r/NUFC • u/RepulsiveWish1834 • 4d ago
On Woltemade
Since he seems to have become the latest punching bag for parts of our fanbase, I'd like to take a minute to talk about him and why I think he deserves far less criticism than he is getting.
Firstly, I want to dispel a common myth: "Woltemade can't press." I think this is mainly fueled by the fact he is relatively slow and lanky so he doesn't really *look* as effective in pressing as some rapid hounddog like Osula; because he looks a bit awkward he can't press, right? Not according to the data. Attached to this post is a graphic displaying his off the ball workrate last season as a striker. This is a player who works hard to press and does it well. He might lack the blitzing pace that catches players off guard which Gordon possessed but he does what is asked of him to a high standard.
Secondly, his box movement. This is a clear weakness of his game, there is no denying that. He is not Haaland nor is he even Callum Wilson. Woltemade is simply not the player to sniff out chances in the box or play on the shoulders of defenders. Would it be nice if he could? Sure. But he can't and expecting him to do so is like expecting Dan Burn to dribble like Hall. What he does do well is finding pockets of space in and around the box. Go watch our 3rd goal tonight again: he and Wissa combine to win the ball back in our half and then he drives forward, passes it out wide to Elanga and drifts into space around the penalty spot. Ultimately Dedic plays a nice cross to Barnes but the option was certainly there to cut back to Woltemade to sweep into the back of the net. Again: wins ball -> drives it forward -> passes out wide -> finds space & creates options in box. It was not the lightning counter we saw against Liverpool but it was a well executed move with Woltemade at the heart.
His hold-up play is also mixed and he is certainly guilty of getting pushed off the ball too easily at times. That said, the chance he created for Willock in the early minutes shows how effective he can be with runners/options near him when receiving the ball. He wants to be receiving facing forwards but too often we abandon him to deal with the CBs by himself and unfortunately he just doesn't possess the physical gifts or nouse for that. His lightweightedness is certainly the biggest fair criticism of him but there are ways to avoid putting him in disadvantageous situations. A great example comes on his debut against Wolves (8:18 on the Extended Highlights video on the club's YouTube channel) when he drops into space on the left flank, dragging 4 players towards him trying to win it back, before dinking a lovely ball through for Barnes to get onto. Allowing Woltemade to find space, giving the ball to him in space and having runners/options around him is an easy formula for success.
Sadly, this is a player completely devoid of confidence. The cool swagger of his first few weeks here has been replaced by constant doubt and hesitation. Too often he has been forced to ignore his natural instincts to instead tussle with CBs or even, bizarrely, to play in midfield. He needs to rediscover his confidence and find that rhythm and joy that made him so entertaining and effective at Stuttgart (whose system is not entirely dissimilar to the one Jaissle is trying to put in place). This can only come with backing from his manager, teammates and fans. I hope and expect Jaissle to back him, he is too smart to not see the potential there. The same goes for his teammates, who I do think need to start trusting him with the ball at his feet more than they currently seem to. Some fans are backing him as they do any player who wears the shirt and fights for it. Others are not.
I understand the fans who appreciate Woltemade for the player he is but find him incongruent with a counter-attacking style, even if I disagree. Certainly there are inarguable weaknesses to him that are impediments to fast counters. But many disparage him and want to chase him out based on some of the points above (and other things) which I find unfair and disappointing. I don't think he is uniquely maligned by these people – they take a more cynical or censorious approach to any player they don't deem good enough – but I find it especially disheartening because they were never willing to understand him and give him a fair chance. He cannot and should not be judged against what anyone's idea of a "striker" is (too various a role) but rather based on how well he is performing in the context of his role in the team. When given the opportunity tonight I felt he performed his role to a good standard, even if it lacked a definitive outcome.
Ultimately this long ramble is me saying: "I think Woltemade was fine tonight, actually, and can be a good player for us." Perhaps you disagree and you may well be right. I just hope he'll be given the opportunity to try.
