Eddie Howe excted by competition for places in key area for Newcastle United and what it can do for performances
Newcastle United under Eddie Howe have been noted for their free-flowing attacking football at times, even having been likened to Kevin Keegan's Entertainers on more than one occasion.
This season, however, those performances have been the exception rather than the rule. The team are certainly still capable of producing attacking plays, but for whatever reason, the ideas seem to run out when the team gets into the final third.
Particularly against teams who deploy a low block, our lads seem to have no clue how to get through.
Having a young striker in his first season in the Premier League, in Nick Woltemade, who plays a very different style of game to what the coach and players are used to, hasn't helped matters, but injuries forced Eddie Howe into that situation.
Eddie Howe is delighted to have two fit strikers again
Thankfully, Howe has options once again, and the responsibility isn't all on Nick Woltemade's shoulders with Yoane Wissa now back to fitness.
Speaking to the media this morning, Eddie Howe spoke about the importance of having two fit strikers available and how the competition for that place in the team can elevate performances.
"I think it's a good thing for both players (Wissa and Woltemade) that they're both fit and able to contribute. I see it as a huge positive for both. Looking back at previous examples, when Callum (Wilson) and Alex (Isak) were both fit and firing, they helped each other, pushed each other. elevated each other in some ways to greater performances and that is how both players have to take on the challenge.
"You want the whole team feeling this, not just those two, that one bad performance could cost them their place in the side. That's when teams play the best that they can, everyone's pushing and everyone is aware of the strength of the group.
"I trust both players, they're very good players and have different strengths, they can be highly effective and it's great to have them both fit and available."
Nick Woltemade will be a different player next season
Nick Woltemade made an impressive start at Newcastle but has faded as the season has gone on. Now that Yoane Wissa is breathing down his neck, it could help push him up a level.
The real issue Eddie Howe has is that the schedule has been so busy he's not had the time on the training pitch to work with Woltemade to devise a way to get the best out of him.
If we can get through this season, a full pre-season with the German will change things massively. He'll be like a different player next season. But that doesn't mean we don't need some improvement now.
