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NICK WOLTEMADE’S SHIFT IN STYLE SPARKS MAJOR NEWCASTLE UNITED DEBATE

Michael Carrick analyses how Nick Woltemade's link-up play "really matches" his Newcastle teammates, creating a different dynamic than Alexander Isak. The tactical shift creates space for runners, as seen in the win over Fulham.

Nick Woltemade’s shift in style sparks major Newcastle United debate
Newcastle's Nick Woltemade - COURTESY/PHOTO

After Alexander Isak left Newcastle in the summer, Nick Woltemade's style of play "really matches" his teammates, according to Michael Carrick.

At St. James' Park, Bruno Guimaraes scored a thrilling goal in the 90th minute to give Eddie Howe's team three vital points over a faltering Fulham.

There were concerns about how the Magpies would adjust without their lucky striker at the top of the lineup following a summer of significant transition that saw star striker Isak depart in a £125 million transfer.

Although the current season has not started off well, Woltemade, a £69 million acquisition, has already scored five goals and is giving opposing defenses a variety of challenges that help those around him.

"Isak leaving and Woltemade coming in is a tiny shift, but it was a major difference at the time," Carrick told Match of the Day. Since you can see he wants to stand up, Woltemade, it actually works in certain ways for the players surrounding him. The distinction is obvious.

"When Newcastle breaks in middle, Isak will undoubtedly want to rush in behind, therefore the service will be adjusted since they know that Woltemade wants to stand up. The wide guys can therefore get one-on-one in wide areas because there is more room for them to run in behind. However, it also puts more pressure on the other midfielders, the opposing winger, or the other eight to make the box.

"Woltemade is unable to create the box and link the play. In fact, there are players from Newcastle who want to rush past him and into the box. They just recovered possession of the ball after winning it back here in the 4-5-1 formation, and you can see that Woltemade is currently at the top of the "V" formed by the two wide men.

"Suddenly, they begin to link, and he is now the one with more depth. Gordon and Murphy are now beginning to connect. Bassey believes he needs to get tight, thus he wants to be attracted to Woltemade.

"That leaves the area behind, and they worked on it all day in Newcastle. The wide guy occasionally hit that area and had a great chance to take a 2-0 lead. Occasionally, it was a midfield player.

"As the game progressed, Tonali and Joelinton ran into those spaces, and Bruno then attacked them. You can see Tonali sprinting past Woltemade once more, filling the space he left with one or two touches. Tonali gets in behind Bassey as he goes tight once more. They engaged in it in various ways throughout the afternoon.

"The opposing wide player and midfielder have a significant burden of filling the box. The similar idea, except this time there is a large gap in the middle of the goal because Woltemade and Bassey have left. Woltemade connects with the opposing wide player and midfielder in the box once more. Bruno had a huge opportunity to score.

"They finished with a lot of energy, and Eddie talked about finishing strong. The box remained motionless as Bruno entered the pitch in the final minute of the match, followed by Osula, Tonali, and Elanga. Tonali may have gotten the tap in this time, but it only made me notice a change at the top of the pitch. Transition this time, but still in the box.

"They lack a No. 9 who runs in behind, but in reality, it plays to everyone else's strengths because the wingers and eights want to run, and Woltemade, by coming short and linking, creates a lot of space for them to do so, making it difficult to defend.

"They received awards today, despite the fact that it is not simple."

Newcastle will now play two games the following week. On Wednesday, they will host Tottenham in the Carabao Cup before visiting West Ham, who are now in 19th place, two points ahead of Wolves, who are at the bottom.

BALANCE ACT: ANALYZING EDDIE HOWE'S CHALLENGE TO WIN AFTER MIDWEEK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Eddie Howe is challenging his Newcastle squad to find the perfect "arousal level" for the Wear-Tyne Derby, balancing intense passion with the focus needed to beat a physical Sunderland side.

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Howe Demands Calm 'Fire Inside' for Sunderland Showdown

Here’s what Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe had to say before his team heads to Sunderland this Sunday:

Howe knows this weekend's Wear-Tyne Derby against Sunderland is a big deal, saying his players need to find the right mindset for the game.

The Magpies are heading to the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon for the first Premier League match between these two Northeast teams since 2016. Howe knows the game will be intense, but he wants his team to focus on playing well, not just getting caught up in the hype.

After their 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, Howe mentioned that getting too worked up can backfire, leading to overthinking and poor performance. He stressed the need for a cool head and passion, saying that lacking fire would also lead to a poor performance.

What else did Eddie Howe say about the Sunderland game?

Someone asked Howe if Newcastle would aim for a draw, considering Sunderland's good home record. He shut that down, saying they prepared to win every game. He noted the short time to get ready, but believes they're managing OK and will be ready.

About Sunderland's strength and toughness, Howe said they're key in the game. He pointed out Sunderland's physical play and threat from set plays, saying Newcastle needs to match that while sticking to their own game plan. He said they try to play their way no matter where they are, whether it’s a Champions League game or at home, tweaking things as needed after assessing the game.

Looking back at Newcastle’s last visit to the Stadium of Light, where they won 3-0 in the FA Cup last January, Howe said they enjoyed the win because they played well. Now, they have to recover from their trip [from Germany] so they can perform their best.

Howe admitted he knew about the Wear-Tyne Derby's intensity before, but experiencing it is different. He's seen derbies on TV and felt the rivalry, but being there makes you realise it's more than you thought. He’s looking forward to experiencing it again.

When asked if their Champions League game would hurt their chances on Sunday, Howe said he would always prefer a week to prepare for a game to train and focus. Since that's not an option, they're used to preparing quickly and hope they're getting better at it. This game will be a good test.

Talking about Newcastle’s late goals conceded and Sunderland’s late wins, Howe said people might be reading too much into it. He admitted they know what they need to fix.

Howe doesn't think they can change who they are. He thinks they’re exciting to watch and play a style that people enjoy. He knows this sometimes leads to defensive issues, which they're trying to fix.

About the game's importance and playing Sunderland in the league after last year’s cup game, Howe sees it as a good thing. He wants to be part of big games and take on tough challenges. He hopes this game will be memorable for the right reasons, with someone creating a special moment for the fans and making them proud.

€75 MILLION BID: NEWCASTLE LAUNCHES MASSIVE TRANSFER OFFENSIVE FOR FERRAN TORRES

Newcastle United has reportedly launched a shock €75 million bid, plus a huge salary offer, for FC Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, testing the Catalan club's resolve.

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Will Barcelona Sacrifice Ferran Torres for Newcastle's Big Money?

Newcastle United is reportedly planning a big move in January for FC Barcelona forward Ferran Torres. According to Fichajes reporter Raul Cabrera Jimenez, the club is ready to offer €75 million, plus a good salary, to bring the former Premier League player back to England.

Jimenez stated that Barcelona is in a busy period of the transfer window after Newcastle United showed strong interest in signing Ferran Torres with a huge offer of 75 million.

The situation heated up after Manchester United and Chelsea made £60 million bids for Harvey Barnes.

Jimenez wrote that Newcastle responded with an even bigger offer to show their financial power in the transfer market.

The report says Barcelona was surprised by Newcastle's big offer, calling it one of the highest in this transfer window. Jimenez pointed out that Torres has been in good form, scoring nine goals and providing one assist in 17 games before Tuesday’s game, which is why several clubs are interested in him.

Jimenez added that Newcastle plans to make Torres one of the highest-paid players in the team, offering him a salary of £13.5 million per season. This shows their desire to get a player who can really change the game from day one.

The report also talked about the issue that Barcelona is facing. Jimenez said that the club needs money, but it also wants to keep its good players, and Ferran Torres is one of them.

Even though Barcelona had said before that Torres was not for sale, with NUFC already contacting them in the past, Jimenez said that FCB must now consider the big money offer against the player's new importance under Hansi Flick.

Jimenez finished by saying that the next few weeks will be important, as Newcastle is determined to push for a signing that will help them progress and compete at the top of the league.

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