Pod On The Tyne: an independent NUFC podcast

So, it's official: Dan Ashworth has asked Newcastle United for permission to leave so he can take up a new role at Manchester United. We consider the possible terms of his departure with Taylor Payne, George Caulkin, and Chris Waugh. On the pitch, Saturday's draw at home to Bournemouth showed up the deficiencies of Eddie Howe's current set-up once again. We have another sift through the big BDB debate (the BBDBD), lament VAR delays, and just generally try to get our heads around a weird season. Less of a mystery is the position of Newcastle's women at the top of the table. Becky Langley explains why they are flying the flag for something bigger than just one club's success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Taylor Payne has failed to shake off a nasty, throaty cough, for another week and is thinking he will have to accommodate it indefinitely. Meanwhile, Jacob Whitehead returns to the podcast with George Caulkin seconded to a luxury spa for some rest and recuperation. There's no rest for Chris Waugh, though, with an approach for executive Dan Ashworth from Manchester United ruining an eagerly anticipated post-January lull. And, of course, there's no rest at all for Eddie Howe's injury-blighted Mags. They will have to face Bournemouth without Callum Wilson after the former Cherry was ruled out for several weeks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris's first away game in a decade saw him at loggerheads with Eddie Howe; we comb the pre- and post-match press conferences, more for entertainment value than any solid info. Travel is very much on the agenda today, with Bruno's smile as wide as the Trent after he and Fabian Schar delivered three more points at the City Ground. More smiles on Sunday at Burnley as the lasses firmed up their place atop FAWNL Premier Division North, but there's one smile that George would rather forget... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Waugh has been "taking the temperature" of The Athletic's Newcastle subscribers, and the results are surprisingly optimistic given the apparent dip in performance after last season. Eddie Howe's men travel to Nottingham on Saturday, grateful for the FA Cup replay that took Forest to extra time and penalties on Wednesday night, as well as the absence of the Boxing Day Ballon d'Or, Chris Wood. It's going to be a VERY special away game, for one important reason; listen on to find out. ...and on Sunday there's a 'hewj' game at Burnley as our women take on another title rival hoping to put clear air between themselves and their third-placed opponents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saturday's game against Luton at St James's Park was truly bonkers, and George's attempt to tame the madness with a new format is going about as well as his very audible effort to herd his cats. So, instead, we've embraced the chaos. Get ready to understand less about that match after listening to this podcast. Wor Flags delivered a popular message against hostile kick-off times (and, also, Chris Waugh) on Saturday, but they doubled up with a tribute to Becky Langley on Sunday to boot. Langley's lasses, featuring two debutants, duly delivered against Wolves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twelve hours in a car with Luke Edwards at the end of the longest January transfer desert in living memory has put George over the top. That's bad news for all concerned, especially Chris. Taylor tries to hold it together but with very little support, not even from Jacob, it's a case of chaos winning... much like Tuesday night at Villa Park. Have Fabian Schar and the rest of Eddie Howe's corner-turning Mags set up a season-redeeming run with this magnificent victory? With additional love for Miggy, incoming transfers (not the senior men's team, sadly), and Langley's double-chasing lasses, it's a bumper episode... hold tight! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taylor Payne, Chris Waugh, and George Caulkin (well, two of them) are in a very chipper mood despite some inclement weather, because Newcastle United won at Fulham in the FA Cup fourth round, something that simply hasn't happened at this football club in a very long time. It was a great atmosphere at Craven Cottage on Saturday night, Alan Shearer in attendance, of course, and it was just the tonic with transfer window stress and a trip to Aston Villa on the horizon. Meanwhile, the lasses booked their place in the FAWNL Cup semi-finals. With Forest beating Burnley in the league, their destiny is at their own feet once again and they'll be looking to build on their win at Fylde when they face Wolves this Sunday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The storm has subsided somewhat, but there are still transfer rumours swirling around three or four senior Newcastle players. Will anyone truly test Newcastle's resolve and, with injuries still rife, can we risk a sale to 'unlock' potential reinforcements. The club have agreed a deal for a box-to-box midfielder in the shape of Manchester CIty's Alfie Harrison. However, is a prodigious 18 year-old intended to be used in the Premier League this season? And, with the women facing Fylde in the FAWNL cup, Eddie Howe's men head to Craven Cottage on Saturday for an FA Cup tie against a good Fulham team who gave Liverpool a bit of a Carabao scare on Wednesday night. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Caulkin was absent on Monday, but rumours of his departure from Pod on the Tyne are WAY wide of the mark... or are they?! After all, football is a lie and you never know who to believe, especially in January. Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson were both strongly linked with moves away from Newcastle in the last few days and, as we recorded, there was another story, this time connecting Miguel Almiron with a move to Saudi Arabia. Also, Miguel Almiron is reportedly on the move to Saudi Arabia. Newcastle's women were looking for three points at home on Sunday, with an added bonus of potentially putting opponents Nottingham Forest out of the title race. Sadly, with Storm Isha raging through Kingston Park, and Albatross George in tow, it was heartbreak for the hosts and a three-team title race is a real possiblity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eddie Howe's men are getting the weekend off, so we've opened the floor to questions and we got plenty... In no particular order: should Eddie Howe be adapting our style of play more drastically, who is going to help the midfield while we're without so many players, WHEN WILL THOSE PLAYERS RETURN(!), and are we really at the absolute limits of what we can spend on transfers? ...and, after George's late withdrawal, the mantle of getting on Chris's nerves is taken up by Jacob, Taylor, and most of the people sending in questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.