Michael Carrick believes Newcastle’s new striker Nick Woltemade “actually suits” Eddie Howe’s team following Alexander Isak’s departure
Nick Woltemade signed for Newcastle in a club record £69m deal
Nick Woltemade signed for Newcastle in a club record £69m deal
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Michael Carrick believes Nick Woltemade’s style of play 'actually suits' his Newcastle teammates following the major change up front after Alexander Isak’s summer exit.
Bruno Guimaraes struck a dramatic 90th-minute winner to hand Eddie Howe’s side three crucial points against a struggling Fulham at St James’ Park.
After a summer of big change that saw star striker Isak leave in a £125m deal, questions were raised over how the Magpies would adapt without their talisman leading the line.
While it hasn’t been a perfect start to the new campaign, £69m signing Woltemade has already scored five goals and is creating different kinds of problems for opposition defences, in ways that benefit those around him.
Carrick told Match of the Day: “It’s a small change but it was a big change at the time, Isak leaving and Woltemade coming in. It actually suits the players around him in some ways because you see he wants to come to feet, Woltemade. There is a clear difference.
Nick Woltemade celebrates with Jacob Murphy
Nick Woltemade celebrates with Jacob Murphy(Image: SmartFrame/Every Second Media)
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"Newcastle breaking in midfield, Isak would definitely want to run in behind so there’s a tweak in terms of the service, they know that he [Woltemade] wants to come to feet. That then leaves space for people to run in behind, that’s the wide men to get one vs one in wide areas but it gives an added responsibility for the other midfielders, the other 8 or the opposite winger to make the box.
"Woltemade can’t link the play and make the box. Actually, Newcastle have got players that want to run past him and run into the box. You see they’ve just won the ball back here in the 4-5-1 set up, regained the ball and you see there’s a ‘V' with the two wide men and Woltemade at the moment is at the top of that 'V.’
"All of a sudden they start linking and he’s the one that’s deeper now. You see Murphy and Gordon now starting to link. Bassey wants to get attracted to Woltemade because he thinks he needs to get tight.
"That leaves the space in behind and it’s something they worked all day long Newcastle. Sometimes it was the wide man that hit that space and had a big opportunity to go 2-0 up. Sometimes it was one of the midfielders.
"As the game moved on with Tonali and Joelinton running into those space, Bruno then attacking those spaces, you see Tonali here running past Woltemade again, linking with one and two touches, filling the space that he’s left. Bassey going tight again, Tonali getting in behind. It was something that they did all afternoon in different ways.
"It leaves a big responsibility for the opposite wide man and midfielder to fill the box. Exactly the same principle but this time Woltemade and Bassey have gone away from goal, which leaves a big hole in the middle of the goal. Again, Woltemade links with the opposite wide man and midfielder in the box. Bruno could have scored a big, big chance.
"Eddie talked about finishing strong and they finished with big energy. Osula, Tonali, Elanga coming on the pitch and Bruno in the last minute of the game, making the box still. Transition this time, but still in the box, Tonali might have got the tap in but it just highlighted for me a tweak at the top end of the pitch.
"They haven’t got the No.9 that runs in behind, but actually, if anything, it enhances everyone else’s strengths because the eights want to run, the wingers want to run and Woltemade, by coming short and linking, leaves a lot of space to do that and it’s a big problem to defend.
"It's not easy and they got the rewards for it today."
Newcastle now face two games next week, first hosting Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before travelling to West Ham, who currently sit 19th, two points above bottom club Wolves.
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