Chris Wood (now playing for Nottingham Forest)

[Groundhog63]

8 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Great interview that.

On a wider note, it's insightful listening and reading interviews with all the players now. They appear to be a good bunch who've been poorly led. Obvs the new guys have added some realism and positivity into the mix but there is a definite sea change.

Chris Wood knows what he is and is getting on with it. Fair play to him.

[MrRaspberryJam]

Good crack. Hopefully sticks the winner in the onion bag t'morra. 

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

Enjoyed that. I really hope he scores a few between now and the end of the season, yes for us but just as much for him. Would love him to score a worldie that won us a game or something. I think with a bit of confidence he could really contribute to the team more than just being a body in a position, which he's done really well anyway. Would be nice to take players like that along with us and help them improve as we do and be a positive impact on their career as well, rather than just expecting to take from them if that makes sense. There's not much better than hearing or reading about ex Newcastle players say how much they enjoyed it here and how many memories they hold. Been a while since we had that. 

[toon25]

2 hours ago, SUPERTOON said:

Great interview that.

That's absolutely fucking brilliant, like.

 

I've waited for years to hear someone say this sort of stuff about my team. And it's feels fucking great.

[Dancing Brave]

2 hours ago, Groundhog63 said:

Chris Wood understands if people were underwhelmed, or even dismayed, when Newcastle United signed him last month because he could not believe it was going to happen either. 

At the age of 30, Wood had not expected to leave Burnley and had no idea he was on Newcastle’s wanted list until 48 hours before he made the £25m move. 

Like everyone else, he had seen the superstar players the Magpies were linked with. It was fantasy football stuff and he knew better than anyone that he is no superstar.

But what has happened since has been pragmatic rather than showbiz, as Newcastle spent £93m in January on players they thought could get them out of relegation trouble. It was a transfer policy to address the problems they had rather than the dreams they wanted to realise. No player epitomised that more than Wood. 

“When the takeover happened, I could not have envisaged I would be one of the first signings,” said Wood, whose lack of goals should not distract from the fact Newcastle have taken ten points from the four games he has played.

“I’d read the rumours about Mbappe and Haaland and all that sort of stuff. It made you smile, I suppose, on the outside looking in. Newcastle were not in my thoughts at all. The interest came as a surprise and it all happened very quickly -  in the space of 48 hours. Callum [Wilson] got the injury, Newcastle needed another striker with some presence to lead the line and it was done two days later.

“I’m obviously not in the same bracket as either of those two, I accept that 100 per cent, I am very different, but I was brought in to do a specific job and because I knew the Premier League.  I was brought in to fight. Newcastle wanted players to make an impact immediately. It has been very pragmatic. They didn’t look to make glitzy signings if you like. We are in a relegation battle. It’s all very well signing players from abroad, but maybe they will need time to settle.”

Wood signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after Newcastle forced Burnley to sell by activating a £25m release clause. Wood knows why he is there. If Newcastle go on to achieve the things they aspire to do, this season will not feature prominently when the history books are written, but that does not matter now.

“Hopefully the dream signings can come later on when the club is more established,” Wood added. “They have grand plans and know where they want this club to be in the years to come, but they [the owners] are not ones to get carried away. It is the here and now which mattered and that’s what they addressed in January.

“The club is going to progress and I’m sure the fans are already dreaming of playing in Europe. But if you look at Chelsea, Man City and PSG, it takes time. You have to build gradually, on and off the pitch. 

“We’d like to be pushing for Europe next season, but in reality, we just have to keep progressing. Hopefully in five years, we will be challenging for silverware, playing in Europe, that is what the new owners want. The players know that. We will add more players, maybe some big names, but we will take it year on year. What you saw in January, is that the club didn’t just sign good players, they signed good characters too.”

Wood is certainly that. He brings an Antipodean attitude to his work. Humble and understated, he is relaxed, and occasionally jovial, as we talk about his upbringing in New Zealand and the influence rugby had, despite his early love of football.

“It’s New Zealand, rugby is a rite of passage,” he explained. “I played when I was at school. You’d probably be picked on if you didn’t, but it was always football that was my passion.

“Rugby helps shape you. Kiwis are brought up to think of the team rather than the individual. We’re brought up on the history of the All Blacks, how humble they are and how united they are. It rubs off on you. It helps foster this attitude that you have to be there for each other and work for each other. It had a huge effect on my personality and what I do as a footballer.”

 

It is that attitude that made him manager Eddie Howe’s first choice centre forward target. Howe’s core principle is that the team comes before the individual. That is Wood in a nutshell.

“Ultimately the name on the front of the shirt is way more important than the name on the back of it,” he declared. “It is a fundamental part of how I approach my game. 

“The more I do for this team, the more benefits will come and the more likely it is we will stay up. The more chances I will get to score goals too. I will work my socks off for this team, I will track back, I will defend, I will fill in where needed. That’s a big part of it for me. I’ve signed a two and a half year contract. I’m focused on the next six months but I want to be the focal point, that number 9 for the team next season. 

“I know other players are going to be brought in to improve the squad, there will be other players brought in up top, but that will bring more out of me. I’m here to stay for the whole contract. I’d like to sign an extension. I want to be part of the journey this club is on and see where it takes me.”

If Wood is the right striker for Newcastle at this moment in their evolution, Howe is the right manager. His impact on the training ground has been immense and a self confessed “football geek” he has a level headed personality to cope with the scrutiny on Tyneside.

 

“The manager is great, he really is,” added Wood. “He is first and foremost a coach, he loves coaching, he loves getting his hands on players and improving them.

“The attention to detail is huge. It probably goes under the radar but the small things he changes in game, the small changes he makes from game to game to adapt to different teams and styles. It’s huge. Every week, we are making little pieces of the puzzle to make us better against different opponents. He’s so intricate with the way he thinks and how he prepares us.”

 

 

A great interview.

I'm convinced he will score the goal that keeps us up.

 

[Dr Jinx]

Would love to see him get a goal but his overall play is absolutely vital to the rest of the team.

 

Before when we played a long ball to either clear the lines or to bring others in, it was too easy for the defenders we were up against. Not only were they clearing the ball too easily but directing it to team mates in midfield and back comes the pressure.

 

Wood causes a bit of panic with defenders, they just go in to be first but nothing is directed and our midfield are picking up the second ball opportunities.

 

Marry that with the emergence of Joelinton, Willock regaining some sort of form and Shelvey seemingly finding fitness levels he never had, we’re so much more competitive in the middle now.

[TRon]

9 hours ago, SUPERTOON said:

Great interview that.

 

Fraser had a similar one published in the Athletic yesterday, also had a lot of good insight into the team spirit being built by Howe's management team, I don't know if it was posted yesterday by someone, I don't have access to it at the moment, but was a great read.

[gdm]

This lad scores today. Can feel it 

[Geordiebri]

On 13/02/2022 at 17:39, Fantail Breeze said:

 

I am right about Wood being shite  It’s there for us all to see with our own eyes. No need to get so upset by it.

 

Edit - actually, cba.

 

 

 

You're not allowed to say he's shite on here mind. 

[joeyt]

1 minute ago, Geordiebri said:

You're not allowed to say he's shite on here mind. 

Of course you are. You just shouldn't strawman like Fantail did

[Fantail Breeze]

Takes him seconds to come in  

[Fantail Breeze]

2 hours ago, gdm said:

This lad scores today. Can feel it 

 

I tell myself this every game, I think it’s hope more than expectation though. Similar to when we’ve had people like Riviere, Joselu etc. 

[Guest HTT II]

He breaks his duck today!

[Guest HTT II]

Or a leg knowing our luck…

[Geordiebri]

2 hours ago, gdm said:

This lad scores today. Can feel it 

He might get a deflection off his arse, you never know?

[xLiaaamx]

Some of the criticism is OTT

 

But mind you, some of the stretching people do to make out he's playing well is too. 

[Guest]

This just seems a Chris Wood type of game to me. We’re underdogs, he’s going to have two direct wingers who’ll be looking for the early cross. I fancy him for a goal. Important that Willock plays close to him as well for me.

[Newcastle Fan]

Really need him to fucking step up.

[Holmesy]

What is he actually good at?

[Shearergol]

He’ll never score for us.

[Happinesstan]

Right now, he completes us.

[Shak]

Just now, Shearergol said:

He’ll never score for us.

 

I reckon he'll get one or two but he doesn't look up to much, does he?

 

Lot of money to pay for a guy who will hopefully be 3rd choice striker next season but I do think just having him as a focal point the last few weeks has been important. Maybe next year he'll be useful as an extra striker off the bench when we want to go more direct? He doesn't look particularly great in the air from what I've seen of him thus far, mind.

[Ben]

Christopher Wood runs in the 3:00 at Ascot today 20/1 bit harsh after today's shift, putting my free £5 on all the same.

[Newcastle Fan]

He really does work hard, but that is it.. i really want to see him attacking a ball in the box or taking a shot correctly which is what you want your strikers to do, how far off is Callum Wilson?

[ExiledGeordie]

47 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

What is he actually good at?

Giver over man, he’s moved from a team where the whole focus was around him with balls in. It’s not like he’s missed a hatful of chances . Sure he’s low on confidence but he’s working his bollocks off and providing a focal point. He’ll get a goal or two eventually.