Tag: Premier League

Magpie Moments Episode 6

There’s never a dull week supporting Newcastle. Even in the quiet times we’ve got the likes of Big Frank Chippa to get us in the news anyway. Anyway, another week, another selection of Magpie Moments to bring back a few good memories.

Matt Ritchie, corner flag killer. Matt Ritchie is one of my personal favourite Newcastle players of all time. A gifted footballer who joined us when we were at one of our lowest points and who could be relied upon to make things happen on the pitch. But it was a time when he made something happen just off the pitch that makes for a Magpie Moment. Picture the scene. It’s January 2020 and Newcastle are at 0-0 with Chelsea at home. We have a corner cleared out to Allain Saint-Maximin who plays a beauty of a ball back in to the box where Isaac Hayden gleefully heads it into the net for a 94th minute winner. I mean, that’s a moment in itself. And then Matt Ritchie says, “Hold my pint”. As players race over to celebrate with Hayden in the Gallowgate/Milburn corner, Ritchie isn’t far behind. But he’s not after Hayden. He’s after the corner flag and proceeds to welly it so hard that it leaves the ground and goes spinning into the crowd where it catches a celebrating fan square in the family jewels. Unaware, Ritchie continues to scream at the moon. Meanwhile the fan takes a deep breath, checks it’s all still there and gingerly sits back down!

Nobby channels his inner Maradona. If you’re old enough then last year’s Carabao Cup success won’t have been the first time you saw Newcastle win a trophy. Or rather, win a tile. Yes, tile, not title (don’t ask). In 2006 Newcastle ‘won’ the Intertoto Cup (again, don’t ask). Anyway in the first leg of our two legged semi final, Nobby Solano scored an absolute wonder goal, which because I can’t find on video I have to relate back to you via a few reports and my very patchy memory. Nobby took the ball fairly deep inside his own half and exchanged passes with Gary Speed. Then, he just went all Maradona. It felt like he took on the whole Munich team before getting into the box, drawing the keeper and dinking the ball over him and into the net. At the time it felt like the best goal I’d ever seen, including Maradona’s v England at the 1986 World Cup. Nobby remains one of my favourite players to this day.

Ball Boy becomes stubborn hero! A couple of seasons ago Newcastle staged a stirring comeback to beat West Ham 4-3 at home. Harvey Barnes came off the bench to score a screamer to win it at the Gallowgate as we came back from being 1-3 down. It was a bit of a Magpie Moment. However, there was another moment in the match, just after Mohammed Kudus scored West Ham’s second goal. Kudus ran towards the Gallowgate to celebrate and wanted to do his trademark celebration of sitting on a chair relaxing. No, me neither. Needing a chair with which to fulfil this amazing celebration, he asked a nearby ball boy for his. And the ball boy just said ‘no’. It felt like Kudus asked a couple of times more, probably confused to be told ‘no’. But the ball boy stood firm. No mate, you’re not sitting on my chair to complete your stupid celebration against my club. Well done, kidda!

So, there we have it. Three more Toon related moments that emphasise the fact that feeling that almost anything can happen at Newcastle United!

NUFC: For the love of God, just get some cover in!

I read with interest yesterday that those at the club involved in transfers were planning a meeting to address the need for cover in the squad. And then I just allowed my head to rest softly in my hands and tried not to lose my mind.

I realise that there will be a lot going on in the background that we as fans never hear or even understand, despite what our social media ITKs and plane watchers would have you believe. But, seriously, did no one realise that January was going to happen? Did they miss the fact that it was creeping up? And has no one been in the treatment room lately?

It’s as clear as day that we need cover, especially in defence. I’m not here to make suggestions about players, mind you. I can’t say I watch a lot of football other than us really, so my finger just isn’t on the pulse as far as emerging talent is concerned. But I can’t stress the frustration I feel when I see the sheer amount of defensive problems we’ve been having. Schar, Lascelles, Livramento, Krafth and Dan Burn are all unavailable for varying amounts of time and no one appears to be postponing any of our upcoming fixtures. So what are we waiting for?

It’s great that we’ve discovered a couple more strings to Lewis Miley’s bow, but I’d be that bit more comfortable if we just could sign an actual defender.

There’s a need up front too. Will Osula seems to have vanished into thin air, Sean Neave is untried and possibly a bit untrusted too, leaving only Wissa and Big Nick as options. Wissa is only just back from a fairly serious injury and yet we seem happy to gamble with him staying fit.

I know that these things take time, but was the time between the start of the season and now not enough for a bit of forward planning? To still be reading that we’re monitoring players while also feeling optimistic about people returning from injury feels strange to say the least. It feels like an accident waiting to happen, in my opinion.

Maybe I’m panicking. Maybe I’m naïve. But with crucial and some might say season defining games to come over the next month, the need is now. I’m all for trusting the process, but I think that the process might need to hurry up a bit occasionally. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering just what’s going on and waiting with everything crossed for some progress on at least a loan deal some time soon!

What do we think? Are the club right to be taking their time? Or does the current injury situation, coupled with the sheer amount of upcoming fixtures warrant a bit of urgency?

NUFC: Whatever happened to the dark arts?

Once upon a time, Eddie Howe took a team of down on their luck footballers who just seemed to be waiting for the inevitability of relegation to swallow them up and, with the help of one or two additions, turned them into a bunch of cold eyed killers for whom losing felt totally unacceptable. This was done with a dose of positivity, a total change in attitude and a healthy dollop of the dark arts.

So whatever happened to those likely lads?

Well, with a bit of investment and a lot of momentum that team we call United saved themselves from relegation, got to the Champions League and then won our first trophy in 56 years with last March’s Carabao Cup win.

Then what?

Some would say that we scraped our into the Champions League spots for this year with a run of unconvincing form that culminated in an insipid performance on the last day of last season in defeat against Everton. Something was missing and some among our ranks would say that it still is.

We used to be a team who weren’t afraid to lean on a bit of shithousery. Kicking the ball away, feigning injury to slow the game down, deliberately putting two balls on the pitch and just generally being a bit nasty, physical and in your face when it was needed. A snarling, growling beast of a team that went for the opposition’s throat with a level of success that shook up the Premier League. They even changed the rules just to put our nose out of joint a little when they decided that only one person could be in the technical area. Eddie and Jason take note. Lately though, there’s been less and less of this kind of thing.

I don’t think it’s too harsh to say that performances have been at times a bit insipid this season. None more so than what we served up at the dark place for the derby. What was needed was fight, hard work and a bit of bite, yet what we got was just passive and disorganised. Where we should have been snapping into tackles and making maximum use of the dark arts, what we actually served up was a very pale imitation of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.

Amongst all the calls for more creativity and flair what we need more than anything is a more back to basics approach that let’s opponents know that they’re in a game.

There have been hints at this recently in the victory against Manchester City and the first half against Chelsea where we hunted in packs and never let them settle. Yet the consistency is still lacking, even when you factor in our recent back to back wins.

I write this on the morning of the Leeds game. Aye, dirty Leeds, a team renowned for their physical approach and just a general all round nastiness since the 70s and Don Revie’s boys. They earned a reputation and just seem to have worn it like a badge of honour ever since, regardless of players or management. Elland Road too has long been a bear pit with a partisan atmosphere that starts with the dark arts before the team’s even warmed up.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating a change so drastic that we get a ‘dirty old Toon’ identity or anything similar, but it seems clear that we need to get back to at the very least making teams feel uncomfortable when they play Newcastle United. We used to knock teams out of their stride and mess with their rhythm with a box of tricks that straddled the line between right and wrong. We used to bully teams and let them know they were in a game, but this season has been an altogether more passive affair.

From Wor Flags, through the stands and all the way across every available social media platform the cry this season seems to be ‘Let’s get into these!’ and yet the occasions when it actually happens have been few and far between for a while now. It’d be great to see a return to the dark arts. It’d be great to have that snarling, spitting beast of a team back!

Howay the lads, let’s get into these again!

Magpie Moments Episode 5

Welcome along to another episode of Magpie Moments where we look at some of the more interesting things that have happened at our beloved club over the years.

Beardsley goes in goal! Yes, you read that right. There was once a game where club legend Peter Beardsley ended up in goal. And that was only a small part of the story. In April, 1986 Newcastle played away at West Ham Utd. We would end up getting beaten 8-1 with the Hammers scoring four in each half. Our cause wasn’t helped when goalkeeper Martin Thomas went off injured and we were forced to put defender Chris Hedworth in nets. These were of course the days of only having one sub and who was wasting that one spot on a keeper? Things would continue to slide downhill though with Hedworth then also getting injured! Up stepped Beardsley to have a go as we battled on with only nine men. It’s safe to say that things didn’t improve! The game was not only memorable for the scoreline and the amount of goalkeepers, but also for the fact that our ‘legendary’ hard man centre forward Billy Whitehurst scored; one of only seven goals he’d manage in black and white. Oh and as if there wasn’t enough going on, Hammers’ centre half Alvin Martin grabbed a hat-trick!

Shearer’s record breaker. If you were there that day I’m sure, like me, you’ll never forget the noise. A guttural roar that started in the toes of every person present and roared out through the throats in celebration of a legendary achievement. A significant piece of black and white history being made right in front of our very eyes. The goal itself was a fairly scrappy affair. A long kick out from Shay Given was met with a flick on by Shearer. The ball arrived at the feet of Shola Ameobi, who just when it looked like he’d lost it, managed to back heel it into the path of the onrushing Shearer, who held off the challenge of Pompey’s Andy O’Brien and toe poked past the keeper. The celebration was true Shearer; arms aloft, fists pumping, screaming at the crowd. Seconds later, the chant of ‘Shearer, Shearer, Shearer’ rang out and felt like it might never stop, until it did. And when it did, and the game kicked off again spontaneous applause broke out. A moment that I’ll take to the grave.

Keegan on the steps of the Milburn reception. Andy Cole remains to this day one of the greatest strikers to ever wear the black and white shirt. There are still many who rank him as their favourite ever player. So when he was sold, seemingly out of the blue, to bitter rivals Man Utd it’s safe to say that it was a bit of a shock. Such was the shock that some fans descended on St. James’ Park where manager Keegan would come out onto the steps to talk to them and try to allay any fears about their team, ambition etc. In a way it was typical Kevin Keegan; wearing his heart on his sleeve and deciding to confront the situation head on. Those supporters had worshipped him as a player and still did as the saviour of the club and the man now in charge of the team. Keegan explained that the playing style had become predictable and stale and so had sold Cole to prompt a change of direction. Evolution rather than revolution. Of course, there had been a falling out between player and manager, but we weren’t to know that at the time. Instead, Keegan spoke with passion and smoothed things over with the fans, gaining a standing ovation for his troubles at the end of it all. Only at Newcastle United!

Keegan on the steps of the Milburn stand

Gallowgate Cult Hero Number 19; Jonas Gutierrez

Sometimes a player comes to Newcastle and just gets it. Not just the club, but the city, the region, the people. Malcolm Macdonald, Shay Given, Ryan Taylor and more recently Bruno and Joelinton are all good examples. As managers Kevin Keegan, Rafa Benitez and Eddie Howe are great examples of this. And it’s one of Keegan’s signings that seems to have also fallen in love with not only the club, but the city and the people. Gallowgate Cult Hero number 18 is Jonas Gutierrez.

Gutierrez was signed from Real Mallorca in July of 2008. Newcastle had thought that they could get him on the cheap due to him buying out his own contract – not like Mike Ashley to be sourcing that kind of deal, I know – but in the end the fee was decided by tribunal and cost Newcastle a few million more than was originally expected. But the Argentinian international proved to be a bit of a bargain in the end.

Jonas was known for celebrating goals by wearing a spiderman mask and promised that this would continue with his first goal for the Toon. However, despite scoring in November, the mask wouldn’t make an appearance until he scored in the 6-1 home drubbing of Barnsley in the following March. And it was a fitting strike too – a cracking 25 yard drive that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Gutierrez was a winger who could play on either side. He was often skilful and an asset to the team going forward. But it was probably his enthusiasm and work rate that made him so popular with the fans. Jonas was a grafter, pressing defenders before it was trendy and tracking back like his life depended on it. As we all know though, his first season with the Toon wasn’t to be successful as we were ultimately relegated. Many thought that the likes of Gutierrez and Coloccini would be off. Instead, both decided to stay and fight for the club.

It was probably here that Jonas cemented his place in the hearts of many supporters. As we all know, we were promoted as champions at the end of that season and Gutierrez stood out in that promotion season. However, on our return to the Premier League he found himself competing with Hatem Ben Arfa for a place in the team and invariable lost out. He still managed to make several valuable contributions though as we pushed ourselves into a 5th place finish under Alan Pardew.

Undeterred, Jonas kept working hard and proving his importance to the squad. The spectacular goals continued as did that undeniable work rate. And then, in early 2013 doctors discovered that Jonas had a testicular tumour, which would be operated on at the end of the season in his native Argentina.

Post surgery as he was loaned out to Norwich it looked like his Toon career was over and that as a club, we hadn’t really bothered to look after him. And yet, with the loan move largely unsuccessful, Jonas returned and came on as a sub against Man Utd at the back end of the 2014 – 2015 season, given the captain’s armband as he took to the field to a hero’s reception. But the best was yet to come.

Going into the final game of that season against West Ham at home we needed a win to guarantee staying up. Gutierrez was the star. Firstly he put the cross in for Moussa Sissoko to head the opener, but then in the 85th minute, he cut in off the left hand side and sent a scorching grasscutter into the back of the Gallowgate net via a slight deflection. Cue absolute hysteria!

That celebration will stay with us Geordies, as it will with Jonas, for many years. First with the shirt spinning above has head and then the iconic shirtless pose in front of the Director’s Box, cupping his ears and screaming in their general direction. Newcastle were safe, but more importantly, Jonas had beaten cancer and taken some sort of retribution out on Mike Ashley. This would be his last goal and last appearance for the club.

Jonas still talks fondly of his time on Tyneside and seems to be a regular visitor to the city. In his own words he feels “like a Geordie” and speaks with nothing but warmth about the club, the city and the fans. He was even seen busking at Greys Monument in recent months! Jonas Gutierrez; the very epitome of the saying, ‘once a Geordie, always a Geordie.’

NUFC: Making the case for creativity.

So, it’s the understatement of the year to say that things aren’t going as well as we’d like for Newcastle United at the moment. Three wins in 11 games in the league, 5 defeats, no win away from home, only 11 goals scored and 14 conceded, 6 of which have come in the past two games. Not exactly going to plan.

Clearly, there’s lots to discuss as barely anyone is producing the goods at the moment. However, I’d like to make the case for a bit more creativity in the team and squad.

Firstly, let me say that I fully understand that the likes of Bruno, Tonali, Murphy et al are all capable of unlocking defences. So, this isn’t a criticism of anyone in particular. But in the last two games we have amassed a whole 5 shots on target, showing that either chances aren’t being created or players aren’t backing themselves to shoot.

It seems clear enough to me that we lack flair and the ability to unlock stubborn defences, especially away from home. Someone capable of a moment of magic who can carry the ball and either beat defenders or commit them so that space is freed up elsewhere.

On Sunday afternoon I watched the second half of the City v Liverpool game and was fairly mesmerised by the performance of City winger Jeremy Doku, who time after time ran with the ball and made things happen. I thought of our wingers; Gordon, Barnes, Elanga and Murphy. In the league, especially away from home, they look scared of flying at a full back. Elanga especially looks like he’s struggling, short of confidence and a fish out of water, but the other three seem to prefer cutting back and laying the ball off rather than hitting the byline or dribbling on the inside and heading towards goal. Yes, Jacob Murphy is likely to bag an assist now and again, but he’s also likely to pass back the way too and take the sting out of attacks.

And it’s not just City and Doku either. West Ham have Bowen, Brentford’s Ouattara scared the life out of us at the weekend and the likes of N’Diaye and Grealish at Everton simply want to make things happen. Manchester United have M’Buemo, Palace have Sarr, Villa can choose from Rogers and Buendia, while Bournemouth have a few and even the likes of Leeds have someone like Dan James who will try to run at defenders.

Meanwhile, we seem to have lost our bravery, our creativity and our intensity. Five shots on target in the last two games tells its own story.

As a younger man, I watched Newcastle teams featuring the likes of Hibbitt, Beardsley, Gazza, Ginola and Robert; players with the gift for unlocking defences. Fast forward to 2025 and we don’t have that in our locker. Yes, Bruno and Tonali are both capable of a cute pass and have shown that at times this season. But where is the equivelant of those players mentioned above? Where is the breathtaking piece of skill? Where is the pinpoint delivery from corners or free kicks? And who is there that might just bend a free kick around a wall?

And what of Nick Woltemade? For me, with 6 goals he’s started well, but he’s looked lost in the last two league games. It’s okay to drop into spaces between the midfield and defence, but when the opposition see it coming and there’s no one running beyond you then it seems like a sure fire way to give them the ball back. Howe needs to find a better way to use the big German and perhaps that comes when Yoane Wissa is fit, but until then, we’re not creating chances at one end and struggling at the other.

For me, we need another striker in January. And I don’t mean chasing a £70m bundle of hype like Sesko. Surely, with the network of scouts available there is a young, quick, hungry striker worth taking a punt on somewhere.

Options like this can maybe free up Big Nick to play more of his natural game. He’s a player I really like; someone who seems to read the game well and a player who gives us that little bit of the unexpected that maybe we’re missing. But without support from a winger or midfielder running beyond him then it seems like all too often he’s getting caught on the ball in crowded areas.

With the January transfer window a while away yet – and let’s face it, we’re not good at getting people in quickly – short term solutions might come from the youth ranks. After all, we’re looking for something different to help solve the problems that have left us looking up at the majority of the table and there are young, keen hungry players within the ranks that are worth a seat on the bench.

Sean Neave gets better every time I see him and looks to be a player with both a bit of skill and an eye for goal. His strength might be an issue in the Premier League, but that said he’s done well when I’ve watched him in the Football League trophy against men’s teams.

There’s been a bit of a clamour to see more of Park Seung-Soo since he impressed with cameos in pre-season. A wide player who looks brave and creative and runs with the ball really well, he might just be capable of unlocking defences in the latter part of games as we search for something.

Alfie Harrison is another one who carries the ball well and has an eye for a pass. After arriving with quite a bit of hype around him in February 2024, opportunities have been limited, but on the occasions that I’ve seen him, he’s looked to be someone who’s buzzing with creativity and could well be worth a place on the bench with such a crowded fixture list.

One thing’s for sure; something has to change in order to break the cycle of away defeats. That may come from existing squad members such as Jacob Ramsey or Lewis Miley, but away from the glare of St. James’ Park, maybe it’s time to give youth a bit of a chance.

Magpie Moments Episode 4.

Being a Toon fan means that there’s never a dull moment…unless you had the misfortune to sit through much of Steve Bruce’s football. But our football club has provided its fair share of memorable moments over the years. So, welcome to Magpie Moments, episode 4!

Griffin Conquers Juve! It’s October 2002 and Newcastle United have lost their first three Champions League group matches. Next up is the mighty Juventus at St. James’ Park under the lights. A classic European night. Memory tells me that we were getting a bit of a chasing for most of the game, but won a free kick over by the corner flag on the East Stand side of the Leazes just after the hour. With the box loaded with the likes of Shearer, Speed and er… Titus Bramble, Laurent Robert shaped to cross it before slipping it short to the edge of the box for Andy Griffin. He then went round a defender before a heavy touch took him almost to the line. Faced with the chance to cross it he just hammered it across the box where Gianluigi Buffon’s attempt to stop it just diverted it into the net. Cue delirium and the start of a great escape from the group that no one could have seen coming! Sir Bobby Robson called it “one of my greatest Newcastle victories”. I was sitting next to a group of Italians in the Leazes that night and even they went mad. I never found out who they really supported!

Matty Longstaff’s debut screamer. Everything about this made for a magical moment. The game had seen both sides have good chances to score, but going into the final 20 minutes things were deadlocked at 0-0. Suddenly, Newcastle broke. Alain Saint-Maximin ran forward and surrounded by defenders, fed the ball wide to Jetro Willems who still had little in the way of options in the box. Sensibly he held it up and then laid the ball off to the edge of the area where Longstaff was steaming in. Without breaking stride he belted a grasscutter into the bottom left hand corner as St. James’ went crazy. Matty had started the game, making his Premier League debut alongside his older brother Sean; a moment in itself. And for me, the best thing after the goal itself was seeing brother Sean delightedly celebrating with Matty at the Gallowgate end. The winning goal on debut against Man Utd, under the lights at the Gallowgate with your brother. The stuff that dreams are made of!

Takeover Take Off! As the recent anniversary of the takeover shows, we can all remember where we were and how we reacted to the news that Amanda Staveley had finally done the deal and freed us from Mike Ashley. For me though, it didn’t feel real until the first post takeover game. There were a few big moments on the day. The Wor Flags display and the line from Big River on the banner in the Gallowgate was pretty spine tingling. Then there was the sight of Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, Jamie Rueben and Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the director’s box that confirmed that this was really happening. But the biggest moment of the day for me was the moment when Callum Wilson put us ahead inside two minutes. The noise, the relief, the expressions on the faces of everyone involved. The result didn’t matter a jot. Newcastle United were finally on the up again!

Three more fantastic Magpie Moments. I hope you enjoyed reading about them as much as I did writing about and reliving them!

Where are they now? An update on some of our released academy players.

At the end of every season our list of released players is published and without fail there are a lot of academy players on it. For some, it’s the end of a promising career with Newcastle while for others, it must have seemed inevitable for a long while.

What has always struck me about our released players is the likelihood that they will disappear from the professional game altogether. It’s always felt like a rarity to see any of them picked up by a league club and then go on to have a successful career. James Tavernier, once of this parish, has gone on to become a Rangers legend, Jamie Sterry is still playing at Doncaster Rovers and Dan Burn, released when he was 11 seems to be having a decent career nowadays too!

Recently, I got to thinking about our released players from last season. A little bit of digging revealed…not much. Players have mainly been picked up by local non league sides. Only a couple stood out as paying at a slightly higher level.

Jay Turner Cooke was brought into the NUFC academy from Sunderland in 2021 after a family issue saw him leave the club. He was highly thought of at the Academy of Light and it looked like a bit of a coup. However, despite much promise and even a couple of first team appearances in friendlies, he never quite bridged the gap to the first team and was released in summer.

Turner-Cooke subsequently signed for FC Halifax Town of the National League in August. Since then he’s made 12 appearances, scoring 2 goals from midfield and with Town currently sitting 6th in the league and on a 5 game winning streak, he might just find himself back in league football next year. It seems he’s settled well into first team life and hopefully can have a successful season and start to fulfil the promise he showed in our academy.

A while up the road Jamie Miley continues to do well at Hartlepool, also of the National League. In fact, having only been at ‘Pools since January of this year, he’s already signed a contract extension to keep him there until 2027.

Miley, the elder brother of Lewis, spent almost a decade in our academy and appeared in a few pre-season friendlies for Newcastle, but his time was blighted by injuries. Now, he finds himself in the National League playing alongside other former Toon academy graduates like Adam Campbell, Jack Hunter and Luke Charman. So far, Jamie has made 30 appearances for Hartlepool, with 14 of them coming this season where he has managed to grab two assists from a defensive midfield position where he’s been described as “pivotal”. Sounds like he’s doing well in a side that hasn’t really lived up to early season promise and recently sacked manager Simon Grayson. Best of luck for the rest of the season, Jamie!

Of other recently released academy players, forward Josh Donaldson is also at Hartlepool, but currently on loan at Dunston UTS. Slightly further south, midfielder Ellis Stanton is in the National League North with Darlington and has made 9 appearances this season, grabbing 2 assists in a struggling side. Finally, brothers Rory and Harry Powell are both at Ashington AFC.

Great to see some of the young lads fixed up with clubs and carrying on with their careers!

A little bit of appreciation for Nick Pope.

It’s easy to miss things these days as a Newcastle fan. Where for many seasons in the past we’ve had one or two stand out players capable of running a game or producing a moment that might change one, nowadays the squad is chock full of matchwinners and favourites. Tonali, Bruno, Big Joe, Anthony Gordon, defenders like Burn, Thiaw or Botman and of course Big Nick Woltemade. But it’s another Big Nick I’d like to pay a little bit of a tribute to.

Nick Pope has been excellent so far this season. In a defence that’s been miserly, conceding only 8 goals in 10 games, Pope has bailed us out on more than a few occasions making big, big saves when it’s mattered. He’s also displayed a renewed confidence when commanding his box too.

In terms of statistics, Pope has saved 19 of the 24 shots he’s faced in the league – a 79% save percentage. He’s also only conceded a goal for every 210 minutes played, which is an admirable record so far.

There have still been errors such as the Arsenal winner when you could argue that he should have just stayed on his line, but let’s face it, if he had and the header had still found the net we’d have all been asking why he didn’t come for the cross. And his kicking and distribution will always be under the microscope simply because it is a genuine weakness in his game. Sometimes keepers can’t win.

In the league, Pope has made 19 saves so far this season. A fair few have been pretty vital such as the one down low to his left from Eze against Arsenal, a game in which he made a few crucial saves. There were important saves in our most recent win against Forest, too. With 5 clean sheets in 7 league games it’s clear that Pope is reacting well to the challenge of Arron Ramsdale’s arrival. A player who has not always been universally popular on Tyneside, Pope is now proving to be a superb member of the team, as he has on many occasions in the past, to be fair.

Now in his fourth season on Tyneside it’s clearer than ever that Nick Pope is a top keeper and an asset to the team.

Magpie Moments Episode 3.

Whatever your era or age as a Newcastle United supporter, you’ll have rarely experienced a dull moment. Unless of course you still remember almost every deadline day under the stewardship of Mike Ashley. However, in the third episode of the Magpie Moments series I think I can bring you a few moments that might just raise a smile.

Who the f*** is Micky Quinn? Micky Quinn can be safely referred to as a legendary number nine at Newcastle. But when he signed it was a bit of a different matter for some fans. At the time there was a bitter battle between fans and board and some fans were boycotting the first game of the 1989/’90 season. I remember it well. My cousin Shaun was standing on the ‘picket line’ and almost persuaded me to join him as I walked up towards the Gallowgate, but thankfully I went in. Quinny himself remembers it well too and wrote about seeing a banner that read ‘Who the f*** is Micky Quinn?’ as he walked up to the stadium in his excellent autobiography ‘Who Ate All The Pies?’! Thankfully, most Geordies knew exactly who he was by the end of that 90 minutes, Quinny scoring four as we beat promotion favourites Leeds United 5-2! The first was a penalty at the Gallowgate end and what I remember most about it was Quinn’s technique of standing outside the box with his back to to the keeper before his run up. The hat-trick goal was a hooked right foot volley from close in at the Leazes end and then the fourth was a one on one with Quinny looking exhausted as he ran through and just finishing with a shot from outside of the box before he got caught by the chasing defenders! Some amazing moments at the start of a season that would promise much but fail to deliver in the most spectacular style.

The away kit at home, under the lights and Alex Mathie! Monday 13th September 1993 saw a Newcastle game almost called off because of the opposition’s kit! Sheffield Wednesday rocked up at St. James’ Park in our first season in the newly formed English Premiership (now the Premier League) with a specially commissioned one off kit for the televised match. The only problem was that the kit was white and featured a black stripe. Until Newcastle offered to wear their all blue away kit, the fixture was in danger of being called off! As for the game, well first of all I remember that it was just too weird to watch us play in blue at home. And it seemed so for the players as well as Sheff Wed gradually took control and went 1-2 up as we looked like a side who’d never played together before. In the meantime Wednesday had chance after chance after chance. Toon substitute Alex Mathie – recently signed from Morton – changed the game. Firstly he provided the cross that eventually fell to Andy Cole to equalise and then he scored a beauty. Mathie was around the edge of Wednesday’s box when a ball was played forward from the right. He allowed it to come over his shoulder before volleying it over the keeper and into the net without breaking stride. Ultimately, Mathie didn’t make it at Newcastle, but he gave us a hell of a moment with that goal.

Shola’s new identity. Not particularly a ‘moment’ this one, but just a quick story that always makes me smile. It was well known that Sir Bobby Robson wasn’t always the best with names and could be quite forgetful when it came to his players identities. One of the best examples of this came up when Shola Ameobi was asked about nicknames in an interview. At first he said he didn’t have one, so the reporter asked, ‘what does Bobby Robson call you then?’ to which Shola replied, ‘Carl Cort’! Always makes me laugh!