Pod On The Tyne: an independent NUFC podcast

Here we go again... Champions League football returns to St James's Park with all the hallmarks of elite European competition... big name players... athleticism... skill... and, of course, tabards. But is it different this time? The arrival of Barcelona brings with it incredible memories, of course, but Newcastle's history in this tournament is just that; a series of great moments. Can we string them together this year and build a memorable campaign? Even **spoiler alert** defeat in this opener doesn't represent a disaster. The new format allows for multiple slip-ups in its league phase. What we must do, though, is follow up with a positive result at Bournemouth.

Here we go again! Newcastle United return to Champions League action after a year away, and it's our old pals Barcelona coming to St James's Park on Thursday night. We're all excited, but George really has the fever. No, really, he has the fever (get well soon, bud!). Only one thing to do; summon Jacob Whitehead in from a windswept beach in the West of Scotland. We also summarise what can only be classed as a disappointing draw for The Lasses in their first game at Gateshead Stadium and we're channelling Big Nick Energy as Woltemade enters the quite hefty pantheon of debutant goalscorers.

Newcastle returned to Premier League action, after the ludicrously early September international break, needing to beat bottom-placed Wolves to notch their first win of the season. They would have to do so without two big new signings; young midfielder Jacob Ramsey and £55m centre-forward Yoanne Wissa. Ramsey is out for about a month, while Wissa faces an unspecified period out with a knee injury. Step forward Nick Woltemade! The German giant isn't a natural target man, we're told, but that didn't look to be the case when he leapt Asprilla-like to nod home a Jacob Murphy cross just 30 minutes into his debut. Bring on Barca...

A little boutique edition of your favourite Newcastle United podcast this week as: a) it's been a men's international week and, 2) the Great North Run clashed with the women's fixture, so nobody's watched any live football at all. There was plenty of interesting stuff going on in the international fixtures, if you like that sort of thing, with Newcastle players starring for England, Italy, Brazil, and Dr. Congo... The Lasses (TM) also had a good weekend, winning their league opener at Forest; they will face the Blades at home (in Gateshead) next. The Premier League returns this weekend and, with Howe's men yet to get a win in the league this season, we have high hopes of giving Wolves the run-around. But, who will the manager entrust with a start "up top"?!

Newcastle United have appointed David Hopkinson as their new CEO to replace the outgoing Darren Eales. David arrives with a powerful reputation in business built in his hometown of Toronto as well as New York and Madrid. It's been a tumultuous year at executive level and we welcome David's leadership although time will be a finite resource as he gets up to speed. While the process has taken almost a year, we're hoping we've got the right man to work with Eddie Howe and other senior executives, including whoever comes in as Director of Football. Becky Langley is the ever-present force of leadership behind Newcastle's women and, with a rapidly evolving squad of players*, she is ready and raring to go as they approach a hugely important WSL2 campaign. *a bit too rapidly for this podcast! Click this link to support Bobby's Team '25 in our fundraising for the Great North Run

The overwhelming emotion, and there have been many, is 'thank heavens that's all over with' but to suggest it's simple relief is to dramatically understate the complicated feelings we're left with. Whatever we think or feel, Alexander Isak is now a Liverpool player, Yoanne Wissa is our new number 9, and we can concentrate on the football with a stronger squad and an exciting Champions League campaign in store. Meanwhile, The Lasses have a new signing as they target a promotion spot in WSL 2, and we're expecting an announcement on our new CEO very soon (it is now, we think, ACTUALLY imminent). Support 'Sir Bobby's Team' in the Great North Run...

It's another matchday focus Pod on the Tyne and an exciting trip to Leeds, railways notwithstanding, for a "winnable" game. Unfortunately, the football did not pan out exactly as we might have hoped, so we take the opportunity to swerve analysis of a very ignorable game. Instead, we discuss Newcastle's latest signing; a record transfer no less. Nick Woltemade isn't a prolific goalscorer, yet, but he's a young man with a very high ceiling - one he absolutely needs.

Here we go again. Newcastle were in Pot 4 for the 2025/26 Champions League draw and they will have the following fixtures: Barcelona (h) PSG (a) Benfica (h) Leverkusen (a) PSV (h) Marseille (a) Athletic Club (h) Union Saint-Gilloise (a) We've a quick reaction to all that, our Carabao Cup 3rd round tie against Bradford, and the news that a striker may be on the way!

The men's team showed incredible steel and determination without Alexander Isak against Liverpool. What does it all mean as we go into the last few days of the UK transfer window? Under Becky Langley, Newcastle's women are intent on getting promoted from WSL2 (formerly the Championship) at the second time of asking. They have made some statement signings in recent years (and already this summer!) but perhaps none like USWNT star, two-time World Cup winner Morgan Gautrat. George greeted our new signing at St James's Park.

It’s only our second matchday PotT but it may already be the biggest one of the season. Liverpool come to St James’s Park with Alexander Isak absent as he tries to secure a transfer (Anfield the only credible destination this summer). That’s not forgetting, of course, that Newcastle broke a 70-year domestic trophy drought last season with a Carabao Cup win OVER Liverpool. There are so many narratives and so much emotion being directed into the game, it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype and deliver another Premier League classic… could it?!

Alexander Isak finally had his say on his absence from NUFC's first team activities, via a statement on Instagram. Club officials sprang into action with a response. There's little doubt, now, about how Isak feels about his future but without replacement strikers and a suitable bid, it's still difficult to see him getting a move away. All this leaves Eddie Howe without a centre forward for Monday night's game against Isak's main (only?!) suitors, Liverpool. We speak to The Anfield Wrap's Neil Atkinson about attackers, rivalry, and the dreaded bantz.

Right, here it is as promised, our post-summer Q&A recorded from the Gosforth Civic Theatre, where we ARE hoping to return to the stage very soon. With the arrival of Jacob Ramsey, there's basically just one position on everyone's minds now, and we fill you in on modern transfer techniques, being thorough about the news, and whether Newcastle can do without a striker (TLDR, they can't). There's an update, of sorts, on the executive positions that so desperately need filling, and the subsequent stadium stasis, plus Chris is caught saveloy-handed.

It's the start of a new Premier League season and everyone who loves Newcastle United is eagerly anticipating a stress-free stroll to three points... Oh no, that's right, we're all fretting about going into a challenging away fixture without our premium striking option as he's decided to down tools and sulk. Can Eddie Howe turn water into wine again? That's a bit unkind to the matchday squad, who possess a great deal of quality as well as buckets and buckets of fighting spirit. Let's do this!

We are soooooo back! That's Pod on the Tyne, not (necessarily) Newcastle United. Yes, it's been a typically Newcastle-y summer. Off the back of a glorious, trophy-winning, Champions League-qualifying season, Eddie Howe's plans for the new term have been thrown a gigantic Swedish curveball by Alexander's agitating antics. Isak aside, it might actually be developing into a decent transfer window. With three signings, all in high-priority positions, and one or two more looking likely, Howe might like the shape of his squad overall. Meanwhile, Becky Langley has added some serious talent to the women's team, and there may be more to come there as well. Ultimately, we're all just glad to be back after some distractions of our own. Isak or no, we're looking forward to a bright future as an independent purveyor of podcasts. Less so, the 13.1-mile slog from Cowgate to North Shields... please sponsor our Great North Runners via this link!

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Taylor is struggling with the pollen count, Chris is making eyes at his BBQ, and nobody knows what day (or month) it is. Welcome to our first ever summer edition of Pod on the Tyne! We've already finished one transfer window and, while Manchester City have been busy, it wasn't the one that actually matters. Not that you can tell that to @furiouscramlingtondavey on X! However, with the imminent departure of both Newcastle's CEO Darren Eales and the Sporting Director Paul Mitchell, there are some legitimate causes for concern. We take a dip into an epic mailbag for a bumper Q&A session. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've reached the end of a remarkable season, one that saw Newcastle United end a 56-year wait for a major trophy and return to the Champions League (after just one year away). It lays a decent claim, says George, to be the club's most successful season in history: a bold claim when the club has four league titles. But, while we happily bask in the glory, we also remember the stuttering start and the uncertainty left over from last summer. Perhaps that uncertainty is back now that Sporting Director Paul Mitchell will be leaving the club less than a year after taking the job? It's sure to be an interesting summer of Premier League recruitment and, with a host of significant figures leaving the women's team, we're expecting more signings there as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relive a very nervy closing day as it happened with the PotT team. A two-nill win against a tricky opponent with a nerve-settling first-half goal from the leader in central midfield and a penalty from the team's world-class striker... Manchester City strolled back into the Champions League at Fulham. Newcastle United, on the other hand, made a right meal of it. Defeat at home to Everton saw them, at one stage, fall from fourth to sixth (outside the Champions League places). Step forward ***checks notes*** Sunderland and Manchester United hero Amad Diallo!?! All's well that ends well, they say, and we were able to reflect on the most remarkable season in recent history and perhaps the best second-half of a season full stop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newcastle went down 1-0 at Arsenal on Sunday to set up a nervy last weekend. A win at home against Everton is needed to seal Champions League football (bar a near-impossible set of results elsewhere). Jacob Murphy has been speaking with George this week and he has faith in himself and his squad-mates to put in the performance needed against a post-Goodison Everton that is either eminently beatable or incredibly dangerous depending on which end of Chris and George's sentences you choose to follow. The mood in the camp seems very positive though and, while we are hoping for good news in terms of Alexander Isak's participation, we're sure St James's Park will roar and the lads will do us proud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eddie Howe's trophy-winning Mags are on the brink of returning to the Champions League next season after a lightning start and a thunderous finish provided emphatic bookends to a nervy bit in between. The final result was 2-0, at least according to most reliable judges, and with two games to go, it's difficult to see how Newcastle can lose three places in the league. In fact with a trip to Arsenal next, might we be looking up instead! Helping us savour the success this week is special guest Paul Ferris, NUFC's favourite polymath, who has a new book out but doesn't need any help selling tickets to the launch. There's also a first update from Mark Allison who has reached Pennsylvania on his epic run across America. https://www.rungeordierun.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.