Tottenham vs Newcastle: The Struggles of Nick Woltemade
The Rise and Fall of a Goal-Scoring Machine
Nick Woltemade, the towering Newcastle United forward, once seemed like an unstoppable force on the pitch. After his stellar performance in the Wear-Tyne derby, where his own goal sealed the victory, he was hailed as a hero by the Newcastle fans. But what happened next?
Woltemade's goal-scoring prowess seemed to dry up after his initial burst of success. Despite his best efforts, he found himself struggling to find the back of the net for Eddie Howe's side. So, what happened to the goal-scoring machine?
The Early Days: A Goal-Scoring Storm
Not so long ago, Woltemade was on fire, scoring six goals from his first six shots on target for the club. He showcased his clinical finishing with bullet headers against Arsenal and Wolves, an audacious flick against Union Saint-Gilloise, and a stunning backheel at Brighton. His impact was so immediate that even he was surprised by his own success.
The Mental Strength: Overcoming the Slump
However, it wasn't sustainable to keep scoring at such a rate, especially when he was relied upon to do so while fellow forward Yoane Wissa recovered from a knee injury. Despite Wissa's return, the pair have both struggled in front of goal during an intense run of fixtures. The unrelenting schedule for club and country has limited Woltemade's time to work with the coaching staff on the training pitches.
The Adjustments: Adapting to a New System
Woltemade, who had not played outside his homeland before, had to quickly adapt to the speed and physicality of the Premier League. He had to adjust to a system tailored to a rapid striker who led the defensive press from the front and ran in behind, which is not his style of play. The Bundesliga is fierce, but it's telling that Woltemade has only been awarded four fouls in his last 11 top-flight fixtures.
The Analysis: Studying the Game
Premier League analysts and defenders have had to study Woltemade's game more closely to try to limit his influence in the Newcastle side. There have been times where he hasn't been in the box, lacking the instincts of a traditional poacher, and other occasions where he has looked isolated up front. This is due to the way Newcastle has been set up.
The Solution: A New Role for Woltemade
Howe has experimented with Woltemade in a new role behind Wissa in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Bournemouth and again against Brentford. While the attack has 'not quite functioned fully yet', Howe is confident that Woltemade will continue to be successful, thanks to his great attitude and mental strength.
