Pod On The Tyne: The Athletic FC's Newcastle United show

FA Cup weekend brought mixed fortunes for Newcastle United's senior teams; Eddie Howe's men emerged victorious, but by no means unscathed, from a trip to Birmingham while the women's team fought valiantly and competed but were deservedly beaten by WSL outfit Crystal Palace.Eddie Howe rotated his squad at St Andrews, with only Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn retained from the starting eleven that beat Arsenal in midweek. Two goals from Joe Willock and one on his Newcastle FA Cup debut (!) from Callum Wilson were just about enough in what became a bruising encounter.The Lasses(TM) don't play again until March when they'll need to get straight back to winning ways if they are to have any chance of promotion, but The Lads are off to the Emirates this weekend with their best chance of a result in an awfully long time. WE are feeling good about that, and about our chances in the FA Cup, which has opened up nicely for Howe and co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just when you thought it was safe for Arsenal to go back to St James's Park, Eddie Howe's Newcastle United delivered another performance of exquisite intensity to cast aside any nervous energy and cruise into another Carabao Cup final.Highlights included a line-up that looked like a low block back five, but actually saw two of the three centre halves charging upfield to harangue and harass Arsenal's midfield, as well as Alexander Isak making a mockery of Europe's best defensive partnership... again.Liverpool or Spurs await in the final, but we don't care who it is, we're the underdogs turned dead-eyed assassins of NUFC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eowyn took most of the headlines this week but our very own Swedish hurricane was southbound. Alexander Isak showed his full range of abilities as he turned Southampton's defence upside down and inside out.Jacob Murphy is the provider-in-chief and he will become a very important player if Miguel Almiron departs in January; the Paraguayan has proved to be a popular character, a tireless grafter and, for a brief, beautiful spell in 2022/23, a scorer of some incredible goals.Shania Hayles is having a great season in front of goal right now. The Lasses (TM) beat Portsmouth, but it wasn't without nervous moments and George certainly needed a stiff drink. Their turn for a trip to Southampton next with their promotion hopes getting real, but no easier for it.Next up for Eddie Howe's men, Fulham, and then the small matter of the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at St James's Park. Who's confident about that two-nil lead over Arsenal?! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It had all been going so well; too well, perhaps. But, it's all over now as Bournemouth came to St James's Park and took all three points, any faint hopes of a title chase, and really rubbed our faces in it, to be honest.Isak, who had broken the club's record scoring run against Wolves, was a mere spectator at the weekend, and the team looked deficient in every department in the face of what was a fantastic performance by the visitors.Still, there's a pretty decent chance we'll start another winning run at Southampton, The Lasses (TM) have made some ambitious signings, and Josh from Philly is in Toon to raise our spirits with some brotherly love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It wasn't quite serene progress against Bromley in the FA Cup on Sunday, but there was a brutal beauty in the strikes provided by Lewis Miley and Will Osula either side of an Anthony Gordon penalty.Some key questions after the weekend. Did anybody put their hand up for a first-team place 'proper'? What's going on with Martin Dubravka? Why did Chris drag George into town in the wee hours?And, with a Jas McQuade thunderbolt, The Lasses TM also went through to the next round of the FA Cup. Attention for everyone returns to the league where opportunity knocks with some winnable fixtures on the horizon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is getting ridiculous; Newcastle's run of wins, Isak's run of goals, Gordon's contributions, Murphy's assists, all continued and they will start the home leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final with a two-nil lead.The tie's far from over, with nobody keener to emphasise that than Eddie Howe, but what an incredible run of games this has been, a truly historic run, and you wouldn't bet against it continuing...Of course, we can't forget Saturday's hard-fought league win barely ten minute's drive away at Tottenham. We'd like to praise the opposition, ravaged by injuries, for our toughest test in a good while. Instead, the manager made it all about him with a bizarre post-match performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.