It's fitting that it was Yossi that capped a memorable period for us as it was he that re-ignited the season a few weeks back in Madrid. I love consistency. He gave us the impetus, got injured and then came back and carried on where he left off. Comparisons with Luis and Beardsley are easily and readily made but maybe there's a touch of Rosenthal in there too, who also had an uncanny ability to enter the fray late and give us a kick in the arse when needed.
Rafa, a hero again since he's started picking sensible teams, seems to have calmed down a bit. Dossena starting on the left raised a few eyebrows but he was a crossbar height away from another unlikely goal. Babel coming on usually sparks a slump in the shoulders and a 'oh well' attitude from the undersigned but he was direct and kept possession for once. Even The Most Maligned Midfielder In The Current Game played well against a pretty aggressive midfield. I blame the haircut. Samson in reverse.
Thanks to Riley's stoppage time (okay I know we got four which was a minute generous but where the hell did he get five from?) our Fulham victory means nothing but for the first time since 1997 that going to the game in April means something other than taking third place. United may feel that the momentum is back with them after the Villa game, particularly with Berbatov, Rooney and Vidic to come back but those same players didn't do too well when the pressure was on last time so let's not get too worried. As disappointing as their late goal was it won't stop us gunning for teams. Remember, they won 3-2 in injury time against Villa while we were three up at half time against them in the same fixture a fortnight ago. See also Fulham.
Ah, Fulham. Our Wolves 1976. I've always liked that tin stand and there'll be no one who was there on Saturday who will ever forget that day and the impromptu celebration that followed. The grinning players stood and applauding but as they faced us there was a moment when, for once, the club came together and sang as one legion. 'We're Gonna Win The League' wasn't just an optimistic refrain, it was belted out with a certainty that defied the exploits in January, Gerrard's court case, the Americans, everything. Even if we don't win it we've showed that sleeping giants occasionally stir and like to smell the air. United, the 198 clean sheets or not, are beatable now and they celebrated wildly just to achieve weekend parity with us. Think about that for a minute. They've got over their panicking. For a bit.
I can't help feeling that whoever beats Arsenal will win the League. They're playing well again and United won't fancy their chances when Wenger knows he can ruin their campaign. Our Anfield record is pretty good of late so there'll be plenty of confidence flowing. Before the game there'll be mosaics at either end of the ground for Ray Kennedy who won everything in the game and is much loved on either terrace. Ray's life has all been about showing strength in the face of adversity so let's hope the lads on the pitch will learn from one of our greatest players and do him proud that night.
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