It helps that he's going to be playing no more than the 38 league campaigns and however many FA Cup ties Newcastle get through. An Owen at the World Cup whose played 40 games is better than an Owen at the World Cup who's played 65 games. That stands to reason. From an England perspective (which is no perspective at all, I realise that) it's much better to have players who are playing regularly, but not playing too much. Having said that, most other players need to be playing in the Champions League to be able to compete at the World Cup against some sides that will be staffed exclusively by Champions League players. With Owen, that's not the case. You could pack him off to gut fish in a Gallowgate chippy for a year and he'd still come back ready to play at any level you asked of him.
10 year waiting list for season tickets. And Newcastle hoovers up all the support from the NorthEast, Cumbria and Borders. Plus there are alot Newcastle fans all over the country....strange people.