Sam Off Script

Pochettino reportedly has only three days with the Manchester United squad before Liverpool. United still need organisation and effort immediately, but that first result cannot tell us whether he can build a successful side. Those are different tests.

Pochettino would be Manchester United’s eighth permanent appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson. His reputation matters, but the bigger test is whether United can settle on a coherent football direction and stick to it beyond the next managerial change.

🚨 It's official: Mauricio Pochettino is the new Manchester United head coach. He's put pen to paper on a deal until 2029. A fresh chapter starts at Old Trafford. #MUFC

Manchester United can be right to change managers and still have a bigger question to answer: what is the plan for the team beyond the dugout? Carrick’s dismissal is understandable after one league win in ten, even with last season’s third-place finish on his record. But as United move towards appointing Mauricio Pochettino, The Athletic reports that Bruno Fernandes has rejected a second, improved contract offer. That does not tell us Fernandes wants to leave: talks remain open, and United have an option to extend his deal. It does mean the new project begins with a major question about the squad still unresolved. Appointing a manager is a decision. Building a team with a clear direction is the work that has to follow.

Microsoft 365's outage shows how apps that seem separate can share dependencies. An Exchange Online problem reached beyond Outlook into some features across the wider suite. Integration makes work easier, but hidden connections can turn one failure into wider disruption.

The all-clear after the Logan Circle shooting ended the immediate emergency, not its impact. The people injured, witnesses and affected residents still need practical support while the investigation continues.

The Shang-Chi vs Gambit fight in Avengers: Doomsday has more going for it than the unexpected pairing. Simu Liu says he and Channing Tatum rehearsed early and performed much of the fight themselves. That physical commitment makes the clash even more interesting.

Scott Colom’s narrow win over Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi is a reminder that political expectations aren’t guarantees. AP called it after days of ballot updates; Hyde-Smith conceded. Colom is the state’s first Black senator since Reconstruction. Certification is pending.