Football Daily - Newcastle humble Arsenal as Howe books Wembley trip

Episode Date: February 5, 2025

Steve Crossman is alongside Chris Waddle & Ian Dennis at St James’ Park, and Matthew Upson for analysis of Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Arsenal (4-0 on aggregate) to book a place at Wembley in the EFL Cup Final.They discuss Eddie Howe’s starting tactics which nullified Arsenal, as well as the performances of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak.Hear reaction from Newcastle boss Howe, as well as goalscorer Gordon, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries this week:Thursday 6th February LEAGUE CUP: Liverpool v Spurs 2000 KO - 5 Live WOMEN'S LEAGUE CUP: Arsenal v Manchester City 1900 KO - 5 Sports ExtraFriday 7th February FA CUP: Manchester United v Leicester 2000 KO - 5 LiveSaturday 8th February FA CUP: Leyton Orient v Manchester City 1215 KO - 5 Live FA CUP: Leeds v Millwall 1215 KO - 5 Sports Extra FA CUP: Wigan v Fulham 1500 KO - 5 Live FA CUP: Everton v Bournemouth 1500 KO - BBC Sport Website & App FA CUP: Birmingham v Newcastle 1745 KO - 5 Sports Extra (Moves to 5 Live after England v France in the Six Nations) FA CUP: Brighton v Chelsea 2000 KO - 5 LiveSunday 9th February FA CUP: Blackburn v Wolves 1230 KO - 5 Live FA CUP: Aston Villa v Spurs 1735 KO - 5 LiveMonday 10th February FA CUP: Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace 1945 KO - 5 LiveTuesday 11th February FA CUP: Exeter City v Nottingham Forest 2000 KO - 5 Sports Extra

BBC Sounds. Music, radio, podcasts. The Football Daily Podcast. With Steve Crossman. St James' Park is alive with colour and noise. The song in the background might not be local hero. They love that one. It ain't Blade and Races. They love that one too.

But Que Sera Sera is the only thing Newcastle United fans want to sing tonight. Anybody in the city of Newcastle this evening, forget about a wink of sleep. It is going to be quite the night on Tyneside just down beneath us Kieran Trippier the warrior the aggression of this Newcastle team is hobbling when the full-time whistle went he sunk to his back he had nothing left to give because these Newcastle United players have given absolutely everything we're going to Wembley says the big screen, the big face of Dan Byrne

roaring out at us from behind it and 52,000 people inside St James' Park are just going absolutely crazy Bruno Guimaraes is down there he asked the fans before the game,

bring back the spirit of the Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain. I'm not sure I thought it was possible, Chris Waddle, but Newcastle have just produced an even more famous night. Oh, I mean, what an occasion. We got here before and the atmosphere was electric when we got in the stadium. All the flags, you know, we've had the saxophone playing, we've had everything tonight. And the team turned up, you know, you start thinking, wow, what an occasion. And I want to say, Arsenal for me didn't turn up.

I got very, very poor. But Newcastle, I'm not taking anything away from them. Had a game plan and did it. Absolutely brilliant. So Chris Waddle is with us. Ian Dennis game plan and did it. Absolutely brilliant. So Chris Waddle is with us. Ian Dennis is with us inside St. James' Park. Matt Upson is with us as well.

Matt, these are special, special scenes inside St. James' Park. And as Chris said, from minute one really, Arsenal never looked like doing anything to avoid this situation. No, they set the tone. Newcastle, you know, we thought the atmosphere may play a part. I think it did in the early stages of the game. And it gave them confidence.

And the way they took it to Arsenal, they smothered them. The tempo was high. They weren't allowing them anything. And I think that that really played into the game. I think it was helped by Arsenal not being at their best, whether or not the occasion at the weekend against Manchester City or whatever the reason was, the team just looked a little bit flat and a couple of players just a little bit out of sorts

and that's all it needed because Newcastle, credit to them, hats off to them, they were on it. They wanted this victory. They wanted their moment at Wembley and they're going to get it Well, I tell you what, Ian Sam Fender's got three dates here at St James' Park in June do well to get a better noise than this

this is a proper concert feel inside St James' Park Yeah, I mean, the players, the club they'd all said, you know, that everybody was conscious of the fact, you know, that how much these supporters could have a factor in tonight's semi-final you know they wanted it to be that wall of noise they got that but that could easily have worked against them had Arsenal scored early and Eddie Howe I think had wanted his players on that basis to embrace the occasion embrace the atmosphere

and feed off that energy and that's exactly what they did. His words were attack the game. They did that and then the supporters stayed with them throughout. And now all of a sudden you'll have that mass exodus heading down to Wembley in mid-March. Yeah, East Coast mainline will be a thing on that day, I can tell you. We'll be there, of course, for full commentary of that League Cup final between Newcastle and either Tottenham or Liverpool. Full commentary on Thursday evening of the second leg of that one.

The cheers have got that a little bit louder here because the Newcastle players and coaching staff have just almost completed a lap of honour and are now disappearing beneath us. Eddie Howe is down there. He's just moved out of view now, Chris, but I can tell you, we're a long way away from the pitch here.

But the smile on the face of Eddie Howe was so broad, you could see it shining from down on the pitch up to the commentary position as he becomes the first Newcastle manager since Stan Seymour in 1952 to reach two major finals with Newcastle.

Oh listen his game plan works great we all looked at it well I did and thought why are you playing five at the back it's worked you know and when your coach gets it right he needs the praise he gets the praise deservedly so um listen he'll be looking forward to it but it's like anything you'll enjoy the night and he'll say to the to it, but it's like anything. You'll enjoy the night, you'll enjoy the players, enjoy the occasion, it's been brilliant. But we've got to go to Wembley in a month's time or whatever it is, and we've got to win it. You know, it's all right getting to a final, and it's a great achievement, but you ask the players, they'll want to win it. And it's going to be a tough game, however it is.

And you know better than anybody here, Chris, what it means to Newcastle and the way, and everybody mentioning 1955 for the last domestic trophy, everybody mentioning the Fairs Cup as well. It's just time. They've waited long enough,

haven't they? Listen, I think a lot of people, neutrals, will hope Newcastle lift the trophy because everybody respects Newcastle's support. It's massive. We know

it is. They're a team who should be lifting trophies quite regularly. Like Arsenal, like Liverpool do, like Man City do. They should be lifting trophies and they haven't and they've been starved of them up here. They're not going to get a better chance. They're full of confidence at the minute.

Everybody's fit. Joel Lint will be OK, I'm sure. He'll go down there with a healthy squad. And we've seen Newcastle over the last two, three seasons. On the day, they can beat anybody. And they've proved that. So, you know, they don't have a fear going into Wembley. Just hope the occasion doesn't get the players.

But whoever they play, they know they could beat them. Just opposite us here, because some of the Newcastle fans have started filing out of St James' Park, there's an absolutely beautiful banner, which you can always see when St James' is empty and when it gets full, it's obscured. But it's staring right back at me now,

and it's the start of a brilliant quote from Sir Bobby Robson. So I'm going to read the whole thing, because it's really, really powerful. You can just see the first couple of lines in black and white, of course, opposite us. He said, what is a club in any case? It's not the buildings or the directors or the people paid to represent it.

It's not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes. It's the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It's a small child clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping their parents' hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.

I'm not going to start saying that anyone can reach the levels of Sir bobby robson ian but i tell you what if eddie howe wins a trophy with newcastle united just like stan seymour they might call him mr newcastle well then all of a sudden you know he'll create his own legacy eddie howe and these players and that's what the challenge he's given to this set of players because you know since that last domestic trophy back in 1955 Newcastle have reached five domestic finals and they've lost them all so they will use that hurt where they didn't really show up against Manchester United two years ago they will use that experience

they'll try and benefit from it and obviously whether it be against Liverpool or Tottenham they'll then try and put this long elusive wait to finally to bed for them. We can hear from the victorious Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe speaking to Rob Schofield. Eddie just describe the emotions you're going back to Wembley. Yeah really pleased I mean it's um we had a long wait in between the ties and a long time to think about our lead and a lot of different discussions, etc., etc., but just delighted with how we played today, delighted with how we handled the occasion.

It was a really strong performance, and we're so pleased to be through to the final. Whether it was the formation or the fast start, it just felt like you got the balance just right today. Yeah, I think we wanted to be ourselves. We wanted to attack, to press high. Everything that we always want

to do, we tried to implement. Now, Arsenal are a very difficult team to press, to get to their players who go into a lot of rotations and movements. But the players executed it brilliantly. Highlighted really by our second goal with Fabian regaining the ball so high and really pleased with that aspect of our game today. And also I thought we counter-attacked really well. I thought there wasian Regan in the ball so high and really pleased with that aspect of our game today.

And also I thought we counterattacked really well. I thought there was really good energy in the side, which was a contrast to Saturday against Fulham. So much better physically and yeah, great win. Don't mean to look forward too quickly, but just how better equipped do you think this team is compared to the team two years ago in all aspects, on the pitch, mental, everything?

Yeah, I think we've come a long way since then.redin, yn yr holl bethau? Yn fawr, rwy'n credu ein bod ni wedi dod ymlaen ers hynny. Rwy'n credu bod y Llewodraeth Cymru yn gwneud hynny i chi, bod yr profiad honno'n mor testio ac yn unig, ac yn siŵr, rwy'n credu, ar gyfer y gêm mawr, mae llawer o'r chwaraewyr wedi bod yno yn ôl. Mae'r troi-dwyliadau cyflym yn eich gwneud yn y bôn o ran ein cynlluniau a'n baratoi i weithio yn gyflymach a'n smarta. Rwy'n credu bod ymdeimlad gwych am y sgwad. Rydym yn cymryd cyfnodau ond yn uchel game plans and preparations to work quicker and smarter. I think there's a really good feeling about the squad. We're tight in numbers, but high in quality. I'd love to think we can go to Wembley and play better than we did before.

We were slightly disappointed with our performance. We're going to play an elite team, whoever it is, Tottenham or Liverpool. I think it'll be a great final. And just for you personally, as head coach of this football club, what does it mean to give the fans that other day at Wembley and everything that'll mean? There'll be all the talk about winning the trophy, but that even in itself is something very special for this football club.

Yeah, I mean, it's a great thing. It's an unbelievable football club. I said many times I feel such a special feeling being here. The people are so unique, they're friendly, so passionate about the football club. To be able to make a lot of Geordies happy tonight gives me an immense pride and of course the focus is to try and go one better.

But a great night for us. Eddie, congratulations. See you at Wembley. So we'll spin it back to Arsenal for a moment now, Matt Upson. Where do you think that performance came from? Because it wasn't just that they were poor and they didn't really create that much, they were so sloppy

especially in that second half I think it's hard to say where it came from I think you have to credit Newcastle Steve if I'm honest and say that they had more belief and tempo and the atmosphere and everything all led to Newcastle

having a really bright start it was a brightness that they had and I think that you know Arsenal's shortcomings in terms of in front of goal where's that striker it had never been highlighted more than in a game this evening with what Newcastle were doing at the other end with limited opportunities but the the the clinical edge that they have in Gordon and and Isak in particular who is is just on another level for me with his movement his intensity his pace he's hungry to prove himself he's finishing his bang on target every time, making goalkeepers work or even scoring. And I think that that really hammered home the need for where Arsenal need to strengthen. And, you know, the team looked a little bit flat and it looked tight. For whatever

reason, I have no clue, but that's how it appeared. Only they'll know and I'm sure they'll speak about it and be open about it and they'll talk about it in the dressing room. But they know that they didn't make that the game that I personally thought they were going to make it this evening. I thought it was going to be more from Arsenal and it just wasn't there. When you don't score that first chance that Martin Odegaard has with his right foot to hit the target and pass that in the net and think, right right 2-1

it just changes it completely and you miss that and then you concede and I think it just drains out and just had nothing left in the end Arsenal I just think when I look at it now, you take a step back and it's all quiet now

the front three of Arsenal didn't turn up, the front three of New didn't turn up. The front three of Newcastle did. And that was the difference. I think the midfield was a good battle. There was a lot of tackles going in. There was a lot of possession. Arsenal had probably done Newcastle on possession. The two defences were quite... Probably the first 20 minutes, Arsenal were a little bit all over the place at the back. But apart from that, it was the difference between... The front three of Newcastlele were better for me, far better than the Arsenal front three. You saw mistakes as well, Chris.

I mean, I've never seen Saliba look as shaky as what he did, whether it was Isak that made him feel that way or Gordon and then the mistake from David Raya with the pass and the early offside goal, which was a brilliant ball from Gordon. But the two centre-backs for Arsenal, which are normally really tuned in, they just had, to me, they just looked a little bit sluggish with their decision making and just had an off night tonight. I reckon, Matt, Mikel Arteta, when he comes out, is going to be absolutely fuming with that.

It wouldn't surprise me, Steve, because he knows the performance wasn't good enough. And you can always look back and say, OK, we missed one, two, three chances. And you can actually single those moments, which I think was more in the first leg. You know, Arsenal had a big half an hour at the start of the game, should go at least one up. Martinelli hits the post, should score. But play OK, play with a rhythm and a purpose and they dominate and they control certain elements. That wasn't that tonight.

Tonight was a different performance and it just wasn't good enough across the board. And I agree that attacking-wise just provided very little threat. Is this a good time for them to have a bit of a break, Arsenal? Because that's what they've got. They're going to go away for a bit of warm weather training. Well, last time they had a break was just before the first game of the new year last season. And they went on the most incredible winning run from that moment. And they'd had a bad couple of sticky results,

a poor away loss at Fulham and title hopes were gone really. Came back from a warm weather training camp and just hit the ground running. And whatever they did, whatever the schedule was, whatever the mindset they got in, they need to find that place again. And this will help Arsenal, by the way.

I know they're not going to be happy, obviously, going home when these fans travel 5,000, whatever, and they're going home. Where did they come from? New York? Listen, they're not going to be happy, obviously, going home when these fans travel 5,000, whatever, and they're going home. Where did they come from? New York? Listen, they're not going to be happy about this, but, you know, they're out of the FA Cup, they're out of the League Cup, so they can focus now chasing down Liverpool, who are still in everything, and they've got the Champions League to think of,

which they qualified for the round after. So, you know, they're going to get a bit more rest now in the running. So, you just talked about how good they did, you know, they're going to get a bit more rest now in the running. So, you just talk about how good they did, you know, when they had the turnaround last time. So, in a way,

yes, they'll not be happy about the performances of the two games especially tonight. But it could help them chase down Liverpool. So, even, Chris, even though it's only,

it would be, obviously, they've got three, it would have been one extra game for the final. But actually, especially given

how thin the squad is, I mean, I'm not saying, it would have been one extra game for the final. But actually, especially given how thin the squad is, I mean, I'm not saying it doesn't have quality there, but how many conversations have we had about did they need more than just Kai Havertz up front? Actually, what you're saying is that one game, that one weekend, that could actually make a big difference to them as they go for everything else.

Yeah, it could. I mean, people may say it's only one game, but, you know, it makes the most rest it can get. The amount of games these play. I mean, it's a lot of football people play today. And the amount of games they play, you see it, you know, they can get a run going, but then all of a sudden throwing a performance like this tonight,

which was, I've got to say, it was very poor, very poor. And, you know, for a semi-final to Chastendown, Newcastle, I think this break going to Dubai will help them massively. They're out of this now. They've got two things to focus on when they come back. Let's hear from the Arsenal camp, shall we? Rob Schofield's been speaking to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Today we have to digest

first of all the result and the fact that we are not in Wembley. We've had a lot of hope and we put so much into it and we are not there. How comfortable are you, Mikel, gyda'r pwysau ar y tîm nawr, bod angen i chi gynnal un pwynt i'r Llywodraeth Cymru neu'r Llywodraeth Cymru heno i ddewis seson heb gael gwaith? Dyma beth rydyn ni'n ei gynnal.

Yn ymwneud â... Ydych chi'n gweld y progres heno? Nid yw'r gwaith gwaith gwaithware isn't the be all and end all for you? Sorry, I didn't say that. Just in terms of are you seeing evidence of that progress that the silverware in particular isn't necessarily the be all and end all for you? Very clear, yeah. The Football Daily Podcast with Steve Crossman. The Euroleagues on the Football Daily.

Thursdays on the Football Daily, join the Euroleagues team as we bring you the latest from across the continent with a host of top European football journalists. It's okay to be able to play the ball, but you need to actually fight for the ball as well. That's what he wants of his players. I think that maybe it would be the club that could revive his self-esteem and his confidence, and I think it could do wonders for the player to really grow. The Euroleagues, only on the Football Daily.

Listen on BBC Sounds. Matt, from a Newcastle perspective, I mean, there are so many players, individual performances, who are worthy of some praise here. Just sitting back watching it where you were, was there one or one or two who particularly stood out for you for me i i just love watching isaac yeah i i just think he's on another level with his with his movement he's one of those players steve that you he he he's so unassuming the way he plays and the way he carries himself that he kind of almost like slinks around the pitch

and then all of a sudden, bang, he comes into life. The chance where he hits the post, sorry, the goal where Murphy scores, he's got no right to kind of spin and get that ball. But as he wins that flick past Saliba, his instinct to spin and get the other side of him, he doesn't know what's going to happen. Gordon fires the ball into him. It's a a little bit fortunate way it falls into his path but it isn't

because it's it's his reaction and anticipation that makes it happen and I think they've got they've got a lovely link up between the two of them and then when he gets there that how precise he is with his left foot right right foot in the air, I think he rattled Arsenal and I think the two centre-backs didn't have a good night, Saliba in particular didn't have the most confident night that I've seen him be excellent all season

just looked a little bit rattled and the back three, we all had reservations at the start, how it would affect the midfield but I thought between them the communication I thought was excellent, Shah was thought, you know, between them, the communication, I thought was excellent. Shah was going in really far. He's all the way up, pressing Rice to turn the ball over

on the final goal with Gordon. You know, they handled that quite well with one of them stepping in all the time, and I think that helped the midfield out. So, hats off to Eddie Howe, got the game plan absolutely bang on and it played out that way but but with a little bit of help from Arsenal. On Izak Chris I think

it always happens for players playing let's be honest outside of of London in the Premier League somebody like Izak performs brilliantly for Newcastle and it's inevitable that the the talk star and the link star and the rumour star it's all Arsenal need a striker, isn't Alexander Izak good? Is there any reason Newcastle can't keep Alexander Izak? Most players listen, they want success, to win a cup final, they've got a chance that helps, qualify for Europe, players use that you know as a reason to move, to go to clubs who are playing in the'n bwysig i Newcastle i gyflawni ei anbisiwn. Byddai Anthony Gordon yn yr un fath.

Mae llawer o siarad am symud ymlaen. Mae'n bwysig i Newcastle ddangos bod eisiau bod yn ffwrdd top 4 ar lefel cyffredinol. Dwi'n siŵr nad yw'n rheswm neu achos i unrhyw chwarae ddweud ei bod angen i mi ffwrdd. Ond mae'r rhan fwyaf o chwarae eisiau chwarae ar le i mi ffwrdd. Mae'r Lleoledd Cymru yn y le hwy. Os nad yw Newcastle yn y Lle Cymru bob blwyddyn, bydd chwaraeur yn dechrau meddwl, rwyf wedi cael fy nghymryd gan glwbau sy'n y Lle Cymru. Bydd pobl fel Isaac a Anthony Gordon yn dod o hyd i hynny. Yn sôn am Anthony Gordon, Matt, I'm sure you, like all of us, were raising our eyebrows at Lewis Skelly's celebration

when he scored for Arsenal against Manchester City. Sort of did the Highland celebration. And then afterwards they played on the PA, Kendrick Lamar, stay humble. Quotes from Anthony Gordon here. This feels amazing. A game plan, we knew it would work. Everyone knows we press.

It's important for us now to stay humble Anthony Gordon speaking after they've just beaten Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final and and I feel like the same question to you here as well and I suppose the question is if Newcastle can go and win a League Cup would that be enough that kind of glory that feeling to keep your likes of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Izak? Or realistically, will only, not just a cup win, but Champions League football again do that? I mean, it can't do any harm, can it?

It's a great feeling. What that brings to the city, the support, I'm sure they enjoy that. I mean, how can you not enjoy an evening? I wasn't privileged enough to be at the stadium, but judging from listening and how it was, it's incredible. So to play there in that kind of environment, what a draw that is. And all of that does have an impact, but I think surrounding them with, you know, the strength of player and attracting that player there does require probably Champions League football for their level of where they want to get to.

And I think the club achieving that consistently or being in that mix where they're realistically in that group every season, that for me is a big goal. Then if you win stuff along the way, like the League Cup or FA Cup or whatever it may be be but in and around that the those two players in particular i think are looking for that and rightly so because they're at that level i mean winning a trophy and then getting champions league football at the minute you know it might be the top five that could bring

champions league football for next season probably will be for newcastle united. But, you know, what a buy. £63 million, club record signing, and his return is 54 goals now in 94 appearances. You know, that's some return. You know, a time when you're looking for quality strikers in the Premier League. He is a world-class talent. And if Newcastle United then, and I'm aware that the PSR rules have seen them sell Almiron and Kelly

and that's why you've had the transfer inactivity but if that means that this short-term pain that they're going in provides long-term gain in the summer and they're able then to add to that they need to be building around your players such as your Isacs and your Gimaraichis and your Tenalis

for Newcastle United to be in the Champions League on a regular basis season in, season out. Anthony Gordon sealed the win for Newcastle. Here he is with Rob Schofield in the tunnel. Anthony, how good does that feel? Yeah, very good. We felt good coming into the game because we got off to a good start in the first leg,

but I think the first goal in that game was going to be massive because if they would have got the first, they would have got really tense, I imagine, so it was good to get that. Tell me about the game plan Ond rwy'n credu bod y gol gyntaf yn y gêm hwnnw yn fawr, oherwydd os oeddai'n dda i gael y gol gyntaf, roedd yn dda i gael. Roedd yn ddewis iawn, felly mae'n dda i gael hynny. Ddw i'n ddweud am y cynllun gêm, oherwydd roedd yn edrych o ddechrau i'r diwedd, yn enwedig ar y dechrau,

roedd y cyfnod yn dda iawn. Ydw, rwy'n credu bod pawb yn gwybod, nad ydym yn newid yn llawer. Rydym bob amser yn mynd i'w brysu. Rydym bob amser yn ceisio rhoi tîmau o'r pwysau, ond fe wnaeth y gaffer newid ychydig, a dywedais ei fod wedi gweithio i'w haes. Roeddwn i wedi chwarae mwy o fewn y gêm, ac roeddwn i'n meddwl y byddai'n anodd

gweithio gyda nhw ar y cyffwrdd cymdeithasol oherwydd na allai gael fy nghymryd mi a Merth i fynd i fyny. Ac mae Alex yn gwneud yr hyn mae Alex yn ei wneud ac mae'n bob amser yn fwydr. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl bod y gaffer yn gwerthu'r holl grediad am sut y gwnaethom ni edrych heno. Ddweud wrthym am y sgain. Prif gwrs, hwyrs, roedd hynny'n rhywfaint o beth arall arall. Ie, rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi bod mewn rhai fomention gwych o'r clwb a'r Lleoled Cymru a phethau lle rydyn ni wedi gwneud gêm mawr yma, ond match that was some pretty special stuff out there yeah i think i've been in some great moments at the club in the champions league and stuff where we've won big games here but that's probably my best moment so far because it's probably the biggest game of my career so far semi-final

it'll be my first game at wembley at club level so really excited i was going to ask that just finally you only just signed for the club when newcastle played man united in the cup final two years ago so what will it mean to you to get an opportunity to play in the major cup final at Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn.

Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. Mae'n dda iawn. go on the pitch but I live for their moments I live for them games, I feel like that's where I'm at my best, it brings the best out of me when there's the most pressure so I'm really excited Easily one of my favourite lines of the night in commentary from you Ian, something I did not

know at all but one of Newcastle's goalscorers will be going home for the League Cup final Yep, Jacob Murphy, born in Wembley and obviously getting the first goal so but he's a Newcastle United fan, you know just a sweet moment for him because I think he's been one of those unsung heroes if you like, I mean he's been a regular now coming into the side since early December but and Chris mentioned it in commentary, he's able just to carry the ball and to stretch teams and to take you down further down the pitch. And I thought even in the first leg,

the way that he linked up with Isaac at times, he causes people problems. And I just think it's a really, really sweet story for him going back to Wembley. Speaking of sweet stories, you might have been able to hear the screaming in the background. And I read those Bobby quotes before about, you know, what particularly this team means to its fans.

There was a group of sort of, I don't know, 10, 11-year-olds behind us screaming down at the pitch because Bruno Gimaraes was walking beneath. And he just waved up at them. And oh my goodness me, the look on their faces after that to see one of their heroes had just waved in their direction. and the jacob murphy story matt is great isn't it and it's and it's just one of the really unique things about newcastle manager eddie howe has just appeared beneath us now as well is that they are this amalgamation of a few marquee big name really well judged signings and some other players many of whom left over from before the takeover even happened.

Yeah, no, I think you can look at players like him and almost kind of written off in one way, wasn't he? As not being quite good enough and on the fringes, on the bench, probably looking to move him on at some point, but he's stuck at it. And the coaching staff have stuck with him and they've seen something and they've worked with him.

And he's now more accomplished. He makes better decisions. He's a threat. He works hard. And I think he brings a lot of value to the team. And like you say, players like Dan Byrne, who have been there and are very reliable, very steady. It's got a really good mix of those type of personalities.

And I think the supporters do connect well with those players. They appreciate those players and how they're built into the team and how they've had to work hard to get there. So I think all of that just creates a feel which can only be positive. And like you say littering that squad with those characters with the right recruitment in the summer that's going to be Newcastle's key factor if they can then elevate themselves to the next step and it also means Chris that quite often you still get the odd local lad knocking around the first team as well

which doesn't matter how good you are, how far you go. You know, Manchester City have had that with Ford and Liverpool, Trent, Alexander-Arnold, another Arsenal have got it with a couple of players who've just come into the first team. You need that, don't you? You still need that running through you somewhere.

Yeah, and I think the fans take to local talent coming through. You know, you've got Lewis Mayley who had a good run, got Inzadi Konga back on the side of the minute. Longstaff played quite regularly last season, Konga getting the team at the minute because on the side of the minute. Longstaff played quite regularly last season, can't get in the team at the minute because of the form of the players in there. But, you know, you look at Newcastle's bench

and we're watching them doing 80-odd sprints here, which, good luck. And I thought it was hard walking up all these steps. So, you know, they've got a decent squad, if everybody's fit. But going back to the players we were mentioning earlier, the squad's got to get bigger and better if if you want to keep your top talent because it's very easy for a player to bail out and say you know so-and-so's coming for him uh he's going to go isn't he and

this is the ambition is they've got to be a top four club newcastle not just one year then three or four years later it's like every year they should be in that top four eddie howe ian i mean it doesn't surprise me at all that when the the england vacancy came up that his name was mentioned and mentioned again he speaks so well he coaches so well he's got a bit of everything and here he is in his second major cup final with Newcastle. Yeah, no, he's done well. What is it, three years in charge? He's since signed a new long-term deal. But those who know Eddie Howe, who I tend to speak to, will tell you that he's extremely dedicated.

He's in at the crack of the dawn. He'll leave late at night. He won't get carried away when they lose a game, but equally he won't get carried away when they lose a game, but equally he won't get carried away when they win a game. So he'll remain level-headed, very, very focused. But he will know what happened against Manchester United. So now

he'll be thinking, right, OK, what did we do differently in order to make sure we get over the line? Because Newcastle players won't want to be back at another final and come away empty-handed. I spoke to Alan Alan Shearer about it you want to get there you don't want to come away as a loser you want to get there as a winner and Newcastle have been there in previous times since 55 and not not won it and he that will be the message he said up to the players about creating the legacy and I'm sure he'll say that again many times between now and March the 16th

it's a really good point that Chris because I think if we're honest, in their previous final against Manchester United, and I think if you asked a Newcastle fan, they would say the same. They didn't really turn up. No, they didn't. It was disappointing. You know, you go through all them rounds to get to a final and when you turn up,

one thing you want to do is enjoy it and think, you know, hopefully we'll come away a winner. When they turn up, they have a right good go at it. Now, if you lose and you think, well, we couldn't do any more without a right go at it. And that's what people want to see. I think they want to see Newcastle have a right go at it. Now, if they don't come out with a winner's medal,

you used to say, look, we'll give everything we did on the day. Because, as you say, the Man United game, they didn't show anything at all. Matt, just to spin it back to Eddie Howe there, he's just had another great cheer from some of the final remaining Newcastle fans as he walked down the touchline. Do you think he is at,

as much as he might have disappointments and frustrations in the transfer market, is he at kind of the perfect club for him now? Some managers just suit some football clubs and I'm looking around St James' Park. There are his quotes on big banners. There's his name on a big banner here. Does it just fit?

It appears to, if I'm honest, Steve. When I look at it from the outside, I think what Denno mentioned before the game about how he is the voice of Newcastle. He's the spokesperson. And I think that he does that really well. Does he enjoy that side of it? I'm not too sure.

Maybe. He's good at it. And I think, you know, that's why people talk about him in the England job, because that is such a big part of it, that being able to communicate and speak about other issues. So I think he does that brilliantly. a chyfathrebu a siarad am wahanol faterion. Felly, rwy'n credu ei fod yn gwneud hynny'n wych. Rwy'n teimlo ei fod wedi cael ei hyderu.

Mae wedi bod yno am ddau mlynedd. Rwy'n credu ei fod wedi cael ei hyderu gan y clwb ysgolol, ei fod wedi cael ei hyderu i ddychryn y tîm, a'r rhan fwyaf o'r cyflwyniadau a'r hyn a ddydd ei angen. Rwy'n credu mae hynny'n bwysig i'r rheolwr. Mae'n anodd iawn i'w gael cymryd yn y gêm modern. the recruitment to what he needs. I think that's important for a manager. That's very hard to get a hold of in the modern game. And perhaps he has a bit of sway in that front and he can start to build and bring in the players that he wants.

But in terms of coaching, that was a bold move tonight, what he did with that team. I mean, you've also got the disappointment of the midfield players, like a long staff, how he feels about not playing and because he must have thought, I'm in the team, Joe Joe Linton's out I'm going to come in and give an account of myself or Miley but he goes with a different option and and it and it played brilliantly um so yeah he ticks a lot of boxes and I'm sure I'm sure he enjoyed it and he's enjoying his time there and I think that shows he said he wanted the five at the back so that they could be adaptable.

He said it was an adaptable system. Do you think it's something that he might be able to replicate at Wembley for the final? I think it could be. Yeah, depending on who he plays, Denno, isn't it? And how they set up. But looking at the two teams, when you think of Liverpool and Spurs, I mean, I think that's definitely an option. He did it really well

in the sense that one of the centre backs did come out a lot and pressed high and went all the way in it requires a lot of that communication and you've got players

like Trippier and Byrne who were pretty good at that so it had a nice balance so it all depends on who's available and on the day

but it's certainly an option. But the problem is, he's not going into the final 2-0 up. So he'll play to his strengths. So he'll want Gordon high and he'll want Murphy high and he'll want Isaac high. And then the rest of the team have to dig in. And they'll think if he can work as a unit and get the ball to them on counter-attacking especially, there ain't no other chance of of winning without a shadow of a doubt but I don't know if he'll play three

at the back of Wembley I think he'll look at the opposition and he might but I don't think he will He's also Ian kind of represents this team really well I've said it a couple of times tonight about it being a mix of the marquee stars

and the kind of maybe sort of slightly underdog players certainly for a club of this size almost see a bit of Eddie Howe in that because I think when Eddie Howe got the job Newcastle fans would have seen him as this is a good appointment this is a step up perhaps from what we've had but it wasn't necessarily the end game I'm not sure Newcastle fans were thinking Eddie Howe is going to be the manager in five years time when we think we're going to be in the Champions League season in season out but if he carries on like this, there'll be no getting rid of him.

Why would you want to? Well, no, I mean, at the minute, you know, a manager's position is precarious. It's always judged on results. I mean, you know, it doesn't take long for a string of results and all of a sudden the manager's position is under scrutiny. And Eddie Howe will be aware of that. But Eddie Howe has taken Newcastle United back into Europe.'s taken them to a major final they're back at another major final again

and we come back to that same word creating a legacy and that's what he's doing at this stage there's every possibility Matt that Mikel Arteta will create a massive legacy at Arsenal we don't know it's still in that position where you know they're going to chat this look like they might challenge for the premier league again and they've had that city performance and now they have a little bit of a break do you think tonight will have any any impact on what happens for the rest of the season or is it just a lick your wounds bad night at the office have a break crack on again yeah I mean I don't think it's ever great going into this kind of break with that type

of performance forget the result i think you can results are results you can play well and things not go right and the result isn't right but i think going into a break off of that kind of type of performance can be challenging so the work away in in in dubai is going to be key. How the players feel, getting the right rest and then getting the right energy into the players ready to have a massive push. And it's going to have to be a monumental effort, isn't it? Let's face it, if they're going to get anything, any piece of silverware this season.

Big thank you to Chris Matt and Ian Newcastle will play in their second League Cup final in three years, Sunday, March the 16th. Who will they face? Well, Liverpool host Tottenham at Anfield in the other semi-final second leg. Coverage on BBC Sounds and Five Live from seven o'clock on Thursday evening.

You'll get full commentary. You'll get all the reaction on the football daily afterwards as well. So make sure you're subscribed. Make sure you've got those push notifications turned on so you know exactly when it becomes available. And as always, thank you so much for listening. Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful British manager of all time. So how did this apprentice toolmaker from Glasgow British manager of all time. Southshire has won the European Cup for Manchester

United. So how did this apprentice toolmaker from Glasgow become one of the most iconic figures in sporting history? His strength of character, his determination, the fight in him. Ferguson was every department. He can be persuasive, he can be charming, he can be frightening. Godin is the best.

It's as simple as that. I'm Kelly Cates and this is Sporting Giants, Sir Alex Ferguson. I didn't want to feel, but I couldn't feel. Listen on BBC Sounds.