Chris Wood (now playing for Nottingham Forest)

[hakka]

I've never considered Wood an elite top half of PL striker, but he's always been a handful for any back 4 physically and in the air, and he scores enough across a season to be useful. We are desperate for goals, I'm certain he will pick up 6 or 7 here minimum in the league.

 

If we think deeper, imagine Wilson playing off Wood with ASM out wide and Trippier in the mix, it already sounds fascinating. Also pressure off Joelinton for goals can solidify him to drop back in to a CM role. Bring in a CB, LB and CM on top of this and fucking hell, we will be a pretty interesting and very different side. We may pick up wins purely from people not knowing how to stop some of new players or combined style of play. I also think current players will improve with less pressure on them, so if they come in we will get some surprise performances.

 

I think the CB and CM positions need to be top signings. We can get away with less than the best LB, as long as it keeps Ritchie from playing there.

[LiquidAK]

Not worth that fee normally but worth it if he keeps us up. Needs must, very happy with this 

[Optimistic Nut]

He’s the sort of signing we should have made 2 and a half year ago instead of bringing Carroll back and sticking with Gayle.

[mighty__mag]

Why does Gabby Agbonlahor always think he knows more than everyone else, the only person I've heard claiming it wasn't a release clause, like Burnley would have sold him to us otherwise.  

[wormy]

Think I saw someone on here mention how Wood with ASM and Miggy/Fraser supporting could become another Rondon with Ayoze and Miggy supporting and I'm buying in to that more and more. If the players buy in and it becomes even a lite version of that then you'd like to think it'll see us through this season.

[Newcastle Fan]

Now we have a striker for the next game which makes me feel a bit better about it, i also really like these 2.5 years contract as it gives the player something to work for rather than insanely long contract that makes them feel relaxed and complacent, also means if they are not good we are not forced to stick with them as is the case with most of our current squad

[NG32]

3 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

He’s the sort of signing we should have made 2 and a half year ago instead of bringing Carroll back and sticking with Gayle.

Some extra fret now 

[Jordan]

This ones a very clever signing. Guaranteed goals in Premier League, weakens a rival and proven Championship goalscorer should we go down. 

[St1pe]

Got a feeling if he plays this weekend he’s going to smash Watford. One of those debuts for a striker that just seems to go off every now and again. 

[JeffJ]

36 minutes ago, WarrenBartonCentrePartin said:

 

Chris Wood? Present. 
 

Okay. It’s business time.

[LV]

4 minutes ago, mighty__mag said:

Why does Gabby Agbonlahor always think he knows more than everyone else, the only person I've heard claiming it wasn't a release clause, like Burnley would have sold him to us otherwise.  

Fella doesn’t even know what a duck-billed platypus is and thinks they come from Iceland.

 

I really wouldn’t worry about what he ‘thinks’ 

[jarralad]

2 minutes ago, St1pe said:

Got a feeling if he plays this weekend he’s going to smash Watford. One of those debuts for a striker that just seems to go off every now and again. 

 

Has that happened for us since Mick Quinn scored 4 against Leeds?

[TaylorJ_01]

let's hope chris wood is chris good

[Colos Short and Curlies]

2 minutes ago, jarralad said:

 

Has that happened for us since Mick Quinn scored 4 against Leeds?

 

Maybe not in volume of Goals but Les had a fantastic debut, as did Cisse

[Newcastle Fan]

2 minutes ago, jarralad said:

 

Has that happened for us since Mick Quinn scored 4 against Leeds?

 

Wasn't his debut but i remember on his first start and out of nowhere Leon Best scored a hatrick against West Ham.

[Guest neesy111]

1 minute ago, Newcastle Fan said:

 

Wasn't his debut but i remember on his first start and out of nowhere Leon Best scored a hatrick against West Ham.

 

It was his first start in the PL.

[Cookie1892]

11 minutes ago, mighty__mag said:

Why does Gabby Agbonlahor always think he knows more than everyone else, the only person I've heard claiming it wasn't a release clause, like Burnley would have sold him to us otherwise.  

 

i despise that funny looking prick

[toon25]

28 minutes ago, ScottishMagpie said:

 

Does he have a skin condition that I'm not aware of but WTF is going with his facial hair/beard?   Looks like he's just come off the pitch at Twickenham!

It's all that time on the train journey up, marra.

[Slim]

17 minutes ago, mighty__mag said:

Why does Gabby Agbonlahor always think he knows more than everyone else, the only person I've heard claiming it wasn't a release clause, like Burnley would have sold him to us otherwise.  

Just have be controversial to get hits on twitter/callers etc.

 

People fall for it all the time.

[toon25]

6 minutes ago, Cookie1892 said:

 

i despise that funny looking prick

I genuinely don't think he has a single brain cell.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

TIFO done a video saying how much sense this makes. If the tactics nerds are behind it, let’s go. 

[St1pe]

16 minutes ago, jarralad said:

 

Has that happened for us since Mick Quinn scored 4 against Leeds?

Cisse 

 

I can’t think of any others mind. 

 

 

Edited January 13, 2022 by St1pe

[Gaztoon]

On a human level I'm so happy the lad had football ... because he's not the sharpest tool in the box is he

 

Looks like a guy you always see walking around town with a 10 year old tesco bag.

[Guest HTT II]

3 minutes ago, Gaztoon said:

On a human level I'm so happy the lad had football ... because he's not the sharpest tool in the box is he

 

Looks like a guy you always see walking around town with a 10 year old tesco bag.

He’d be on spice on the streets of Aston if he wasn’t a footballer, thick as fuck and sounds punch drunk. Decent player as a youngster mind!

[The Prophet]

https://theathletic.com/3066603/2022/01/13/chris-woods-burnley-exit-dismay-in-dressing-room-open-to-move-for-a-year-frantic-search-for-replacement/

 

When The Athletic spoke to one Burnley dressing-room source shortly after the news broke that Chris Wood was heading to Newcastle United for a medical, their response was: “Is it done?”

It summed up the shock on Tuesday evening as Burnley faced the reality of losing their most reliable goalscorer to one of their relegation rivals at mid-season.

 

Internally, Burnley did not expect Wood to leave in this winter window and are understood to be unhappy with the situation. In the Turf Moor dressing room, with the majority finding out the situation as it was being revealed on social media, there was genuine surprise at Wood “just disappearing” to St James’ Park, as one source put it.

 

It has been described as “unreal” by another source close to the situation. There is frustration and disappointment among some players that the striker has seemingly chosen a move, particularly to a direct rival in the scrap for Premier League survival, and more money over staying put and fighting for survival with the tight-knit squad he’s been part of since the summer of 2017. Others are believed to be more understanding of the opportunity and what is likely to be his career’s last big pay day.

 

After initial reports broke on Sunday afternoon about Newcastle’s interest in the 30-year-old, any possibility of a transfer occurring was batted away by Burnley. Within 48 hours, he was making his way north to Tyneside for that medical.

 

For a few weeks, Newcastle had been aware Wood could be available.

 

After confirmation of their top-scorer Callum Wilson’s latest injury and encouragement that Wood was receptive, with the New Zealand international believed to have been open to a different opportunity for over a year, manager Eddie Howe requested that he become their primary target.

 

It was an opportunity Wood could not turn down, both financially and because of where Newcastle could be in a year’s time under their new owners if they can avoid relegation over the next four months. There is also the potential to quickly become a cult hero at St James’ Park if he contributes significantly to his new club securing survival.

 

Newcastle’s interest in the player actually dates back to 2017, when Burnley paid a club-record fee to sign Wood from Leeds United. They looked at him again in 2019, the year Wood signed a new contract — one which included a release clause.

Burnley say Newcastle have now triggered Wood’s release clause. The club did not disclose the fee, but it is thought to be £25 million.

 

Sources have disputed whether the clause has been activated, or if a deal in excess of £20 million has been agreed between the clubs with suggestions that the stipulated clause would not have become valid until the summer — although the Lancashire club insist it was active.

 

Regardless, it leaves Burnley woefully short of striking options heading into two massive home games against Leicester City and Watford. This season’s top goalscorer Maxwel Cornet is away on AFCON duty with Ivory Coast and Matej Vydra is both recovering from a positive COVID-19 test and carrying a hernia injury that may require surgery.

 

Ashley Barnes is still weeks away from full fitness following a thigh injury in November and while Jay Rodriguez has five goals in cup competitions this season, his last Premier League goal was 11 months ago.

 

With Cornet away and Wood gone, Burnley’s available top scorer in the league this season is centre-back Ben Mee, with two goals.

 

With the move happening so quickly, it is understood they do not have an immediate replacement lined up and that there was no definitive plan in place for this eventuality.

 

On Tuesday evening, prominent agents were understood to be frantically calling around Europe to try to identify a striker who can come in this month.

 

Netherlands striker Luuk de Jong, currently on loan from Sevilla to Barcelona and ironically a former Newcastle United player himself, is one profile of player who has been mentioned. Multiple sources have admitted there is a limited number of strikers currently available, which makes things even more difficult.

Add the unwillingness to let players leave by clubs, January window inflation and that everybody now knows Burnley are desperate and it could become a complicated and expensive search.

 

Ben Brereton-Diaz would not be sold to Burnley because of the rivalry between them and neighbours Blackburn Rovers, currently pushing for automatic Premier League promotion. It is thought the Chile international has his sights set higher when he can move as a free agent in the summer.

 

Divock Origi does not want to leave Liverpool as they continue to compete on four fronts, while another option could be Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal, who has six months remaining on his contract. However, he would be reluctant to join a club who may be in the Championship next season and it has been difficult for Burnley to attract players from London in the past, with Chelsea duo Ross Barkley and Fikayo Tomori having said no to moves to Turf Moor.

 

“They must feel like the last man on the dancefloor when the lights go on at 2am,” said one source.

 

Chairman Alan Pace and manager Sean Dyche have been in regular discussion about the transfer window as members of the technical committee formed when new owners ALK Capital arrived just over a year ago. It is understood the list of wanted and available players was relatively small to begin the window — before Wood departed.

 

Extra funds should allow list to get longer. The potential difficulty, sources suggest, is the type of player each wants to bring in is thought to differ; Pace preferring younger investment-type signings while Dyche wants proven players who can help get his third-bottom side out of trouble. With the sale of Wood, it may help clarify minds and align visions.

 

For so long, the Kiwi had been Dyche’s ever-present, a key component to Burnley’s 4-4-2 with his aerial ability and willingness to stretch the opposition defence, even if that resulted in numerous offside decisions. Those qualities, coupled with his intelligent movement in the box, enabling him to get in the right positions and on the end of crosses and helping him score 53 goals in 165 appearances across all competitions, it is easy to see that Wood will be missed.

 

“He doesn’t appear to know the offside rule but knows where the goal is,” one source close to the squad says.

 

This season, however, he has struggled for consistent form.

 

Before Burnley’s extended break due to COVID-19 postponements in December, Wood had become the player taken off as part of Dyche’s first attacking substitution in a game, partly due to summer buy Cornet’s impressive displays but also his own lack of effectiveness.

There was a public display of frustration from Wood after being subbed after an hour against Wolves at the start of December with the game goalless. He appeared to call Dyche a “fucking idiot”, although the manager played down the situation post-game.

 

On the incident, a source close to the player said: “Quite simply, he always scores against Wolves and taking off your top goalscorer from the last four seasons never sits well.”

 

Before the postponed pre-Christmas games against Watford and Aston Villa, there had been growing suggestions that Dyche was going to play Rodriguez and Vydra as his front two.

 

We never got the chance to see if that would materialise and instead, with Rodriguez missing the December 30 trip to Manchester United through COVID-19, Dyche reverted to Wood in a 4-5-1 system with Aaron Lennon playing off him.

His performances may have disappointed supporters this season but it should not be forgotten Wood is a proven, reliable Premier League goalscorer, netting double figures in each of his last four seasons. He also started 2020-21 poorly before a run of eight goals in eight games from early March propelled Burnley towards survival.

 

This window felt make or break if Burnley retained all of their key players. Now they have lost one of the first names on the teamsheet, the importance of the next couple of weeks has skyrocketed.

 

One source, though, described Wood’s sale as potentially being a “blessing in disguise”.

 

Strip everything back and Burnley have recouped a significant fee, potentially making a £10 million profit on a player who has had his best years at the Turf Moor, was struggling for form, turned 30 in early December and only had 18 months left on his deal.

 

It is the type of self-sustaining player-trading model owner ALK hopes to implement moving forward.

Not in this scenario, though. Burnley have lost a starting striker to a direct relegation rival midway through the season, strengthening Newcastle and weakening themselves.

 

With money now available, the sale forces Burnley into the market. It means nothing, though, if they cannot bring in new faces and there is no guarantee anybody they sign now will be a success, especially if they have to gamble on bringing a striker in from abroad — which appears the most likely scenario.

 

Not every player will have the same instant impact as Cornet following his summer move from France’s Lyon.

 

If they use the Wood money wisely, it could play a major role in evolving a squad which has been in dire need of revamping for some time.

 

Still, this is an experienced group who know the reality of their situation.

 

“It will,” one source concluded, “be a very hard mission.”