options and belief.

There is still fragility there. But there is also something new. Refusal to accept the draw, a sense that these players expect to win even when they have made it difficult. Carrick has not eliminated the drama, but he may be channelling it.

Whether that proves sustainable or merely seductive, only time will tell.

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