A lack of match sharpness could come into play by the time the fixture at Fulham rolls around next month. The postponement of the trip to West Ham and the current international break means Newcastle will have just one match under their belts in a span of four weeks.
To combat this, Luke Edwards is reporting that Newcastle are sounding out other clubs over a potential friendly this weekend.
Understand #nufc have approached a couple of teams about playing a behind closed doors friendly next weekend as coaching staff worried about playing just one game in almost four weeks. The schedule this season is causing all sorts of fitness and conditioning challenges
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) September 20, 2022
This is a good idea from Eddie Howe and his staff. This season was already a unique one with a six-week break for the World Cup beginning in November. Clubs will likely schedule friendlies during that break.
Hopefully, Newcastle can find some takers for a practice match to keep sharp. While Eddie Howe’s sessions are notorious for their intensity, going four weeks without a competitive match could lead to some rustiness at Craven Cottage.
Last season, Newcastle held training camps in Jeddah and Dubai during international breaks. The purpose of those trips was to build team camaraderie for the survival push. Eddie Howe has found ways to use these breaks to the squad’s benefit.

62 comments so far
Assassins Inc
Sep 20, 2022 at 2:29 PM
Comment #1Morning Toon Army
G
Sep 20, 2022 at 2:30 PM
Comment #2Should ask the unwashed down the road for a game, it would sell out.
dazzler
Sep 20, 2022 at 2:33 PM
Comment #3Mackems – has to be them. Knowing us they’ll beat us again, but still at least it will be behind closed doors đ
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 20, 2022 at 2:34 PM
Comment #4Clint – for sure, if you want to wind up a Forest fan, you know what to do! đ
Trying to think of other clubs who have similar issuesâŚwe have the reverse problem of disliking Man Utd being referred to as Utd obviously.
dazzler
Sep 20, 2022 at 2:43 PM
Comment #5Never understood the dislike of Man Utd being referred to as United. I prefer Newcastle, there are loads of Uniteds and I am very simple minded.
G
Sep 20, 2022 at 2:47 PM
Comment #6Think the thing is that Man Utd didn’t actually merge with anybody to earn it. The two Newcastle sides merged to become Newcastle United, Man Utd simply changed their name from Newton Heath Rangers.
G
Sep 20, 2022 at 2:47 PM
Comment #7Not certain many United teams have ever United to be honest?
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 20, 2022 at 2:51 PM
Comment #8Dazzler – I know I dislike it because it insinuates that they are the greatest âUnitedâ football club. For sure, they are the biggest and most successful but referring to them as THE United just perpetuates their supremacy. In years to come, Iâd like some kid to refer to âUnitedâ and for people around them to assume theyâre talking about the great Newcastle United rather than that lesser Man United club that got relegated againâŚ
Nijmegen-toon
Sep 20, 2022 at 2:56 PM
Comment #9I correct someone once if they call them ‘United’ after that I give up.
dazzler
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:02 PM
Comment #10TDS,
See I never look at it that way. I just see it as there are two Manchester teams and one gets City the other gets United. I don’t really think about it beyond that. I’d still prefer them to refer to us as Newcastle, as then there can be no confusion at least for the morons such as myself.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:16 PM
Comment #11Gâs got it
At least 2 teams have to actually unite, to be UNITED!
So, Sheffield arenât, for instance!
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:18 PM
Comment #12Tds
I wouldnât piss notts forest fans off, irl.
Iâm very respectful âmeatside â, mate!
đ
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:19 PM
Comment #13Dazzler – we have equal right to be called âUnitedâ as Man Utd do. Why arenât Sheffield United called âUnitedâ instead?
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:20 PM
Comment #14Or colchester?
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:20 PM
Comment #15Clint – hah! Fair enough! đ well, itâs one up your sleeve in case you want a bit of banter with one anyway⌠đ
Novocastrian66
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:22 PM
Comment #16I remember when we used to refer to ourselves as United. United was a regular chant at the match. Not anymore. Man Utd should not be allowed to monopolise United.
I don’t have a problem with their fans calling themselves United however impartial commentators should call then Manchester Utd. It really annoys me when we’re not referred to our full name. We’re Newcastle United.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:22 PM
Comment #17Just play possum.
If someone says united, i just assume theyâre on about us.
đ
Assassins Inc
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:23 PM
Comment #18The reason why Sheffield United Cricket Club has the name âunitedâ is that it was actually formed by a lot of different cricket clubs at that time.
This included the Wednesday Cricket Club, which was arguably the most popular cricket club that named up the entire Sheffield United Cricket Club.
It wasnât until 1889 that the football team Sheffield United was formed by the president of the Sheffield United cricket club. As such, this team became a branch of the cricket club but has since earned an identity of its own.
With its formation as a football club, Sheffield United FC became the first-ever soccer team to have the word âunitedâ in its name.
Soon after the formation of Sheffield United, other teams began to use the word âunitedâ as well. This included Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Leeds United.
Assassins Inc
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:24 PM
Comment #19Manchester United are so called because they represent all of the Greater Manchester area, rather than just the City.
Assassins Inc
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:26 PM
Comment #20I for one only respect our United, we done it the right way by merging.
I would refer to Manchester United as Red Devils in any live chat
Small World
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:35 PM
Comment #21“Who’s that team we call United?
Who’s that team we all adore?…..”
discussion over
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:40 PM
Comment #22Small World – exactly. If Man Utd fans want to refer to their club as âUnitedâ amongst fellow fans then fair enough, just as our fans can. But for them to do it in public and assume everyone thinks of their club is arrogance in my opinion, itâs even worse when the media or fans of other clubs do it. Worst of all when Toon fans do it!
G
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:40 PM
Comment #23Fairly certain Leeds didn’t unite with anybody either. Think they just reformed from Leeds City after they went under.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:44 PM
Comment #24I also understood the word âUnitedâ to be chosen to represent that the town or city is united in supporting one club. These were obviously early days in terms of professional football so there will have been a range of reasons for picking the names of clubs in those days.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:53 PM
Comment #25Tds
Iâm with you on that, mate.
G
Yes, again.
dazzler
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:54 PM
Comment #26I’d always presumed “United” referred to one or more teams merging, as we did.
In reality Leeds should be Leeds City, although it really doesn’t roll off the tongue as well as Leeds United.
dazzler
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:56 PM
Comment #27Assassins,
I refer to them as the Manc B*stards in all my chats. I feel it captures their essence better.
dazzler
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:58 PM
Comment #28https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-25516,00.html#:~:text=Because%20the%20non%2Dplace%20element,Wednesday%20%3D%20played%20mid%20week%20only.
“Because the non-place element of their names described elements of their modus operandi. Rovers & rangers = no fixed ground; United = formed from more than one club; Wednesday = played mid week only.”
Interesting.. Never knew that about Rangers or Rovers, and Wednesday.
G
Sep 20, 2022 at 3:59 PM
Comment #29According to Google this is the full list of Professional ‘United’s in England:
Cambridge United FC
Carlise United FC
Colchester United FC
Leeds United FC
Manchester United FC
Newcastle United FC
Oxford United FC
Peterborough United FC
Rotherham United FC
Scunthorpe United FC
Sheffield United FC
Southend United FC
Sutton United FC
Torquay United FC
West Ham United FC
Wonder if they all have different reasons for using it? I may google that one day too?
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:02 PM
Comment #30Dazzler
Wanderers?
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:04 PM
Comment #31Once had a mate we called dave Tuesday, as he only came out on tuedays.
dazzler
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:05 PM
Comment #32Clint,
Apparently see Rovers & Rangers for the origins of Wanderers. Just this second read up on it.
Davas
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:08 PM
Comment #33I wonder if we will have any friendlies during the world cup. Must be surely.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:09 PM
Comment #34Dazzler
Yea, i figured.
No clue who wet spam merged with!
đ
Small World
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:15 PM
Comment #35Cambridge United FC => There is a Cambridge City FC
Carlisle United FC => There is a Carlisle City FC
I know of those two, didn’t bother checking out the others.
Hmmm… A lot of phoney United teams out there :0)
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:17 PM
Comment #36Clint, Look up Thames Ironworks
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:18 PM
Comment #37Spam did not merge, they got into financial difficulties and relaunched.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:19 PM
Comment #38Whereas Toon was a merger. 1892 and all that
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:20 PM
Comment #39Could we be the only team that has actually united?
đ
CLINT FLICK
Sep 20, 2022 at 4:21 PM
Comment #40Sir p
Nice one.