KaKa

Think we'll sell Osula in the summer and sign someone like him as the third striker. Having a heck of a season in Belgium. Weird that Anderlecht loaned him out without giving him a chance in their first team.

1 Prem goal man ... it's astonishing how badly its gone.

They're ridiculous. Cost them a fair bit as well. Need to go on a mad run to end the season. We can catch some of these teams man.

Tammy strikes for Villa.

Nick Woltemade in midfield for NUFC “We've done a lot of work with him in that position, away from the game day, as much as we can with the limited training time that we have,” Howe explained. “So yes, we're not training. When I say we're not training, we're not training to the intense levels, of course, that we would when it’s one game a week. “But we are turning up, as we will today, and we will train. But then it's what you do in that time that's the really important thing. “Nick's attitude to his work has been excellent, so we've asked him to play a slightly different role. Albeit it's not a million miles from how we were playing with him as the number nine. “He was coming low, he was coming deep. It's just he's slightly to one side. So I don't see a big, massive issue here. He's a player that plays better in between the lines than stretching the line. I think that's obvious. “It's more the defensive work that he has to then grasp, and what we ask of him off the ball. And that's where I have to say, even as a number nine leading the line, his off-the-ball performances were really, really good. “Tactically, he's a very, very intelligent player. He's obviously been well-educated in his former clubs. So he took to it really quickly, and full compliment to him for doing that.” Still, Howe maintains that Woltemade’s change in role isn’t too different to what it was when playing as a striker. The key difference now is that he has another striker playing further ahead of him. “I don't think it's that different personally,” Howe added. “Is there slightly more physical demand? Yes, but it's slight. And I think the thing with Nick, and we noticed this straight away from working with him, he's got really good endurance level. “So his ability to run and cover long distances is actually very, very high. So, yes, I think he can do it. Of course, there's things to learn and improve and develop within his game in that position. But I think he's a versatile player.”

Mostly because of the chances he didn't take, but we've all since seen the team struggle with even the other strikers up there. The biggest thing has been seeing the aggressive pressing game come back to life with him up top. I think provided that continues, and the team in general can have others chip in with goals, and Gordon can continue putting some away, then they'll be in good shape. That pressing is such a big part of the best of Howe's setup. It makes such a big difference.

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Anthony Gordon as Newcastle United’s striker Gordon has discussed his desire to compete with the likes of Wissa and Nick Woltemade for the starting striker position at Newcastle. And head coach Howe believes the 24-year-old is a viable option moving forward with Woltemade dropping deep. While Wissa was signed to make an immediate impact at Newcastle leading the line, he now finds himself as third choice striker. “I think every player has a preference on sides and positions,” Howe explained. “And you sort of listen to that, because you want the player to play, ideally, where he's most comfortable. “But I think given another preference, he'd probably prefer to play down the middle and lead the line, because I think that's what most players naturally would want to do, because you've got a lot more freedom in terms of your movement and where you can run. “I think Ant's got some really good qualities in that position, none more so than his pressing intensity, but also his tactical understanding of when to do it, how to do it. “I think it's at the very highest level. I think you could see the other day a couple of our goals came from his regains, and that's not by luck, that's by his really good judgment and where he puts himself. “And then for the first goal that he scores, it's a brilliant piece of centre-forward play. It comes in short, spins, and it's a ruthless finish. So I was delighted with his performance.”

Thomas Frank to Palace?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7057187/2026/02/20/woltemade-howe-newcastle-united-premier-league-champions-league/

Eddie: "He seems really happy. What you see is what you get with Nick. He's always laughing, been very good in the dressing room. "He's built a really close relationship with Malick (Thiaw) which is great to see him build that with one of his teammates but he's also well liked by the group. That's a big thing for any player. "The guys really respect and like his personality and the fact he's very much a team player. He doesn't take himself too seriously, he's one of the lads, so when I hear reports that he's not happy, that's not the player I'm seeing. "He's looked really good on the pitch in the last few games, performing at a really high level."

Asked if he wanted Gordon to have a selfish streak, head coach Howe said: "There were really big positives to take from that incident. Moments like that get blown out of all proportion, it was a very minor issue. "It was great from Anthony that he's got that strong enough resolve that he wants to score in every moment -- and you'd want that from any player -- so I've got no issue with him. "I've got no issue with Kieran also, trying to think of the team and trying to lead in his way and be the aspiring leader that he is in every moment. I actually thought it was a real positive on all sides. "The good thing is we scored the penalty, so that in itself is another positive. I think it showed that all the players care and we want to do well."

Remember the young Uruguay striker Alvaro Rodriguez that made his debut under Anchelotti at Real Madrid? So he moved to Elche for around £2 million last summer and has been doing pretty well. Caught a bit of one of their games the other day and he looked good. The height, physique, mobility, technique and gait. Who does this remind you of ... a pair of strikers at Liverpool perhaps? Or am I imagining things?!

Great flick on from MGW. Good goal.

Outrageous stuff from Murillo. What a goal!

Very good start for Forest. This is going to be a good game. Atmosphere is great.

By the time the cameras were rolling and questions were being posed, they had resolved the disagreement. When questioned about what sparked the row, Trippier, whilst Gordon chuckled beside him, explained: "Obviously, Gordy scored a hat-trick and I think I, and all the other players, wanted to take the penalty, but he's our penalty taker." "He wants to score goals, as everybody else does, but ultimately he is the penalty taker. In football, emotions are high on the pitch at times and it is what it is. He scored four goals, he was unbelievable today, and we move on." When it was Gordon's turn to respond, the £40million signing stated: "Yeah, but I understand everyone's opinion because I want everyone to succeed and we should be in it together. But I'm an attacker and the penalty taker, I want to score as many goals as I possibly can." "I understood everyone's opinion and emotions do get high. But, he's one of my closest team-mates, he has been since I joined the club, he's done so much for me. So, yeah, he's alright." Trippier actually wanted to take it There was a number of them that were looking to, which is ridiculous, and so I think Gordon was even more in his right to send them all away.

Someone is going to put down a lot of money for this guy this summer and there's likely a good chance he moves on before he's really fully figured it all out, which will then end up happening elsewhere and it will be such a terrible look. Seems he really wants more opportunities to develop further as a forward. Well worth exploring that the remainder of the season now to see how that goes, especially as it seems to be going well currently, and he's showing improvements there. Just remembered he was playing up top for England under 21s when they won one of the Euro tournaments I think it was, and he was player of the tournament was it?! Perhaps he got a real taste for it then.

Yeah, exactly. Even at his best he's going to have some head scratching moments and performances. Just the player he is. Wasn't particularly impressed with the wing play tonight on the whole to be honest, until Murphy came on and smashed one in, as Barnes wasn't that great either. Crazy the performance was so dominant without the team really threatening down the wings. I guess they did contribute a lot off the ball though as the speed when harrying them at the back threw them off a lot, and led to most of the chances created.

Wish they'd have him push up more, even if it's in this same shape. Thought he was good tonight, but would be a lot more dangerous a bit further up, in more of a classic 10 position.

Top performance tonight both with and without the ball, and deserved every one of those goals. The more he sees the ball hit the back of the night the better, now he's going to be playing upfront more. Needs to build as much confidence as possible as a goal scorer. Not often you get a chance to score 4 in a game, never mind a half, and broke records doing just that and is now chasing down the top scorer in the competition. Keep taking those pens.

Barnes has been off it again today. Took too long to make a decision just then.

Kinda wish Woltemade would push up just a little bit more when we have the ball. Been a tad too deep in possession.

Nice strike Murph!

With the way the first half has started I wouldn't be putting any kids on.