HOT OR NOT: Memphis Depay finally puts in a good display in Manchester

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's Ian Ladyman reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week.

HOT

Memphis Depay

Staff at Manchester United had seen enough of Depay by the end of his opening press conference to suspect his stay at Old Trafford would be short.

If his ability had been a match for his self-regard, the Holland forward might have had a chance, but he was ultimately required to go backwards before he could go forwards again. At Lyon the 24-year-old has finally found a platform and his performance against Manchester City suggested a new maturity.

Ed Smith

England's senior cricket selector is convinced of Keaton Jennings's potential as an opening bat, so fair play to Smith for not jettisoning the 26-year-old on the back of a poor summer.

Test cricket is unique as it almost has to be learned, especially at the top of the order. In sticking with Jennings in the face of public disapproval, Smith is merely doing his job properly.

Nunu Espirito Santo

Playing attacking football is not always possible but it helps if you have the confidence to try. Wolves boss Nuno has brought a refreshing attitude to the top flight and hopefully he won't change once his team cop their first hiding.

NOT

Phil Mickelson

This column likes the big leftie for reasons other than that he won us £25 at the US Masters in 2004 (when the fun stops, stop, and all that) — but he was daft to tweet of his prowess with a rifle in the run-up to the Ryder Cup. America's issues with gun crime are such that anyone with influence should think twice before picking one up in public.

Mauricio Pochettino

The Tottenham manager says his players need more 'respect' after he was quizzed about his selection in Milan. Recently Jose Mourinho demanded the same thing, and David de Gea said people who had criticised his performances at the World Cup were 'stupid'. Respect? It seems the only people who need to be shown a little more are those asking the questions.

The plane banner

Sticking with Manchester United, strange how we haven't seen the banner criticising Ed Woodward now the team are winning again. If the executive vice-chairman (above) is only hopeless when Mourinho's team are losing, then he is clearly more influential than even he would have imagined.