It has been more than 25 years since Kevin Keegan's infamous rant as Newcastle fought Manchester United for the Premier League title.
Keegan's passionate outburst, as he sensed the momentum in the 1995/96 Premier League title was beginning to sway into United's favour, made for extraordinary viewing. It also gave Sir Alex Ferguson exactly what he wanted.
The rivalry between United and Newcastle in the late 90s was the Premier League at its enthralling best. It's just a shame it didn't last for very long.
United continued to challenge for major honours in the next decade after that rant while Newcastle succumbed to decline. Ferguson delivered more Premier League titles and Champions League success while Newcastle's results gradually worsened.
The rivalry of the late 90s ceased to exist. There was no longer any competition between the two clubs. United had won the battle and quite obviously the war. United won the Premier League title in 2009 while Newcastle were relegated, yet only 13 years had actually passed since Ferguson and Keegan had clashed. The contrasting fortunes of the two clubs were stark.
Since then, United have witnessed a decline of their own, but they remain in a different league to Newcastle, albeit metaphorically speaking.
United are always expected to win against Newcastle. They are expected to be superior on the pitch. There is no rivalry.
That was until October 7, when Newcastle became theoretically the richest club in the world, backed by Saudi millions.
Newcastle are now one of the world's most powerful clubs, which is almost absurd to suggest considering they're rooted towards the bottom of the table. They've won just two Premier League games all season and it was a damning indictment of United's current plight under Ralf Rangnick that Newcastle were the better side when the clubs recently drew 1-1 at St. James' Park.
While results this season would lead you to believe you otherwise, Newcastle pose a threat to United again. The Saudi-backed takeover has promised Manchester City levels of investment and that won't be welcomed by those in power at Old Trafford.
Although it will take years for Newcastle to progress, their vast wealth almost guarantees some semblance of success.
However, their project could be disrupted by relegation to the Championship this season and that's certainly a pleasant thought for the neutral. Newcastle would be a laughing stock if they went down. They would receive little sympathy for their struggles.
The Magpies are desperately trying to improve their chances of survival, but they're struggling to manoeuvre through the January transfer window. Kieran Trippier has been an impressive addition — Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to sign the right-back in the summer — but they've made just two signings with three days to go until deadline day. They remain hopelessly vulnerable in key positions.
Newcastle are now in talks with Lyon for the transfer of Bruno Guimaraes and that would address their failure to control matches in the centre of the pitch. It would be a genuinely marquee signing and a move that United should consider to hijack.
The Manchester Evening News understands signing a midfielder is United's transfer priority and Guimaraes could be the player they've desperately needed for more than two seasons now.
The 24-year-old has quietly built a cult following in the analytical community on social media and that's for good reason. Guimares is one of Europe's finest passers of the ball. He's also the complete midfielder.
Guimaraes has primarily played in defensive midfield for Lyon, but that position does not define him. He's technically exceptional, comfortable in tight spaces and his dynamic range of passing enables him to orchestrate attacks like a puppet master.
The Brazilian is always the catalyst for his side progressing with the ball. He has played more passes into the final third (226) than any other midfielder in Europe's top five leagues this season and he ranks fifth in Ligue 1 for possession won in the midfield third (71).
Monaco's Aurelien Tchouameni (106), previously linked with United, actually sits at the top of that metric. It's also worth comparing Guimarares to Fred and Scott McTominay — although truthfully, the comparison between the three isn't much of a comparison.
Guimaraes ranks better than Fred and McTominay on all key passing metrics. He's averaged more successful passes, more key successful passes, more successful long passes, passes into the final third and successful crosses per 90 than both players.
That's without mentioning Guimaraes has also averaged more successful dribbles and successful attacking actions per 90 than Fred and McTominay. It is clear that the midfielder would be an upgrade and, at around £40m, the transfer could be inspired business.
United are currently refusing to compromise in talks with Newcastle to allow Jesse Lingard to leave on loan.
Moving for Guimaraes might rub the salt in those wounds, but more importantly, it would solve United's glaring midfield problem.
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