Back last summer an awful lot of Newcastle fans didn't want the club to sell Aleksandar Mitrovic after his goals had shot Fulham into the Premier League.
Equally, a lot didn't want United to sign Salomon Rondon who had just gone down with West Brom and hadn't reached double figures in any PL season.
Well, boy, hasn't Rafa Benitez been proved right!
When Mitrovic started off this season like an express train scoring a few goals the nagging doubts only increased - especially as Rondon arrived injured and didn't start a game for ages.
However this week Fulham were officially relegated without a whimper and Mitro has suddenly found goals hard to come by.
At the same time United are just about safe - thanks in no small measure to Rondon's goals, his assists, and his general unselfish line-leading.
The outrageous thing is that this coming close season both Mitrovic and Rondon are likely to be available on the transfer market but at vastly differing prices.
It's been said that Mitrovic could leave and that Fulham will seek to get £40m for him, whereas if West Brom aren't promoted Rondon's fee will remain at £16m, his current escape clause. Even if it rises it won't be anywhere near £40m.
I think everyone knows what I think of Mitrovic. I don't rate him, haven't since he arrived in Newcastle. For me his attitude is very bad and he prefers to physically fight central defenders and play to the crowd rather than do his job.
Rondon on the other hand has a terrific attitude, works tirelessly, and benefits all around him.
Don't get me wrong - there are better than Rondon out there but at £60m or £70m. Can you see Mike Ashley paying that?
I'm not saying Rondon is about to join the list of United's No 9 legends but he has done the job required of him.
Indeed had United kept Mitrovic and not got Rondon I firmly believe that the Mags would have gone down.
What I want to see happen when Crystal Palace come to SJP is United have a real go at them and put to bed once and for all any lingering doubt about them saying up.
Fulham and Huddersfield are now gone - the earliest two teams have been relegated from the PL - and if United get another three points then they won't be on the same train out of town.
However what I'll be looking for on Saturday afternoon is the attitude of every United player because they were all shocking at Arsenal. Play like that and they won't beat Palace. They like they can at full tempo and with gritty determination and they will.
Cardiff are a bad side and I thought they would be down by now. They are still favourites to occupy the third seat but United have to bring to a close all the worry of the last eight months with five matches still left to play.
Liverpool home and Leicester away look tough but the other three are against teams round them - Southampton, Brighton, and Fulham. That can spell disaster if you adopt a slap happy approach thinking you are safe anyway.
We don't want the season to peter out. Let's finish with a bang.
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