Graeme Souness, Glenn Roeder and Big Sam all showed an interest, but thankfully Kevin Keegan doesn't regard the 'Jolly Green Giant' as a part of Newcastle's future.
Let's leave the long-ball game to Big Sam, as we are now in the 21st century.
As we all know ... sam used to sit up in the Gods in the Milburn Stand, rather than the dugout ... because he saw more of the ball up there!
Crouch: "To be honest it was a surprise to be playing. But this was a big, big game and I've obviously proved to Rafa that I can play in them.
"The manager has played me in a massive game and I've got to take confidence from that.
"At the minute, it's not about me being unhappy or whatever. I have to pull together and be part of a team that has a chance of getting to the Champions League final.
"The week ended fantastically for me. Everyone knows I haven't started nearly enough as I would have liked.
"But I've played in the last two now and hopefully I've done enough to continue in that role."