Nick Woltemade

[Doctor Zaius]

I can't see him working out here because where does he fit into the team? He can't play as a central striker in a 4-3-3 and he isn't a midfielder. 

 

He's a second striker in a two, or if he plays alone centrally he'd work with a 10 behind him perhaps. Could even play at a 10 himself as long as he has players around him. Just doesn't fit our system. I think he'll turn out to be a quality forward elsewhere in a team that is able to use him. 

[stozo]

2 minutes ago, toon25 said:

 

Wissa is finished here before he started. Howe doesn't trust him.

I'm not going to mind read Eddie Howe - but this is the same Eddie Howe who benched Lewis Hall for most of his first season and did not trust him after paying £30m for him. None of us can know what Eddie thinks but the evidence we have available is pretty clear - Eddie has an extremely demanding system, players frequently take time to adapt to that, during that period they often don't play, but Eddie has an incredible track record of improving them and then them becoming valuable members of the team. If in 12 months, we haven't seen that with Wissa (or Woltemade) then that will be disappointing but I think the people jumping to conclusions about players who who have probably trained for fewer than 100 days with Eddie Howe is pretty foolish based on past evidence. 

[The Prophet]

Why can't he be coached to play as a striker in a 4-3-3?

[r0cafella]

Just now, The Prophet said:

Why can't he be coached to play as a striker in a 4-3-3?

It's not so much him as the system needs to change and we have to focus attacks through him. He's a provider and shouldn't be relied upon as the main source of goals. 

 

Eddie's obviously not comfortable with that style and wants to play the transitions which obviously requires pace. The problem is Wolt is only suited to one style and offers nothing unless your playing through him which is tough given how PL teams will squeeze him aggressively. 

[The Prophet]

6 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

It's not so much him as the system needs to change and we have to focus attacks through him. He's a provider and shouldn't be relied upon as the main source of goals. 

 

Eddie's obviously not comfortable with that style and wants to play the transitions which obviously requires pace. The problem is Wolt is only suited to one style and offers nothing unless your playing through him which is tough given how PL teams will squeeze him aggressively. 

 

It's tough, but it's very coachable.

 

He might not work out here, but it feels way too early to say it categorically can't work.

[r0cafella]

Just now, The Prophet said:

 

It's tough, but it's very coachable.

 

He might not work out here, but it feels way too early to say it categorically can't work.

It can work for sure but not with our focus on wide patterns and pressing him. It just isn't his game. I actually think he should be a great tool against low blocks as he's capable of intricate play and does have a knack of finding space. 

 

I really like him personally he's got a lot of talent and will shine in a more controlled set up. 

[duo]

After Sunderland Eddie has time to coach the team now- let's see if he can find a solution to play him in his best role.

[Coffee_Johnny]

11 hours ago, Donut said:

Imagine sitting on the bench and seeing Osula come on instead of you... He will be gone this summer.

Not that it probably eases his pain, but Osula getting the nod is more about style of play, and pace, than relative perceived quality. 

[DC Magpie]

Hoping we don't throw in the towel but having him warm up only to have him put his training top back on and go back to the bench - so you can play Osula instead - speaks volumes as to where he stands. 

 

I'm relatively new to Newcastle fandom, so I'm hoping others are correct in saying Eddie can work his offseason magic on Nick as he did with JL, Hall and others. World Cup will hinder the amount of time Nick will have to train with the team, unfortunately. 

 

I just think it's a crime to pay that much for a player and to have him play very well for a stretch, only to banish him to the bench with no opportunity to regain his form in his natural position. Maybe he'll get some time up front once Europe if officially off the table.

 

But hats off to Gordon who got his second non-pen EPL goal in the past 14 months (and he damn near botched that).

 

I chose a very frustrating team to follow and support, it appears. LOL

 

 

[TaylorJ_01]

Given he's tall, slow and weak I do understand why he didn't get on last night.

 

We're not going to beat Barcelona on technical ability. So Osula, though limited technically, is fast and strong which was probably our main route to glory.

[Hanshithispantz]

He was ready to come on I think until they scored the 5th or something. 

[DC Magpie]

7 minutes ago, TaylorJ_01 said:

Given he's tall, slow and weak I do understand why he didn't get on last night.

 

We're not going to beat Barcelona on technical ability. So Osula, though limited technically, is fast and strong which was probably our main route to glory.

 

If our route to glory when we're down 7-2 is through ten minutes of Osula, all hope is lost.

 

3 minutes ago, Hanshithispantz said:

He was ready to come on I think until they scored the 5th or something. 

 

So we're saving him for league play? I almost hope he doesn't play v Sunderland. I think that own goal was the beginning of the end of his season.

[Bunk Moreland]

 

"Nick is a very pleasant guy who exudes a lot of positive energy. He's undoubtedly going through a tough time, but that's normal. He's done well for us. He can start, but also come on as a substitute because he has an unorthodox style of play. I think being here with us will help him. He's often playing very deep for Newcastle now, and when he plays as a holding midfielder, he has a lot of distance to cover to get to the goal. He's not a counter-attacking striker who runs at 36 km/h. I can promise you he won't be 80 meters away from goal for us. He won't play in those kinds of games. I rate him highly as a player and as a person. It's normal, new culture, new league, new city. He also needed time at Stuttgart. I have confidence in him. Everything will be alright"

[mouldy_uk]

16 hours ago, Doctor Zaius said:

I can't see him working out here because where does he fit into the team? He can't play as a central striker in a 4-3-3 and he isn't a midfielder. 

 

He's a second striker in a two, or if he plays alone centrally he'd work with a 10 behind him perhaps. Could even play at a 10 himself as long as he has players around him. Just doesn't fit our system. I think he'll turn out to be a quality forward elsewhere in a team that is able to use him. 

This. We are best when we go full ‘thunderbastard’ at teams, he just doesn’t fit that style 

[Optimistic Nut]

4 minutes ago, Bunk Moreland said:

 

"Nick is a very pleasant guy who exudes a lot of positive energy. He's undoubtedly going through a tough time, but that's normal. He's done well for us. He can start, but also come on as a substitute because he has an unorthodox style of play. I think being here with us will help him. He's often playing very deep for Newcastle now, and when he plays as a holding midfielder, he has a lot of distance to cover to get to the goal. He's not a counter-attacking striker who runs at 36 km/h. I can promise you he won't be 80 meters away from goal for us. He won't play in those kinds of games. I rate him highly as a player and as a person. It's normal, new culture, new league, new city. He also needed time at Stuttgart. I have confidence in him. Everything will be alright"

 

I mean obviously not that deep, but wasn't the criticism of him on here during those Germany friendlies after he'd signed that they didn't play to his strengths?

[Mikky]

6 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

I mean obviously not that deep, but wasn't the criticism of him on here during those Germany friendlies after he'd signed that they didn't play to his strengths?

Note that he only became the 9 in the senior set up after the U21 Euros - tbf to Germany, with each passing game, they were evolving more and more around Big Nick - the crucial thing with Germany is they play really high up - so if Nick drifts - the position can be occupied by 2 “goal scoring wingers” (Gnabry/Sane) either side and a creative 8/10 hybrid (Wirtz/Musiala)

[joeyt]

17 hours ago, The Prophet said:

Why can't he be coached to play as a striker in a 4-3-3?

 

I think to work in our system he needs to be able to at least provide some threat from running in behind the defence which he can't do as he's really slow

[joeyt]

He also can't press, win headers or hold the ball up unless it's directly at his feet

 

But other than that we're good to go

[Mills and Boon]

1 hour ago, joeyt said:

He also can't press, win headers or hold the ball up unless it's directly at his feet

 

But other than that we're good to go

 

That's what I'm seeing.

 

I'm curious to see how Nagelsmann uses him for Germany after his comments. Probably getting spelks in his arse on the bench

 

 

Edited March 19 by Mills and Boon

[Dokko]

Osula & Wolt unfront for the rest of the season, with wolt linking up the mid through the centre and Osula running out wide to chase and bring him into play. 2 in mid, since we don't have many options atm and allows to keep our width.

 

Or we can play Gordon either side of him and Osula the other, drop the wide wingers as we don't have anyone in the box anyway. 3 in mid, with willock and Ramsey playing that mid come wider role for some width and a Joelinton / Bruno in the middle for positional discipline.

[jemo96]

1 hour ago, Bunk Moreland said:

 

"Nick is a very pleasant guy who exudes a lot of positive energy. He's undoubtedly going through a tough time, but that's normal. He's done well for us. He can start, but also come on as a substitute because he has an unorthodox style of play. I think being here with us will help him. He's often playing very deep for Newcastle now, and when he plays as a holding midfielder, he has a lot of distance to cover to get to the goal. He's not a counter-attacking striker who runs at 36 km/h. I can promise you he won't be 80 meters away from goal for us. He won't play in those kinds of games. I rate him highly as a player and as a person. It's normal, new culture, new league, new city. He also needed time at Stuttgart. I have confidence in him. Everything will be alright"

Yeah has the potential to be good but out of his best position like Tonali is. 

[Kilcline]

Has something been lost in translation there or does Nagelsmann have a bit of a smoke when he watches us play? When has he played as a holding midfielder?

[joeyt]

2 hours ago, Dokko said:

Osula & Wolt unfront for the rest of the season, with wolt linking up the mid through the centre and Osula running out wide to chase and bring him into play. 2 in mid, since we don't have many options atm and allows to keep our width.

 

Or we can play Gordon either side of him and Osula the other, drop the wide wingers as we don't have anyone in the box anyway. 3 in mid, with willock and Ramsey playing that mid come wider role for some width and a Joelinton / Bruno in the middle for positional discipline.

 

I'd play Gordon up front the rest of the season, we look better with him there than the rest of them

[black_n_white]

3 hours ago, joeyt said:

He also can't press, win headers or hold the ball up unless it's directly at his feet

 

But other than that we're good to go

Also has a phobia of shooting from what I’ve seen this season, great attributes for a striker.

[Jaqen]

4 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

I mean obviously not that deep, but wasn't the criticism of him on here during those Germany friendlies after he'd signed that they didn't play to his strengths?

 

Aye. You can go back and read any of the Germany games early in the season and every comment is basically saying he's not had a touch all game and Germany have no idea how to use him.

 

Nagelsmann is shite and being weird saying we've used him as holding midfielder.