When Michael Owen arrived on the scene at Newcastle United suddenly we went from a team that had just ended the previous season in 14th place to a team that could return to the Champions League.
Or so some of us thought!
Because no sooner had the 20,000 fans who filed in to greet Owen way back in August 2005 filed out again, it appeared to be downhill.
Yes Owen's start to life in a black and white shirt was decent with his hat-trick at West Ham showing we had a match winning striker on our hands.
But the injuries mounted up after that, breaking his foot at Tottenham to see out 2005 in agony and then his shocking knee injury at the World Cup last summer with the player having appeared for just 30 minutes in a black and white shirt before heading to Germany.
Now with just two and a bit games played - his last appearance resulting in Owen being stretchered off at Watford - the talk of the former Real Madrid is strongly in the air.
Surely the departure of Owen would be a body blow for Newcastle but by the same token the club shouldn't have to get down on their knees and beg him to stay, after two years of looking after the player in the treatment room - surely Saint Michael owes the Toon Army!
Liverpool didn't want Owen two years ago and have actually got to two Champions League finals without him now, so why would Rafa Benitez change his mind now?
Arsenal is another popular destination for Owen too while Manchester United are also thought to be interested.
Owen is not a man who cannot be replaced.
But the need for a 20 goal a season man is still needed despite the 17 goal haul of Oba Martins.
Whether the two can play together consitently is another debate.
Early indications are that Big Sam will sit and talk to Owen about his future but with two years left on his contract he will also not want to come across as a quitter.
A quick look at Alan Shearer's reign at United shows the benefits of sticking with a club through thick and thin - utter respect for a start.
And Owen can make himself a true Toon legend if he fire them to that first elusive trophy.
If this is the beginning of the end he could be the best striker we've never really had.
If he can turn his bad luck around and get back on the goal trail next season with a new revamped team under a new boss, then we once again raise a glass.
However, those glasses remain half empty for many of us at the moment.
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