Carabao characters: Newcastle loving the league cup
Hallowe'en it may be, but love is in the air on Pod on the Tyne this week.
George loves the pub. "Don't we all!?" you say. Not this much. He REALLY loves the pub. Eddie Howe's team love the league cup, and they love beating Spurs at St James's Park. They usually love going to West Ham as well (fingers crossed).
Taylor loves Sandro Tonali. And Fabian Schar. And Bruno. And the rest of them, tbf. But, mostly he loves Sandro Tonali.
Newcastle's three sporting titans, the Magpies, the Eagles, and the F... Red Bulls, put together what (in the interests of a convoluted metaphor) we're loosely calling a coach-matchmaking service to share tips and tricks as they develop the next generation of Northeast sporting talent.
Chris loves sausages.
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Matchday PotT: Fulham (h), Bruno's late booster
Newcastle after a Champions League fixture; not a pretty story on the whole. That's not to say they painted a beautiful picture on Saturday at St James's Park, but they got the job done.
Captain Bruno arrived late in the box, late in the day, to follow up Osula's saved effort and find the corner. It provides a huge boost to a team still finding its feet this season, and hopefully a platform for a fruitful trio of games against London teams.
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23:04
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23:04
Becky Langley departs, Benfica dismissed, but Sandro stays (sort of)
Sad news this week as Becky Langley, the pioneering head coach of Newcastle's women's team, was relieved of her duties. We hear from Amanda Staveley on Becky's legacy.
Sandro Tonali's stay at Newcastle already has a longer shelf life after it emerged he signed an updated contract during his twelve-month gambling ban.
And, after Eddie Howe's slightly re-arranged eleven put Benfica to the gravy sword, we consider who might take on Fulham on Saturday and whether we can replicate the last two European results in the Premier League.
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49:05
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Matchday PotT: Brighton (a), Wolte-magic not enough
Newcastle returned to Brighton's Amex Arena on the south coast (as did Chris Waugh) and their rotten record continues despite the best efforts of Nick Woltemade.
A poor first half saw Howe's men trailing, but the giant german produced a moment of golden-heeled inspiration to equalise. Sadly, that was the extent of Geordie joy on the day; Danny Welbeck got his second to restore the lead and the hosts held on for all three points.
Lots of questions now as we head into the Champions League against Benfica. Will Howe ring the changes? Who's going to put their hand up to help Nick out a bit? And, can Chris learn to describe music?
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26:26
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26:26
Wilson arrives, Academy in focus, Lasses draw with Bristol
Another weekly Pod on the Tyne rolls around and, with many of the lads away on international duty, you'd think it'd be a quiet one. How wrong you are, friend!
Newcastle United now have a CEO AND a Sporting Director after they agreed a deal to bring Nottingham Forest's Ross Wilson to the North East. Chris has all the gen on our new football supremo.
Our Athletic duo (the capital A is crucial) have been working incredibly hard putting together an in-depth written article on the current state of the club's academy. George actually had to have the day off from podcasting today, but not before he delivered us a very interesting conversation with Steve Harper.
The Lasses (TM) are winless at home, which nobody expected in October, but all is not lost. George was at the Gateshead International Stadium on Sunday to see how the much-changed squad is coming together. Chris is off to Brighton again this week, but he isn't taking his light sabre this time.
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