Howe’s decision to play Woltemade in midfield makes no sense as Newcastle lose to Man City
· Yahoo Sports
Newcastle United suffered a 2-1 loss against Manchester City, despite taking the game to the hosts in the second half.
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Newcastle delivered a battling display, but unfortunately, it was not enough as Pep Guardiola’s side walked away with three points.
The Geordies sit in 10th place, nine points away from the Champions League places where they aim to be, but there might be a bigger conundrum at hand.
Once again, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe started his £69.5 million striker deep in midfield and unsurprisingly, he looked lost.
Woltemade managed zero shots. He touched the ball 26 times and lost it eight times.
He lost 7/10 duels and let Antoine Semenyo get past him easily for the City winner.
While Woltemade is an odd fit as a centre-forward, he looks even worse in the engine room.
He was like a fish out of water, trudging to make an impact in a position he was unaccustomed to.
With only one goal in his last 17 outings, it is clear that he is not in clinical form, but he shouldn’t be starting games in midfield.
Woltemade is a rare profile in the modern game.
The 24-year-old is a towering, technically gifted German who should be occupying centre-backs, pinning them deep, and giving Newcastle a direct focal point in the box.
Instead, he is being asked to shuffle around in midfield, chasing shadows and fighting battles that do not suit his strengths.
Yes, Howe successfully reinvented Joelinton in a deeper role. But Joelinton’s transformation was built on relentless pressing, physical duels, and defensive intensity.
Woltemade is a different mould entirely. He is not a midfield scrapper. He is a striker who thrives in the penalty area.
Persisting with this experiment is doing neither the player nor the team any favours. Per reports, he is already considering a return to Germany.
Newcastle need goals. They need his presence in the final third. Woltemade cannot provide that when he is stationed 40 yards from the opposition box.
There is a talented 6ft6ins striker in Newcastle’s hands, one they have invested heavily in.
Howe’s job is to tweak the system to maximise that asset, not to shoehorn him into a role that blunts his impact.