COMMENT: Three points worse off than last season. A first Old Trafford point for Stoke in 36 years. He's taking the club backwards, isn't he? Jose is failing Manchester United...
Well, if the game was played on paper, the Einsteins would have a point. But fortunately, football is more than stats and records. And if you needed to know the impact Jose Mourinho is having at Manchester United, you only had to witness Sunday's draw with Stoke City.
The strides he's making are clear. If a Louis van Gaal United had drawn 1-1 with Stoke, fans would know the tale of the game. The emotions walking out of Old Trafford - thousands before even injury-time had clocked in - would be dominated by frustration, anger and a general weariness. For those fortunate enough to have made Sunday's match, the frustration would still be there, but there'd also be excitement and anticipation. A spring in the step over what they'd just seen played out in front of them.
Going into the game, Mourinho again warned some of his players are still lapsing into the ways of Van Gaal. But he's won them over. When you catch Juan Mata beaming, after seeing his clever chip turned over the cross-bar by the inspired Lee Grant, it's clear the players are enjoying their football. Would Mata have even been allowed to express himself in such a way under the previous manager?
This isn't a bashing session for Van Gaal. But the contrast is clear. On paper, it doesn't appear much has changed. But the contrast couldn't be greater. Old Trafford is heaving again. The football is exciting. Entertaining. The result wasn't there. But as Zlatan Ibrahimovic stated last week "something special is being built here". It's not a matter of sensing it. You can see it being rolled out in front of you.
From that opening chance carved out by Paul Pogba for Ibrahimovic, right to the end when the Frenchman thumped his point-blank header against the cross-bar, United should've have racked up a cricket score. But they came up against an inspired Grant, who at 33 - and on-loan from Derby County - produced the performance of his life. As good and as exciting United were going forward, Grant was their equal between the Potters' posts. His save to deny Jesse Lingard was perhaps the best of the season so far - certainly the best seen at Old Trafford.
After the game, Mourinho was clearly frustrated. But not with the performance. "It was our best of the season," he declared. Southampton was impressive. Leicester City exciting. Now Stoke, albeit two points dropped, tops the three. The momentum is there: "Something special is being built here".
Mourinho can handle Stoke's equaliser. He can fix it. Ander Herrera needed to be stronger in the tackle. David de Gea cleaner with the save. Individual errors can be highlighted and eradicated. It's really about the team and how they're responding to the manager and eachother. And on Sunday's evidence, they're all rowing in the same direction.
Again, with the points dropped and the opposition involved, it opens the door for the critics to chip away. But the football and the attitude, as it was against Leicester, is returning to its roots. At times, United - in possession - were relentless. They don't work as hard off the ball as the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool, but when they have it they're as entertaining as any team in the country. Even after Anthony Martial's opener, United went in search of a second. There was no thought of 'we protect what we have'. None of this philosophy of 'if we have the ball, they can't score'. It was the Mourinho mantra of 'be aggressive. Back yourself'. It was Fergie. Big Ron. Attack, attack, attack.
The transformation is occurring. It won't be acknowledged by those sitting in the studio or behind the glass - especially when points are dropped. But Mourinho is exacting change at Old Trafford. And for the better.
INJURY TIME
He was at it again on Sunday. Alexander Isak, just turned 17, hit another double for AIK in their 6-0 hammering of IFK Norrkoping.
The teen, standing at 190cm, has been mentioned alongside every major club in the game: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Liverpool. You name 'em. They've watched 'im.
Tribalfootball.com can reveal Roma have made a cash offer ahead of the January market and we can also confirm Manchester United's interest. A high level source has told us Tommy Møller Nielsen, who is still putting together his Scandinavian scouting team for United, has had his staff watch Isak since the start of the season.
"United have had a good look at Jesper Karlsson (of Falkenberg FF). They had young Sead (Haksabanovic of Halmstads BK) over last season for a run. And Isak is another they're paying attention to," our source told Tribalfootball.com.
"There's a real buzz around Swedish football at the moment. A lot of talent is breaking through. Isak is getting a lot of attention, but he's not the only one clubs are looking at - not even at AIK."
The hype around United's winter market plans is that there will be a focus on defensive talent. Alejandro Grimaldo, the Benfica left-back, was again watched by United on Sunday. But a young striker is also on the agenda.
Nicky Butt, the club's academy chief, still rues losing out to Everton for former Sheffield United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Ironically, the same player scored in Everton's win over United's reserves - which did not contain a recognised striker in their squad - last week.
For a young striker, there is an opening there at United. Whether it's Isak or another top prospect, don't be surprised to see United add a young forward to their squad in January.
