Pod On The Tyne: an independent NUFC podcast

That wasn't the week that was in the script. Two huge games, two miserable collapses, several thousand angry geordies.
Will Eddie Howe carry the can for those performances? For the first time in his Newcastle career, there are real concerns about whether he can take the team forward with a squad that lacks the drive, nous, and unity that have been hallmarks of his tenure.
Or, will he finally be given the significant overhaul of playing staff that feels long overdue. European qualification would be a positive step forward, but it feels a distant hope.
Elsewhere, TheLasses(TM) came away with a point in a drab contest with promotion rivals Crystal Palace. Peter Ramage tells us how much he's been enjoying his time working with the team.

A friendly set of Premier League results on Saturday had presented NUFC with an opportunity to get themselves back into the Champions League picture and we all know what that means this season.
After a positive start, Howe's men proceeded to stink out St James's Park, particularly in a second-half that horrified even the most ardent context-hunters. Did anyone in black and white emerge with credit? It's going to be a loooong three weeks until the next league game.

Newcastle United emerged from the Camp Nou dressing rooms a goal behind in the Champions League last 16; twenty minutes later their hopes were shattered, with shards strewn amongst a debris of defensive calamities.
What could have been Eddie Howe's greatest ever managerial achievement will be remembered as an evening of embarrassment. There's only one way to redeem that, along with a sterile performance at the Stadium of Light in December, and that's a derby win at the weekend; ideally in some style.
Different story for TheLasses(TM) who vanquished Birmingham City to boost their promotion hopes with Crystal Palace next. And Chris has an Academy update as Robbie Stockdale is named full time manager of the U21s.

Usually, when you win at a ground for the first time in a decade (second time in four decades!), you'd be thinking limbs, cans, maybe even can cans.
Newcastle's away end certainly enjoyed today's victory at Stamford Bridge, but there was no great spectacle or sense of an event.
Reporting from Fulham Broadway, Chris Waugh is joined by a competition winner to recap a job well done, even if we're all thinking about Barcelona already.

Newcastle's hopes of progress to the Champions League quarter finals had a huge boost with Harvey Barnes late goal in the first leg of their last 16 tie against Barcelona...
...and then took an equally large hit with Lamine Yamal's late penalty. Was it the best performance of the season? Were Barca a little complacent? Where will Lewis Hall finish in the Ballon d'Or list?
We also consider the small matter of Chelsea away in the league, we hear from Jemma Purfield as The Lasses resume hostilities in WSL2, and there's a brief reaction to the news of ticket price rises.
Taylor's brush with stardom can be viewed here.