No more tears for these Newcastle United TouristsSo, it comes to pass that another of my Newcastle United heroes departs the scene for pastures new. The Newcastle United players who have punctuated my time as a supporter with their inevitable exits. Ferdinand was never the same player, and Newcastle – for years perennial top table contenders – took half a decade to recover. The subsequent promotion campaign saw him flourish, as he became a top-quality operator over the next couple of seasons. The Frenchman’s stats throughout his career allude to a lack of end-product, but he was exciting and passionate – things lacking during a miserable era of Newcastle United.