So it's the end of a short road for cult hero Antoine Sibierski.
The man that Man City couldn't even get 50p for back in August and who was laughed out of the City of Manchester Stadium leaves Newcastle with a lot of respect.
A contract wrangle in which Sibi wanted two years and United could only offer the 32-year-old just one, means it's all over for the tall striker who cost us nowt!
OK, he never did and never was going to hit the heights of Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand or even Craig Bellamy.
But when he arrived he appeared destined to join the same infamous list as Silvio Maric, Fumaca. Rob McDonald or Lee Payne.
Now he leaves on par with a Temuri Ketsbaia, a Stephen Glass or a Clarence Acuna, not world beaters but all of them knowing exactly what was expected when a black and white shirt was pulled on.
A goal on his debut against Levadia Tallinn got him off to a fine start and it was obvious that Sibierski was a player prepared to work hard for the team.
The player himself will be first to admit that not everything came off for him.
And he is probably still haunted by that miss at Sheff United that could have cost Newcastle so dearly in the crucial win over the Blades.
Yet eight goals in total, some of them crucial, proves he is probably one of the best free transfers Newcastle have ever pulled off.
And in a season in which Shola Ameobi and Michael Owen were both missing and Alan Shearer was never going to be involved in after retirement, in years to come perhaps the bridging job that was provided by the Frenchman will be deemed upon as a positive contribution to a dire season.
Thanks for the memories Sibi!
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