Update:
Glenn Roeder RIP
 

News broke on Sunday teatime that former Newcastle United player and Manager Glenn Roeder had passed away, aged 65.

Confirming the sad news, the League Managers Association spoke of "a long battle with a brain tumour."

Alan Shearer - who played for Roeder at SJP - tweeted "So sad. A fantastic man" while his NUFC assistant Nigel Pearson called him "a man with incredible integrity, humility, warmth, humour and humanity."

Glenn arrived on Tyneside from QPR during United's successful 1983/84 promotion season and became club captain, making 219 appearances before leaving in 1989.

Later embarking on a coaching and managerial career, Roeder returned to the Magpies as Academy Director during June 2005.

By the following February however, he was caretaker boss at SJP following the departure of Graeme Souness.

Persuaded to take the post permanently despite not holding the required UEFA Pro Licence, Roeder steered the club to an Intertoto Cup place and then into the UEFA Cup, giving Andy Carroll and Tim Krul their senior chance.

Glenn remained in charge until the final days of the 2006/07 season - shortly before the arrival of a certain Mike Ashley.

Along with the likes of Rob Lee and Les Ferdinand, he was a "Southerner" whose service to the club and affection for the region earned him genuine respect from fans - making a mockery of lazy media stereotypes.

We mourn his passing.

2020/21:
Don't look down



A 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday saw Fulham return to within three points of Newcastle - and means that Steve Bruce's side could kick off next Sunday in the bottom three for the first time since October 2019.

Fulham would edge ahead of the Magpies on goal difference were they to defeat Spurs at Craven Cottage on Thursday.

Our next opponents West Bromwich Albion are also in action on Thursday, when they host Everton.

Elsewhere on Sunday, a 4-0 home win for Spurs over Burnley ended the recent Clarets mini-revival and damaged their goal difference.

Sean Dyche's side are also in midweek action this week, at home to Leicester City on Wednesday night.

Current PL table - bottom eight:
 

For the fifth time in succession, the points were shared between these two sides on Saturday as they scored a goal apiece - an outcome that does little to alleviate the current state of fear across Tyneside.

Leading through a Jamaal Lascelles header seven minutes after the break, United's first stalemate in 11 games came when the recalled Martin Dubravka faied to block a Ruben Neves header 17 minutes before the end.

Losing the services of Javier Manquillo, Callum Wilson and Fabian Schar during the last home game against Southampton, Steve Bruce looked on as another trio of his players limped out of the action here.

Miguel Almiron failed to appear for the second half due to a knee injury, Allan Saint-Maximin went off holding his groin just after the hour and Emil Krafth was then unable to continue soon after due to a shin problem.

Going into this game following back to back away defeats at Chelsea and Manchester United, the black and whites began brightly and did everything but score in the opening half hour.

Isaac Hayden headed at Rui Patricio and the visiting 'keeper made an awkward block to deny Joelinton, but the clearest chance saw Almiron drive into the box from the right before striking the base of the far post with his 12th minute shot.

Saint-Maximin then knocked the ball into the unguarded net after Joe Willock had seen his shot bounce back off Rui Patricio in the 24th minute, but an offside flag correctly penalised the scorer.

At the other end, Dubravka was called into action when pushing Adama Traore's 32nd minute headed onto a post and Wolves came more into the contest from then on - the former Boro winger starting to tease and torment right back Krafth.

Scoreless at the break, Ryan Fraser replaced the ailing Almiron and took just seven minutes to send over a fine cross that Lascelles rose to head down and in at the Gallowgate End - the move stemming from Saint-Maximin's refusal to give up despite overwhelming odds on the left hand side of the Wolves box.

Sadly though that was as good as it got, ASM's night ending ten minutes later and his side momentarily a man short after replacement Jacob Murphy sauntered on.

Newcastle struggled to retain possession from that point and thus encouraged, Wolves broke down the right and Neto lost Jamal Lewis before crossing for Neves to head beyond Dubravka - although he got a hand to it.

The arrival of Ritchie seconds earlier and some confusion over reshuffling the side looked costly - a situation not unlike that which befell Jetro Willems at home to Arsenal in Bruce's first game. Comments from Lascelles post-match backed up tonight's apparent lack of clarity.

Without fashioning clear-cut chances, the visitors looked more likely to find a winner but a golden opportunity was squandered by United in the 81st minute.

Murphy jinked his way into the Wolves box from the right before pulling the ball back to Joelinton on the penalty spot. His first-time effort was towards the middle of the goal but had eluded Rui Patricio - only to then glance off Romain Saiss as he ran behind his own 'keeper.

Five minutes of additional time then saw Dubravka earn his side a point, although replays showed that a block to deny substitute Fabio Silva from close range was off his collar bone rather than a fist. 

Had birthday boy Callum Wilson been fit enough to play tonight, his side would surely have collected three points not one. In his absence - and even before the latest crop of knocks - goalscoring remains a worry.

Amidst the frustration of being unable to retain a lead and the concerns over that mounting sick list, there were positives to be taken from this overall display. Chances were at least made, if not taken (although Willock will curse the fact he couldn't connect properly with that first half chance before ASM's offside rebound).

The stark reality though is that there's now one less game in which to collect one of the victories that we desperately require to survive - and the pressure on Bruce & Co. has gone up another notch, or several if the Almiron injury is as bad as first feared.

(On that particular subject, were the injury not too serious, but sufficient to prevent Miggy from linking up with Paraguay in March, then that would at least solve the looming quarantine issue).

Bruce's man management skills were also under scrutiny again here; blaming Ritchie for the second half miscommunication and undermining Dubravka on his return - having already acted poorly over Darlow's dropping by telling press pals before the player.

Add that to the continual rumours swirling around about disputes with squad members currently out of favour and it's a pretty unedifying picture all round. 

Sympathy won't keep us up and every relegated side has a hard luck story. This remains a looming catastrophe; the stench of decay lingers on - and our fate increasingly looks to be in the hands of those around us, notably our former boss at the Hawthorns next Sunday. 

NUFC: Dubravka, Krafth (Ritchie 72), Lewis, Lascelles, Clark, Hayden, Shelvey, Willock, Almiron (Fraser 46), Saint-Maximin (Murphy 63), Joelinton.
Subs n/u: Darlow, Dummett, Hendrick, Gayle, S.Longstaff, Carroll.

Booked: Hayden, Clark

Goal: Lascelles 52

WWFC: Rui Patricio, Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss, Nelson Semedo (Hoever 85), Neves, Moutinho, Otto (Ait-Nouri 90+4), Neto, Traore, Da Silva (Fabio Silva 82).
Subs n/u: Gibbs-White, Vitinha, Ruddy, Kilman, Otasowie (eight subs named).

Goal: Neves 73

Referee: Mike Dean - first game in charge of Newcastle for the Tranmere devotee since a 1-0 home win over Manchester United in October 2019.

Previous to that was the 1-0 win at Spurs in the same season, preceded by 1-1 draw at Brighton and 2-2 draw at Bournemouth in the 2018/19 season.

We've not lost a game refereed by Dean since he dismissed DeAndre Yedlin as Wolves won 2-1 at SJP in December 2018.

VAR: Kevin Friend

Crowd: behind closed doors

Steve Bruce:

"We’re disappointed because we had the big chances. They had a couple at the death but in the first half. We’ve had three wonderful chances and then one with Joelinton with 10 minutes to go.

U18s:
Young Magpies
fail Citizens' test
 
Manchester City U18s  4  Newcastle U18s  1

Saturday saw Newcastle U18s become the latest side to succumb to a Manchester City side who remain unbeaten at home since 2019.

City had scored a total of 20 goals in their previous four outings and by half time that had risen to 24.

Micah Hamilton took just four minutes to open the scoring before Tai Sodje made it 2-0 in the 11th minute.

The hosts then struck again through Jadel Katongo on 45 minutes before Hamilton collected his second and City's fourth in the second minute of added time.

Magpies striker Dylan Stephenson reduced the arrears in the 57th minute, but there was no further scoring.

Team: Thompson, Barclay, Nicholson, Midgley, Carlyon, Stewart, Turner-Cooke (Miley 82), de Bolle (Huntley 72), Thomson, Oliver, Stephenson (Harrison 62).
Subs n/u: Banda, Crossley.  

Goal: Stephenson 57

Departure forecast:
C'mon Cincinnati
 

The Shields Gazette report that Newcastle midfielder Kyle Scott has flown to the USA, as he attempts to complete a move to MLS side FC Cincinnati.

The 23 year-old signed a two year deal at Newcastle in July 2019, but started just 10 of the 31 U23 League games the club played since his arrival as a free agent - failing to register a competitive goal.

Sidelined for part of his first season at United due to groin problems, Scott recovered fitness but failed to make the transition to the senior squad, claims of a loan move also failing to materialise.

With Southampton from an early age, he joined Chelsea's Academy aged 10 and made a first team debut for them in an FA Cup tie against Hull City in 2018.

Representing England, Ireland and the USA in youth internationals, Kyle spent part of the 2018/19 season on loan to Dutch side Telstar before being released on his return to Stamford Bridge.

U23s:
Royals return
 
Newcastle's U23 side return to action on Monday, when they host their Reading counterparts in Premier League 2 (1pm).

The Royals won the first meeting of the two sides earlier this season 3-2, at their newly-opened Bearwood Park base.

Academy antics:
Ask the family
 
From the Mail newspaper on Friday, a tale that anywhere else would be remarkable - but at NUFC seems almost commonplace:

Newcastle United academy director Joe Joyce has been stood down from the role after his wife raised a dispute with the club over the treatment of their son.

Joyce, 59, is one of the club's longest-serving employees after 15 years as head of the youth set-up.

First-team coach Steve Harper has been placed in interim charge of the academy, meaning that under-fire Magpies boss Steve Bruce has lost his services.

Joyce's son, Sam, was an under-18s player in the academy before his release in 2019. The 20-year-old midfielder is now enrolled on a soccer scholarship in the United States.

However, it is understood that his mother brought a dispute against Newcastle after the recurrence of an injury suffered while Sam was playing for the club. Sportsmail has been told she believes the treatment of that injury on Newcastle's watch was not sufficient.

There is also an issue over her son's academic education while in the academy. It is thought legal action has been discussed.

Joyce has been temporarily removed from his position and his club phone has been switched off this week. It is not known if he supports his wife's claims. Newcastle did not comment.

Harper, the former goalkeeper who spent 20 years as a player, has relocated to the club's academy base and is no longer assisting Bruce. He would be in line to take the job on a permanent basis were Joyce not to return.

That would safeguard his future at Newcastle - with Bruce's own position under threat amid a run of 12 defeats in 16 matches.

U18s:
Youth Cup resumes
 
The FA confirm that this season's Youth Cup competition has been reinstated, after the current pandemic caused fixtures to be suspended in early January.

At that point Newcastle United U18s had already qualified for the Fourth Round of the competition, thanks to a penalty shootout success at Huddersfield Town.

The young Magpies will now host the winners of the delayed Third Round tie between Leeds United and MK Dons - now due to be played by March 20th.

That Fourth Round tie is due to be staged on or before April 3rd, with subsequent rounds as usual through to a one-legged Final on or before May 29th.

2020/21:
PL fan return -
latest claims

Update 2: A further scenario now presents itself, according to The Times - namely leaving the penultimate (37th) round of games alone but delaying the 36th Round until the midweek following May 17th.

That 36th round of games is presently scheduled in midweek on or around May 12th - and is seemingly favoured to be pushed back a week by TV companies, rather than having a PL-free weekend with only the FA Cup Final.

In Newcastle's case that would see a claimed 10,000 fans return to SJP for the visit of champions-elect Manchester City.

Update 1: Thursday brought interesting claims that in order to give every PL club the opportunity to stage a home game in front of fans, the penultimate round of fixtures could be moved from the weekend of May 15th to the following midweek.

Earlier: Governmental plans to exit lockdown revealed on Monday suggest that limited crowds could return to sporting events from Monday May 17th.

That would theoretically allow Newcastle's closing game of the season at Fulham the following Sunday (23rd) to be played with 25% capacity present - around 5,000 if Craven Cottage is still three-sided.

Our final home game against Sheffield United is due to be played on May 15th - before crowds are permitted - but would be rescheduled were the Blades to be in FA Cup Final action that weekend.

PS: It's unclear whether the Premier League will allow crowds to return this season, with the question of "sporting integrity" raised in some quarters.

That centres on whether the clubs playing at home on the final day are perceived to have any advantage by the presence of their own supporters.

There is some merit in that viewpoint, but it wasn't a consideration when the tier-based lockdown before Christmas left some clubs able to host fans while others played on behind closed doors.  

The Borrowers:
Kell on target
 
Current movements of our six loanees:

Kelland Watts (Plymouth Argyle)
Defender Kell kept his place as the Pilgrims faced Lincoln City at Home Park in League One on Saturday.

And he took just three minutes to shoot home to register his third senior goal in all competitions this season.

Watts completed the full 90 minutes of what turned out to be a 4-3 victory.

Freddie Woodman (Swansea City)
The Magpies custodian was between the posts on Saturday as the Jacks hosted Bristol City in the Championship.

However the new manager bounce saw the Robins run out 3-1 winners, giving Nigel Pearson an instant response.

Lewis Cass (Hartlepool United)
'Pools beat Barnet 1-0 at home in the National League on Saturday teatime, with birthday boy Lewis in the starting line-up and playing the entire game.

Yoshinori Muto (Eibar)
Eibar were held 1-1 at bottom-placed side Huesca in La Liga on Saturday, with Muto coming off the bench in the 70th minute.

Florian Lejeune (Deportivo Alaves)
Real Osasuna took all three points from their visit to Alaves in La Liga on Saturday thanks to a 1-0 win, with Lejeune retaining his spot in the starting XI.

Elias Sorensen (Almere City)
Sunday saw Almere defeated 0-2 at home by Eerste Divisie leaders Cambuur. Striker Elias arrived as an 83rd minute substitute with the score 0-1.

2020/21:
Familiar failings

Manchester United  3  Newcastle  1

Match report

2020/21:
Magpies triumph in
basement battle

Newcastle U23s  3  West Brom U23s  2

Match report

Internationals:
Miggy travel ban
in prospect
 
Update: speaking ahead of Sunday's visit to Old Trafford, Steve Bruce said of Miggy:

"We sincerely hope he won’t have to miss any games for us. I think we’re going to have to be guided by the Premier League and what they suggest and say. It’s a ludicrous situation really, although we are aware that they are World Cup qualifiers.

"It’s that awful balancing act, but we are in a worldwide pandemic and we’ll be guided by the authorities. We’ll look to the Premier League and try to get assurances from them over what is actually required and what is not.”

The resumption of international football in March brings with it renewed fears of COVID transmission - and contingencies in order to try and limit that.

Amongst that is a FIFA exemption rule that allows clubs to prevent players from honouring national team call-ups, if they would then be subject to an extended period of quarantine on their return.

Amongst a clutch of Premier League players facing the situation is Miguel Almiron, with Paraguay scheduled to play World Cup qualifies away to Chile and at home to Colombia in late March.

Both countries are on the UK Government "red list" of countries that require a 10 night quarantine to be observed - with no exemption for elite sports.

The issue has been raised among PL clubs with the proposal of a joint move that would see them all invoke the regulation.

Were Miggy to link up with Paraguay though, he'd potentially miss our first two games after the international break: away to Burnley and home to Spurs.

PS: The situation regarding other PL players travelling for internationals is less clear and complicated by various European countries setting different parameters - a situation that saw some European club ties moved to alternative venues.

Newcastle players potentially leaving the UK on international duty in late March include Jamal Lewis (to Italy), Ciaran Clark & Jeff Hendrick (to Serbia), (Emile Krafth to Sweden & Kosovo), Ryan Fraser (to Israel) and Martin Dubravka (to Cyprus & Slovakia).

2020/21:
West Brom (a)

Steve Bruce's side come up against former Magpie boss Sam Allardyce and his Baggies at The Hawthorns on Sunday week, March 7th.

It's a Noon start live in the UK via the Amazon Prime Video service, which can be ordered on a 30 day free trial by clicking on the image below:

NUFC: To follow.

WBAFC: Albion beat Brighton 1-0 at home on Saturday and face Everton at the Hawthorns on Thursday night, ahead of our visit on Sunday.

Referee: tbc

VAR: tbc

Stats:

Since exiting from Tyneside in January 2008, hippo head has lost just two of the 12 games he's faced with various sides against Newcastle: 

2008/09 Blackburn (a) lost 0-3
2010/11 Blackburn (h) lost 1-2
2012/13 West Ham (h) lost 0-1
2012/13 West Ham (a) drew 0-0
2013/14 West Ham (h) drew 0-0
2013/14 West Ham (a) won 3-1
2014/15 West Ham (a) lost 0-1
2014/15 West Ham (h) won 2-0
2015/16 mackems (a) lost 0-3
2015/16 mackems (h) drew 1-1
2017/18 Everton (h) lost 0-1
2017/18 Everton (a) lost 0-1

Magpies @ Throstles - last 10:

2019/20 Won 3-2 Almiron 2, Lazaro (FAC)
2017/18 Drew 2-2 Clark, og(Evans)
2015/16 Lost 0-1
2014/15 Won 2-0 Perez, Coloccini
2013/14 Lost 0-1
2012/13 Drew 1-1 Gouffran
2011/12 Won 3-1 Cisse 2, Ben Arfa
2010/11 Lost 1-3 Lovenkrands
2009/10 Lost 2-4 Carroll 2 (FAC)
2009/10 Drew 1-1 Duff

UK TV: Live on Amazon Prime

Overseas TV: to follow

UK Radio: tbc

Local Radio: Live on BBC Newcastle

Update:
Season tickets:
NUST guidance

2020/21:
Water torture

Newcastle  3  Southampton  2

Match report

PL respond:
Arbitration update

27.10.2020 The PL received a "Letter Before Action" from "Newcastle Consortium Supporters Ltd" seeking a ruling from The Competition Appeal Tribunal over a possible regulatory breach by the PL during the PCP takeover.

14.09.2020 QCs Nick De Marco and Shaheed Fatima of Blackstone Chambers confirmed that they were acting for Newcastle United against the PL.

Their involvement comes at the instigation of lawyers acting for Mike Ashley following the breakdown of the PCP takeover.