FIRST, there was Nicolas Anelka. Then came Thierry Henry.
And, tomorrow at Craven Cottage, we will see whether Fulham’s Louis Saha can become the third musketeer to find Manchester United an inviting target.
London-based Frenchmen have been a thorn in United’s side over the last few years.
Anelka gave Jaap Stam the runaround on his United debut against Arsenal in the Charity Shield — and continued to do so before leaving for Real Madrid.
When Anelka departed, Henry took over — his finest moment coming with one of the goals of the season at Highbury last October.
Now Saha prepares to pick up the sword used to such effect against United by two of his closest friends in football.
The Fulham striker may have already scored 21 goals this season but there can be no bigger test than the United defence in the FA Cup third round to determine just what effect Saha might have in the Premiership next season.
The main regret is the runaway First Division leaders are so decimated by injury that what may have seemed a level playing field by dint of form and home advantage now has a decided slope in United’s favour.
The other is Saha will not be able to continue the duel started in France last season with flu-ridden keeper Fabien Barthez, the young Frenchman’s hero and a man he calls a living legend.
But if Fulham have an outside chance of creating an upset, it is through the speed, skill and style of a goalscorer who has rocketed into the £10million bracket following his £2m move from Metz in the summer.
SAHA, 22, has shot on to the London footballing scene this season with the same thunderbolt power as both Anelka and Henry before him.
The similarities between the trio are so apparent, it is no surprise to discover they were best friends at the French football academy at Clarefontaine.
Saha recalled: “There were 25 of us living there on site and I played up front with Anelka in the Under-17 side.
“Our three families are from the West Indies and we used to hang out and speak Creole to each other. We are so close we still share holidays together at Thierry’s parents’ home in the Antilles.
“At Clarefontaine, we used to sit around and dream about playing at the World Cup.
“It was just a joke at the time but then Thierry went off to Monaco, started scoring for fun and suddenly he had his first cap.
“None of us could believe it but then he went to the World Cup and the rest is history.”
While the FA put plans in place for an England youth academy along the same lines as Clarefontaine, it is interesting to note what Saha has to say about the French version.
He said: “I owe everything to the coaches there. When we first got there, they told us: You don’t know how to play football. We will teach you.”
AS for the progress made by both Anelka and Henry, Saha added: “Thierry and Nicolas are far ahead of me now — probably two or three years ahead of me. But it’s great to see them going off all over Europe and doing so well.
“The most important thing is for me to build my confidence as I’m doing at Fulham at the moment.
“Seeing them and other players from my own generation breaking through has given me real hope for the future.
“I know how well Nicolas used to play against United and Thierry seems to have picked up from there.
“If I could score a goal like the one he did against United, I don’t think I would stop running around Craven Cottage! Yes, Fabien is not playing. While that is good for us, it is disappointing for me in a way.
“I played against him for Metz last season when he was at Monaco and I remember it well. No goals! I had five or six chances but each time he stopped me.
“I thought wow! He was as good as I had always imagined, a totally different proposition to other goalkeepers, a man who makes the saves others cannot.
“He has a great mentality, he is good in every department and, yes, he is a great hero of mine. Over the last 10 years, he has become a legend.
“Barthez is a charismatic player with the same presence and fine arrogance that Peter Schmeichel had at United.
“He was the only one who could have replaced Schmeichel at Old Trafford. And, in my opinion, he is even better.
“One of my greatest ambitions is to score against him but now I will have to wait.
“But, even without him, I will have to be at my best against United — and have a little luck.
“When I look at them, I see far more than just a Premiership side. I see real Champions League quality. But, despite all our injuries, we will not be scared. We will do what we always do — go out and enjoy ourselves.
“To play a team like United is not pressure. It is a pleasure.”
But how good is the latest model off the French production line? Listen to those around him and — should Fulham return to the top flight for the first time since 1968 — he will be where he belongs.
ONE-TIME caretaker-manager Karlheinz Riedle has played with the best — he was Paul Gascoigne’s team-mate at Lazio — and has no doubts.
Fulham’s former German international said: “I never expected him to be this good. He has ability from head to toe.
“The way he turns is the best I have seen from any player. And his acceleration is awesome — he’s quicker than Michael Owen.”
While the moody, solitary Anelka had all sorts of problems at Highbury — and, again, at Real Madrid — the eminently likeable Saha has made a seamless move across the Channel.
No doubt noticing Anelka’s reluctance to buckle down and integrate, Saha has gone out of his way to adapt.
He lives in Surrey with girlfriend Aurelie and says: “English has become my passion.
“We speak it at home and I am making progress with my grammar. The lads are even picking up a few French words from me.
“Instead of swearing in English when they miss a goal, they do it in French...”
It was during his short stint on loan at Newcastle two seasons ago — a trial ruined by injury — that Saha discovered he and English football were on the same wavelength.
The French Under-21 international admitted: “I was really impressed with how well the players got on with each other.
“In England, everyone mucks in together. Stuart Pearce would turn out for the reserves week after week with 17-year-olds and never complain. In France, that would never happen.
“Alan Shearer may have been the big star but he was always offering me advice.
“He may have an image of being serious and dull but he was always singing and shouting on the coach, always the one mucking about and causing chaos!”
Saha will be attempting to follow suit against United.
Source thesun by Steven Howard