The Bantams of Bradford came to St James's Park on Wednesday night. Unfortunately for them, Newcastle United are now heavyweights, especially in the Carabao Cup.

Our defence of the trophy began in deliriously routine style despite a rocky spell early doors and a spectacular hit by Bishop Auckland's Andy Cook.

With a one-two from Joelinton and Will Osula in either half, it was a comfortable evening in the end and we roll on to Spurs in round 4. Ding ding!

Recorded a mere 24 hours after the snore-fest at the Vitality Stadium, with George barely back through the marble portico which fronts Caulkin Manor, we're already moving on to a new week and yet more interesting football challenges.

League One leaders Bradford City will be the visitors in the Carabao Cup as Eddie Howe's Newcastle begin their first defence of a trophy since 1969-70. Then, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta wheels up the Gunners for another potshot at his nemeses this weekend.

The LassesTM had a difficult time at Birmingham on Sunday. Three-nil down after forty minutes, they salvaged some pride in the second half but will want to kickstart their campaign quickly. The retirement of Su Cumming was also announced this week; she's served Newcastle with distinction for a decade, but has dedicated her many talents to women's football across the North East for much longer.

Eddie Howe’s record with Newcastle against his old side AFC Bournemouth is, it’s fair to say, not a proud one.

Less than 72 hours after an emotionally charged Champions League fixture against Barcelona, the trip to the Vitality Stadium looked a tricky one; especially with the Cherries having won three of their first four Premier League fixtures.

In that context, a 0-0 draw doesn’t sound like a terrible result. It was quite a good result, in fact, built on another solid defensive performance. However, there are plenty of questions about how Newcastle will score goals in the post-I**k era.

Here we go again... Champions League football returns to St James's Park with all the hallmarks of elite European competition... big name players... athleticism... skill... and, of course, tabards.

But is it different this time? The arrival of Barcelona brings with it incredible memories, of course, but Newcastle's history in this tournament is just that; a series of great moments. Can we string them together this year and build a memorable campaign?

Even **spoiler alert** defeat in this opener doesn't represent a disaster. The new format allows for multiple slip-ups in its league phase. What we must do, though, is follow up with a positive result at Bournemouth.

Here we go again! Newcastle United return to Champions League action after a year away, and it's our old pals Barcelona coming to St James's Park on Thursday night.

We're all excited, but George really has the fever. No, really, he has the fever (get well soon, bud!). Only one thing to do; summon Jacob Whitehead in from a windswept beach in the West of Scotland.

We also summarise what can only be classed as a disappointing draw for The Lasses in their first game at Gateshead Stadium and we're channelling Big Nick Energy as Woltemade enters the quite hefty pantheon of debutant goalscorers.

Newcastle returned to Premier League action, after the ludicrously early September international break, needing to beat bottom-placed Wolves to notch their first win of the season.

They would have to do so without two big new signings; young midfielder Jacob Ramsey and £55m centre-forward Yoanne Wissa. Ramsey is out for about a month, while Wissa faces an unspecified period out with a knee injury.

Step forward Nick Woltemade! The German giant isn't a natural target man, we're told, but that didn't look to be the case when he leapt Asprilla-like to nod home a Jacob Murphy cross just 30 minutes into his debut. Bring on Barca...

A little boutique edition of your favourite Newcastle United podcast this week as: a) it's been a men's international week and, 2) the Great North Run clashed with the women's fixture, so nobody's watched any live football at all.

There was plenty of interesting stuff going on in the international fixtures, if you like that sort of thing, with Newcastle players starring for England, Italy, Brazil, and Dr. Congo... The Lasses (TM) also had a good weekend, winning their league opener at Forest; they will face the Blades at home (in Gateshead) next.

The Premier League returns this weekend and, with Howe's men yet to get a win in the league this season, we have high hopes of giving Wolves the run-around. But, who will the manager entrust with a start "up top"?!

Newcastle United have appointed David Hopkinson as their new CEO to replace the outgoing Darren Eales. David arrives with a powerful reputation in business built in his hometown of Toronto as well as New York and Madrid.

It's been a tumultuous year at executive level and we welcome David's leadership although time will be a finite resource as he gets up to speed. While the process has taken almost a year, we're hoping we've got the right man to work with Eddie Howe and other senior executives, including whoever comes in as Director of Football.

Becky Langley is the ever-present force of leadership behind Newcastle's women and, with a rapidly evolving squad of players*, she is ready and raring to go as they approach a hugely important WSL2 campaign.

*a bit too rapidly for this podcast!

Click this link to support Bobby's Team '25 in our fundraising for the Great North Run

The overwhelming emotion, and there have been many, is 'thank heavens that's all over with' but to suggest it's simple relief is to dramatically understate the complicated feelings we're left with.

Whatever we think or feel, Alexander Isak is now a Liverpool player, Yoanne Wissa is our new number 9, and we can concentrate on the football with a stronger squad and an exciting Champions League campaign in store.

Meanwhile, The Lasses have a new signing as they target a promotion spot in WSL 2, and we're expecting an announcement on our new CEO very soon (it is now, we think, ACTUALLY imminent).

Support 'Sir Bobby's Team' in the Great North Run...

It's another matchday focus Pod on the Tyne and an exciting trip to Leeds, railways notwithstanding, for a "winnable" game.

Unfortunately, the football did not pan out exactly as we might have hoped, so we take the opportunity to swerve analysis of a very ignorable game.

Instead, we discuss Newcastle's latest signing; a record transfer no less. Nick Woltemade isn't a prolific goalscorer, yet, but he's a young man with a very high ceiling - one he absolutely needs.