Newcastle United are suffering attacking problems, with Nick Woltemade coming in for some criticism.
Eddie Howe needs to find some answers to Newcastle United’s away form during this international break.
The Magpies lost 3-1 at Brentford on Sunday afternoon, just a week after suffering the same fate against West Ham United.
Dan Burn’s red card didn’t help matters at Brentford, but Newcastle just look so toothless in attack.
Howe defended Nick Woltemade after the final whistle at Brentford, as the German suffered from a real lack of service.
Chris Sutton looks on at Anfield while doing punditry for a Champions League game.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Chris Sutton highlights major Nick Woltemade problem for Newcastle United
Woltemade made a brilliant start to life at Newcastle, but has now scored just once in his last six games.
This isn’t really Woltemade’s fault, though, as his Newcastle teammates have really struggled to create chances for him.
Woltemade looks isolated and leggy in the Newcastle attack, with fellow forwards William Osula and Yoane Wissa out injured.
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Pundit Chris Sutton has now told BBC Radio Five Live’s Monday Night Club that he thinks Woltemade’s role is a big concern.
Sutton highlighted that Woltemade lacks pace, and his lack of threat in behind is making Newcastle ‘predictable’.
Sutton thinks opposing teams were much more scared of Alexander Isak, and claims Newcastle must manufacture a threat in behind from elsewhere.
The former Chelsea striker praised Woltemade’s goalscoring ability, but called his lack of pace a ‘massive problem’.
“Your team is only as good as the centre forward, and he doesn’t have pace,” said Sutton.
“The movement in behind has to come from other areas, and they aren’t doing that enough.
“When Isak played as a centre forward, defenders would be reluctant to really get so tight with him because he had that movement in behind. Woltemade doesn’t; he just doesn’t run in behind.
“I think it’s a massive problem because it has to come from Joelinton or the wide areas. I just think that he’s… he’s scored goals, his numbers are pretty good, but it makes them so predictable in the way that they play.
“I think it’s a problem. It will be really interesting when Wissa gets fit, how Eddie Howe goes about that, will he play him off Woltemade? But at least they will carry that threat from a central striking position,” he added.
Anthony Gordon will feel that he can solve Newcastle United problem
If Woltemade is going to drop in and get on the ball, somebody needs to solve this problem and make darting runs off the German.
Wissa returning from injury would be a major boost, as he showed off the ability to run in behind at Brentford.
Anthony Gordon may also believe that he can solve the problems, given his previous comments on Woltemade’s style.
Gordon praised Woltemade for finding passes around the corner, believing the German would find his runs in behind.
The England wide man loves to make darting runs when at his best, and Woltemade has the quality to pick him out.
Gordon simply has not been good enough in the Premier League, but he clearly senses something in terms of his connection with Woltemade.
There were glimpses on show against Benfica, and Gordon has to be the key man to step up and provide the threat in behind.
After the international break, Gordon really needs to offer a goalscoring threat in behind defences and bring a new dimension in attack.