If there’s anything we can all agree upon when it comes to Nick Woltemade, it’s that he has plenty of technical ability. The questions centre around his suitability for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United side and style of play.
On the surface, the big German is enjoying a decent season so far: his seven goals and two assists in the league better that of other expensive forwards and established attackers like Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Viktor Gyokeres, and he’s netted in both the Champions League and Carabao Cup as well.
But there’s a sense of doubt about the former Stuttgart striker and whether or not he’s the player we need right now. A common criticism of our style of play is that it’s built around a quick striker with excellent positioning: it was tailor-made for Alexander Isak, less so for Woltemade.
With that in mind, questions have now been asked about the striker’s long-term future at the club, just months on from his £69m move from Germany.
Don’t rule out Woltemade exit – Downie
Speaking on his YouTube channel this week, Sky Sports’ Keith Downie has speculated that we could be open to offers for Nick Woltemade if the right bid comes in during the summer transfer window.
With Will Osula looking incredibly likely to exit the club and move to the Bundesliga, as Yoane Wissa yet to reach the same heights he was achieving at Brentford, there is a lot of pressure on Woltemade to deliver every time he’s on the pitch. It’s a huge ask for a player who only arrived from Germany six months ago and is playing outside of a system that suits him.
But Downie hints that if we come close to recouping the £69m that we paid in August for the German international, it may not be the worst idea to take it.
“I’m not sure if Nick Woltemade was (good value) at £69 million. He looks a good player. Looks like he’s got real assets.
“Does he have the assets that Newcastle need in the way they play? No. So, I feel, and I’ve said this a couple of times in the channel, that signing was probably a mistake as well.
“Will Nick Woltemade be a Newcastle player next season? I would suggest there’s a question mark over that.
“I think if someone came in and offered the club, you know, close to what they paid for him, I think it’s a chance Woltemade could go in the summer.”
The issue that we would then face is just who a suitable buyer would be for Woltemade, and the only answer that really makes sense is Bayern Munich. But that would be reliant on Harry Kane departing and Vincent Kompany’s side still maintaining their interest in Woltemade from when he was still playing in that league.
Howe’s telling move at Liverpool
At any other club, the club-record striker who’s our second top scorer in the league should be a lock to start all games when fit and available.
But under Howe, the surprise decision to start Anthony Gordon up top at Liverpool perhaps spoke volumes about Woltemade’s suitability to that lone striker role and Wissa’s lack of match fitness/sharpness.
That’s something Downie does touch upon, stating “Because, you know, I think on Saturday against Liverpool, Anthony Gordon starting through the middle ahead of both Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade told its own story.”
There’s still plenty of football to play this season, and plenty of opportunities for Woltemade to impress up top. But right now it does feel towering attacker is under an intense microscope from both the fans and the media, and we’ll need him to recapture his form from back in the autumn if we want to stand a chance of Champions League football next season.
He wouldn’t be missed.
davewallace(Quote)
I think the words hole, talking out of and back of his neck can be used for his views on that matter.
Rotating the players was all that was happening there. He started the league cup semi final last night. What does that tell him with Barnes on the bench.
The little birdy(Quote)
Keep him for the derby at least
Somanygoals(Quote)
He should take Elanga , Jacob Ramsey and Eddie Howe with him . Waste of money
Xxxxx(Quote)
If PIF want to keep a hold of EH we are done for why can he not play to up front against brentford the are playing with no confidence even at home we are just scraping through tactics are not there and you can only put it down to the man picking the team the football is a DUD
Keith Richardson(Quote)
Woltemade offers nothing ..he’s very quickly been found out .
Lacks pace and as for his so called technical ability Ive yet to see him pick up the ball turn and beat his marker and then bear down on goal which begs the question as to why he drops so deep .
His perception of where he needs to be is non existent and he has a happy knack of always arriving way too late ..
An absolute waste of money who we will be lucky to get even half of the £69m back from any sale ..so the probability is that he will still be around for the forseeable future..unfortunately .
Hodgy(Quote)
Eddie Jones, and Nick Wissa , Trippier, Willock, Gordon, Burn, Murphy, Pope, needs moving on.
They are holding the progress.
BMlondon(Quote)
We have not got the quality needed for big tournaments we have 6 top players the rest are not up to it ,
Bruno,tonali, burn,tino,hall
Miley
Nufc away fan(Quote)
More likely Howe should leave as he is unable to change tactics and formations to accommodate top class players .. woltemade must be feeling some regret when he could be playing for a top. Manager and European royalty at Bayern ..
Mike(Quote)
He was a knee **** reaction purchase as a result of allowing Isak to leave at the last minute. Neither he or Wissa improve the team so get rid and replace them with a forward who can score goals on a regular basis.
mactoon(Quote)
The problem with Biggus Nickus is that we bought him for what he is then we’re trying to turn him into something else.
Nick has said that he’s not your average big center forward. He likes o get the ball to his feet, he likes a bit of space, he likes a tap in rebound.
So what are we doing with him? We keep lobbing the ball to his head in a crowed box.
It makes no sense.
We need to play to his strengths, or at least what he thinks his strengths are.
Also wouldn’t do any harm to train him , get him fitter and get some muscle on him.
Jordi Plato(Quote)
Eddie Jones & Nick Wissa! You need to keep off the sauce kidda.
Goalden Muldoon(Quote)
nick has been much better than a lot of the strikers in the league at least he tracks back and lets face it wissa is useless never a no 9 he needs to go not nick they re not playing to his strengths at all team needs to play to him
jen(Quote)
We didn’t just go wrong with Woltemade,our recruitment in the summer window on current evidence,was abysmal. Our total spend,in the region of £250 million and Thiaw is the only player to have actually improved the team. We are not Manchester United and we can’t afford those kind of mistakes.Whoever was responsible needs to go( if they haven’t already)
Tommy Tantrum(Quote)
He should stay upfront at the tip of the attack and not mixing at the centre due to this slow pace. He is only useful when he is challenging the defenders with his height and technical skills. Eddie is not giving him clear and effective instructions
Jordan(Quote)
He’s a mackems so a bit clueless on all things Newcastle
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Why do we not play Barnes’s in is best position. Howe needs to pick the best for there position. How pope gets in the team is a Unreal. A very poor goalkeeper
Dave thistlewood(Quote)
More likely Howe should leave as he is unable to change tactics and formations to accommodate top class players .. woltemade must be feeling some regret when he could be playing for a top. Manager and European royalty at Bayern ..
Devrin Anggun(Quote)