Newcastle United have had plenty to regret in the transfer market this season but perhaps the biggest of all was the failure to re-sign Jonathan Woodgate from Real Madrid.
The reasons behind Woodgate's decision are clear, if you believe those who see things in black and white - funny because I thought everyone saw things in colour but anyway - and more complex if you like your stories to have a little more of a sub-text to them.
In the first camp, Woodie's decision was simply made because, after two injury ravaged seasons in Spain, he wanted to play for his hometown club.
But in the second, Woodgate's decision was made because he was more impressed by what Boro had to offer and because he did not feel as wanted by Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder as he was by Gareth Southgate.
Woodgate's reasons for his decision at a press conference yesterday did little to clarify things. At one point he was talking about Middlesbrough as his home and how that was always going to be his destination, the next he was suggesting that Roeder has been wrong to doubt his physical fitness and that he felt more wanted by Middlesbrough.
It was all a little confusing, but then again, football tends to be fall of people making contradictions doesn't it? Just look at chairman who give managers public votes of confidence and then sack them two days later.
To be fair to Roeder, his caution was understandable given Woodgate's past. As well as only starting ten La Liga games in two years at Madrid, he also managed just 37 starts in 18 months at St James's Park following an £11m move from Leeds.
Whether Newcastle would have got the player if Roeder had been less cautious is a moot point, but it is an interesting one which will be on a lot of people's minds when the two teams meet on Saturday.
Was the Woodgate signing a risk worth taking? As far as I'm concerned, it most definitely was. In the games Woodgate played for Newcastle he was - and I do not use this sort of praise lightly - the best defender I have ever seen. Better than John Terry, better than Rio Ferdinand, better than Des Walker, Terry Butcher and, if I had seen him play, I'd even be tempted to argue that he was better than Bobby Moore!
He has played 26 games so far this season, 25 for Boro and one for England and even if he had only been available for that many all season, I'd still have wanted him in the squad, especially when you consider Newcastle didn't sign a single defender in the summer!
Interestingly, though, when I asked Woodgate (seconds after he had gone on and on about how happy he was with life at the Riverside) if he had ruled out a move to another English club if he leaves Real permanently in the summer, he instantly replied no.
I really hope Newcastle haven't given up on signing him, but I suspect Woodgate is waiting to see if he gets an offers from one of the Premiership's Champions League contenders before he decides he has to choose between Boro and Newcastle.
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