TERRACE TALK: Man United - Toasting Jose’s style but beware Moyes’ return

Last week, I reported here that José had been asking allies whether United fans are liking the style of play, the general manner, and the team mentality. If he asks that question again today, one trusts he’ll be pleased with the answer.

This past week has been everything he would have wanted for Christmas; three solidly deserved wins, two of which were, importantly, against the sides directly below and above us in the table, and innumerable signs of players responding ever more positively to what he is trying to do at Old Trafford. (With the possible exception of the lumbering Rooney.) And how pleasing to see him refer in his post-Baggies press gig to the ‘style’ issue. For a second there, he sounded like an eager puppy, keen to hear his master’s approbation for a slipper-fetching job well done. The angry, unhappy Mourinho of early autumn suddenly seems like a bygone era.

Moreover, if it’s true Zlatan has had some concerns about still being able to do it “on a wet Wednesday in Stoke” (sic) come early 2018, one assumes he’ll have taken succour from his own battling personal displays at Selhurst and the Hawthorns. Eleven goals in 16 games now puts him at a Van Nistelrooyian level of efficiency, and there’s no higher standard than that.