Nick Woltemade: My Best Position

Big Nick returned to training yesterday after his WC leave amid false reports that he was told he would be made available for transfer.

Our record signing started his Toon career with a goalscoring run that made his £69M fee look money well spent only to hit the buffers as the pace and power of the PL, and Eddie Howe's 4-3-3 system, found him wanting.

Nick talks to German legend Thomas Muller

Speaking about the appointment of Jurgen Klopp as the new manager of Germany, Woltemade had this to say on his preferred position...

"If you look at the age of our players, it is still an exciting team. Now we get a new coach; let's see what will happen. It’s nice that we can go again in a few months.

"(On where he sees his best position) Preferably in a two-striker system or behind the striker. It's better for me to play with a lot of freedom and when I have someone around me."

So, the take from these comments is what became clear last season; Nick doesn't function at his best as the lone ST in a 4-3-3, or in fact any other one ST system.

Why was he signed?

That question has to be asked.

Seeing as Eddie started last season with his favoured 4-3-3 why did we spend £69M on a player who surely during the transfer discussions would have said exactly the same thing about his preferred position that he related to Thomas Muller.

The club must have also known that Nick didn't have pace and, despite his size, wasn't in anyway a physical player who would easily cope with the aggressive CB's he would be up against in the PL.

OK, we failed to sign our top targets and time was running short.

But, if ever there was an unplanned panic buy, Nick Woltemade is near the top of the list.

It's over to Eddie Howe

There is absolutely no doubt that Woltemade has talent.

And, in his best position there is also no doubt that we haven't seen anywhere near the best of him. Why? Because he has never played there, bar the odd game late on as a 10.

I can't see Eddie adopting a two ST formation so that leaves playing Nick as a 10 if we play him in his preferred position - and hopefully start getting a real returm on that record fee.

Will that happen? We'll soon find out.

New squad. New system?

Stale was a word that became common about where Newcastle were drifting to last season.

Our play was a 'same old, same old' style of; work it out wide, shuffle it up and down the byeline, pass it back, repeat, and then all too often it finished with a poor cross.

It was like watching a re-run of The Great Escape. We all know the start, the beginning and the ending. All too often that ending was losing a game after we'd gone ahead.

And remember, this was with Tonali, Gordon and Bruno in the team.

So... will Eddie go with 'different players, same system' or will new brush sweep clean?

IMO, the answer to that could define whether Eddie remains as our manager.

If you keep doing the same thing and getting the same results, and those results are below par, in the commercial world you've signed your own death warrant.

One of our biggest issues last season was not being able to pick a hole in a low block.

Nick Woltemade has the close control and, especially, the ability to play the quick decisve 'one two' pass that can unlock the defensive equivalent of Fort Knox.

That's why I'd like to see Eddie Howe play him as a 10, give him a good run, and work the rest of his formation around Woltemade's position.

If he does - I wouldn't be at all surprised if it works. And, works really well.

I really rate Osula, and I believe Big Nick could load the bullets for Will to fire us to a better season than many fans are expecting.

Over to you Eddie.

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