It is not often you see things that are truly innovative in top-level football. Manchester United came very close with their first goal against Spurs.
The planning of the intricate corner-kick routine would have looked at home on the Seattle Seahawks' tactics board. Yes it might have been used before way back in the mists of time, but it was a rare moment of planning outside the box, to make space inside of it.
Every team is seeking an advantage at corners, usually copying Arsenal's set-up. I was there to see Newcastle do that against Brentford on Saturday. A tide of big players at the back post rush together and engulf the keeper as the ball is whipped in towards him. It is rough and ready but hugely effective.
United went down the more cerebral road with a short corner to the near post, a practiced 'no-look' pass from there to give Mbeumo the space to score.
It was the most satisfying moment of the weekend and once again showed that Michael Carrick and his team are on a different wavelength to the management team before.
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