Alan Shearer has criticised Nick Woltemade following Newcastle United’s 1-0 defeat against Sunderland in the Wear-Tyne derby – and outlined why he is a “problem”
Alan Shearer has claimed that Nick Woltemade’s inability to “press” causes Newcastle United a “problem” and said it is one of the reasons they have struggled away from home this season.
Woltemade, a £65m summer signing from Stuttgart, has scored seven times in 20 appearances since his move, but he endured a horror afternoon in the 1-0 defeat against Sunderland on Sunday. Indeed, the German netted an own-goal to condemn the Magpies to a loss in the Wear-Tyne derby.
Nordi Mukiele’s enticing cross from the right caused panic and Woltemade inadvertently headed the ball into his own net, beyond a hapless Aaron Ramsdale. Although Newcastle pushed to level late on, they were unable to score and ended up having to settle for defeat at the Stadium of Light.
But it’s another area of Woltemade’s game that Shearer is concerned about. Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, ex-Newcastle frontman Shearer noted that Woltemade’s lack of pressing and energy from the front has impacted the Magpies this season, especially away from home.
Micah Richards started: “I did feel sorry for him.
“You know the night before a big game, and you are imagining how things are going to go, ‘I am going to get the winner’, and then he scores an own-goal like that. I don’t know how he is going to sleep.”
Ex-Newcastle forward Shearer then said: “You mention Woltemade, as good as he has been and the goals he has scored with a lovely technique and touch, it’s a difficult problem that Newcastle have with him.
“This is not the first time I have said it; technically he is very good, ball at his feet he is very good albeit he wasn’t on Sunday. But he does pose a problem for Newcastle because he can’t press.
“Everything about Newcastle’s success over recent years which Eddie has brought is energy, high press, not letting the opposition play. Did you see us [against Sunderland]? We were sat back in a 4-5-1 and had no pressure on the ball, nothing and that is a bit of a problem for Newcastle.
“He hasn’t got great energy, he is not quick. He has other strengths that he brings, but everything about Newcastle’s success hasn’t been about that. It’s been about high energy and high press, and he can’t do that. It’s one of the reasons why Newcastle have struggled away from home.”
Newcastle have won just one Premier League game on the road this season. That came in the 4-1 rout against Everton last month, with the Magpies collecting six points from a possible 24 away in the top flight. They have the sixth worst away record in the division, ahead of Wolves, Burnley, Brentford, Leeds United and Bournemouth.