Nick Woltemade

[Andy]

23 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

 

Not sure I would describe him as a great player, but he has good feet. I don't see how he fits into our system at all, would need a massive overhaul of the way we play, and I don't see Howe doing it. 

 

I don't think he'd start for many premier league teams to be honest. He's technically sound and has potential, but he's unsuited to the style that most teams in this country play, it's not just an issue with our system. 

[TK-421]

I do feel sorry for him, and Wissa to a certain extent, in that I think neither benefits from not starting and playing a regular run of games.

Woltemade was forced to start for us (probably sooner than planned) when he arrived due to Wissa's injury, and had a remarkable run where he didn't really get that many chances, but was scoring with the one per match he did get.

Then against Chelsea, the two goals he scored, seemed like we or he had found out the type of forward he needed to be for us..... and he was on the bench the next game to start Wissa. Since then, it's been one or the other starting, with EH unable to, or unwilling to change his system to accommodate both together, apart from a rare occasion.

Woltemade is clearly now lacking confidence, but that will probably only come back with another run in the team, and a goal or two. But same could be said of Wissa, who also doesn't look match fit. But rotation isn't helping that either, or him settle as a regular starting forward, and the regular 4-3-3 system doesn't seem to suit either of them.

[El Prontonise]

6 minutes ago, Andy said:

 

I don't think he'd start for many premier league teams to be honest. He's technically sound and has potential, but he's unsuited to the style that most teams in this country play, it's not just an issue with our system. 

 

Yeah, I really don't think he's suited to how football is played in this country.

[AJ9]

And neither does the rotating cast of wingers and midfielders help anyone either, because our schedule is not helping two strikers, one winger and one midfielder, build relationships or patterns because they basically only do this on the pitch 

[TRon]

6 minutes ago, Andy said:

 

I don't think he'd start for many premier league teams to be honest. He's technically sound and has potential, but he's unsuited to the style that most teams in this country play, it's not just an issue with our system. 

 

 

Probably right tbh. When he drops deeper he tends to disappear or get overwhelmed by the press anyway. 

[janpawel]

There is 0 time on the ball in the PL. There's been quite a few times when he gets the ball, goes to run, but is then surrounded by 2 players immediately, he's just too slow to pull away and the PL won't let him take 2/3 touches to get himself set to try and dribble past someone 

 

I really like him, for the first 2/3 months he was exciting and what I was looking forward to watching the most when we were playing crap 

[Abacus]

 

8 minutes ago, TK-421 said:

I do feel sorry for him, and Wissa to a certain extent, in that I think neither benefits from not starting and playing a regular run of games.

Woltemade was forced to start for us (probably sooner than planned) when he arrived due to Wissa's injury, and had a remarkable run where he didn't really get that many chances, but was scoring with the one per match he did get.

Then against Chelsea, the two goals he scored, seemed like we or he had found out the type of forward he needed to be for us..... and he was on the bench the next game to start Wissa. Since then, it's been one or the other starting, with EH unable to, or unwilling to change his system to accommodate both together, apart from a rare occasion.

Woltemade is clearly now lacking confidence, but that will probably only come back with another run in the team, and a goal or two. But same could be said of Wissa, who also doesn't look match fit. But rotation isn't helping that either, or him settle as a regular starting forward, and the regular 4-3-3 system doesn't seem to suit either of them.

It's a difficult one though. A run of games argument is fair for either striker, but that said, there are so many games that you risk running them into exhaustion at the same time.

 

It would probably help if they were similar types of players so that the rest of the team don't need to try and adapt around them whenever you do need to swap them in and out due to tiredness etc. 

 

And then as AJ9 says, it's not as if we have a steady cast of wingers either, each of whom have different skills and variable form. Gordon's injury probably means a mini run for Barnes on the left at least, and I'd guess Elanga has done enough these last couple of games for a mini run on the right over Murphy.

 

Either or both need to come inside to offer options and not leave him isolated - or in Elanga's case run past him to stretch the defence. Maybe.

[Fak]

I thought he looked a bit more sharper on the ball last night. 

 

Albeit he wasnt on the ball much last night. 

[joeyt]

9 hours ago, Kilcline said:

He's a fucking great player that we should be building our style of play around.

 

Seen quite a few of these comments that we should build a team around him which I feel a bit perplexed by.

 

I wouldn't say he's such a unique talent like Isak or HBA where they should have the team built around him

[Slim]

Did well to setup the Gordon/Willock chance that they must score. 

 

Also sure there will be a reason Munich as so salty after losing him. 

 

 

Edited February 5 by Slim

[Doctor Zaius]

Get players in around him and players in front of him and he'll flourish. Too isolated at the moment. 

 

Id like us to give two forwards a go, with him up top with Wissa. Or a system where he's able to exploit the space between the lines. Maybe an option if the Crown Prince Anthony Gordon is injured and doesn't get his automatic starting spot. 

 

Or of course, we could carry on with 4-3-3, leaving forwards isolated, wingers too far down the pitch and gaping holes between our defence and midfield. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Switched off the game after their goal but seemed like he did a few decent things on the highlights. 

 

Agree with the ways to get more out of him. I would keep playing him despite the frustrations since Wissa has been terrible.

 

Actually said before that I might think about moving Wissa back to the wing if we can sign another striker. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I still think it's weird because on paper our wingers are more like the type of wide forwards who should be able to link up well with a withdrawn striker. Murphy the exception, but the others. 

 

He obviously has to be a bit stronger and ideally hold onto the ball more reliably, but loan striker has generally always been quite a low-percentage position. 

[The College Dropout]

9 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I still think it's weird because on paper our wingers are more like the type of wide forwards who should be able to link up well with a withdrawn striker. Murphy the exception, but the others. 

 

He obviously has to be a bit stronger and ideally hold onto the ball more reliably, but loan striker has generally always been quite a low-percentage position. 

The archetype that has worked well under Howe is a pacey forward. A beast in transition and a penalty box fox. Woltemade is neither.

 

If we don't plan on playing him and Wissa uptop at the same time,  I do fear for both of them. Neither are currently playing well enough to play what is a difficult role.

[Infinitely Content]

I'm not sure I'm on board with the "get players around him" and "build the system around him" comments, there's times in a game for every striker where they're alone and need to hold the ball, keep defenders at bay and find a bit of space until the midfield moves up in support. Haaland, Thiago, Watkins etc all experience this and find ways to protect the ball. For me before there's any thought of a team being built around him, he needs to just be better. His physical game is painfully, alarmingly lacking at the moment, and whilst he is good technically, he's not so good that it compensates for his other deficiencies.

He plays with his head down (maybe a confidence thing) and doesn't pose any threat to the opposition. I think he's probably the easiest striker to play against in the league at the moment.

 

 

Edited February 5 by Infinitely Content

[TRon]

He needs space or defenders to be less physical when they are pressing him. That's not going to happen in the PL. 

[TRC]

5 hours ago, Fak said:

I thought he looked a bit more sharper on the ball last night. 

 

Albeit he wasnt on the ball much last night. 

This is one of the main problems he's never on the ball much and thats where he should thrive.

[The College Dropout]

Aye he's no Dimitar Berbatov technically. Or in his movement. He's shown a nice touch and some great finishes in places.

[TRC]

I'm just hoping we can scrape Europa so we can get used to playing twice a week without having to go all out next season and play some absolute fodder so Wissa and Woltemade can get some confidence.

[Dr.Spaceman]

This is only his 3rd season at the top level, loads of potential here. I get he hasn't been lethal off the bat, but surely there's something to work with?

[Groundhog63]

5 hours ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Switched off the game after their goal but seemed like he did a few decent things on the highlights. 

 

Agree with the ways to get more out of him. I would keep playing him despite the frustrations since Wissa has been terrible.

 

Actually said before that I might think about moving Wissa back to the wing if we can sign another striker. 

Commitment, right there 😉

[Holloway]

he'll be painfully aware that he needs to become more robust, there's no reason he can't attain that with a bit of time and effort. Be very interesting what his contribution looks like come the start of next season.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

8 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

The archetype that has worked well under Howe is a pacey forward. A beast in transition and a penalty box fox. Woltemade is neither.

 

If we don't plan on playing him and Wissa uptop at the same time,  I do fear for both of them. Neither are currently playing well enough to play what is a difficult role.

Possibly but a completely different point to what I was saying. I’m saying that Gordon and Barnes (for example) are really more forwards than wingers and so in theory the should be able to play with a striker that links play and helps them get chances. 

[Weezertron]

Eddie isn't going to change his system/formation to suit Nick.

 

We won't play with a playmaker, similar to his reluctance to use a dedicated DM (WHICH IS HIS PREROGATIVE, RELAX). So it's down to Nick to fit the system, which I'm not sure he's capable of physically. 

 

Made a pigs ear out of this. I love Nick though, so I'll hold out hope. 

[Sandrotastico]

Nothing personal, but I just don’t see him imposing himself on games. He rarely shows any real desire to get into the box, never seems to attack the ball with urgency, and often just drifts around, closing down slowly and looking a bit lost.

He’s far too passive and, at times, seems to hide. I’ve said this before, but he jumps shorter than his height and I can’t remember seeing him win a duel with his back to goal.

 

He’s lightweight, soft, and gives the ball away too often by taking too long in possession or doing a back flick.

Yes, he’s more technical than some of the runners in the team, but he’s not that technical - certainly not in the mould of Ben Arfa, Solano, or Beardsley. And I'm unsure you build a team around someone that can't impose himself on a game.

 

All in all he's a luxury than is not really suited to us or the EPL. Sadly, I've not seen much from him to prove anyone wrong - he's just a nice lad on and off the pitch it seems.