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Could Hugo Ekitike be about to sign for Newcastle United?!
18 Plays4 days ago
About 10 minutes before Fabrizio Romano announced Newcastle United's bid for Hugo Ekitike. Michael hosts Nicola to discuss the potential transfer, their dream Champions League pots with a fun quiz question at the end of the episode.
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Transcript
Welcome and Introduction
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everybody and welcome to the Daily Newcastle Podcast. I'm your host Michael Graham, so and today I am joined by Nicola Pringle-Adams. How's it going Nicola? You doing well?
00:00:18
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I'm good. Yep. Good. Good for a Monday. How are you?
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, as you say, it doing well for a Monday. For some reason felt really refreshed. I don't know if it was the the sunshine and then the mix of heavy downpour we've had in the North East. I'm not sure if it's the same where you are.
00:00:32
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Nope.
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, still beautiful sunshine.
00:00:35
Nicola Pringle-Adams
It's still roasting.
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah We had a bit...
00:00:36
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yep.
Newcastle vs. Celtic & Player Debuts
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah we started to have a bit of thunder and lightning up here in the northeast so uh yeah i can i can see i can see the end of this uh heat wave and i'll be thankful for it because anyone that watched the episode uh last night it's it's 10 o'clock at night and i do have lights here that are they'll beaming on me a little bit but i was about 20 minutes in and i realized anyone watching this is going to be repulsed by the sheer amount of sweat on my forehead hits so i do apologize and it's not going to happen again today hopefully like
00:01:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
hot don't worry about it
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But what is going to happen soon is we are going to see Newcastle in action. um We'll play Celtic this weekend. um And we might even see Anthony Alanga's first appearance in a Newcastle shirt.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Obviously, I think he did play a bit for Sweden, so he might be a bit delayed with the rest of the guys.
00:01:16
Nicola Pringle-Adams
yeah
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know he was in Portugal ah beforehand. um But that's a deal that's been done. ah Don't need to talk about that anymore.
Transfer Rumors and Player Moves
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
um The rumour mill has kind of dried up on new signings.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
James Trafford, I haven't heard his name in weeks, actually, unless it's been out of my mouth. So I don't think that's happening anymore.
00:01:38
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Nope, same.
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then the one that does seem to be happening, or at least in the eyes of everybody, except what seems to be me, is Hugo Eketike from Eintracht Frankfurt.
00:01:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's the only rumoured signing at the moment. um I've got my own thoughts on that, obviously, which I've kind of just gave an inkling about. But what do you think about the deal? Is it one you you see Newcastle exploring?
00:02:02
Nicola Pringle-Adams
We already... explored it a couple of years ago and he completely shut us down. um
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:09
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So would we waste time going back to a player that didn't want to come to us in the first place? Because if I'm being completely honest, I don't want players like that here. You know, we've all seen the video of Anthony Alanga in the car on the way up, which I believe is probably his medical or coming to meet the rest of the team and saying, you know, he just knew in his gut.
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I get that.
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:27
Nicola Pringle-Adams
He just knows. He just knows. That's the type players you want here. You don't want people I mean, granted, obviously three years ago, we're in a complete different position to what we are now, but I don't know. It's, I honestly it can't, it's going to go, i don't actually know what we're going to do because we we do need a striker.
00:02:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Were you just about to say it's going to go one or two ways, he signs or he doesn't? It's the most Mike-alone thing I've ever heard in my life.
00:02:48
Nicola Pringle-Adams
right Yeah. had something in my head, but couldn't, I couldn't think quick enough to get it out. It doesn't matter. But, um, yeah, not too sure.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:57
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I'm not too sure which way we'll go with that one. Um, Because like we've discussed last week, we ah we are in need of a second striker. so um But is it going to be is is he going to be the one that we entertain or not?
00:03:10
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um And does he even want to come here or does he want to go somewhere else?
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:12
Nicola Pringle-Adams
she just don't know where he wants to go, do you?
00:03:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think the I'm a little caught up on the fact he rejected to a few years ago as well. But I think you we do kind of have to look at it and go, he is a French player. The chance to play for the French champions, Paris Saint-Germain. It's probably like for an Englishman playing for Fergie's Man United, which don't be wrong, anyone from the north would say, I'm not doing that.
00:03:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think there's a lot of people in the Midlands and the south who would snap up the opportunity in, to be honest.
00:03:37
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ah
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, if I was a footballer, I would as well. So maybe I can see that for Ekotike as well. But I do have to say there's something that Fabrizio Romano um came out with. And this comes after the fact that the price tag is £86 million. pounds Apparently, the release closed, which breaks our transfer record by £20 million on a player that's a backup to Alexander Rezac.
00:04:02
Nicola Pringle-Adams
yeah
00:04:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
That doesn't make sense to me, but... What does make quite a lot of sense um this morning is Fabrizio Romano coming out on his YouTube channel and saying, Hugo Eketike actually wants to move to England, wants to move to an English club where he's playing in the Champions League.
00:04:07
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ah
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, what that says to me is What happened last time? His agent drummed up all this interest from Newcastle. Sure, we probably inquired
Player Pursuits and Squad Dynamics
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
about him. And then he ended up where he wanted to go, PSG.
00:04:33
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Pastry, yeah.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got a feeling the exact same is happening, but they want to get him at Liverpool instead. And from a Liverpool perspective, he'll cost half the amount of Alexander-Izac.
00:04:40
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ah
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that that's probably one that works better for them than Izac. It stinks, in my opinion, of of that. But what do you think?
00:04:54
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I didn't think of it like that until you've just said that you're probably 100% on the ball on the mark there um
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not just being a negative Nancy, am I not?
00:05:03
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Not being a negative, Nancy. No, but you are right. Because if, does he really want to come and play for Newcastle when likelihood is you're going to have to accept the fact that you are going to be second. You are probably going to sit on the bench.
00:05:14
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Now, I know that obviously we can, we can um obviously play with formations and have two of them at the top.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:18
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Are Newcastle going to do that though?
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I don't think so.
00:05:22
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Probably not. We're probably not going to do that, are we? um So yeah, ah I just can't see him being okay coming, like you say, from PSG to Newcastle. to sit on the bench I can't see any I can't see I can't see him wanting to do that um would he walk into Liverpool starting 11 that's the other question though i mean think he's got a better chance than what 100% yeah um but yeah if that creates the noise that um they're wanting for him then so be it like we say we only want players here that want to be here we don't want
00:05:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's got a better chance of doing so than at Newcastle, definitely.
00:06:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um I almost don't want Newcastle to entertain it if that's the case I don't want them to create noise around it if it's going to get fans his hopes up and then because there is fans that want him at the club which is besides me but like fine he's obviously a great player but um yeah it's almost as if they're going to create noise around it and he's linked with Newcastle really heavily I'd rather them not do that just if you're going to go to Liverpool go to Liverpool if you're going to go to I don't know Arsenal go to Arsenal even though you probably won't go there but you know I mean
00:06:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%. ah so No, saying. Yeah, and it's it's one of those where...
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the reason there's been so much hype about it is because of the implications that it might have on Alexander Izak.
00:06:36
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, you don't sign an 86 million pound striker to sit them on the bench.
00:06:40
Nicola Pringle-Adams
no
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that is very much where you'd be when you've got the caliber of Alexander Izak. We saw what it was like at the end of the season when we didn't have Joe Linton. um We were almost abysmal without him. He's one of the clogs that keeps the clock ticking, should we say.
00:06:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So if Ekotike does side, where does he fit in this Newcastle side? Because either Alexander Izak leaves, which... i've I'll go on the record and say i've yeah it's not happening this summer, in my opinion.
00:07:13
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Not this one.
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Next year, potentially.
00:07:14
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Nope.
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But this year, Azak doesn't go anywhere. So does do we try and force him out on the wing somewhere? But we've just signed Alanga. We've got Gordon. Or do we try and you know change the the formation, which and I don't think how even attempts.
00:07:28
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Deformation.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what do you think?
00:07:33
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Nope. I just, I obviously said that in my apartment a minute ago. I can't see him. playing around with the formation too much, knowing fine well that we have, like you said last time we was on together, at least 48 games,
Champions League Group Stage Preferences
00:07:46
Nicola Pringle-Adams
at least 48 games this year.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:48
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um Now, obviously, we all love Isak and we obviously really lucky to have him, but we all know how injury prone he can be. That's not me wishing an injury on him. But obviously, if you play with them two on the pitch, and obviously then, you know, say earlier in the season, Alexander Isak goes off of an injury, we're then relying heavily on
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no, of course not.
00:08:08
Nicola Pringle-Adams
you know, just one.
00:08:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nothing regarding Alanga.
00:08:09
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So I can't exactly. Yeah. So I absolutely cannot see him doing that. I can't see him. I can't see him changing the formation, but as many times Eddie Howe has proved me completely wrong and has proved every reason why i just sit here and talk about it and don't actually have a professional job football.
00:08:26
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So who knows, who knows? Um, the Fabrizio Murano is probably the only in the know that you'll, um,
00:08:37
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I say in the know with quotation marks because obviously he's massively in the know, but he's um he's probably the only one that you can probably fully trust, I guess.
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:46
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So if, you know, if he's coming out saying that he's linked with Newcastle, then there must be some truth to it.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:53
Nicola Pringle-Adams
there but there must be some and quiet There must be some agent talk going on somewhere for that to be linked so heavily.
00:08:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's...
00:08:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, you're probably right. I think it's one of those where I am kind of just praying it's agent talk because I know the 86 million isn't my money. um If it was, I'd be making some very, very, well, much smarter investments in my opinion. um But I think it's it's one of those where for me, it's got to be agent talk. I don't want to see Newcastle breaking that transfer record on...
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
players like that um who are virtually unproven. i Alexander Rezac probably was around the same. He was a little bit unproven, but we all sat there and went, you know what, we think this kid could be unbelievable for Newcastle.
00:09:33
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ye
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Despite only getting six in La Liga the year before, Agatike kind of stinks of a Roberto Soldado for me, where he comes to the Premier League off the back of a 25-goal season or something like that and can't sit behind a player can't sit behind ah another striker.
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He has to play constantly to be getting those kind of numbers. Or even 10 goals a season, should we say, because that's been a Soldado was nothing like 10 goals a season. But it's it's one of those where think it's really worrying if we bring in a player like that.
00:09:59
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Exactly.
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But again, If we do sign him, I'll be sitting there saying, you know what, he's probably going to be a great signing. We just need to put the two together because if Eddie Howe's got a plan, who are we to say?
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah You shouldn't be doing that.
00:10:17
Nicola Pringle-Adams
work. Yeah.
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:19
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I mean, To be honest, I've just got my phone up here next to me just with some Newcastle pages up. And if we're linked anyone, it has to be a centre back. I'm not sure if you've seen this, but the boys are heading into training and guess whose knee's strapped up and he's limping.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Botman?
00:10:36
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
from the the game against Kyle on Saturday.
00:10:40
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, I don't know. I'll see if i can i if I can get my thing up.
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:10:44
Nicola Pringle-Adams
and You can see him. He's limping away with his knee strapped up.
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:10:47
Nicola Pringle-Adams
There we go.
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it looks like I'm looking at a ring doorbell, I can't lie, but I can briefly get him out there.
00:10:53
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Briefing him out.
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:54
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So if we're going to be linked with anyone, can we please have a centre-back come in?
00:10:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:10:57
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Because here's me eating my words, defending him till I was dying on the hill last week. And, yeah.
00:11:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and then even if that if we do end up bringing someone in, it looks like it'll be s Scalvini who, well, his his knees, his hamstrings, his legs, his arms, his head, he's had more injuries than I've had hot meals.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's it's going to be a difficult one, but it's it's going to be a difficult one if we've got those two at centre-back.
00:11:16
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh, poor Botman.
00:11:20
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh,
00:11:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for now, um obviously, it's a heightened campaign because of the Champions League, but we'll go more into the Champions League after the advert from Bayern Eek.
00:12:10
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Lovely job.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fantastic. And it didn't even repeat. I'm a happy man.
00:12:14
Nicola Pringle-Adams
No. Normally it
00:12:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I did yesterday and I pooed myself right in the middle of it going, stop, stop, stop, stop. So that's another reason. ah But yeah, so I've sent you a link um during this podcast of the projected Champions League pots.
00:12:28
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yes.
00:12:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um If anyone was listening to an episode Ian and I did last week, and we did exactly the same where I took Ian through ah the pots, the projected pots, and got his opinion on well you know who he wanted us to play.
00:12:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So in pot one, obviously we're going to start at the top. um We bear in mind that Newcastle cannot play English opposition in the group stage, um which means the only teams we can face are Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona.
00:12:57
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Come on.
00:13:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we have one home game, one away game. Who do you want to bring to St. James's Park and where do you want the magpies to travel to?
00:13:12
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So I'm going to immediately take out PSG and Dortmund because had them last time and we've already taught PSG a lesson.
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's my thinking as well.
00:13:17
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So, yep, they can go. um I would love a wee trip to Real Madrid.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the Bernabeu, beautiful stadium.
00:13:25
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah. You cannot, can't knock that, can you? And do you know the other one? ah Because if you're going to do it, you've got to do it right. Bring Barcelona.
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, Barcelona at St. James' Esprit vibes all over again.
00:13:38
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Bring Barcelona over. Absolutely.
00:13:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be absolutely fantastic. um It's one of those where I think you look at both clubs. And just to bear in mind, everyone as well, we're not saying we're going to beat Real Madrid at the... new at the
00:13:53
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Mm-mm.
00:13:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
at the Santiago Bernabeu. Barcelona, I do agree, you'd probably rather play them at St. James' than at the Nou Camp because Nou Camp's been renovated, so it wouldn't be the same experience for the fans that go over. ah But could you just imagine that Spanish doubleheader against Newcastle in the Champions League?
00:14:05
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Absolutely.
00:14:08
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Love it.
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And sa and ah to be honest, I think i so I might have said the same two teams. I think I said travel to the Bernabeu and um bring Inter Milan to St.
00:14:20
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:14:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
James' Park, but Barcelona definitely up there.
00:14:22
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I didn't see them sneaking in there between PSG and Chelsea. Yeah, that's another good one.
00:14:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, last last year's finalists.
00:14:26
Nicola Pringle-Adams
But yeah, we'll take Boston. Of course.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah You don't want to go to the San Siro. We did it with AC Milan already, but Inter, I've got a big soft spot for Inter Milan.
00:14:32
Nicola Pringle-Adams
No, no, no, no, no.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um was gutted when PSG destroyed them in the final, but...
00:14:39
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh, I know. Me too. the land didn't even turn up.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bringing them to... no it's ah it's a shame. um But with that, so we've got Real Madrid as the away game, Barcelona as the home game. um
00:14:50
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yep.
00:14:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
In pot two, so we have Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, and two teams that haven't qualified yet, but it does look very likely that they will, in Benfica and Club Bruges.
00:14:53
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh.
00:15:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Obviously, that's subject to change, but out of those teams, who would you like to face away and who would you like to bring to St. James's?
00:15:18
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I'm going bold, you know.
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:15:22
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Because I think if you're going to be messing with the big boys, you've just got to you've just got to bring it, ain't you? um
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got to go for it.
00:15:28
Nicola Pringle-Adams
You've got to go for it. I would quite like to... Athletico Madrid bring to St. James.
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:15:36
Nicola Pringle-Adams
and Yeah.
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
A Madrid doubleheader.
00:15:38
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ah know and Madrid double header and yeah I would love it and Juventus Juventus I would quite like maybe to go well not me personally but because with to travel there
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be unreal.
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. The old lady in Juventus. um Not a literal old lady, obviously. um But Lloyd Kelly at centre-back. They're not the team they once were.
00:16:02
Nicola Pringle-Adams
yeah
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But those Andy Griffin vibes from back in the day, um back in the 2000s, I'd love to see us play Juventus again. And I've got a strong thought that we'll beat them. ah So I completely agree.
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm terrified of playing Atletico Madrid. ah just a Diego Simeone team. But I can definitely see.
00:16:22
Nicola Pringle-Adams
we've got them in before the season right we're playing is Atletico Madrid we're playing just before the season starts yeah oh maybe I've first team first team yeah
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but I can't ah can't imagine we'll see um the Simeone team Hit-housery, should we say, and a pre-season game. And if we do, then ah that just sums up Atletico Madrid.
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be beautiful. But ah the team I chose, I said Benfica, because could you imagine going to the Estadio de Luiz, the real Stadium of Light, on the Tuesday or the Wednesday before we play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and winning at the Stadium of Light twice in one week?
00:16:42
Nicola Pringle-Adams
who did you say
00:16:45
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh yeah, good shout.
00:16:59
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Twice in a week. Beautiful.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
that That would be beautiful.
00:17:01
Nicola Pringle-Adams
That's what dreams are made of.
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be beautiful. Exactly. um So to be fair, we've agreed on two and two excellent answers there as well. um A large Spain contingent in yours. I'm not sure if you're not just planning for your holidays.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Actually, you said Barcelona and I let it go at home, so it doesn't really work, but the jokes.
00:17:18
Nicola Pringle-Adams
It really work like that. Yeah.
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like the joke. It's fine. So we've got...
00:17:23
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I'm going to struggle with these next ones, I think.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the the next one's pot three and pot four are where you realistically want to be getting your points. um
00:17:31
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ah
00:17:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think pot one, let's be honest, I'm not expecting anything from any of those teams. Maybe get a draw against someone at St.
00:17:38
Nicola Pringle-Adams
No.
00:17:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
James' Park. um We weren't expecting to beat Paris Saint-Germain 4-1, but there we are. ah And then, yeah, you could you could get points quite easily against Juventus, Frankfurt, Club Rouge, etc.
00:17:44
Nicola Pringle-Adams
But we did.
00:17:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
in part two, but Atletico Madrid are probably the ones to avoid, in my opinion. But it would be a great, great matchup.
00:17:56
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Watch me just scope that into existence. I would love, although I would love to um go to the Real Madrid, to back to Porto on Real Madrid ground, I would love to see um them at St.
00:18:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope you don't.
00:18:08
Nicola Pringle-Adams
James' as well. I just want to play everyone at St. James' Park.
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. They've pretty much got the Galacticos together these days as well with Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., Mbappe.
00:18:17
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:18:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd love to just see like Sean Longstaff, Dan Byrne just doing a number on them again.
00:18:18
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I love that on you.
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I say again in Mbappe's case, but yeah, exactly.
00:18:24
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Well, he kept in Papi Kwon last time. Yeah.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that'd be brilliant.
00:18:30
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Perfect.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pot three. So um just to note, Tottenham are the only English team in there. So the opposition could be...
00:18:37
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Still can't believe they're in there.
00:18:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
hey Yeah, they really shouldn't be. But Big Ange, what a man.
00:18:41
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I don't understand. What a man. Yeah, always wins in his second season. And he did.
00:18:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and then get sacked.
00:18:47
Nicola Pringle-Adams
m Right. And he then got said Yeah, poor thing.
00:18:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
so we have pis ye So we have PSV, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting Lisbon, Olympia Icos, Slavia Praha and Marseille with Europa League semi-finalists.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bodo Glimt not confirmed just yet.
00:19:07
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh, God, I'm struggling with these ones. Maybe Ajax?
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, a trip to Amsterdam would be...
00:19:14
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Trips Amsterdam would be pretty cool.
00:19:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Well, yeah, a trip the Amsterdam Arena would be fantastic. I said that the team I didn't want to play was Napoli. um
00:19:22
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, no, maybe...
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Getting the Italian champions in pot three is quite quite it scary, in my opinion.
00:19:25
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, it's hard going.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
LAUGHTER
00:19:28
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, um definitely Ajax and a trip there. And then... PSV? PSV?
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's a great shout. I mean, they're losing... It looks like they're going to lose um star player Bagayoko. Obviously, he has fell out a little bit out of favour, but he's the most exciting player there.
00:19:45
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So who depending on who they're replacing with, PSV would still be a great fixture. um
00:19:51
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agreed. i think I said Ajax. um I'm pretty certain I said Ajax away. ah But for at home, I said I wanted us to play Marseille because I would love to see...
00:20:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, good one.
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if you've noticed the the roster of players that Marseille have been compiling, but they've basically tried to get every person who's hated at the moment underwater and under one roof.
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um There's a lot of ah legal issues in that team. And I would just love to see Bruce Marez and Joe Linton going up to the likes of Greenwood and just clotheslining the
00:20:17
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh.
00:20:21
Nicola Pringle-Adams
At it.
00:20:24
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh, yeah. How did I forget who plays for them?
00:20:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's not the only one that's got a bit of history there as well. So, um yeah, i'd I'd love to see um Joe Linton get his hands on a few of them, but that's that's more personal vendetta on my side than anything else. And they are, they are unfortunately, a good team.
00:20:43
Nicola Pringle-Adams
They are.
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Pot four? Obviously, the pot that Newcastle United are in, um if anyone's unaware, out of everyone that's qualified, we do have the lowest coefficient.
00:20:47
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Here we go.
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So we're officially the worst team in the tournament at the moment in UEFA's eyes, which is going to make it all the most sweeter when we win it.
00:21:01
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I can't... Have they watched Tottenham play?
00:21:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, but unfortunately, Tottenham did win a European trophy last season.
00:21:08
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I know, but have they watched them play? Because, yeah, okay, um right then.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're going to spend more time in court this season than they are on the pitch, to be fair, where with that Morgan-Gibbs-White deal.
00:21:21
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I know, yeah.
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going very interesting to see how that plays out.
00:21:23
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, bad, bad. Interesting. Yeah. um Anyway, back
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But on to Pot 4, yep, so the teams that have officially qualified already in Pot 4 are AS Monaco, Galatasaray, Union Saint-Jolai, Athletic Bilbao, and then the teams who haven't officially qualified but look likely to do so are FC Copenhagen, Red Star Belgrade, Ferenfaros, and Celtic. So who are the two there that you'd want to play? One away, one home.
00:21:55
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Is it bad that I only really recognise like three of these teams?
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe a little bit.
00:22:01
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Probably a bit bad, isn't it? um Right, one away. Oh, God, where would you want to go out of this?
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I can tell you where I don't want to go, and that would be Galatasaray.
00:22:10
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Go on then. yeah, they're not going there. They're not even coming here.
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that their fan base, I mean, very passionate. yeah I love watching it on the telly, but going through the centre of Newcastle or us sin as um us in Turkey, yeah, that'd be quite scary.
00:22:27
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I also don't want to play Celtic either.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really? Why is that?
00:22:31
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Well, and no, ah maybe I do want to play Celtic in the Champions League, more so because ah my dad's a massive Rangers fan, so just hate them.
00:22:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. But it looked that that's all the better.
00:22:40
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I just hate them. Let's go there.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
You want to beat the teams you hate.
00:22:43
Nicola Pringle-Adams
that So Celtic can come to us. Celtic can come to us.
00:22:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. We'll batter them at St.
00:22:47
Nicola Pringle-Adams
We'll take it.
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
James' yeah.
00:22:48
Nicola Pringle-Adams
We're back the St. Jameses, right? Let's play Celtic. And then, mate, I don't actually know other one where I want to go. Maybe Copenhagen?
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Copenhagen would be nice, yeah.
00:22:56
Nicola Pringle-Adams
SC Copenhagen, that'd be quite a nice trip away.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, lovely stuff. I think I said, um I did say Celtic myself, which is why I was a big advocate for. And then ah think, I can't remember who I said for the the last one.
00:23:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I said I wanted to go to Hungary against Ferentharos just simply because we've played them in European competitions before.
00:23:13
Nicola Pringle-Adams
and and trustee
00:23:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Obviously had a bit of success. um And then, you know, I'd like to do it again. And it's probably the best, it's the most likely three points we're going to get.
00:23:28
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yep.
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
out of those four so um i'm not going to go through it yet but basically what the aim of this is is that sort of when we get to the draw uh see if anyone's changed their mind and then i'm going to get used to to predict how many points you're going to get from those games so look forward to that um but for now
00:23:43
Nicola Pringle-Adams
come on Oh, wait.
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:23:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know what, for now we're just going to go straight into the next part. um We're not going to bother with another advert. um But I'm going to go through some changes that have happened ah in regards to to backroom staff.
Coaching Changes and Tactical Adjustments
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Newcastle United finally have a set-piece coach now.
00:24:05
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Come on.
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're catching up with the the rest of the Premier League. um For anyone that thinks I'm being serious, I'm going We've had Jason Tindall and other coaches doing it for ah the last few years, and it's worked quite nicely.
00:24:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've had one of the best defences and the seventh best attack in the league from those positions. But we've brought in, I believe it's Martin Mark. um He replaced Arsenal's current set-piece coach at Michelin in and Denmark. Yes, Michael, in Denmark.
00:24:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah They dropped off a little bit, but they still had very strong numbers and some of the best in the league. So yeah if Newcastle are seventh best in the Premier League with Jason Tindall and a couple of others looking over it, it's it's very exciting to see what we can do with um with you know someone actually dedicated to it.
00:24:49
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Exciting. and
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you mentioned centre-backs just a bit there. if we If we do bring in someone new, does that mean the tactics got to officially change from Lump It to Dan Byrne and hope for the best?
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think?
00:25:08
Nicola Pringle-Adams
It's got to, surely. We can't rely on that all season.
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Imagine getting paid.
00:25:13
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I mean, it served quite well this season, but but yeah.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Imagine getting paid the amount you get paid for a set-piece coach and he's oh all he's got written down on the notepad is Lump
00:25:22
Nicola Pringle-Adams
lump it no ah yeah it's got yeah surely it will change yeah surely it will change it's nice to actually see that Newcastle are investing money in the right areas that's needed as well um I know goes without saying obviously we don't really hear a lot about the backroom staff but it's nice that we're like in this new sort of era that we're kept up to date with you know ah set piece coach and things like that so you know it's nice to actually see the club are aware of it and um
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah but It's exciting stuff, isn't it? Yeah.
00:25:51
Nicola Pringle-Adams
have made progress on it. So it would be nice. And I'm sure we'll obviously see progress on that um throughout the season, hopefully, instead of lumping into Dan Burnham and hoping him for the best.
00:25:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. but
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
It worked in the cup final, didn't
00:26:02
Nicola Pringle-Adams
What a team. Exactly.
00:26:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's been plenty of times it hasn't worked, but hopefully we'll start to see Newcastle United it up near the top of that ah table for attacking set pieces. And hopefully that'll be the difference between us getting Champions League and Europa League next season. and ah The other, I'll move on from my man Mark on set pieces, but ah go for Jack Ross, the ex-Sunderland manager, has also gotten a promotion ah to head of football strategy, which I can't lie, if that was so if that was a kind of title I'd heard when I was working somewhere, I'd probably reckon it was made up.
00:26:35
Nicola Pringle-Adams
does that mean yeah what what is that job entailing then
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
What you think? Yeah.
00:26:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, literally. it's is Is he going to replace the sporting director? I personally don't know. um i imagine he's going to be working a bit closer with like Shola Ramiobi on outgoings, which means we might actually see some of the youngsters go out on loan this season.
00:26:55
Nicola Pringle-Adams
True. Yep.
00:27:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:27:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yep.
00:27:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Actually, that that's common sense. We're not going to do that. ah um But ahead of...
00:27:05
Nicola Pringle-Adams
We don't do things simple, Michael.
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
know head of Head of Football Strategy, it's a very, very weird title. um But congratulations to Sunderland manager Jack Ross for finally getting a title.
00:27:13
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Hmm.
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
That means something, because manager at Sunderland certainly didn't.
00:27:20
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Means nothing.
00:27:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yes. But to end, Nicola, I want to play a little game, and I'll explain the concept here.
Football Connections Game
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So I'm going to give you two players.
00:27:28
Nicola Pringle-Adams
that
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I will ask you to guess the player that connects them. um So let's say, I'm trying to think of example off the top my head that isn't the question. um So a player has to have played with both players.
00:27:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
If I was to say Edgar Davids and Stephen Taylor, it's quite a good one, actually. The connection would be Patrick Klivert because he played for Ajax in 94 with Davids and played with Stephen Taylor at Newcastle.
00:27:56
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Right.
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, don't be wrong. This question isn't that hard. um I've came up with a better question off the top of my head, um which is annoying.
00:28:02
Nicola Pringle-Adams
OK.
00:28:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But does that sound good?
00:28:09
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Let's go. I'm not going to be very good at this.
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's okay. You ready to go, though?
00:28:13
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Ready to go.
00:28:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, football connections. I'm going to give you two players, and what I need you to do is find me the connection. The player who played with both. After about 15, 20 seconds, I'll give you three players to choose between if you're struggling. So the first player is Sergio Ramos.
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, Real Madrid legend. um And the second player is Alan Shearer. So have a think. Don't give me an answer right away. um But if you've got ah an idea of who you might say...
00:28:45
Nicola Pringle-Adams
No.
00:28:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
No? Okay. Well, that's fine. if youre if everyone is
00:28:49
Nicola Pringle-Adams
God.
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
If everyone is playing along at home, I do recommend that you pause the the podcast episode or the video if you're watching on social media ah to avoid having the answers spoiled for you.
00:29:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But okay, Nicola, Big Al is in there. Newcastle United legend. Do you think you know who the link is or do you want our multiple choice answers?
00:29:13
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Can I have some multiple choice, please? I feel like I'm panicking.
00:29:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so I'm gonna give you three options here. So the first option is Michael Owen. The second option is Jeremy. And the third option is Jonathan Woodgate.
00:29:31
Nicola Pringle-Adams
It can't be Michael Owen, surely.
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who are you thinking?
00:29:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I say nothing until you give me an answer.
00:29:35
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I'll just go with that one. I'll just go with that one.
00:29:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're gonna go for Michael Owen, okay.
00:29:39
Nicola Pringle-Adams
don't think it is that one, though.
00:29:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is not Michael Owen. The correct answer was, in fact, Jonathan Woodgate.
00:29:47
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Really?
00:29:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Owen, yeah, and a fun fact about Michael Owen, he actually left Real Madrid the same day that Sergio Ramos joined. So, I don't know if they were directly linked cash-wise, but Ramos might not have even signed for Real Madrid if it wasn't for the departure of Michael Owen.
00:29:57
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Oh, okay.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who knew? And then, obviously, Jeremy...
00:30:05
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Whoa, who knew that?
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And obviously Jeremy, Newcastle United legend. Jeremy, yeah, everyone knows that.
00:30:11
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, everyone knows him.
00:30:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
The new breed of every new breed of fans will definitely know about Jeremy. um he was ballot He was nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2000, so he he was all right um until he...
00:30:20
Nicola Pringle-Adams
We were five.
00:30:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah ah Yeah, roughly. like ah He was all right until he joined Newcastle in 2007.
00:30:27
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yes.
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, he was he was very poor for us. um But
Podcast Conclusion & Teasers
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's that. I just want to end the pod on a little bit of a fun note. um Hope everyone who played along at home enjoyed.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's been us from the Daily Newcastle podcast. Nicola is back tomorrow with Kev and Joanne. And then I'm not back till Thursday, where I'll be with Nicola and Ian, to discuss the friendly against Celtic at the weekend.
00:30:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you've got all that to look forward to this weekend. But for now, it's goodbye.
00:30:55
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Lovely job. Bye.