Owen for me. I was about 12/13 at the time, was my favourite player at that point, along with Gerrard when I was a kid. I think during the pre-season that Rafa took over, despite there being talk about Owen going to Madrid, him and Cisse, unless I'm remembering wrong, were looking good and banging the goals. When Rafa came in and we had Cisse arrive, it felt like the club was going to push on another step but then when Owen was left on the bench in a CL qualifier so he wouldn't be cup tied, the reality hit that Owen was about to leave. Before he went to Newcastle and looked set to return, I was made up, but then he obviously didn't and things went completely downhill from there for him and any bond he once had with the supporters.
Hated Fowler leaving for Leeds but luckily he did end up coming back.
Torres, Suarez and Alonso weren't great but by that point, it was quite clear we weren't going to be able to keep our best players.
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