FITNESS FLOP: ALEXANDER ISAK MUST LEARN FROM WOLTEMADE, SAYS DANNY MILLS
Pundit Danny Mills says Alexander Isak's poor Liverpool start is his own fault after his £125m move. But he backs the striker to come good despite his struggles.
Danny Mills has a pretty strong view on why Alexander Isak is struggling at Liverpool after his big transfer from Newcastle.
The former England and Leeds United defender thinks Isak's slow start is on him, mainly because he missed preseason training.
Isak moved to Liverpool for a whopping £125 million this summer, but he hasn't scored yet in the Premier League or Champions League.
Apparently, he pushed hard to leave Newcastle, and now he's trying to catch up with his fitness.
Mills understands how missing pre-season can mess with a player, but he still believes Isak will do well at Liverpool.
Mills told BetWright, It's tough to see how much not having a preseason has hurt Alexander Isak.
It might have been his choice, but either way, he's not ready for games and is behind everyone else.
Then there are other things, like moving, getting your family settled, and learning a new team and training style. It takes time to adjust.
Strikers need good passes, and when the team isn't doing well, it hurts their scoring. You have to look at the bigger picture. Also, teams might play more defensively against Liverpool, which makes it harder.
Isak is a great player, and he'll get there. Didier Drogba took a while to settle at Chelsea, and other top strikers have had slow starts too.
In contrast, Nick Woltemade, who replaced Isak at Newcastle, has scored six goals since joining from Stuttgart for £69 million. He has a total of 11 goals for his club and country this season.
Mills thinks Isak should watch Woltemade to see how to make an impact on a new team.
Mills added that, unlike Alexander Isak, Nick Woltemade joined a Newcastle team that was already working well, with a clear way of playing. He's looked sharp and scored some goals.
It's so important to start well, especially for a striker. Once you get that first league goal, it's a huge relief, and people stop worrying about when your big signing will score.
When you're trying to catch up, you can try too hard, which makes things worse. Plus, Liverpool is under pressure as Premier League champions who are in bad form, so the whole situation gets tougher.
Woltemade doesn't have the same pressure as Isak, which is partly Isak's fault, but he can play more freely and relax, which has helped him start strong at Newcastle.
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
