On the first of August, it was announced that Freddie Woodman had agreed to extend his current deal for one year while going on a season-long loan to Swansea.
A couple of days later, Woodman made his debut with a start and win against Hull City. Freddie has gone on to start all six games for first-placed Swansea, during which he has kept 3 clean sheets.
While it has only been one month and it’s still early in his loan-spell, it’s not too early for Newcastle to start coming up with a plan for the twenty-two-year-old.
The first step is to get Freddie signed up on a long-term deal to ensure that his future is secured at Newcastle. We don’t want to risk him running down his contract for him to leave on a free in 2021, or being forced to sell him at a cut-rate price before then.
The next step would be to arrange for another season-long loan deal but in the Premiership. Maybe to a newly promoted club, or even back to Swansea should they manage to gain promotion.
We could presumably keep Woodman next year to fight it out with Martin Dubravka. However, Freddie is going to want to get games, and he most likely won’t want to be relegated to just cup matches.
Newcastle probably should also look at extending Karl Darlow as he is reliable back-up keeper. That would allow for Woodman to go on loan next season. We have young Jake Turner who is only twenty but could possibly be seen as a third-choice next season. If not, Newcastle can always bring in an experienced journeyman as to fill that role.
If the club can get Freddie a solid loan deal to a Premier League club for next season, then they will have a better grasp at what his true potential is. If he does exceptionally well, then he should be brought back for the 2021-22 season and given every opportunity to be our number one.
If he doesn’t look quite ready to be the top man at Newcastle, then you can gauge his willingness to be a back-up until Dubravka leaves. Or, as long as he is signed long-term, he can be sold for a decent fee.
This all hinges on Woodman’s continued development at Swansea and beyond. But he looks a talent, and it would be a shame if he is allowed to move on without being afforded every opportunity to prove himself at Newcastle.
51 comments so far
jane
Sep 6, 2019 at 5:16 PM
Comment #1if Swansea are promoted that might be interesting.
Ron Knee
Sep 6, 2019 at 5:20 PM
Comment #2Repost:
A sports bookshop in Newcastle upon Tyne has announced that it will not stock Michael Owen’s new memoir Reboot, after early extracts revealed the footballer’s reluctance to move from Real Madrid to Newcastle United in 2005, writing: “I don’t need to justify myself to f**king Newcastle fans.”
Newcastle-based The Back Page, which describes itself as the largest stockist of sports books in the world, said that Reboot is “the first book we have ever totally refused to stock”. (Grauniad)
Munster Mag
Sep 6, 2019 at 5:44 PM
Comment #3Cheers Ron, thats good to read. I tried to explain about Owen to a buddy and it sounded like i was willing to find him and slit his throat ( Owen, not the buddy!) . Thing is , he reckoned Shearer did want to leave and feels Shearer is a bit of a w@nka himself, arrogant etc. My buddy isnt my buddy any more! Still interesting to get a non nufc viewpoint.
Munster Mag
Sep 6, 2019 at 5:45 PM
Comment #4As mentioned the other night, there surely has never been a bigger tool to play in a black and white shirt. Am i missing anyone?
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 6, 2019 at 5:46 PM
Comment #5When Owen gets a, clip round the ear from Shearer it’ll be “justified”
Ron Knee
Sep 6, 2019 at 5:51 PM
Comment #6Still, banning a sports book, Munster? A bit extreme. I suppose it’s good publicity for the shop though!
Jail for Ashley
Sep 6, 2019 at 5:57 PM
Comment #7The biggest tool to play in a Black and White shirt is Munster Mag on a Wednesday night, when Clare play Cork in the over 50’s walking football and Munster dons his old Greenalls shirt 😀
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:09 PM
Comment #8Absolutely cravking goal by Schaar yesterday. I said last before the start of last season he would be the best value signing we made, and he is proving to be an absolute bargain! Robleenio is right, there were plenty saying he must be rubbish when Benitez wasn’t playing him, and that he was just a cheap Charnley signing, not a Benitez one, bit like Ki as well.
Pretty sure that Benitez will have picked out Schaar, and to the delight of Ashley, he also had a cheap release clause.
He is exactly the type of player that fans can get behind, committed, passionate, good on the ball, and clearly loves to get forward. Shame, but performing as he is, I am not expecting him to be around for his full 3 year deal, unless he really has fallen in love with the club and fans.
Nufc-83
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:12 PM
Comment #9Did I just see someone putting Longstaff on the wing? Dear oh dear!
Trent I get the type of no10 you want and I was calling for this type of player for years when we played a 4231 formation. Issue you have now is we play a 3421 or 541 (whichever way you want to look at it) formation with the wide players supporting the attack. I can’t see us changing from that as the results picked up when Rafa moved to it and Bruce prefers 3 cbs. Therefore we don’t need a number 10 imo as can’t see how you would play him.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:13 PM
Comment #10As for Woodman, is his contract up in the summer, or did he sign am extension before going on loan? Great how he is doing at Swansea, the fans seem to love him already from what I’ve read.
I think it will be a challenge to keep him long term at the minute though, persuading him to sign a longer deal than a 1 year extension will take someone to show him a club development path, a player development path, and some vision/ambition for the future.
Not sure who would be able to sell him all that at the club currently….
toonluvva
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:18 PM
Comment #11@ MunsterMag #4
What about Marcelino?
Munster Mag
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:19 PM
Comment #12Jail if not wearing the northern rock shirt I either wear River Plate ( you showed your ignorance there) or Munster. I’m about as quick as I was in my late 20s and 30s ( no franz carr but no slouch) and play with some guys in their 30’s and occasional students so get stuffed! 🙂 . Sadly the running power isnt there. Up yer arse!
danishmag
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:20 PM
Comment #13We are NOT in the Premier league next season.. and the season after, for that matter.
So why the Fcuk bother planning Woodmans future, talking about loaning him to another Premier league club?
WLtoon
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:21 PM
Comment #14Good to see England in town tonight. Could be the only time we see a full house at the stadium this season
AncientC
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:23 PM
Comment #15I barely recognised Woodman in the above picture. Not quite the fresh faced whippersnapper anymore; starting to look like a proper grizzly senior goalkeeper. If Swansea don’t get promoted, the club should look at loaning them more players judging by how they have treated Woodman.
lesh
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:27 PM
Comment #16For you crossword buffs, a clue from yesterday’s Grauniad cryptic:
‘Has meekly compromised over current British businessman’ (4,6)
Is there no escaping the greedy bustard?
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:29 PM
Comment #17Munster
Not bad for someone in his 60s or 70s
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:29 PM
Comment #18Another thing from last nights game, real shame Mclaren/Benitez (can’t remember which let him go off the top of my head) didn’t rate Mbabu. It may have been his injury woes, that swayed the gaffer, which in fairness, did make him a gamble for a new deal. Mbabu probably was happy to head off for a fresh start as well I’d guess, although he could have flourished in the Championship for a year
We all saw the bits of quality he had when he was played for us, and he would have been a very solid defensive option for us now had we stuck with him.
Shame really, but just (another) one of those things.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:33 PM
Comment #19Ancient,
But the way they have treated him is very heavily linked to his ability level compared with the others they have in his position. If we had loaned them Sorenson for example, he probably wouldn’t have had a kick, and we would be saying how bad a decision it was by the club.
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:34 PM
Comment #20Don’t be grumpy danish….
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:34 PM
Comment #21Yes, I don’t understand how we let Mbabu slip through our fingers Lilo.
hibbit
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:37 PM
Comment #22lilongwe
it had more to do with his off field activities then his injuries or ability, very naught boy !!!
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:41 PM
Comment #23GTwo,
Yeah, real shame, although had he stayed and not been trusted by the manager, we may well have ruined his career. It could well be that whoever was manager gave him the choice of staying and having to be a bit part player/back up, or leave and play first team.
Shame if that was how it worked that we didn’t make an agreement with Young Boys before his contract was up, that they could have him for free, with a first refusal clause in the deal.
Probably hoping for a bit much from Charnley, Barnes and co to have that kind of foresight.
Munster Mag
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:42 PM
Comment #24Mbabu let go by rafa. Oh sorry, was that negative. Probably around the time he got the awful Sals and the spanish fullback who didnt appear much. Oops sorry, that must have been charnley 🙂
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:43 PM
Comment #25Hibbit,
We’ve had plenty of those and turned a blind eye.
We’ve just welcomed one of the biggest offenders of the last 10 years back like a returning hero!!
Ron Knee
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:47 PM
Comment #26I thought Mbabu had a poor game last night, if I’m being fair and balanced.
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:49 PM
Comment #27Good point Lilo. Let’s take care of our current up and comers! Make sure they are developed properly. I’m already a bit worried about Sorensen after the Blackpool debacle.
hibbit
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:53 PM
Comment #28Lilongwe
no mate a very naughty boy with a young lady from the wrong family to cross.
AncientC
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:54 PM
Comment #29Lilongwe Geordie, yes, I was thinking the same in regards to Woodman. Still, Swansea don’t seem hesitant to nurture younger players with ability like Woodman, so it’s on the plus side.
hibbit
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:56 PM
Comment #30Munster Mag
your being silly now it had absolutely nowt to do with football !!
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:58 PM
Comment #31Ancient,
Yes, I don’t know how much it is nurturing! They just launched him in, but that was probably exactly what he needed!
lesh
Sep 6, 2019 at 7:01 PM
Comment #32Hibbit
Aye, I had a feeling that young Mbabu might’ve been personna non grata but you’ve confirmed it.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 7:01 PM
Comment #33Hibbit,
Ha, well they should have treated her better and she might not have strayed to young Kevin!
lesh
Sep 6, 2019 at 7:03 PM
Comment #34Munster Mag
And you deny having digs at Rafa, this time over Mbabu? Yoi need help bonny lad
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 7:03 PM
Comment #35Ron,
Always good to be fair and balanced.
It was a mixed bag from him to be fair, but based on more than just last night, I’d have him over all our current options on the right at wing back or full back.
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2019 at 7:03 PM
Comment #36I see BoJo wants to lie dead in a ditch now. Very peculiar lad. Looks to be in the wrong line of work to me. Try Vaudeville Bo.
Ron Knee
Sep 6, 2019 at 7:04 PM
Comment #37lesh
Has meekly (anag). But where’s the letter “i” in the clue?
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2019 at 7:06 PM
Comment #38I’m looking forward to Germany vs the Netherlands. I see Pukki has been nominated for player of the month. We helped him with that didn’t we?
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 6, 2019 at 7:06 PM
Comment #39Guys, I think that post from Munster was very much tongue in cheek to mock the over the top labelling of him as a Rafa hater, and the biggest in the known universe.
Definitely just looking for a bite, and he got it.
Ron Knee
Sep 6, 2019 at 7:06 PM
Comment #40Lilo
Just an off night perhaps. I’ve seen him play much better than that.