Ah, well, 'hi fans' is slightly different. They bought him on the strength of his European champs performances and on some highlights from his time with us. Difference is his highlights were the only times he performed whereas with other players you might have to chose which ones to include.

You could almost make a case for one of the media myths about us working in our favour for once. The big-club-loving, Southern favouring media don't really give a shit about us and only glance our way in the hope that there's a laugh to be had (and, to be fair, we've given them plenty of opportunity) and are usually content to thrown around generalisations, hyperbole and downright lies to suit their 'deluded Geordies hound their managers out and demand cups/success/titles agenda. in the case of Sissoko, they based almost everything on the stand-out games and on what he was capable of when he could be arsed. Spuds bought into that and, lo and behold, £30 million quid and 'hi fans....'