The Magpies have some serious options this season and Eddie Howe is not afraid to use them
Newcastle's Nick Woltemade
Newcastle's Nick Woltemade(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
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Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has indicated he is prepared to tear up his tactics quickly this season if things aren't going to plan.
The moment Fulham hauled themselves level through Sasa Lukic at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon the head coach ordered a batch of subs to get ready and the number of some of his stars came up.
Even goalscorer Jacob Murphy and youngster Lewis Miley - who had shone - were not afforded an extra spell to get their game in order in the second half.
And England star Anthony Gordon was also withdrawn late in the game as Howe turned to new blood. In fairness that host of big calls from Howe paid off on a crisp autumn day on Tyneside.
After the likes of William Osula and Anthony Elanga played big roles in Bruno Guimaraes' winner, Howe said: "I thought those players coming on made a big difference. I was really pleased with the last 25 minutes. We were the dominant team and you're just hoping we take one of those chances and thankfully Bruno did."
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Howe also felt that Bruno's winner could change the mood going into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals against Spurs this week. He said: "Yeah, I think it is. We've seen many times when you score late goals it's not just the game you've won that's affected, it's hopefully for us, the mood, the attitude when you're in that position again, there's more belief you find the winner. It has a big knock-on effect.
"Just like we had to battle the other way when we've conceded late so you have to battle that becoming a habit. To break that is really important."
Why the Nick Woltemade situation is getting beyond the joke
Stand-in referee Peter Bankes, who was a late replacement for Hartlepool's Tony Harrington, was booed off the field at half-time - and with good reason.
It would appear that Woltemade's towering 6ft 6in frame is being held against him by referees and that despite being pulled around like a ragdoll, the German international is not getting the benefit of the doubt in the early moments of his career in the Premier League.
Remember the Professional Game Match Officials Limited had vowed to crack down on shirt pulling but Woltemade's physical presence appears to have refs thinking he should be able to take a bit of extra rough treatment from defenders.
The current guidance to Premier League referees is to look for "extreme actions", such as "dragging a player to the ground in a non-footballing way". But minor tugs are getting dismissed - and it feels like the treatment Woltemade is enduring are being brushed off as such.
This started earlier in the season when Woltemade was denied a stonewall penalty at Bournemouth in the 0-0 draw on the South Coast. But it has been a recurring theme and none of the top-flight whistlers are yet to make a stand against it.
Against Fulham, Woltemade was pulled around by his shirt by Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey, with no punishment inflicted by Bankes. Those jeers at the end of the first half were arguably justified as a clear flaw in the rulebook unfolds for Newcastle.
And it wasn't just Woltemade with Harvery Barnes also hauled back by his shirt in the second half - which only fuelled the crowds anger with certain supporters exploding with anger at the level of inconsistency.
Chronicle Live captured several images of Woltemade being manhandled by opponents with no action taken by officials.
Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade appeals to referee Peter Bankes
Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade appeals to referee Peter Bankes
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Fabian Schar celebrates big milestone
The former Switzerland star has had to wait patiently for his big chance knowing that Malick Thiaw is one of the most in form defenders in both the Premier League and Europe right now.
However, while Sven Botman suffered a painful moment against the Cottagers and was forced off, it led to a milestone that Schar might not have got on Saturday.
Indeed that appearance was his 200th in the Premier League for Newcastle with Eddie Howe delighted with his contributions. He admitted after the game: "He's been an ever-present near enough since I've been here.
"Obviously the challenge is greater this season with the arrival of Malick and Sven's form and Dan's form. For all the defenders to step up and play is not easy with the group we have.
"I'm delighted with how he played and that will do him the world of good."
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