Woltemade: Is He The Problem?

Inconsistent form, awful away results, an inability to break down a low block and only three wins in our first ten Prem games have some scribes and fans looking for scapegoats.

What's new?

In the high octane media world we now live in you can go from hero to zero in a week as pundits and fans brandish the sword of criticism just days after gushing fulsome praise.

And the latest to feel the pointed blade despite his cracking goalscoring start after his record breaking transfer is Big Nick Woltemade.

Woltemade's six goals have come from a very limited number of chances and his chance to conversion ratio is right up there with the best.

And yet, Craig Hope believes the Toon's stuttering and poor start to the Prem is down to Big Nick's lack of pace that has led to a slow and cumbersome attack that is too easy to defend against.

Our previous ST Isak had that pace and now - instead of focusing on the strengths Woltemade has over Isak; aerial ability, hold up play, link play, team play and work rate - it is his lack of pace that is now the focus.

11 Wins, 7 defeats, 1 draw

Those figures above are our results from last January to the end of the 24/25 season.

The defeats included three at home to Bouremouth, Fulham and Everton with the Everton game nearly costing us a CL place until we were rescued by Aston Villa's result.

My point?

Let's not kid ourselves that our performances and results have tanked because of Woltemade's lack of pace.

After that tremendous table storming run of wins last season after the Brentford defeat our form from January - excluding the EFL Cup - was inconsistent.

On the one hand 11 wins out of 19 is good, on the the other 7 defeats out of 19 isn't.

Our inconsistency, struggle against a low block, and susceptibility to an unexpected defeat was still an issue when Isak was here, no way has it suddenly just become an issue since Big Nick arrived.

Add this season's results to last season and in 29 games we have won 14, lost 11 and drawn 4. That gives a total of 1.58pts per game, 60pts over 38 games, and a 9th finish based on last seasons Prem table.

Conclusion: Woltemade isn't the problem

My take for some time has been that our rigid 433 either results in a win or a defeat - only 4 draws in our last 29 games is proof of that.

And because of that, for all of our quality and outstanding individuals, we fans are never surprised at a defeat - whoever the opposition is. West Ham is the classic example.

Yes, Woltemade doesn't have Isak's pace, But those assuming a fit Wissa will magically transform our play are in my opinion guilty of wishful thinking.

The issues go far deeper than Woltemade's lack of pace as our last 29 games prove.

Eddie Howe has to solve those issues, and fast, before this season's Prem ambitions become a top 10 finish at best and CL qualification again a total pipe dream.

Do you agree? Or are you confident this is just a blip due to new players settling in and injuries?

Not a member & want to post comments?

Click the ORANGE box at the top right of this page and Sign Up!

Last Post Eddie's Bingo v Brentford

Next Post Brentford v Newcastle