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Grading Newcastle United’s Season So Far: Wins, Woes & What’s Next
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Host Michael Grahamslaw is joined by Iain Mackay and Nicola Pringle-Adams for a early-season report card on Newcastle United.
From hard-fought draws and narrow defeats to big wins at home and in Europe, the trio break down every result, debate standout performers, and deliver their letter grades on how the Magpies have fared so far.
Have Newcastle United done enough to impress—or is there work to do before the next chapter of the season?
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Transcript
Introduction and Guests
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Newcastle podcast. I'm Michael Grahamslaw. Great to have you with us as always. And today I'm joined by Ian McKay and Nicola Pringle-Adams. and we're going to be doing something a little bit different today as we analyse Newcastle's start the season and give it an American style grade.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Nicola, I'll start with you. How's it going? Are you well?
00:00:34
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yes, I'm very good. Thank you. Are you?
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, doing cracking. Thank you very much. What about you, Ian? You well?
00:00:42
Iain
Fine, m Michael, yes. Nothing's happened in the last 20 minutes is the last time you asked
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
it yes So in case anyone can't tell by, well, the clothes, we're all second recording on the Monday afternoon after our England recording.
00:00:55
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I should have changed.
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
We should have changed, but, you know, we bring familiarity.
00:01:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Amateurs.
00:01:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you can just think I've been wearing this jumper for three days. Yeah, do smell a little bit.
00:01:05
Nicola Pringle-Adams
He has.
00:01:06
Iain
We all have.
00:01:06
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:01:08
Iain
The bad thing is that Nicola wore this shirt for two days before she gave it to me to wear yesterday. ah Honestly, it needs wash.
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Does this mean I've got to wear it on Thursday? Oh, no.
00:01:17
Iain
Yeah.
00:01:17
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Sorry about that. Sending it first class.
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great stuff. Great
Analyzing Away Draws
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
stuff. Great stuff. So we're going to finish this off by putting a grade Newcastle's start the season so far. Ten games in, we've got a rough idea of what to expect.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll start off by looking at the starts of the season. The results have been 3-0-0 draws away to Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth. Three narrow defeats to Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona.
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then four wins, two in the Premier League against Forest and Wolves. ah one in the Carabao Cup against Bradford, and one in the Champions League against Union Saint-Gilois. So we'll start with the draws.
00:01:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Three away draws. Three points out of a possible nine. Nicola, because you were raising your hand so lovely there.
00:02:01
Nicola Pringle-Adams
sorry about that cheering because we've got a Europe win absolutely not no no no
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought you were raising your hand to speak, to be honest. I thought i was back in school.
00:02:06
Iain
Thank
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
LAUGHTER Well, you're going to now. Do you think we should have had more from those three draws, or are you actually feeling pretty content with three-way draws against Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth?
00:02:20
Nicola Pringle-Adams
the only one that I did expect more from was the Leeds one I won't lie um however and I'm not
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree.
00:02:30
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um I'll go into each one ah individually. The Aston Villa game, I think whoever done the preview pod before that game, after imagine I think I was on that because I did say, might have been even with me and Ian, I did say Villa are a hard team to play.
00:02:44
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um i know they're not having the best of seasons and I get it.
00:02:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:50
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um However, I always find you don't know what Villa team you are going to get on the day. um So coming away with a draw for that, I wasn't I wasn't relatively surprised or relatively disappointed. I think just maybe what i was disappointed about, we were playing against 10 men at one point.
00:03:07
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So I thought we would have maybe nicked it, but wasn't too mad with a draw at Villa.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:11
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um Again, hard team to play. Leeds, I did think we would, I did think we would get more out of that game. ah However, ah newly promoted side, I mean, it's quite a tough place to go to as well. Obviously their fans allowed, as we know.
00:03:26
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um So, yeah, so I think that's the only one that I would have expected anything from. And then what was the other one? Bournemouth.
00:03:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
must me Yeah.
00:03:33
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um what even I'm not even going to go into it. I think coming away with a Bournemouth point is better than anything because we just can never seem to get a result against them. um So and I wasn't too disappointed with them. I won't lie. I think because they were all so close together, I think maybe that's where the disappointment in the fan base has come from.
00:03:50
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:51
Nicola Pringle-Adams
But no, I'm not. I wouldn't. but There weren't three losses. So, yeah.
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%. Three draws are always better than three losses. Three points better, to be exact.
00:04:01
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Exactly.
00:04:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But
Discussing Defeats
00:04:02
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Hmm.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
what about you, Ian?
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Any thoughts to add on those three
00:04:06
Iain
i think um I think at the end of each of them, we were more disappointed than we would have been if we'd been told we were going to finish with a draw because we hammered Aston Villa.
00:04:19
Iain
And the narrative became very quickly that we didn't have a centre forward and we couldn't score.
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
We did.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:24
Iain
And actually, an away draw against Villa, and know Villa have started badly the same way Newcastle have started badly officially. Villa are coming up the table at the same pace that we are. They've started scoring and winning now as well. um So I think looking back at the end of the season, we'll be really pleased that we've got a draw at Villa because I don't think many teams will.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:45
Iain
Leeds, I thought we would beat Leeds just through sheer quality. However, Leeds were unbeaten at home for just under a year when we went there. So they don't lose very often home.
00:04:55
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:56
Iain
I know, was it Tottenham that won last week?
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Tottenham just launched win there, yeah.
00:04:59
Iain
somebody somebody i Somebody actually beat them last week. But I think... I think Leeds are going to have to win their home games to stay up, so they'll be fighting really hard. um i think we'll be pleased, looking back, that we got a a point there.
00:04:59
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:05:14
Iain
And Bournemouth, I agree again with Nicola, that was a ball fest, really.
00:05:14
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Mm-hmm.
00:05:20
Iain
But I think that's because we wanted to make sure that we got a point.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Horrible, man.
00:05:24
Iain
um So, after the games have disappointed, we only got three points from those three away games, but I think overall... We'll be happy that we've got a draw on each of them when we look back.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. I think Leeds, you're both completely right. It's a game we should be winning. You both correctly mentioned great home record. um Spurs, I know they did beat them, but Leeds were the better team on the day. I think their XG was more than one higher, um although they were behind for a large portion of the game. So maybe that's what you expect. But Leeds, the most pinnable game there.
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bournemouth, Again, I think that's a great result because we're the only team I've seen this season who've made Bournemouth look a little bit lost in attack. They created nothing against us whatsoever. Every other team I see them play against, Semenyo seems to rip them apart.
00:06:09
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, you know, who whether it's Clivert coming off the bench, Tavernier starting, Even David Brooks seems to have good games this season.
00:06:19
Nicola Pringle-Adams
yeah
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Areola's doing a great job there. We made them look pretty you know average. And then, as you say, Villa, Ian, you are absolutely spot on, in my opinion. but At the end of the season, that result will look fantastic. In fact, Nick, I think you said that as well. So, think you're both right.
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to look fantastic after 38 games, but at the time, it was two points dropped. A point of Villa Park is always good unless it's like 2016 when they've got, what, 15 points or something.
00:06:46
Iain
Thank you.
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very different Villa now. But then on to the defeats. Arguably, all three... Well, no, two of them feeling quite crushing. The other was just left with a sense of, yeah, we're not ready for these yet.
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll start with maybe the most crushing of them all, Liverpool.
00:07:07
Nicola Pringle-Adams
and of
00:07:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Probably worse for you, Nicola, than anyone else. I'm not even going add any context. 3-2 defeat at home.
00:07:13
Nicola Pringle-Adams
no
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
We had 10 men for large parts of the game. Nick, does it feel like a point lost because we went in level at 90 minutes or... Because of the circumstances, do you think anything added would have just been a bonus?
00:07:26
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um This game still... I'm nearly spoiled then. um Still really annoys me. um ah Yeah, that game does feel like a point lost. um I knew as soon as we went into 90 minutes at 2-2 and then I seen that at a time, I thought, oh, here we go.
00:07:42
Nicola Pringle-Adams
It's just, tri it's happening.
00:07:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's happening again.
00:07:44
Nicola Pringle-Adams
It's happening again and it's happened against them one too many times.
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:07:48
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um i think this one feels worse just because of who the team actually is and all the drama that was surrounding the summer window and all of August because I think that was just before Isak signed for them. So...
00:08:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:01
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, that is, to me, that is probably going to be a result that is going to annoy me for the whole season, um no matter where we finish.
00:08:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:10
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Honestly, I think that is, and the other one that you'll speak about in a minute, I think they're going to be two games I look at and just think, damn it. Yeah, so definitely a point lost there for me.
00:08:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:20
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I don't think we actually deserve to lose that game either. I know we were down to 10 men, but it's a game that I actually look back and think I don't think we deserve to lose it. So, yeah, annoying.
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. Ian, do you agree or do you think anything was a bonus?
00:08:32
Iain
i would I would go a little bit further. I'd go a little bit further. I think it's amazing that we can go two behind.
00:08:37
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh.
00:08:41
Iain
um having had Anthony Gordon sent off, that second half, we were absolutely brilliant. To come back to two all, ah so I think it was three points dropped because I think that all of the meant momentum for us, right through that last, since we equalised, it was us, time and again, corner after corner, long throw after long throw.
00:08:50
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Hmm.
00:08:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we're fine.
00:08:53
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh.
00:09:03
Iain
It looked like it was us that was going to score the winner. So what a punch in the gut it was when they're
00:09:07
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:09:11
Iain
schoolboy came on and scored in the 10th minute of injury time it's just typical but I'm kind of their luck was with them but their luck has run out in recent weeks and they' they're on a run of three consecutive losses I think which is nice to see um long may it continue I'll say that um
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah.
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. but
00:09:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah That's the happiest I've seen you a long time.
00:09:36
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I love a downfall.
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't worry all. But a result in a similar vein... I think we knew we were going to come to it. Arsenal, the 2-1 loss at home. Does that feel equally as harsh? Because on another day, refereeing decisions could have actually meant that Newcastle won the game.
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or is it again one of those where points were maybe a bonus in that kind of game when you consider we are going to play probably the team two teams that are battling for the championship?
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think, Ian? Was it three points dropped or one point dropped?
00:10:07
Iain
i I thought, i thought um gosh, I thought we had a great chance of winning when we went into it because we've won three of the last four at home.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:10:20
Iain
And Arsenal have been up there all of those seasons as well.
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:20
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:10:23
Iain
ah The way the game played out, Arsenal were far and away a better side than we were. but But we took the lead with a great goal.
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Agreed.
00:10:32
Iain
um And we hung on to that lead for quite some time. So, yeah, again, sixth minute of injury time this time for us to lose it.
00:10:40
Nicola Pringle-Adams
yeah
00:10:40
Iain
um
00:10:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Something like that.
00:10:42
Iain
Which was there another gut-wrenching loss at the time. Looking back on it, I don't resent the Arsenal fans celebrating quite as much as I do the Liverpool fans because I thought Arsenal deserved the points in the game. They were ah very good side.
00:10:58
Iain
That said, they have been previously when we won 1-0 and we've loved it. So I think that was three points dropped, personally, from my expectation.
00:11:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly.
00:11:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, to be honest, I agree. Yeah, I get that.
00:11:10
Iain
But I thought we gave a good out of ourselves.
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, completely agree. What do you think, Nick? Do you agree on that one? Three points dropped or...
00:11:19
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um yeah, deaf I mean, we were 1-0 up for the majority of the game and until the 84th minute, I think it was, and then, yeah, ah three points dropped 100%.
00:11:19
Iain
Okay.
00:11:28
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Again, ah sorry, I do, it's not even if as if I dislike Arsenal as much as I dislike Liverpool, but they're a team that are becoming a little bit frustrating to um listen to.
00:11:39
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I think it's more the manager. I think it's more him that aggravates me a little bit.
00:11:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's
00:11:43
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um So, I was, again, I wasn't, I didn't watch that game. i was in London for the day, but When I seen the 96th minute um winner and it wasn't us, was pretty annoyed. It's probably the best place to leave that.
00:11:57
Iain
school called by the guy who should have been sent to Scored by the guy who should have been sent off an hour earlier,
00:11:57
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Three points lost.
00:12:01
Nicola Pringle-Adams
And that's even more frustrating. Yeah.
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And could have gave away a penalty just five minutes earlier as well.
00:12:07
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Before that. Yeah, exactly.
00:12:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's a very, very bad one.
00:12:08
Iain
yeah
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think it was mainly because of how it was lost. And then Barcelona, the big one in the Champions League. Obviously, the match ended in defeat. But was it one that we almost came out with with pride? Because we'd went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the world.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you know maybe could have got more. But Barcelona were just too good on the day. What do you think, Ian?
00:12:33
Iain
They were brilliant. I mean, you know, we think we've got the best midfield Premier League, but their midfield, their midfield two, won the game for them against our three.
00:12:35
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Very good. Yes.
00:12:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
We could
00:12:43
Iain
That said, Alanga was on fire that night with with somebody who could actually hit the ball instead of Gordon playing centre-forward and Harvey Barnes with a little bit more confidence.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
have.
00:12:59
Iain
We could have been two up at half-time and that would have
00:13:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
could
00:13:02
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Could it, yeah.
00:13:02
Iain
game then. That would have been another Paris Saint-Germain. So it was a free hit. We said when we went in, it was a free hit. There's eight qualifying games. we need to win four or five of them. So it's Barcelona.
00:13:13
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah. Hmm.
00:13:14
Iain
We've got lots of other chances to pick up points. um But it was disappointing at the end to lose it 2-1 because because we we played so well. But again, it's encouraging stuff.
00:13:26
Iain
Very encouraging.
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now we're against great teams. Do you agree, Nick? It's one of those came up with pride.
00:13:32
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ah Yeah, I completely agree. Barcelona, mean, we want to play the big teams in the Champions League and that is what we've got. um And we've just touched on, obviously, I know the England um pod that we've done before this, but their two goals were scored by a very informed Marcus Rashford. So, ah yeah, again, a tea ah a game that I think,
Reviewing Victories
00:13:52
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I didn't expect to lose. I don't ever expect to lose anything, but I wasn't surprised to see that we did.
00:13:57
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um And it wasn't a big loss, to be honest. I think, like you say, we went toe-to-toe with Barcelona at St. James Park so what more could you want obviously other than a win
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Absolutely. We'll go into the wins and then our grading in the next part. But for now, speaking of big names, it's Bionique.
00:14:22
Iain
Thank you.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely fantastic. So i imagine we're going to be in agreement about the wins. I imagine we're pretty content with them. Maybe could have done a little better against Wolves. Forest was professional.
00:15:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then pretty excellent against Bradford and Union St. Gilroy. We agree on that?
00:15:11
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Mm-hmm.
00:15:11
Iain
We do.
00:15:12
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yep.
00:15:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely fantastic. So I'm going to ask you a few quick
Quick-fire Player Q&A
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
questions. want an answer from you both. We'll rotate who goes first. And
00:15:22
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ah
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ian, I think it was you that ended up taking longest to join the call, so you're going to go first, my friend.
00:15:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So my first question, it to be honest, it probably should be me that goes first, considering I ruined the first recording by burping halfway through it. But that's my bad spot.
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
First question is, standout performer of the season so far for Newcastle United? What do you think?
00:15:52
Iain
Ooh, ooh, hard just to pick one. But if I have to pick one, it is the Duracell Battery Bunny Sandro Tonali for me.
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely fantastic. And I'm going to assume that was Nick.
00:16:07
Iain
It's consistently high performance.
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's been absolutely excellent. And to be honest, when you watch him play, you can just see he's a calibre ahead of most players on the pitch. I mean, there's a reason he was a teenager and it and AC Milan captain. So, absolutely fantastic player. Nigola, was Tanale yours as well?
00:16:28
Nicola Pringle-Adams
yeah he was mine um think I touched on the last podcast I was on he's a player that because he always gives like eight out eight out of ten nine out of ten performances he goes under the radar a little bit um but yeah he's been outstanding I hope he never leaves
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, because you've copped out and copied Ian's answer, I'm going to ask you the second one first.
00:16:48
Iain
kind equipment
00:16:48
Nicola Pringle-Adams
okay
00:16:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do completely agree. Is there anyone you've been pleasantly surprised with so far this season for Newcastle?
00:16:57
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Malik Chow.
00:17:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um ah Yeah, he has settled into that squad quite quickly. um And I think he's probably going to be um ah one of our starting centre-backs quite regularly. um Yeah, love him.
00:17:12
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, I think he's settled in and really nicely here.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:14
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I completely agree. I think he's fantastic. I think that debut performance against Bournemouth, very solid, and then nearly getting sent off at the end, I was a little bit concerned.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the bit for me is I've started to see loads of Milan fans on Twitter, X, whatever you want to call it now, saying, oh, well, we only sold him because of his injury record, while a couple of months ago he was going to Como because he wasn't good enough.
00:17:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So them backtracking is absolutely beautiful.
00:17:39
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Exactly.
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
A great shout with Malik Chow. Ian, do you agree or have you got someone else in mind? Thank
00:17:48
Iain
I don't disagree, but I've got somebody else in mind, and that is, of course, Nick and Walter Messi.
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
you.
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, absolutely.
00:17:58
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I love that.
00:17:58
Iain
Nicholas Burber, Nicholas Burber Crouch. Wow. Honestly, Whistler gets injured. You're playing up front. I know you don't know the name of anybody in the squad yet, Nick, but he's had no training with them because they've been playing three games, three days in between games, and...
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:18:17
Iain
He's fabulous. His link-up play is already a cut ahead of most what I've seen at Newcastle.
00:18:18
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:18:23
Iain
And his close control is absolutely superb. There are one or two shorts on Facebook that I see over and over again. And it's him with the ball and the pulls it back and he knocks it through someone's leg and he comes away with it.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:37
Iain
It's incredible. It's like watching a crab play football, but being brilliant at it.
00:18:39
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah. yeah
00:18:42
Iain
It's, It's astounding. And I really, really can't wait to see what he's like when he actually gets to train with the team properly and they start working something out. I think he's really pleasantly surprised me.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i completely agree.
00:18:54
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Agreed.
00:18:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm looking forward to the next a football game coming out with a player style of crab for a player. We're going to see how that goes.
00:19:02
Iain
Thank you.
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I do see where you go with it. I actually quite like. But it's it's one of the first time I've heard that on a podcast, first time I've heard it talking about football. And that's what we bring, something completely unique.
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So thank you very much there, Ian. Unfortunately, I am going to go to you first on the next question where I'm going to ask you the name.
00:19:22
Iain
right
00:19:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
the worst player of the season so far for new castle
00:19:26
Iain
Oh dear
00:19:26
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh. Oh, this is hard.
00:19:30
Iain
Well it's said a little Most disappointing Although Green shoots of recovery in those wins Certainly Was Alanga Hasn't really set the world alight until very recently Although he has had one or two really good games So jury's out Harvey Barnes though I know he came on against Union Sanjewas. He scored.
00:19:54
Iain
He looked quite sharp there. That was a well-taken goal. But up until then, he was a waste of a shirt when he came on. I don't think he'd done anything, ah personally.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:20:05
Iain
So I'm pleased to see that Harvey Barnes is stepping up, and I hope he continues to do that. I should add, it's probably only because Joe Willock hasn't played enough for me to have him at this, but He didn't do much and too much when he was on either.
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, I completely agree. So you would say Harvey Barnes, worst player of the season so far and then disappointed in all I've got.
00:20:26
Iain
far. So far.
00:20:29
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:20:29
Iain
so far
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so far, big asterisk, yeah. So, Nicola, Ian answered both of my next questions, so now I'm going ask you as well. Worst player of the season so far, and who have you been most disappointed with?
00:20:46
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um ah My answers are the same as Ian, but I've got one more that I think is going to be very controversial. um And it's only because of the last game um that we've played.
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:20:56
Nicola Pringle-Adams
and Was it Forrest that we played? um And it's not that he's the most disappointing player of the season so far. It's just that he's flipping frustrating me a little bit.
00:21:07
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um
00:21:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are you going to say Bruno Gimanes?
00:21:09
Nicola Pringle-Adams
No, I'm not going to say Bruno. No.
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was about to say.
00:21:11
Nicola Pringle-Adams
and No, I'm going to say and Big Joe. um
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:21:17
Nicola Pringle-Adams
because i think it was the Forest game. It must have been because it's the most recent one we've played, I think. um I felt like he just wasn't... Other than just trying to take out every single player on the pitch, there was nothing really football-wise going on.
00:21:30
Nicola Pringle-Adams
and And that can be a little bit frustrating.
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:21:34
Nicola Pringle-Adams
But my answers are pretty much the same as Ian because Harvey Barnes, not done a whole lot. um So, yeah. um And I think on... Up in maybe a couple of weeks ago when, I don't know who it was, we all talked about Alanga and how we felt like he wasn't bringing a lot, but hadn't really had much time to settle into the team up until very recently.
00:21:54
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um So, yeah, I wouldn't really say there's anyone massively other than that. that And Big Joe is a stretch, by the way. That's me just clutching at straws because he is still one of our best midfielders.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:22:06
Nicola Pringle-Adams
But he does frustrate me when he just, yeah, just does things like that. But other than that, that's it.
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's more concerned about hitting a player than getting the ball at times.
00:22:15
Nicola Pringle-Adams
getting the ball sometimes yeah um but of it that's me really clutching at straws there before everyone starts shooting at me on x or whatever yeah
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%. and percent
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no, I get it. And, of course, the host asks the questions and then chips in at the end once he's got everyone else's answers. So my stand-up performer so far had been Tino Livramento. I thought he was absolutely fantastic before he got injured. I was pleasantly surprised with Malik Chow.
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
The worst player was Harvey Barnes, which is annoying because I said at the start the season he would be the best. And I had been quite disappointed in Anthony Gordon. um So, Peel, I mean, Gordon's the only one we haven't really spoken about.
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
um so I'll just say mainly because he started the season saying, I'm going to be that number nine. I'm going to be that striker for Newcastle. um And to be honest, he was the least striking striker I've ever seen in my life.
00:23:01
Iain
He's not.
00:23:05
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Absolutely.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah.
00:23:05
Iain
Can I just say most disappointing of the season is definitely that Anthony Gordon hasn't had his hair cut yet. What a bloody state he is. Come on, Anthony.
00:23:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just to add, and this is completely irrelevant to what we're talking about, but did you see the Adidas commercial sort of thing that they've put out with Anthony Gordon and Lauren Robert?
00:23:27
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I don't think I have.
00:23:30
Iain
No, I haven't seen it.
00:23:30
Nicola Pringle-Adams
need to have look.
00:23:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's the new it's the new um gear Adidas putting out in the next run.
00:23:35
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah. I'm
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Anthony Gordon's there in the gear. And Lauren Robert is just stood there in the background in a suit looking absolutely magnificent.
00:23:39
Nicola Pringle-Adams
going Oh,
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's almost as if to say they've put the advert out and go, you're not going to look like Lauren Robert, so look like Anthony Gordon instead. It took me about 20, 30 seconds to realize that they were actually advertising a new product because Robert has just stood there in his suit
00:23:51
Nicola Pringle-Adams
God.
00:24:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh.
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
looking all sparkling. it's It's one of those where I was almost baffled by it. um But Gordon's haircut in that, it's pushed back. It's like the original Jack Grealish.
00:24:11
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I need to find it.
00:24:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I agree, it it doesn't look great. Nicola, concentrate, we're on a podcast.
00:24:17
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Sorry.
00:24:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
You don't want see Laura Robert.
00:24:18
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Sorry. Sorry. right
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And everyone that's just searched Laura Robert, I'm just going on in the background right now.
00:24:21
Nicola Pringle-Adams
but
Performance Grading and Expectations
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But back to focus.
00:24:26
Nicola Pringle-Adams
you
00:24:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've established how we feel about the game so far. Four standout players for the right and the wrong reasons. I want to let a grade now on who can know how Newcastle United have done this season and what do in the American school system.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Grades A plus to F. Now, before I ask, do either of you want anything explained or is that all pretty much self-explanatory?
00:24:52
Iain
Could you just run through the first six letters of the alphabet for me, please, Michael? No, you don't have to do that, but...
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Z, X, Y. Right. Smashing. So, first of all, I'll go. I've asked Ian first on the tough question last time. So, Nicola, I am going to start with you.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Four wins, three draws, three losses from the opening 10 games. How would you grade Newcastle United's start to the campaign?
00:25:22
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um I am going to go for a C.
00:25:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, fantastic.
00:25:27
Iain
o Oh, harsh.
00:25:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
What about you, Ian?
00:25:30
Nicola Pringle-Adams
A little bit.
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, what you give it, Ian?
00:25:30
Iain
Harsh. Yeah, I'm glad you never marked it yeah you never marked any of my exam papers.
00:25:32
Nicola Pringle-Adams
don't know. There.
00:25:36
Iain
I'd give Newcastle a B. And I think after this after the next four league games, so four games we've got coming up in the next international break, I think we'll be up at the A's.
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, okay. Okay.
00:25:47
Iain
I think it'll be A minuses.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh
00:25:49
Iain
But yeah, B. B. I get it.
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay
00:25:51
Nicola Pringle-Adams
yeah
00:25:51
Iain
After five or six games, it would have been C. But ah the last four games, I'd you know We've won three of the last four and then narrowly lost to Arsenal, didn't we? So, yeah, I think that's a much better improvement.
00:26:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:26:06
Iain
see at Me for me, Michael.
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, to be honest, I'm teetering in between. We've got a C, we've got a B. I was thinking a C plus, B minus. I'm going to go the B minus purely because of the transfer window. We've mentioned Malik Chow.
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've mentioned Nick Vultemar. We had the absolute snake stab us in the back. We managed to survive. We're pushing forward.
00:26:27
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And all of a sudden... The sun is shining bright on Tyneside once again. Let us know your grades. Has it been a decent start to the season for Newcastle or are you wanting more?
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if more is what you want, that's exactly what you're going to get at the Global Sports Podcast Network for the daily Newcastle podcast because we have content every single day. But for now, from Ian, Nicola and myself, thanks for listening.
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully we get back to three points at the weekend. It is bright and it's a tough one. How are the mags?