The Stark Contrast Between Alexander Isak and Nick Woltemade - and I Don't Just Mean Goals...

They say a week is a long time in football. Well, it's been a month now since Alexander Isak and Nick Woltemade joined their new clubs... and the mood in both camps couldn't be more contrasting...

Things initially started well for Liverpool. They won their first seven games in all comps. Then a certain £125 million striker found his 'fitness' and it's all gone a bit pear-shaped...

Combine that with Nick Woltemade. Newcastle were winless before the big German striker made his debut for the club. They've since won three and Newcastle's record signing has three goals in four starts.

But that isn't the point I'm trying to make. Alexander Isak, for all his faults (lack of physicality, inability to compete in the air, refusal to show for the ball and get involved in the buildup), he will inevitably score goals. But watching Nick Woltemade, I've noticed a huge difference in the two strikers that have both shared the goal-scoring burden at Newcastle in recent years; their attitude.

Nick Woltemade never hides...

One thing that was so frustrating about Alexander Isak was his tendency to drift out of games completely. You would forget he was on the pitch; skulking around, isolated up top but unwilling to even bust into a sprint or come deep for the ball. With the exception of the Arsenal header and Liverpool screamer last season, Isak's goals were exclusively tap-ins or penalties. He thrived on being served a goal on a platter by messrs Murphy, Gordon or Bruno.

Nick Woltemade on the other hand... is so much fun to watch! At times, it's like the ball is glued to the insole of his boots, as his incredible frame and close control gives the impression that he is playing against children - like a 'Dads 'N' Lads' kick about. I fear for the memes when he comes up against a certain Lisandro Martinez...

The game against USG showed just how much he loves to invade the midfield and knit the play between the lines, linking deliciously with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali and creating the space for devastating runs in behind for Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga. For the first time in a long time, it actually feels like we play with a system where all eleven men in black and white are willing to put in the hard yards for the good of the team.

Having watched both strikers with interest this season, it felt like Woltemade made more touches in that USG game than Isak has all season. The Liverpool team just aren't playing to his strengths, and in this weekend's loss to Chelsea, you could see the exasperation on Isak's face; gesticulating wildly when one teammate played a loose pass to Mo Salah as opposed to trying to find him. A certain Jacob Murphy would never...

Playing with a smile on your face is half the battle in endearing yourself to the Newcastle faithful...

Isak was often lauded as an ice-cold assassin... never cracking a smile or any emotion at all. It made him revered and respected. But we're a bunch of softies in the Toon, we love a player that wears the shirt with a smile.

Papiss Cisse... Miguel Almiron... Jonas Gutierrez... three players that never reached the on-pitch heights of Alexander Isak. But they loved every moment of pulling on the famous black and white stripes. Much of last season, Isak cut a lonely figure up top; both in his style of play, but also in his apparent frustration when another player hogged the limelight. His shoulders often seemed to sag in frustration when the net rippled from another player's shot. He'd be the last player to amble over in congratulations; whereas Nick Woltemade constantly has a smile on his face. He's living for the opportunity to play alongside such talented players; relishing every goalscoring moment, and living the dream of every Geordie on Tyneside; young and old.

The contrast is clear - and we can't wait for more goals, more saucy linkup play, and more smiles from Big Nick.