When you think about it, why would anyone choose to play football for a side stuck hundreds of miles away from the bright lights of London? Why would they choose a sleeping giant who have never paid the highest wages (though for a while it was close) and who haven't won anything in the lifetimes of a significant portion of their fanbase? Could it be the pride of the city, the feeling of belonging and the chance to play in front of 52,000 screaming, braying Geordies every week, in a city whose heart beats to the bang of the football drum? Could it be the heritage of the club and of the region as a football hotbed? Or maybe the pedigree of Alan Pardew...? Whatever the reason - be it financial or otherwise - Newcastle have pulled off some impressive scalps of players who looked likely to sign for "bigger" or more impressive clubs, or who had more lucrative offers from clubs who could provide actual silverware rather than just the dream of something bigger. And even in the darkest times, it's good to remember that footballers still actively choose Newcastle because of the size of the club, regardless of who is in charge...