Nick Woltemade

[GEFAFWISP]

9 goals in equivalent minutes of 23 games upfront. Play him there please.

[DC Magpie]

On 09/03/2026 at 11:03, TRC said:

For me he just isn’t a Howe style player, we know Eddie prefers 433. His future comes down to what we intend to do with the team next season.

 

I don’t see the point in forcing the issue, loan him out and move him on if we don’t want to play a style to suit him.

 

What I suppose baffles me is that Eddie has seemingly thrown Nick to the trash heap in favor of a 'striker' who has four EPL goals this year, three of which are on pens. To me, that's a sign of stubborn orthodoxy to the 4-3-3. Eddie would have played Peter Crouch at wing if that's what it took to stay 4-3-3, but that would have been dumb, wouldn't it? I'd love to think Eddie has some Ted Lasso "Total Football" scheme up his sleeve for Nick, but he doesn't.

 

Benching Nick in favor or Osula is probably the death knell for Nick's time with us. I really hate to say it but unless we change formations, Nick moving on is probably the best scenario for all involved. I really like the kid and think he can thrive in a system that is suited to his skills (he thrived quite well early on with us as I recall). I agree with others who say that injury and circumstance led to playing him in midfield, but that's not where he belongs, and not where he'll thrive.  These goals seem like an eternity ago, but I have total faith he'll regain his earlier form - just wish it would be with us.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 11 by DC Magpie

[Myleftboot]

1 hour ago, DC Magpie said:

 

What I suppose baffles me is that Eddie has seemingly thrown Nick to the trash heap in favor of a 'striker' who has four EPL goals this year, three of which are on pens. To me, that's a sign of stubborn orthodoxy to the 4-3-3. Eddie would have played Peter Crouch at wing if that's what it took to stay 4-3-3, but that would have been dumb, wouldn't it? I'd love to think Eddie has some Ted Lasso "Total Football" scheme up his sleeve for Nick, but he doesn't.

 

Benching Nick in favor or Osula is probably the death knell for Nick's time with us. I really hate to say it but unless we change formations, Nick moving on is probably the best scenario for all involved. I really like the kid and think he can thrive in a system that is suited to his skills (he thrived quite well early on with us as I recall). I agree with others who say that injury and circumstance led to playing him in midfield, but that's not where he belongs, and not where he'll thrive.  These goals seem like an eternity ago, but I have total faith he'll regain his earlier form - just wish it would be with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After watching that compilation please start playing that big cunt up front again. I think a lot of the recent issues with him was because he was generally isolated .

[HMSIllustrious]

I want the player from the compilation back 😕 so much flair, so clinical…even if it was a purple patch, we should have never started experimenting in the way we did.

[Smal]

the biggest difference between him now and back then is that he seems to take forever to get the ball under control. When he started it was all max 2 touch stuff.

 

I don’t think taking him out of the team to field a fat/unfit Wissa was a good decision at all, but other than that it’s kind of all on him.

[Kid Icarus]

I think we're all also quick to forget that when he was up front we looked worse as a team and it was clear that either we needed to completely change, he needed to, or we needed to try someone/something else.

[andycap]

I would of used him instead of Gordon when osula went off. 

A bit of quality might have nicked us another goal. 

[LFEE]

19 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

I think we're all also quick to forget that when he was up front we looked worse as a team and it was clear that either we needed to completely change, he needed to, or we needed to try someone/something else.

As I’ve said since day one. Just because he was getting us goals didn’t mean the team was functioning at its best. 
 

We’ve mainly looked much better and our old selves without him.

 

Fascinating what will happen with him (and Wissa) this summer.

[Kid Icarus]

I should just say as well that I really like him as a player, I really want it to work. I just don't know how it will. 

[andycap]

When he first came in he was in the right areas a striker should be and attacked headers now he looks like he hasn't got a clue what the manager wants from him. 

[The Prophet]

Think it does need bearing in mind that he was bought when we were already a couple of games into the season. With our insane schedule and him being a full international, we've had very little time to try any new systems or patterns of play to bring out his qualities. 

 

 

Edited March 11 by The Prophet

[TBG]

Did nowt last night mind.

[andycap]

Just now, TBG said:

Did nowt last night mind.

He cut the oranges and made the halftime brew. 😂 

[TBG]

Would make sense being a vegan. Real men would drink gravy at half time.

[jackyboy]

To me he is more effective when drops deeper but unfortunately he just doesn't have what we need to play as a midfielder 

 

 

 

[The College Dropout]

It’s not about formation. 

[DC Magpie]

1 hour ago, Kid Icarus said:

I think we're all also quick to forget that when he was up front we looked worse as a team and it was clear that either we needed to completely change, he needed to, or we needed to try someone/something else.

 

I suppose the "look" is in the eye of beholder, but our results of late (certainly since the midfield experiment) have seen us drop to 12-13 in the table with Europe now a pipe dream. I just question why you would take a striker who can do what Nick has already shown for us (see the video if you haven't) and then put him in an alien position - all for the purpose of starting someone up top who is not a natural striker and still has scored just one EPL goal in the run of play all season. 

 

The only answer is that Anthony is faster and therefore more effective defensively in a high press (when he's not getting red carded doing it). Call me old school, but I want my 9 scoring effing goals. Lots of them.

 

I think the injuries that were piling up on us (not least of which to Bruno) have/had more to do with our form at that time than anything Woltemade was doing. If I'm Eddie, I'm sliding Anthony back to the wing and putting Nick up top from here on out. The season is what it is at this point. With the money we spent it's criminal neglect not to give Nick the opportunity to regain his form and confidence so we truly understand what we have in him before we let him walk away.

[MagPar]

3 hours ago, DC Magpie said:

 

What I suppose baffles me is that Eddie has seemingly thrown Nick to the trash heap in favor of a 'striker' who has four EPL goals this year, three of which are on pens. To me, that's a sign of stubborn orthodoxy to the 4-3-3. Eddie would have played Peter Crouch at wing if that's what it took to stay 4-3-3, but that would have been dumb, wouldn't it? I'd love to think Eddie has some Ted Lasso "Total Football" scheme up his sleeve for Nick, but he doesn't.

 

Benching Nick in favor or Osula is probably the death knell for Nick's time with us. I really hate to say it but unless we change formations, Nick moving on is probably the best scenario for all involved. I really like the kid and think he can thrive in a system that is suited to his skills (he thrived quite well early on with us as I recall). I agree with others who say that injury and circumstance led to playing him in midfield, but that's not where he belongs, and not where he'll thrive.  These goals seem like an eternity ago, but I have total faith he'll regain his earlier form - just wish it would be with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm gutted that Howe (and many fans) have lost faith in him. Many players have had up and down seasons but Nick is the scapegoat apparently. 

[DC Magpie]

5 minutes ago, MagPar said:

I'm gutted that Howe (and many fans) have lost faith in him. Many players have had up and down seasons but Nick is the scapegoat apparently. 

 

Agreed. When is the last time we've given up 3+ goals in a game this many times in a season (including effing West Ham)? This is the "form" I guess I keep hearing about. Two goals against is now the norm.

 

I blame Nick.

[Shearergol]

There could be many contributing factors AND Woltemade not being very good at the moment. It's not one or the other lads.

[Kid Icarus]

He played a role even less suited to him today but was really good I thought.

 

Helps that he got the correct decisions going his way as well.

[Lush Vlad]

Some good, some bad. Holds onto it too long after initially doing some great work  to create a bit of space for himself. 
 

Gets in the way a bit somehow. But there were also some really promising signs in attack. 
 

Still no idea what his position is. Certainly doesn’t have one in this setup. 

[Menace]

Didn't really see enough of him to label him as "really good" personally - but glad that penalty didn't go against him. 

[AdoptedGeordieFromPompey]

The thing I liked most tonight was he made several runs forward where it looked like he was really busting a gut. Too often he runs forward like I do and I'm overweight, 43 and have cerebral palsy.

 

Wolt looked lively though tonight, broke up play and did the job he was asked to do. Lovely run in behind just before he was subbed off and the ball across the six-yard box was good as well. That was more than decent tonight.

[Pilko]

Felt like tonight was the first time he was awarded the fouls he's been suffering all season. Didn't think the ref was spectacular by any means but he handled Woltemade fairly which is super rare.