Many people I've spoken to are still irritated by the way he strung us along last year and then left at the last minute for a knock down fee. Now that there's a world cup looming he wants to come back, probably with some guarantee of being first choice striker and for twice the fee we let him go for. It's hardly increased his popularity and I'm surprised you think so many locals are gutted - disappointed yes, but hardly despondent. The fact that there was a queue of only one club at the end also suggests Parry et al weren't alone in thinking he was over-priced. Furthermore, if that hamstring goes again and the Owen gamble fails to pay off, Newcastle may well follow Leeds United down the financial toilet. And young Michael will have got what he deserved for putting Ing-er-lund before everything else