Chris Wood (now playing for Nottingham Forest)

[Rich]

Fanny so gasping to be right about Wood being shite (being right about anything would be newsworthy for him, to be fair) he’s even started inventing imaginary meanings for what people post.

 

Dry your eyes mate, Chris Wood’s NUFC are undefeated.

[Fantail Breeze]

3 minutes ago, joeyt said:

 

Where has Rich said that we got another win we can only put down to Chris Wood's contribution?

 

If he’s being hyperbole in one direction, what’s wrong with going the other way?

 

As usual, your absolute crap contribution.

[Rich]

Some bollocks on him grabbing the ball for the pen (that never was), mind, love that display of character considering the form he’s in.

[joeyt]

1 minute ago, Fantail Breeze said:

 

If he’s being hyperbole in one direction, what’s wrong with going the other way?

 

As usual, your absolute crap contribution.

 

So he didn't say it then. He just made a point that since we brought him in we've got 10 out of 12 points

 

No one has said Wood's contribution is the only reason we won again.

[joeyt]

3 minutes ago, Pardiola said:

Some bollocks on him grabbing the ball for the pen (that never was), mind, love that display of character considering the form he’s in.

Scored some class penalties for Burnley. I'd have been nervous about him taking it but his record is pretty decent I think

[Fantail Breeze]

12 minutes ago, Pardiola said:

Fanny so gasping to be right about Wood being shite (being right about anything would be newsworthy for him, to be fair) he’s even started inventing imaginary meanings for what people post.

 

Dry your eyes mate, Chris Wood’s NUFC are undefeated.

 

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.

 

 

Edited February 13, 2022 by Fantail Breeze

[Hanshithispantz]

He's vital as he allows us to knock it long, which we're utilising extremely effectively with limited footballers (Wood being one of them). It's one of the most impressive things about Howe, he doesn't even seem to give a shit how good his players are, if they offer a utility needed for his system and follow his game plan we're getting results.

 

It was a good deal for us and Burnley and thankfully we can pretty much forget about worrying about them or how they've spent anyway.

 

[Dokko]

He's got goals in him and they will come. He was never going to set the world on fire but I think when we're a bit more comfortable and the pressure is off he'll find his feet and start contributing goals wise.

[KaKa]

17 minutes ago, Fantail Breeze said:

 

 

Any big lump would’ve had the same results, if not better. He’s absolutely garbage.

 

You're a fascinating guy man

 

You just love looking for the one thing you can complain and moan about. It's incredible

[Big River]

2 minutes ago, Fantail Breeze said:

Sorry, better stop challenging the thoughts of the clique or i’ll be for the chop again. 

 

again? you evading a ban like?

[Fantail Breeze]

Just now, KaKa said:

 

You're a fascinating guy man

 

You just love looking for the one thing you can complain and moan about. It's incredible

 

I’ve posted in at least two other threads about positives, Burn and Schar. I’m also entitled to point out Wood was crap, again.  

 

Can’t even say I’m overly negative. Happy in the relegation thread, happy in two others, disappointed Trippier might be injured and thought Wood was shite.

 

I’d argue that’s more balanced than just being overwhelming happy.

[Fantail Breeze]

1 minute ago, HUGZ said:

 

again? you evading a ban like?

 

Nah, Yorkie banned me last year for a month  Done my time in the pen.

[KaKa]

Just now, Fantail Breeze said:

 

I’ve posted in at least two other threads about positives, Burn and Schar. I’m also entitled to point out Wood was crap, again.  

 

Can’t even say I’m overly negative. Happy in the relegation thread, happy in two others, disappointed Trippier might be injured and thought Wood was shite.

 

I’d argue that’s more balanced than just being overwhelming happy.

 

Interesting, maybe I just overlooked those

 

So often I seem to see a post having a right moan and I look across and it's you 

[Rich]

2 minutes ago, 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.

 

 

 

Far from upset, we’ve got a focal point that’s helped us to the best run of form we’ve had for ages at an absolutely crucial time. I gave a perfectly balanced assessment of his individual performances the other day, I know he’s looked poor and no goals in four speaks for itself.

 

Still, he’s serving a purpose, seems a good lad, and is improving game by game in terms of his links. Thought today was by far the best he’d done at flicking the ball to teammates rather than aimlessly. Still got people talking absolute shite about his contribution, of course, though, with no balance at all.

 

As for the clique nonsense, it’s just embarrassing shite. I wasn’t even here in July when you were seemingly banned for being a relentless WUM. Get over it.

[Gallowgate Toon]

He did what he's done in every game so far. Some good, some not good.

 

His work off the ball is excellent though. Seems to be able to keep pressing late in games to good effect and takes up good positions.

[OverThere]

Works hard pressing the opposition, some decent flicks. After he bags one he will be just fine. He's doing what is asked of him.

 

 

Edited February 13, 2022 by OverThere

[Thumbheed]

I mean, he's not great imo but he's playing an important role for us. 

 

 

[TRon]

43 minutes ago, Pardiola said:

Some bollocks on him grabbing the ball for the pen (that never was), mind, love that display of character considering the form he’s in.

 

FWIW I had no doubt in my mind he was going to put that away. He barely flinched in the five minutes or so he was stood with the ball waiting for the VAR decision to be given. Just stood there looming over the goal like a portent of doom for Villa.

[Foluwashola]

Won 3 on the bounce for once and we've got 'fans' despo to call out players for being shite. Deary me.

[TRon]

28 minutes ago, Gallowgate Toon said:

He did what he's done in every game so far. Some good, some not good.

 

His work off the ball is excellent though. Seems to be able to keep pressing late in games to good effect and takes up good positions.

 

His pressing was first class today, when you see it up close it does impact more. I've been quite critical of him so far, but he certainly made himself a nuisance today, won everything in the air, just nothing really dropped for anyone, same as usual. But he was decent enough and gives us a focal point up front.

[Ben]

Football is a team game (just look at Man U) he plays his role in attack and defence to have a positive impact on how we play, the goals will come.

[DoricGinola]

To score a brace at West Ham 

[Groundhog63]

Liked this. When we're downgrading players on the internet like Wood and Kraft it's worth remembering they're, most probs, well aware of their limitations. I think he, Woods, comes across very well here. Knows the crack.

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/02/18/chris-wood-read-rumours-kylian-mbappe-surprised-newcastle-came/

[Groundhog63]

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.”

[SUPERTOON]

Great interview that.