'Running out of options': Eddie Howe gives bleak response when questioned about Nick Woltemade's struggles
Newcastle United were completely outclassed by a much-changed Manchester City side at St James' Park last night.
While Pep Guardiola made 10 changes to the side that played in midweek, if you had no idea what you were watching, you'd never believe that they weren't his first-choice starting eleven.
Newcastle started really well, creating chances in the first 20 minutes and putting City on the back foot, even taking the lead and giving the St James' Park crowd some hope.
But it seems that City were just sitting back and analysing the opposition, and soon they turned on the style and passed around Newcastle like they were training dummies on their way to a well-deserved 3-1 win.
Eddie Howe is getting desperate with his team selections
Eddie Howe's team selection raised some eyebrows before kick-off, but then his substitutions sent everyone's eyebrows into orbit. After the game, Howe was asked why Joelinton was benched in favour of playing Nick Woltemade, who had another dire performance in the middle of the park.
"For any of our midfielders, it was difficult because City keep the ball so well, that's what they do. It was a difficult game for Nick when we were not in possession of the ball; his best qualities will be shown when we have the ball.
"But I think you look at it a different way and say we had three fit and available players to play in there. Joelinton, we did not want to start as he was too big an injury risk, so we were running out of options in there.
"I think Nick did a good job for the team and I have no problems with his attitude, he has just come through quite a bad illness, and to get through the minutes he did, I was quite pleased with him.
"He will play a lot better than that, and he will play a lot better than that, we will see a better version of him, I'm sure."
Can we just save Nick Woltemade for next season?
It might be time for Eddie Howe to admit that his Nick Woltemade experiments just aren't working, rather than trying to defend him.
He's being played out of position in an area of the pitch where he should be seeing plenty of the ball, and still, his touch count is shockingly low, and the touches he does get lead to absolutely nothing.
Big Nick had a header cleared off the line in the first half and fired a tame effort from outside of the box in the second half, and that's all I remember him doing. I really want Woltemade to be a success at Newcastle. I genuinely think he will offer us something different going forward, but he needs a lot of time on the training pitch, and until then, just keep him on the bench in case of emergencies.
