At the present time James Perch is that man.
But even going back to days of the Fairs Cup team, Frank Clark was not always the dynamic superstar he is painted these days. He was always the fall-guy when things went wrong.
It's that love-hate relationship that the Leazes (as it was then) was always capable of.
In the 1970's it was Glenn Keeley, Graham Oates and even Tommy Cassidy had his moments.
In the 1980's Bobby Shinton, Tony Cunningham, 'Mavis' Reilly and Rob McDonald.
You probably know the rest.
But you have to ask the question "did they deserve it"?
The problem with Perch is that we don't know what his best position is, and it goes without saying, he is NOT a central defender ... just as I don't believe he has the brain cells to be a full-back.
Alan Pardew has brought him on late in games recently as a holding player in the centre of midfield, where (let's be honest) he cannot do that much damage.
Even though he wasn't the worst player on the field against Brighton on Saturday, I still don't think he was anything out of the ordinary.
Has he turned the corner?
Pardew is obviously trying everything possible to boost his confidence, as you would expect from a manager, so perhaps it was understandable he went a bit OTT in his review of his play at Brighton.
But it was certainly better than we have come to expect from the former Nottingham Forest defender.
The fact is ... the Magpies have only won ONE game that Perch has started this season, and even then we leaked three goals (v Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup).
Is he good enough? You tell me.
PREMIER LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE 2 WEST BROM 3 (Ba 2)
Krul, Simpson, Perch, Coloccini, Santon (Ryan Taylor 46), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 72), Vuckic, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 61), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Williamson, Abeid, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 0 SWANSEA CITY 0
Krul, Simpson, Perch, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 82), Cabaye, Tiote (Vuckic 82), Gutierrez, Best (Shola Ameobi 71), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Ben Arfa, Abeid.
NORWICH 4 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Krul, Santon (Ferguson 90), Simpson, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 80), Cabaye, Gosling, Gutierrez, Ba, Shola Ameobi (Smith 90).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands, Best.
FA CUP
BRIGHTON 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, Perch, Williamson, Santon (Ferguson 83), Guthrie (Gosling 83), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (Ryan Taylor 83), Shola Ameobi, Best.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Lovenkrands, Obertan, Kadar.
CARLING CUP
BLACKBURN 4 NEWCASTLE 3 (AET) Guthrie, Cabaye, Lovenkrands (pen)
Krul, Simpson (Sammy Ameobi 70), Perch, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux (Obertan 77), Guthrie, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 79), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Abeid, Gosling, Ranger.
NOTTINGHAM FOR. 3 NEWCASTLE 4 (AET) Lovenkrands 2, Simpson, Coloccini
Elliot, Simpson, Coloccini, Perch, Ferguson, Abeid, Guthrie, Gosling (Shola Ameobi 70), Marveaux, Ben Arfa (Sammy Ameobi 70), Lovenkrands (Obertan 80).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Best, Dummett, Henderson.