Fred's Brazilian impact
The reaction to Fred's name remaining on the Manchester United teamsheet for the third successive game brought out a collective groan amongst the fanbase at 7.15pm on Wednesday and it's fair to say the Brazilian has not been universally popular this season.
Fast forward two-and-a-half hours and the Stretford End is serenading the midfielder with chants of "Fred, Fred will tear you apart again". Yes, he really was that good.
He was disappointing against Newcastle on Sunday, but with Christian Eriksen still recovering from illness he was given another chance. Right said Fred, I'm going to take it this time.
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The Brazilian settled into the game quickly and was not only an efficient and effective presser, winning the ball back on a couple of occasions, but he showed the more creative game of his side as well.
He set Antony up for an early chance, played the through ball which led to the same player trying to lob Hugo Lloris and threaded a brilliant through ball to tee up Marcus Rashford for an excellent chance.
That bright start set him on the right track to a fine all-round performance. He had plenty more freedom against Spurs, getting forward often and being part of a press that was as good as anything United have produced this season.
That's a role he plays for Brazil, with Casemiro offering assurance behind him, and this was the first sign of it being recreated in United read. Fred's goal needed a deflection off Ben Davies to go in, but it was a slice of luck he had deserved.
The frustrating for United is that Fred isn't always this consistent. He can have too many off days, too many matches where his passing radar deserts him, but this was certainly one of his better performances.
Martinez controls Kane
Those mid-August days when there were doubts as to Lisandro Martinez's ability to thrive in the Premier League feel like a long time ago now, and not only as a result of the plummeting temperatures.
This was a masterclass in defending against Harry Kane, who cut a figure of frustration as the game wore on. He was challenged by Raphael Varane at times but as with most strikers this season, he tried his luck against Martinez.
The Argentine might be lacking the stature to tussle with Kane, but he doesn't lack for aggression or defensive intelligence. He kept him in check for most of the first half, the highlight being the decision to step out with Kane and block his attempted pass to Matt Doherty, which would have opened United up.
Early in the second half Tottenham tried a ball into the feet of Kane, but Martinez was so tight to the England captain he had nowhere to go. He kept him away from the pass and the ball dribbled comfortably to David de Gea. Casemiro roared his encouragement to Martinez, who had achieved something not many defenders do these days and kept Harry Kane quiet.
Taking chances
This game was the end of three in a week at Old Trafford for United and they've been raining shots down on the opposition during that period.
They had a remarkable 19 attempts in the first 45 minutes alone against Tottenham, a stunning figure against a side third in the Premier League with an excellent defensive record.
Not all of them would be marked down as good chances but that is enough opportunity to score. Lloris was in fine form but United would have been disappointed to be level at half-time.
It didn't cost them on this occasion but they have to become more ruthless in front of goal. At half-time on Wednesday night they'd taken 68 shots in two-and-a-half games against Omonia Nicosia, Newcastle and Tottenham, scoring just once.
Eventually, the barricades broke and United deserved that moment of luck, but the first half was a reminder of the cutting edge that is sometimes lacking.
Rashford does what Ronaldo cannot
After 11 minutes had been played at Old Trafford the TV cameras had already twice cut to a static Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, body language experts trying to analyse every facial expression and reaction.
By the end the action on the pitch was so entertaining that Ronaldo's presence, or otherwise, had been forgotten. If the first few months of this season have felt like the beginning of the end, then this might have been the night the full-stop was added.
The only difference between the side that stumbled to a draw with Newcastle on Sunday and blitzed Tottenham on Wednesday was Rashford coming in for Ronaldo. Maybe it's too easy a conclusion to draw, but United are also far easier on the eye without Ronaldo in attack and far more cohesive. The sight of the forward walking down the tunnel in the final minute of the game felt strangely fitting.
This was as good a performance as they've produced under Ten Hag and it's a formula the Dutchman is unlikely to stray too far from in the coming weeks. He would like Anthony Martial back, but even accounting for his missed chances Rashford was outstanding in running a three-man Tottenham defence to distraction.
United have seven games left before the season pauses for the World Cup and it's entirely plausible Ronaldo's only starts might come against Sheriff Tiraspol and Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup. When he returns from Qatar the January transfer window will be upon us and the 37-year-old's Old Trafford career might well be coming to an end.
Ten Hag vs Conte
There were no real secrets to Antonio Conte 12 months ago, which is why United decided he wasn't for them. They knew he was a combustible, fiery, demanding coach and he might have rubbed some players up the wrong way.
Erik ten Hag has the same kind of steel about him but he's a little softer and, although there's no real mystery around European football these days, it was more of an unknown when appointed by United this summer.
The two coaches provided a contrast on the touchline at Old Trafford. Ten Hag was up and down, often happy with what he was seeing, and when he did get up he would deliver instructions and then remain in his technical area for a few minutes, taking things in.
Conte was more of a jack-in-the-box. He was constantly in his technical area, often pushing the boundaries of it, and spent almost the entire game micro-manging his players, demanding little movements here, a subtle change there.
His intensity during games is a sight to behold and he must be fearsome to play for, seeing him so animated on the sideline, although that didn't stop Rodrigo Bentancur from responding in kind towards the end of the first half. Ten Hag has his moments, but his touchline persona is nowhere near the levels of Conte.
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