Pod On The Tyne: an independent NUFC podcast

Newcastle fans were left with a vomit-inducing case of deja vu on Sunday after the final home game before the Carabao Cup final saw another day of injury and insult. Lewis Hall was ruled out of the FA Cup tie vs Brighton and has consulted with a specialist, leaving his fitness in doubt, while Anthony Gordon saw red, and saw red; he now faces a three-match ban which would include the trip to Wembley. As if that weren't enough, Danny Welbeck booted us out of the FA Cup as well and we're scratching around for positives. Perhaps Isak's perfect pen, or Dan Burn collecting the Bobby Robson award, or The Lasses' home win. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this BONUS edition of Pod on the Tyne, organised to commemorate the **checks notes** routine win for Liverpool at home to Newcastle... Yes, Chris made us all get together to reflect on a dress rehearsal that definitely could have gone a lot worse for Newcastle, but equally gave us no additional reasons to expect a winning performance at Wembley in March's Carabao Cup final. Of course, the late withdrawal of Alexander Isak through injury was the main talking point, and one that put a dagger through most Geordie hearts. We will need everyone fit and firing if we are to compete for that trophy and push on to a European place come May. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newcastle United were, at one time, primarily famous for being on the wrong end of a 4-3 scoreline; now, somehow, we're regretting being on the right end of one... That might seem contradictory but the nature of Sunday's win (against one of our main Premier League rivals, remember) was a trademark burst of St James's Park energy followed by the exhale of a loose accordion. BUT win we did, Lewises Hall and Miley were both class, and some pressure has eased off our midweek trip to the champions-elect at Anfield, a game that will have more subtext than George's last trip to see Swedish cinema (and we're not talking about Alexander Isak's 50 goals). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Manchester... City stuttering, Newcastle striding into the Carabao Cup final and skipping over Birmunum banana skins...Oh no! Eddie Howe and the club both have terrible track records at the Etihad, but this goes down as one of the most disappointing performances for either. Beaten in duels, unable to make a pass, and with a distinctly buttery defence up against the hot knife that was Omar Marmoush and friends. Everything HAS to be significantly improved for the Nottingham Forest game on Saturday or Champions League football next season will be a pipe dream. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.