It is with sadness that we say goodbye to Nobby Solano: a great servant to Newcastle United, with a great attitude on the pitch. For me, he’s the solid dependable sort of senior pro that every club wants. I think he’ll be an asset to West Ham United and I’m sorry to see him leave.

Yes, he’s probably struggling to get into the Newcastle first team at present, not really fitting in with Sam Allardyce’s formation, but his versatility (right back/ right wing/ centre midfield) is a key asset; his dead ball delivery and vision at spotting passes make him an all round quality midfielder. But the point was that even if he couldn’t get in the team, I wouldn’t have wanted him to leave. Players with an attitude towards the club and the fans like Nobby had are sadly becoming rarer these days. He didn’t have a great deal of pace mind you, but he was never a speed merchant anyway.

Equally, his reasons for wanting to leave Newcastle United illustrate to me why I never wanted to lose him. He didn’t want to sign for a bigger club; he didn’t want more money; he wanted to live nearer his children so he could see them more often. How could anyone begrudge him that?

So off he’s gone to he join that corner of London which seems to be somewhat of an enclave for former Newcastle players, and I’ve already been across to West Ham Till I Die to tell them what a canny player they’re getting (for the second time this week, after popping over earlier to talk about Dyer’s injury).

And I don’t think it would be unreasonable for the West Ham fans to draw their own conclusions from the fact that while myself (and other Newcastle fans) were pleased that they had signed Kieron Dyer, we’re disappointed to have lost Solano (see Toon Army USA or Talk Of The Tyne) .

Bye Bye Nobby. Let’s just hope Alan Curbishley likes trumpet-playing, eh?