Pod On The Tyne: an independent NUFC podcast

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.