Yoane Wissa

[Newcastle Fan]

He looks sharp, making good runs and i especially enjoyed that moment when he raced back to win the ball and give us position.

[madras]

37 minutes ago, gazza ladra said:

But he [Wissa] had no preseason.

No mourning either.

[Danh1]

Half way to the rat’s tally already 

[Gallowgate Toon]

His movement is good, very sharp & willing runner. 

[alexf]

Looked fitter than I was expecting in his first start. Definitely more fox in the box than Woltemade and will score more goals because of those instincts and general sharpness around the penalty area. Tracked back well a few times aswell so showed the right attitude. Will likely take him a run of games to get match fit and fully sharp but can only help us to have a goalscorer in the side. 

 

 

[Holloway]

early days obviously but he's looking a good fit for us already,he's slotted in there seamlessly tonight. Like the cut of his jib, he's cool as fuck

[Fak]

1 hour ago, madras said:

No mourning either.

 

[r0cafella]

Very glad to read the feedback on here that he looked sharp and well up to speed. We really need him to deliver in the second half of the season. 

[McDog]

1 hour ago, r0cafella said:

Very glad to read the feedback on here that he looked sharp and well up to speed. We really need him to deliver in the second half of the season. 

 

 

Yea, he looked good. His goal was kind of a misplay by the keeper, he had to dive and stretch but he batted it back out in front instead of pushing it wide. That said, he was in the exact right spot for a striker and calmly tapped it in. Lots of energy and trying to get himself in a central position to score. Let's give him some minutes with his teammates to get used to what they do and compensate accordingly and vise versa.

[cubaricho]

His movement and instincts made me want some 4-4-2 variation even more now. Having them both on the pitch at the same time could become fucking deadly.

 

 

Edited December 18, 2025 by cubaricho

[McDog]

1 minute ago, cubaricho said:

His movement and instincts made me want some 4-4-2 variation even more now. Having them both on the pitch at the same time could become fucking deadly.

 

 

 

 

 

I think that would be something to try. It does seem to be have that potential to be deadly.

[timeEd32]

We've been dying for what he added to the team. Really want to see him and Nick together and I think we will at some point.

 

But for the time being we're going to have to rotate them. Excited to see more of Wissa and hopefully less games and continued learning will help Big Nick. He's got to offer more in the penalty area.

 

 

[Stottie]

I thought he looked great. Perhaps I should have known with him formerly playing as a winger for a hard-working team, but his movement is really good, he drops back to get the ball, and even tracks back to help.

 

If both him and Wolte constantly show for the ball, then yes, it would be easier to play them together, esp. for a Howe team working the balls in triangles. I'm skeptical it will happen though, especially if we are in lots of competitions and Osula is not available as cover. I don't want to see Gordon up top, because I think it does his confidence in.

[Lotus]

2nd half, we got the ball to him twice (iirc). Both times with him coming back towards his own goal. Once he miscontrolled and once he laid the ball off. 

We have to sort out the service to the forwards. It’s been an issue for a while. 

[Yorkie]

Echo the comments about him looking like just what we need.

 

Not trying to dig Woltemade out with this observation but he doesn't score that goal in a month of Sundays. Wissa knew he wasn't going to connect with the cross itself and gambled on the keeper spilling it. Great instincts and a really well earned goal.

 

Huge relief to see him looking so sharp. Enjoyed his smugface too.

[The College Dropout]

4 minutes ago, Lotus said:

2nd half, we got the ball to him twice (iirc). Both times with him coming back towards his own goal. Once he miscontrolled and once he laid the ball off. 

We have to sort out the service to the forwards. It’s been an issue for a while. 

That's also partly by design and it's ok. A Howe ST is meant to be on the last shoulder of the defender by nature that won't involve a lot of touches. If you think of Wilson & Isak as the blueprint. Wilson fights defenders, runs in behind, poacher goals that's it. Isak sometimes drops deep to link but mostly runs in behind, poachers goals. Same applies to Haaland

[Lotus]

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

That's also partly by design and it's ok. A Howe ST is meant to be on the last shoulder of the defender by nature that won't involve a lot of touches. If you think of Wilson & Isak as the blueprint. Wilson fights defenders, runs in behind, poacher goals that's it. Isak sometimes drops deep to link but mostly runs in behind, poachers goals. Same applies to Haaland

Totally hear you. But we didn’t find Wissa with runs in behind. We did manage some nice vertical passing into Willock and Ramsey which was great to see. Other than that it was he usual down the wings type stuff. 
 

I do think if Hall was playing instead or Tino last night we would’ve gone ahead and sooner. 

[The College Dropout]

8 minutes ago, Lotus said:

Totally hear you. But we didn’t find Wissa with runs in behind. We did manage some nice vertical passing into Willock and Ramsey which was great to see. Other than that it was he usual down the wings type stuff. 
 

I do think if Hall was playing instead or Tino last night we would’ve gone ahead and sooner. 

Aye but that;s the striker game. You keep making the runs, Bruno and co will find him

[Lush Vlad]

7 hours ago, cubaricho said:

His movement and instincts made me want some 4-4-2 variation even more now. Having them both on the pitch at the same time could become fucking deadly.

 

 

 

 

I know we have been wedded to this 4-3-3, bar the occasional change to 3 at the back.  Which usually results in us looking crap.  But I'd really like to see Howe returning to his 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1 at times. 

 

He is pretty slow.  But Woltemade does put work in and he could certainly play in that support striker/number 10 role.  Wissa is a grafter and pretty quick, too.  So I don't think we would lose loads defensively.

 

It would massively help Woltemade getting on the ball.  As he wouldn't always have a centre back or two following him about touch tight.  It would also in theory help how we play through the middle and also bring the wingers into play in a different way.  

 

Is Howe prepared to lose his two wide 8's, though?  Based purely on how he has set up here and his post-match comments, albeit with a pinch of salt required.  I think we'll only see this pair together when the game is disjointed and we're chasing an equaliser or the winner in the last 20-30 minutes. 

 

It's more of a change than just dropping Tonali to the 6 (should be number 4).  But I feel like this formation at times could be our season changing moment.  I admire when managers have full belief in their system and the Klopp mantra of work harder when plan A isn't working.  But we need to mix it up and freshen things up. 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2025 by Lush Vlad

[Elliottman]

Constantly on the 6 yard box when the ball is out wide. He'll be a killer if we can provide for him. 

[The College Dropout]

Also the intensity of his closing down is great.

 

That's part of the wider problem of big Wolte. He can't initiate a great press. Isak wasn't a natural presser eithet but at least he was quick. Wissa looks to be a natural. That allows everyone to get that bit closer and makes the press far better.

 

Wolte & Elanga really need to improve their pressing. It's a big reason we can't get the pressing game off. We used to have a front 3 of Joelinton/Willock Wilson Almiron - those can press super high and aggressive. Modern day Gordon/Barnes Wolte Elanga. That can't initiate a heavy metal press.

[Menace]

 

Will put my neck out and say this guy will be immense for us. Seems absolutely delighted to be here and is just soaking it all in.

 

Vardy played mid 30s as a striker and was relatively successful, it can happen

 

[M1tche]

I'd see him more of an Ian Wright than a Vardy, Vardy was blistering pace and being relentless. Wright was movement and finishing until his body gave up on him. 

 

 

Edited December 26, 2025 by M1tche

[Yorkie]

The comparison to Vardy is solid based on the fact he's played the majority of his career pre-30 at an intensity far removed from the PL. He's also got a fantastic injury record (🙃) so, with those factors combined, theoretically will have more in the tank than a typical player of his age.

[PauloGeordio]