To look at Archie Gray playing for Leeds was to see a golden era come back, to forget all the market forces crushing modern football and feel the glorious 1960s and 70s again. A smiley badge on the away kit next season won’t do that the way Archie Gray could do that.
When Bielsa placed his hands on Christiansen's shoulders before this game began the moment passing between them contained multitudes, from Vurnon Anita to Jay-Roy Grot.
The best argument for convincing ourselves that Red Bull won't change Leeds United's name or colours is the weight of our heritage, but it is also the danger.
The goal was the beginning of the end. A sinking feeling, a knowing glance. A resorting to hope — maybe it'll be different, this time — that was contradicted every time you looked at the players.
A baton will be passed on Sunday, a family inheritance. But Andy Gray will be handing down a beginning, not a destiny.
Where had all this been? There was so much more of it. Twice in a first half minute first Rutter then Gnonto went Maradona mode, slaloming upfield with the ball at their feet, evading tackles, gathering speed towards the goal(s) of the century(ies).
"Hopefully the second step, by scoring, comes this coming Thursday," said Daniel Farke. Hopefully!
The death of football is relentlessly demanding that the manager is held 'accountable' when organised chaos does not deliver perfection.
A lot of things could have been better this season. But not by much.
Ninety points say Farke does know what he's doing. But that those points haven't already secured promotion suggests Farke has been caught out.