Season with NUFC: 2004/05 Appearances: 37, Goals: 13 Sir Bobby Robson described the free transfer capture of Kluivert in the summer of 2004 as "one of the most significant signings in Newcastle in many years. It is like the feeling when Alan Shearer came home." Bringing the deadly Dutch striker to St James' Park for nothing certainly captured our imagination at the time as did the prospect of him linking up in attack with Alan Shearer and, to a lesser extent, Craig Bellamy as Sir Bobby slightly reshaped his squad ahead of another planned assault at the top-four. However, Robson was sacked just four games into the season to be replaced by Graeme Souness, whose negative, defensive-minded tactics conflicted with Kluivert's attack-minded nature and that of the Magpies squad. He still managed a respectable 13 goals that season, most of them classy finishes, including two crucial match-winning goals against Chelsea and Tottenham in the FA Cup. Plus, who can forget that elegant back-heel drag goal in the victory at Crystal Palace? Kluivert, regrettably, was dumped by Souness at the end of the season after our bottom-half finish triggered a clause in his contract that would allow us to release him just a year into his three-year deal.
