FOR a good 25 minutes on Monday, it looked like one of the most incredible stats in football history would finally come to an end.
Since May 1984, Manchester United had led at half-time in 393 league games at Old Trafford and not lost a single one.
And all looked rosy when they went down the tunnel with a 2-1 lead against Bournemouth.
Then, within two shakes of a lamb’s tail in the second half, they were 3-2 down.
In the greater scheme of things, the wrecking of that stat would have been the last thing on boss Ruben Amorim’s mind had United not managed to get something out of the game.
But it would have been fitting had the 41-year streak come to a spectacular halt on his watch, given how unpredictable and infuriating they have been under the Portuguese.
There are still so many questions around United:
Are they actually any good? Is Amorim doing a decent job? Or is he out of his depth?
We are 13 months into his tenure and nobody knows. The answer to any of those questions changes from week to week.
Most United fans will surely agree, though, that the football under stubborn Amorim has generally been unambitious and turgid.
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If I were a season-ticket holder in the Stretford End, I’d probably go to each home game with a few podcast episodes loaded up, ready to help pass the time.
Things have improved this season but there have been some terrible performances mixed in, including the dreadful defeat at home to ten-man Everton, where zero cow’s backsides were ever at risk of being hit with a banjo.
And the God-awful Europa League final loss to Spurs — where both sides were as poor as each other — will always be a stain on Amorim’s CV.
The same goes for August’s shock Carabao Cup second-round exit at League Two Grimsby.
But when you look at the Prem table, they are still bang in the hunt for a Champions League place and they’ve had a couple of big away wins against Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
Then came Monday’s free-for-all, a match and performance completely out of the blue.
United were not near the top of my betting market to be involved in the game of the season but it will take something radio rental to knock the 4-4 draw off top spot come May.
This was a blast from the past for United fans, so they were — understandably — all over it like a rash.
How many times have we heard them sing, ‘Attack, attack, attack’ during home games under Amorim?
They want to see this brand of football and they have the players in Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to do it.
Problem is, for all it was head and shoulders their best attacking display under Amorim, they still shipped four goals and were lucky to come away with a point.
Which brings us right back to our earlier questions . . . United are football’s great conundrum.
It would be great for the Prem if they suddenly became great swashbucklers again.
If they are to have success this season, surely Amorim has to let go of his beloved handbrake.
Sadly, this game feels like a freak one-off.
I’m not convinced this is the shift in philosophy fans have been begging for, merely two sides who lost their heads and left acres of space for the attacking talent on the pitch to exploit.
United face a tricky spell now with Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Who knows what shape they’ll find the club in when they return from Morocco.
Your guess is as good as mine.
Dicks still kicking
HARRY REDKNAPP is dreaming of King George glory with his star racehorse The Jukebox Man on Boxing Day.
The Ben Pauling-trained seven-year-old is one of the favourites for Kempton’s big showpiece after a brilliant win at Haydock last month.
Now, Harry’s horse has lots of talent but he is also a grumpy so-and-so.
And if you step into his stable he’s liable to try and take a chunk out of you.
Given his tendency to bite and kick anyone who enters his domain, does he remind the former Spurs and West Ham manager of anyone?
“Yes, Julian Dicks!”
Gone down YouTube
IS anyone going to stay up for this shambolic Anthony Joshua v Jake Paul ‘fight’ in the early hours of tomorrow morning?
Surely the only people with any semblance of an interest are those who wish Paul ill and hope to see him put flat on his back by AJ, 36, within 30 seconds?
Boxing lost its soul several years ago and this is the latest farcical, money-grabbing instalment of the dreadful YouTuber age.
Bar a huge payday, Joshua — a two time heavyweight champion — has nothing to gain and everything to lose.
If he looks bad against the American influencer turned boxer, 28, he’s finished.
I, for one, won’t be tuning in to find out.
Thick as Fif’s
FIFA have rowed back on extortionate World Cup ticket prices after widespread condemnation.
Supporters will now be able to buy tickets for £45 for each game — but only 1.6 per cent will actually be available at affordable prices.
The vast majority of fans will still be priced out of attending next summer.
