Newcastle United don't win at Old Trafford, or at least they didn't. After last season's Carabao Cup victory, and off the back of a massive upturn in league form, we travelled to Manchester with a spring in our step and hope in our hearts.The rest you know.Spurs and Arsenal next. Playing like this, why not? Happy New Year everybody! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded at the magnificent Strawberry pub in the shadow of St James's Park, Pod on the Tyne (with some allowances for flu season) assembled an audience of friends, colleagues and (the Waugh) family for our traditional Christmas special.Looking back over a magnificent seven days, a rollercoaster of twelve months, and with a glimpse ahead to 2025, there's plenty of festive cheer in supply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newcastle's problem in recent times has been getting the job done against so-called lesser teams. This Saturday, they proved they absolutely can do it against so-called Leicester teams.From Gordon to Burn via Murphy, Hall, and Sandro Tonali there were quite a few eye-catching performances but it's impossible to know what it all means because the opposition were so feeble on the day.Brentford will provide a stiffer test in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night, but one thing we will have now is a good win in our sails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Premier League is a bit crazy this year. Bar one or two teams at the top, and one or two at the bottom, it's a massive bunfight with everyone beating each other week to week.With that in mind, we should all react reasonably when we go to the team with the best home record and get turned over. Except this wasn't exactly that; this one needs some context.Oh, by the way. Has anyone seen Chris? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newcastle and Liverpool served up another Premier League classic, drawing three all at St James's Park on Wednesday night.Eddie Howe's side looked close to their aggressive best, pressing and harrying the league leaders, creating chances, and scoring some lovely goals.But, there's always Salah, and that nagging sense that we can only get ourselves to 100% for the big games. Where was this intensity against West Ham? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacob Whitehead was at Selhurst Park on Saturday, because of course he was. Sadly for him, Newcastle were distinctly gummy.Masochists can read Jacob's full match report here...In fact, the whole affair was so disheartening we've postponed this week's episode until after the midweek fixture against, **checks notes**... oh dear! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is this feeling, we all wondered... squad strength, three wins on the bounce, and a seemingly hapless West Ham trekking North on a chilly Monday night. Ah yes, confidence!Unfortunately, confidence and Newcastle United have never been great bedfellows, and so it was again. Bruno lost another coin toss, Howe's side spurned the few good chances they managed to create, shipped two bad goals, and then slid into second half chaos.The Lasses didn't fare any better, losing 6-1 to Liverpool in the league cup. Could that be a sharpener in a competitive season? It'll take a while to find out, the fixture list is looking very bare over the next few weeks.More info on Run Geordie Run and his 2025 t-shirts can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are still five days left in what feels like an even-longer-than-usual international break. Chris is so sick of it, he's literally sick.A few of Newcastle's players may not take quite such a dim view, though. Oli Kay drops by to consider whether Newcastle is now the place to be for England hopefuls with Anthony Gordon getting his first goal at Wembley while Hall and Livramento made their senior bows.The Lasses(TM) didn't have it all their own way at St James's Park. In fact, Southampton had much the better of the first half and it took a 99th minute equaliser from Deanna Cooper to rescue a point in front of a loud, proud, but slightly smaller than hoped crowd.Contribute to Wor Flags on their website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The best all-round away performance from Eddie Howe's side in a long, long time", says Chris Waugh. Newcastle's dominant second-half performance at the City Ground has us looking optimistically at the top four in a concertina'd Premier League table.Joelinton was at the core of everything on Sunday, so we have to talk about him and his magnificent goal, but the defence was good again and substitutes Tonali and Barnes produced real impact as well. Shame the international break arrives now... or is it?And, The Lasses TM will be hoping to bounce straight back from their first real disappointment of the season at Bristol City when they welcome Southampton to St James's Park this coming Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grab a lazy breakfast on the way to work, stick an extra mile or two on your dog-walk, extend the timer on 'do not disturb', it's a marathon podcast to recap an epic week.Eddie Howe's Mags are BACK. Barnstorming home wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, and the manner of our play, means the gaffer can really celebrate his third anniversary in charge.Two red-hot alumni are up next for the lads, but Hayles and Lumsden are really on fire for The Lasses TM who got a magnificent win at Championship pace-setters Birmingham J City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices