Shepherd wanted rid of the "vocal" brigade who he said caused trouble in the dressing room ... namely Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert. Sir Bobby had insisted the pair were a "pain" off the pitch but two players he felt were worth the trouble because they produced ON the pitch.
Shepherd had other ideas, and when Robson was given the boot, Souness and McDermott arrived with one thing in mind.
Times have changed, however, and Glenn Roeder wants his players to make a big noise in more ways than one.
Roeder: "I want to hear more loud voices in our dressing room and out on the field and this will be reflected in any signings I make in the summer.
"Scott Parker is very good in the dressing room but we need to have a few more characters and a louder dressing room and that's what I am looking for."