Pod On The Tyne: an independent NUFC podcast

Sunday afternoon at St James's Park, it's the return of the Premier League, it's the return of football, it's the return of George's literary diversions; this time, the duality of man. Wor Flags tribute to Kevin Keegan didn't disappoint, and the expected hostility to a certain Swedish striker was also on display.
Once the football started we saw a terrific game; it was a very encouraging performance from a Newcastle squad featuring youth in the engine room, pace up top, but built around a splendid showing from Yoane Wissa.
This being Newcastle, of course we also saw a late, late penalty and a Liverpool equaliser (scored, not by our  lacklustre former star, but Dominic Szoboszlai). Are we happy with a point? Not really in the circumstances, but hopes are rising for "2.0".

Here we go, then. Newcastle United 2.0 will be a reality when Liverpool come calling this weekend and the rubber will hit the road... better that than the 5**t hitting the fan.
Proverbs aside, Amar Dedic has signed and with Nico Gonzalez the latest "PL experience" candidate, the transfer business probably isn't done.
How optimistic are we, then? George has been writing about this across the Premier League for The Athletic, and there are some unusual findings.
Read about the hope-o-meter here.

Bayer Leverkusen, Internazionale, and FC Strasbourg provided the opposition for the men and women of Newcastle United as St James's Park hosted three games on the VisitMalta Weekender.
We'll hear from women's team manager Tanya Oxtoby on our midweek pod but George and Chris witnessed all the action, if you can call it that, as the club recorded two pre-season defeats and a draw (followed by a catastrophic penalty shootout).
https://www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/pod-on-the-tyne-live

Newcastle's new manager, Matthias Jaissle, has now arrived in town and had a tour of his new home. He has also met the local press pack, shaking each of them by the hand at his first home press conference.
No sooner had he arrived, though, and he had to leave again, taking his team up to Edinburgh's Murrayfield stadium for a pre-season friendly against Everton. Defeat there only served to reinforce ideas that were already in the air about squad depth.
We expect that the squad itself will now be reinforced with a little over two weeks remaining in the summer transfer window. Fullbacks are the obvious priority, but there is also a list of midfielders who could bring some experience to what is currently a young midfield.
Tickets to our live show in October will be available on general sale from https://www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk/whats-on from mid-morning on Friday 14th August.

Vamos... a thorough PotT round-up of Newcastle United's pre-season tour in Spain as Chris visits La Manga to get a first sight of the new first-choice goalkeeper, Lukas Hornicek, and a semi-proper sit-down with Matthias Jaissle, the man who has now officially replaced Eddie Howe.
We also look over the details of the match against Valencia at the Mestalla as Hornicek played 90 minutes, Anthony Elanga escaped serious injury, and Yoane Wissa gave a positive indication of his form going into the new season. Will their captain be Malick Thiaw? The german centre half pulled on the armband on his birthday.