Daniel Wales and Jordan Cronin once again host the NewcastleWorld-TalkTyne and Wear Newcastle United Podcast. They discuss the Magpies’ 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth, before questioning whether Newcastle can score their first goal away at Arsenal in 10 years, and making clear that Eddie Howe’s team should prioritise the FA Cup.
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00:00 [TRAFFIC NOISES]
00:04 [MUSIC]
00:10 Hello and welcome back to the Magpies Nest Newcastle United podcast with myself and Jordan here.
00:16 Jordan, it's been an interesting week once again with Newcastle United. It's never dull, is it?
00:21 Yes.
00:22 You know, off the back of an important win at Nottingham Forest, which we talked about last week,
00:26 you then go to St James' Park, sorry, Bournemouth, come to town,
00:32 you think, OK, you know, you can build on that win and some of the performances in previous weeks as well.
00:37 And then similar to Luton, it's you scrape at a draw. What did you make of that afternoon?
00:45 Yes, I suppose if you look at the game in isolation, it's probably a good point,
00:49 needing a last-minute equaliser. For the most unlikely of goalscorers, Matt Ritchie,
00:54 I never thought I would see him score a goal for Newcastle United again.
00:58 It's quite funny the way the goal came about, where he sort of headed it back towards goal,
01:01 came back off the defender, I think he even came off the goalkeeper before Matt Ritchie's end of putting in.
01:06 So, yeah, it was probably, he probably put it down as a look equaliser in terms of the way it came about,
01:12 because I think my frustration with Newcastle, and you mentioned it there,
01:17 sort of there's a lack of consistency, which is becoming a problem.
01:21 And it's because the team and the system isn't being changed now.
01:25 Straight away, I mean, we look at the last three or four games, teams blatantly targeting Newcastle's left side, Dan Byrne.
01:33 And look at the way that Ballmouse's second goal came about, it was down that side.
01:38 And there's been so many times this season when that scenario was played out,
01:42 where a player has found himself free on the right-hand side and put it in the bottom left-hand corner.
01:47 And the lack of consistency over the last few weeks, every game's been the same.
01:53 So the only difference between the Ballmouse game and the Nottingham Forest game was the fact that Newcastle won one of them and drew the other.
01:59 The play bed's the exact same. And it just seems to be that at the moment, it seems like a roll of the dice situation.
02:05 And it's frustrating because fans can say it, they can say the problems, teams are saying it.
02:11 And it's the left-hand side, I feel sorry for Dan Byrne because I think his confidence must be taking a knock because he's going in every game now thinking,
02:21 you know, fans are talking about the winger I'm playing against today and how he's going to get the better of us.
02:25 I think we've probably seen bits of that in the Ballmouse game.
02:29 I think mentally, I think Dan Byrne defended differently in terms of the way the Luton Town goal came about.
02:35 Sorry, Luton? No, not Luton, sorry.
02:41 The way the Ballmouse goal came about was Dan Byrne was stepping up, where if you look back at probably last season, I think he was down that.
02:51 I think he's lost a little bit of confidence. I think he probably needs to come out of the team.
02:56 But I don't think Eddie Howe will change it. I think he's going to keep faith with Dan Byrne.
03:01 I think as long as you keep the same system and the same personnel, I think the results are going to continue to be inconsistent.
03:06 So if Newcastle want to start putting a good run together, I think the system needs to be adapted.
03:12 And of course, we'll look ahead to Arsenal in a bit.
03:15 But if Newcastle go to Arsenal at the weekend playing the same way, then the way that the league goes, I do feel the worst.
03:21 It's all very chaotic, isn't it? I mean, Newcastle going forward actually look quite a threat at times, which is a good thing.
03:28 So in the striking department, they are scoring goals, you know, four against Luton, three against Nottingham Forest, two against Bournemouth.
03:35 It's sorry, three against Aston Villa as well. They clearly know where the back of the net is at the minute.
03:39 And that's a good thing. But at the other end, as you say, that they're leaking far too many goals.
03:45 And that's a real issue because the wins they're getting are not exactly, you know, some of the more comfortable ones they were getting.
03:52 Even just at the start of the season, you look at like Crystal Palace 4-0, Chelsea 4-1.
03:56 Games where Newcastle went in with relatively full of confidence and got a result with a performance not really having to get out of second gear in some cases.
04:06 So, yeah, they just need to get back to their defensive basics.
04:09 I mean, I actually think, and I know we mentioned it on last week's episode, that Nick Pope was a big miss.
04:14 And I think that's still showing a little bit.
04:17 But yeah, with Bournemouth's second goal, Dan Byrne just didn't go towards his man.
04:22 He sort of just stood off and backtracked and he let Semenyu proceed towards the goal.
04:28 And then Dabravka, to me, should do a little bit better with that one.
04:32 I know it's a hard hit strike, but it's not right in the corner, is it?
04:36 And I mean, if he gets down, he should be getting down to it in my opinion.
04:39 I know goalkeepers have a hard job, but to me, that should have been saved.
04:43 [Music]
04:55 As we mentioned, though, Newcastle at the start of the season were really, really good at home.
04:59 And obviously they had that 8-0 win against Sheffield United and the 3-0 win against Manchester United in the League Cup.
05:05 But apart from that, couldn't really buy a win away from home.
05:08 And yet all of a sudden, away from home, they've won their last four on the bounce in all competitions.
05:13 Obviously Fulham, Sunland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
05:18 But then at home, the home form has dipped.
05:21 You look at Nottingham Forest, of course, Boxing Day, Manchester City, Luton, Bournemouth.
05:25 They haven't won a game against James' Park for getting on a couple of months now.
05:29 So why has it suddenly changed?
05:31 Why is the away form suddenly winning? That's not picking up the results.
05:34 And then at home, all of a sudden, they're not.
05:37 How has that changed so quickly?
05:40 It's strange because watching Newcastle at home at the minute, it feels like you're watching the away team.
05:45 Now it's crazy how the tables have turned.
05:49 Again, it comes back to that lack of consistency that Newcastle just haven't really had outside of probably November.
05:57 I think since December, Newcastle have been really, really inconsistent.
06:00 You mentioned the last home win there, that was Fulham, the 3-0 win.
06:05 That was mid-December.
06:07 Now since then, obviously, they haven't won high scoring games in every single one, which again, I think is a worry.
06:15 Because you look back at last season, and look, I don't think Newcastle are going to reach the heights of last season,
06:20 but they were so solid defensively.
06:23 And I don't know where that has gone.
06:26 I think in many ways, it probably have been found out.
06:30 Because as I say, the lack of pace between Sven Bottman and Dan Byrne down the left-hand side, we're seeing it every game.
06:38 Teams are targeting there, and at the minute, Newcastle have got no answers to that.
06:43 Fans think they've got the answers in terms of changing personnel and bringing a team together.
06:47 It's every week now, every day now, isn't it?
06:51 I think probably Eddie Howe listening to fans doesn't want to be proven wrong.
06:55 You see managers that don't want to listen to fans, they want to stick to their guns.
07:00 I think that's the... For me, the goalkeeping situation is massive.
07:05 The Bravcas conceded 30 goals in 17 games this season.
07:11 Nick Pope conceded 19 goals in 20 games.
07:13 That's a big increase.
07:15 I think a lot of the goals that Newcastle have conceded over the last couple of months has been when the Bravcas have been in goals.
07:21 I think that's been a problem.
07:24 It just shows how vital Nick Pope is.
07:26 When we spoke about it last week, the way he jumps off his line...
07:29 Well, he doesn't jump off his line, but he's a sweeper, a keeper.
07:32 The Bravcas are very hesitant coming off his line.
07:34 I think that's been a big miss.
07:36 I think it probably affected the defence as well because they don't have a Nick Pope behind them.
07:40 That's going to come out and sweep the ball away.
07:43 I think that's probably exposed the lack of pace in behind because when those balls go in behind, Nick Pope's quick off his line.
07:51 Now it's the balls going behind and the Bravcas are not quick off his line.
07:55 Then you've got Fabian Scherr, Sven Bottmann and Dan Byrne who have got a slow recovery pace.
08:01 We've known that for a long time now.
08:03 They're not quick defenders.
08:05 I think over the last few months, the defence has become a real issue.
08:11 The goalkeeping problem and I think the left-side defence for me is where the two problems lie.
08:17 It comes down to a lot of consistency and I think that's where the home and away form.
08:23 There's no answer to see why the tables have flipped because it's really difficult to put your finger on.
08:31 I just think there's a real lack of consistency in Newcastle at the moment.
08:34 There needs to be some kind of change, whether that's the system, the five at the back or a change in personnel.
08:41 If you continue to persist with the same players, the same system, I think the results and the way they've been inconsistent over the last few months will continue to go on the way they have.
08:54 It's almost as if it's a confidence thing because Newcastle couldn't buy that win away from home a little while ago.
09:02 Obviously, you could see that their confidence going away was shot to bits.
09:06 Then they got that result against Sunderland and they've not looked back since on the road.
09:12 Yet at home, you have that day against Nottingham Forest and it's as if that's knocked their confidence at St James' Park and they can't change it there.
09:20 That's just perhaps a theory but obviously no-one really can put their finger on as to why that is the case.
09:27 Looking at the consistency, as you mentioned there Jordan, there are clear issues in the side at the moment, especially on that left, as you rightly say.
09:36 I think as much as Eddie Howe doesn't want to bow to fan pressure, there is need for change.
09:42 It's not really working, is it? If you can't say that they're conceding that many goals, then I'm not sure what else can be said.
09:49 The changes are more reactionary than proactive of anything because he brings Livermen to one after Dan Byrne has conceded that same goal again.
10:02 You think you could have perhaps prevented that if you'd changed it from the start or a lot earlier.
10:07 I know Dan Byrne has been a fantastic servant to Newcastle in his relatively short time here but I think more for his own confidence, if anything, he should be taken out of the team.
10:21 It's not going to be doing him any good when he's conceding that same goal week in, week out when you get a Percy Winger down the right-hand side who just one ball and he's passed him and either crosses it in or scores himself.
10:33 Just for Dan Byrne's own sake and then once Newcastle maybe tend to improve some of their results, then you could ease him back in and then it perhaps looks a little bit better for him.
10:45 There's just a lot of inconsistency at the moment. As I said before, going forward, they're really good. It's just in defence that's where the issues lie.
10:53 Number 10, James Anderson. Number 16, Victor Christensen. Number 18, Zach George.
11:03 Now of course, this weekend they go to the Emirates Stadium to High Flying Arsenal who are once again challenging for the Premier League title following their disappointing slip-up at the end of last season.
11:14 Of course, in the reverse fixture, something a bit controversial happened if I remember quite rightly. Arsenal fans on Twitter took a lot of… well, I mean, what's the best way of putting this?
11:27 They weren't too happy with Newcastle, put it that way, I think is one way of describing it.
11:33 Obviously, the whole ball being out situation with Joe Willock who then put the ball into the box and Anthony Gordon puts it away.
11:39 Of course, there could have been a Joe Linton foul in there, of course. It took a good five to seven minutes to decide on that goal.
11:46 I'm sure there's probably still some Arsenal supporters somewhere still talking about that day and they're probably quite looking forward to this day, if anything, just to try and, from their point of view, exact some revenge.
11:57 Now, given everything we've just said there, it would be the most Newcastle United thing ever, having not scored at the Emirates since 2014, having not won there since Andy Carroll's headed goal in 2010,
12:10 for some sort of VAR-intervened winner in the last few minutes from Newcastle to go and get all three points.
12:17 I can already picture the meltdown on Twitter that we'd see after it now.
12:22 But regardless of all of that wishful thinking, Jordan, how do you see this game going?
12:29 Yeah, it's a really tough one. The amount of goals that Newcastle have been leaking.
12:37 Because Newcastle, you look at the teams that have been leaking goals in the last three games, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Luton Town.
12:44 No disrespect to those teams, but they're not top-end teams. They're all fighting relegation.
12:50 And if you concede in four, three and two in those games, then you're playing an Arsenal side who was a 5-0 against Burnley the other weekend.
12:59 Yes, and of course they beat West Ham 6-0 the week before as well, both away from home. So, it bodes well, doesn't it?
13:06 So, yeah, you've got a team that have scored 11 goals in the last two games, challenging for the Premier League title.
13:13 You've got Newcastle who are leaking goals for fun against teams that are in the bottom half of the table.
13:18 I just think if you play the open football that they've played in the last few games, then I think Newcastle are in real trouble.
13:28 Because I think against the likes of Luton and Forest, you can probably give them chances if you like, in terms of getting forward yourself.
13:37 So, you can commit bodies forward and then, if you bank on them going forward and miss an opportunity, for example.
13:43 They don't have the quality in the final third like an Arsenal do. If you give chances to Arsenal, then it could get really, really messy.
13:51 I don't know, I'm always reluctant. I've spoken really nightly about Newcastle on this podcast today.
13:58 But I'm always really reluctant to re-write them off because I've seen last season and I've seen at points this season that the arc cable have beaten the big side.
14:06 They went to Aston Villa a few weeks ago, won there. You mentioned the previous Arsenal game, which, yeah, that was interesting.
14:15 I imagine that will probably fire them up, to be honest, because all the noise around Anthony Gordon's win, which by the way, I've had countless scraps of Arsenal fans on social media.
14:25 I've read some of your interactions. They have been quite amusing, I'll be honest.
14:29 There was nothing wrong with the goal. There was a storm in a teacup, I would like to say. It was a mega-lotte, I call it an absolute disgrace.
14:38 You go for the goal, Villar got it spot on. It was a lengthy check, it was sort of an unprecedented check in terms of three checks.
14:45 I've never seen three checks on one goal. But Villar got the right decision.
14:49 And of course, there was a little bit of feistiness in the match as well.
14:52 I think Kai Havertz should have been sent off early doors for a tackle on Sean Longstaff, which was a shocking tackle.
15:01 And then Bruno was a little bit naughty in that game as well when he put an elbow on the top of Fabio Vieira's head, I think it was.
15:09 So there's a bit of bite between the two sides. There has been for a while now.
15:13 You think you go back to the time when Newcastle ended Arsenal's Champions League hopes on that Monday night a few seasons ago.
15:22 Even last season at the Emirates, the 0-0 draw, there was a couple of Arsenal fans who felt there was a couple of V-oddices in there.
15:28 They felt that Dan Byrne should have given away a penalty for pulling, according to which player it was anyway.
15:33 But pulling him down should have been a penalty.
15:35 So there's a bit of... there's no love lost between the two teams of late.
15:40 And I do think that will play into Arsenal's hands. I think the Emirates isn't notoriously a hostile atmosphere.
15:48 But I think on Saturday at eight o'clock, I think Arsenal will be well up for it.
15:55 I've seen the Amazon cameras on and Miguel Arteta's dressing room. I'd like to see what he'd be seeing before the game.
16:03 It's a game you feel Newcastle don't need, but try and add some positivity.
16:10 They can't compete against the big teams. They just need to get it right. Hopefully they can do that.
16:19 Last season at the Emirates was an interesting game, of course. 0-0, which was a great point for Newcastle at that point in the season.
16:27 It was a lot of the dark arts that they used last year, if I remember rightly, in that game.
16:36 They tried to rattle Arsenal quite a lot and it worked, to be fair.
16:40 I don't think Miguel Arteta is Newcastle's biggest fan, given some of the incidents he's had with Newcastle.
16:49 Eddie Howard is a modest guy, he doesn't really say much. I don't think Eddie Howard is Miguel Arteta's biggest fan.
16:57 And Jason Tindall is certainly not Miguel Arteta's biggest fan.
17:00 Definitely not. I think they got under the skin a little bit, if I'm really honest with it.
17:06 But that's perhaps a good thing. Obviously, Arsenal, as much as we just mentioned prior to this, have won two on the bounce in the Premier League with huge scorelines.
17:18 They did go away to Porto last night at the time of recording and beat 1-0 in the last minute.
17:23 That's not a great result for Arsenal in the Champions League. 1-0 in the last minute will certainly knock their confidence a little bit.
17:32 Obviously, it should still be relatively high, given the 6-0 and 5-0 wins they've had in the last few days.
17:38 But yeah, Newcastle, I don't know, they're so hard to predict these days, given everything we've said in this podcast so far.
17:45 I think it just will be what it will be, to be honest. If Newcastle go there and get anything, it will be, obviously, a successful result from our point of view.
17:58 Going forward, you could probably see Newcastle causing Arsenal some problems, especially if reports are to be believed that Alexander Isaac and Joe Willock are potentially in with a chance of being in the squad.
18:12 I think it was Craig Hope who reported that they had trained this week.
18:17 And so you'd imagine they wouldn't start, given the fact that they've both come back from injury, especially Joe Willock.
18:24 But you could see them making some cameos off the bench, which would be a real boost for Newcastle, especially if they were in the game in the last 20 minutes or so.
18:33 Whether that be drawing or winning or even getting beaten just by one goal.
18:38 To have that pace come on in the last 20 minutes, which is something Newcastle haven't had, especially in the midfield area with Joe Willock, for quite a long time now, that could really be a benefit.
18:50 But regardless of whether they make an impact against Arsenal, that remains to be seen.
19:03 Of course, a couple of days after that, on the Tuesday following, Newcastle take a trip to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup.
19:09 We're probably more likely to see Alexander Isaac and Joe Willock with more prolonged spells in that game.
19:15 You'd think if they are at least included in the squad on Saturday.
19:18 Now, Jordan, we said a little while ago that this is probably Newcastle's biggest game of this run coming up, given what the FA Cup should now really mean for Newcastle going forward this season.
19:29 Because, well, obviously no Champions League, no League Cup.
19:34 The league is still what it is.
19:36 And there's a chance Newcastle probably still will get Europe of some form, whether that be Conference League or Europa League.
19:42 I think Champions League is probably out of the question now.
19:44 But top six is still there.
19:49 I know there's still a bit of a gap, but it's still there.
19:51 But the FA Cup is probably the best chance Newcastle have got of making this a successful season.
19:57 And Blackburn are not exactly setting the world on fire in the Championship.
20:01 And so you'd hope going away to Ewood Park, Newcastle, given they're away from that, we have already mentioned, could go there and get the business done and set themselves up with a quarterfinal.
20:12 I think we said last week, for me, the Blackburn game is potentially season defining at this stage.
20:21 The importance on the FA Cup is massive because, look, without looking too far ahead, if Newcastle are to go on and win the FA Cup, for example, it's obviously a trophy.
20:31 And you also guarantee yourself a spot in the Europa League as well.
20:35 So because of the way the seasons went, look, let's be honest, it hasn't felt like a great season for Newcastle.
20:43 I think if you look at the stats, probably I think Newcastle are five or six points off where they were at this stage last season.
20:50 So it probably shows that there has been fine margins.
20:52 But if you take the season in context, it hasn't felt like an enjoyable season.
20:57 I know we've had the highs of the Champions League and beating Manchester City, Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, for example.
21:03 But it's felt like a very up and down season, probably over the last few months because of all the injuries, etc.
21:10 And the negative results felt like a bit of a slog.
21:13 So the FA Cup has added real positivity, I think, enthusiasm, hope of being able to do something.
21:22 Because on paper, Newcastle should absolutely beat Blackburn Rovers.
21:27 You mentioned that they're not doing very well in the Championship.
21:30 I know they've recently changed manager, but going to a Championship club with the opportunity of getting in the quarterfinals, it should be a given for Newcastle.
21:42 Of course, it doesn't work like that.
21:43 But if Newcastle are to lose against Blackburn, then for me, the course of the season changed because what you're competing for then when you go up the FA Cup,
21:53 you've wasted an opportunity to get the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. And then you're competing for Europe, a six or seven place finish.
22:02 But it would feel like a real missed opportunity if Newcastle don't at least get into the next stage.
22:07 And I think if they don't do that, I think there'll be a lot of angry supporters.
22:14 But as I say, I think it's not a given, but I feel like it is a given that Newcastle will get in the next round.
22:21 Out of all the draws they've had, they've had some awful draws this season.
22:25 The Champions League group.
22:27 It's the most favourable draw they've had all season, let's be honest.
22:30 It is. It's lower-tier opposition away who aren't doing too well in the Championship.
22:35 So I think they'll win. If they don't, then it will be a real, real, real disappointment.
22:42 But it's a huge, huge game.
22:46 And as I say, the FA Cup for me, probably, at least when they get the quarterfinals, I would arguably say takes precedence over the league.
22:54 That's just my opinion. I know fans will be split on that.
22:57 But I feel like because of the way that the season's gone, Newcastle at best are probably going to finish six or seven.
23:02 I think the FA Cup is a real competition to attack.
23:06 That's the thing, especially if the league doesn't quite go to plan and Newcastle don't make it to the top six and get Europa League that way.
23:12 The FA Cup, as you say, is the route back into Europe via winning that competition.
23:18 And as you say, if Newcastle go on and win this game against Blackburn, they're in the quarterfinals.
23:23 They're one game from Wembley and a semi-final appearance.
23:26 And, well, it's there for them, isn't it? Really, that's the thing.
23:31 And whilst the league form is what it is, it's sort of up and down.
23:35 But the FA Cup's been relatively good.
23:38 They've not had any replays. They've won every game with relative ease, to be honest.
23:43 Obviously, Sunderland and Fulham, two away wins, obviously.
23:48 And obviously, Sunderland as well, being a championship side, who are probably a better side than Blackburn are.
23:54 You'd say Newcastle should therefore go to Blackburn with no worries and get the job done.
24:01 Obviously, it's never quite that easy. This is football. Anything can happen.
24:04 But you would back Newcastle to win that game. And in a quarterfinal tie, if you were to get, I don't know,
24:10 I can't remember exactly who's left, but I'm sure the likes of Coventry are still in that competition and Sheffield Wednesday.
24:16 So if you got one of those and you think, well, it's there for you once again.
24:21 So Newcastle have been a cup side in years gone by.
24:25 So why can't they do it again?
24:27 And I think, honestly, if most people could choose that if Newcastle would finish outside the top six,
24:32 but win the FA Cup, they'd snap your hands off this season, to be honest.
24:36 I certainly would because winning the FA Cup is basically the equivalent of finishing top six because of what it gets you.
24:43 Plus, it's a trophy on top of that, something Newcastle haven't achieved since 1969.
24:47 So, yeah, to me, it has to take precedence, especially if they do get past Blackburn and into the quarterfinals.
24:53 And if they get a favourable quarterfinal tie, then I think you have to throw everything at it, to be honest.
24:58 Semi-finals at Wembley, well, you never know what might happen there,
25:02 given Newcastle's historically poor record at Wembley in the last, well, half a century, to be honest.
25:10 But, yeah, I feel like they're one-off games, whereas the league form is obviously it's going through this sort of up and down,
25:19 whereas the one-off games of the FA Cup provide Newcastle just that little bit of... it's just a bit different.
25:24 I don't know really how to quantify it into exact words, but if they just get the game on the day right,
25:30 then who knows what could happen for Newcastle.
25:33 So, yeah, Jordan, looking ahead to both of those games, Emirates against Arsenal and then Ewood Park-Blackburn,
25:39 you'll be at both covering there. Are you looking forward to your trips?
25:43 Yeah, it's always busy on this Newcastle beat of late.
25:46 We've had, certainly with the Champions League, I remember there was a point last year when I think we came back from Dortmund
25:52 and ended up going to Bournemouth on the Saturday. So, it's always a quick turnaround.
25:56 Even a few weeks ago, I think it was two London trips a few weeks ago or whatever.
26:02 So, yeah, it's always exciting. It's always enjoyable to go on the travels.
26:07 It's always better when Newcastle win. So, hopefully, we can get two positive results.
26:13 Maybe not Arsenal, but certainly the Blackburn game. I'm sure that we'll all be, hopefully, smiling after that.
26:21 Well, certainly the last time Newcastle played Blackburn in the FA Cup, that was in 2018 or 19.
26:28 Well, the 2018/19 season, it was a 4-2 win at Ewood Park on the draft of Benitez.
26:32 I do believe Al Roberts got his first and perhaps only goal for the club.
26:37 Hoselhoof scored, Shaw and Perez, if I remember rightly.
26:42 I think it was Longstaff instead of…
26:44 Was it Longstaff? It could have been Longstaff.
26:46 I think so.
26:47 Regardless, it was some of them.
26:51 Yeah, and obviously that got them into the next round back then.
26:55 So, yeah, it means they've got history of winning a Blackburn in the FA Cup in recent years.
27:00 So, whilst there are obviously a lot of differences in the squad, Shaw, Longstaff and Fowey and Shaw remain part of that team.
27:06 So, they'll know exactly what it's all about.
27:08 But, yeah, what are we looking forward to at Blackburn, Jordan?
27:13 I mean, as I say, we've looked at the Emirates in perhaps more detail there, given it's a trip to London, it's a trip to a top-three side.
27:20 But what sort of content have you got coming up at Blackburn?
27:22 I presume if you ask them what to win, there'll be a bit of a buzz on Newcastle World in terms of what could be achieved this season.
27:29 Yeah, just all the regular content.
27:31 We'll do a bit of analysis, player ratings, Eddie Howe coach, reaction, just everything you can sort of hope to read, I suppose,
27:41 from pundits, me and myself.
27:45 So, yeah, the content always works better when Newcastle win.
27:50 So, maybe, as I say, maybe on Saturday after Arsenal, there'll not be too many people that want to read what I think about Newcastle United's 5-0 defeat at Arsenal.
27:59 But hopefully, there'll be a lot more positivity heading into the Blackburn game.
28:05 Two big games, in their own right, but certainly the Blackburn game for me is the one, if you said to me now, you lose Arsenal and beat Blackburn, of course, that's what you'd take.
28:18 So, I'm fairly confident that's the way it'll play out, unless Newcastle go and spring a surprise at the Emirates, which, as I say, I don't want to write them off,
28:27 but I'm struggling to see how Newcastle, at this moment in time, what we've witnessed in the last few weeks of Newcastle getting a result,
28:36 unless maybe Eddie Howe fancies listening to some fans and changing the system and personnel.
28:41 Maybe he's listening to this podcast, Jordan, maybe he is. Maybe when you meet him in the morning at press conference, he says,
28:46 "Jordan, I was listening to you last night and I think, yeah, I'm going to go with what you've recommended."
28:51 [Cheering]
29:01 Just before we wrap up, obviously you will be at the press conference in the morning.
29:06 Eddie Howe's presses are notoriously, in my opinion, the same things get said week in, week out, to be honest.
29:14 What are you expecting? Obviously, we've mentioned the injury situation with Joe Willock and Alexander Ease,
29:21 do you think that'll be the main talking point?
29:23 Yeah, injury questions are usually the first up, but I think a lot of the press comments will probably be dominated by an off the field bat,
29:30 that's probably Dan Ashworth, who obviously played a song on Gordon Lee this week, so has left the football club,
29:36 he's now out of Manchester United, to pay the money, put the money down, £20 million.
29:42 Newcastle are reportedly demanding. Jim Ratcliffe yesterday in his interview, I think he called it stupid.
29:50 Hey then, Jim, if you want them, pay.
29:53 Exactly. Dan Ashworth's only been here 20 months, so you can pay a million for every month that he's been here.
30:00 I mean, Newcastle employ the sporting director for a long-term period of time, and Manchester United have came in and they want them,
30:08 and that's fair enough, but you have to pay the money. You can't just expect Newcastle to give them away.
30:12 I'd imagine that'll be largely dominated. Jim Ratcliffe's questions will be put, Jim Ratcliffe's quote will be put,
30:19 Eddie Howe about calling Newcastle, calling the fee that Newcastle won stupid.
30:24 So I'd imagine all that, Eddie Howe's press will be dominated by that. And of course, there'll be a look ahead to the Arsenal game,
30:32 and possibly even the left-back situation I'd imagine might come back up in the conversation,
30:38 because it continues to be a problem for Newcastle that at this moment in time just isn't being addressed.
30:46 Yes, well, I think that'll be the case. I'll be looking forward to your quotes on Newcastle World in the morning, Jordan,
30:50 so I'll certainly look out for them, and anyone else watching, please do look out for them as well.
30:54 As for Tyne and Weir, it's not Tyne and Weir TV anymore, it's Talk Tyne and Weir. We have changed names in recent weeks.
31:01 Yeah, do look out for some stuff in the coming week regarding Newcastle that I've got coming out soon too.
31:08 I'll keep it a bit under wraps because I don't want it to be a bit of a surprise.
31:11 But anyway, so yeah, that wraps up the Magpies Next podcast for this week.
31:17 We'll be back next week. Hopefully, after Newcastle will be in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup,
31:22 having beaten Arsenal prior to that 5-0 at the Emirates. Who knows, that might be the case.
31:29 But until then, we will catch you next time, and howay the lads!
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