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00:00:00
00:00:01
IMMEDIATE REACTION as Nick Woltemade leads Newcastle to their first Premier League WiN
21 Plays2 days ago
Nick Woltemade scored the only goal as Newcastle beat Wolves at St James' Park! Join Michael Grahamslaw as he gives his immediate post-match reaction to the game alongside his player ratings.
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Transcript
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Newcastle Podcast. I am your host Michael Gramesaw and I was due to be joined by Ian McKay for today's episode but he managed to grab himself a ticket at the last minute for the game and well he's actually in the stadium as I record this. Yes I'm still recording this at about 4.55 so for those in level 7 they're probably only about halfway out the stadium by now but That means you get your instant reaction to from Newcastle United's victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, which was a little bit tighter than many expected, or almost identical to how I called it yesterday.
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Just without the Wolves goal, let's say. ah To start off, I'll talk about the line-up. um It was a pretty bold call from Eddie Howe to keep Anthony Alanga on the bench.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
start Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes. um But if you recall from yesterday's preview with the boys, I said I wanted this exact lineup for Newcastle United. Voltemard through the middle, two established wingers on either side of him. And I think it's one of those, this isn't anything against Alanga, but I think if we'd had Wilson or Rezac, I'd be comfortable starting Alanga because you realistically, you need to embed these players into the squad.
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
to get them working in cohesion, particularly if you play the way that Newcastle United do. For me, the only real issue with the lineup was before today, there wasn't a single winger who had justified starting for Newcastle United this season. All three, four if you include um Anthony Gordon, had been quite poor now Alanga Alanga's got the excuse he's just joined but Murphy and Barnes we were definitely expecting a lot more um in the opening and three games but now they have a new strike at aim for you were thinking and maybe just maybe that would inspire them to a bit of a better performance and spoiler it did just that um I will say at the start of the game Wolves were the better team in the opening stages both Wangi Chan and Joe Gomez
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
forced Nick Pope into good saves. And I think basically on the way to Newcastle, Wolves had just played Ian Mackay saying they were a nothing team and absolutely terrible, had no threat to us whatsoever on the bus.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they went, you know what? We're going to try and score within 13 seconds, which would have been the quickest goal at St. James' Park, beating Shearer's record. So thank God that didn't happen.
00:02:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, ultimately, They were toothless in the end, um but at the start, we were starting to think there was potentially going to be a tough game. um We started quite slowly.
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wolves seemed to have tons of space to move the ball forward, um and that press was excellent. But realistically, that kind of only lack lasted for about five minutes.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Again, excellent for the opening five, but then they started to drop back a little bit. They gave Newcastle a bit more time on the ball and Newcastle started to pass the ball around.
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, we didn't see the best of Newcastle. Our best attacks came from our own press, which, again, we didn't really start with. um But once we got a hold of the ball and then, you know, we even when we gave it away, we were on them like a flash.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're getting a lot better as the game gone on. But for the first 30 minutes, it was fairly 50-50, I would say. um Shaw and Byrne both made excellent defensive contributions to get Stop Wolves getting in behind.
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as for our front line... If you haven't noticed it today, you will notice it against Barcelona. When you watch Nick Vultemar, just keep an eye on how alert he is to second balls.
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
There are a few moments in that first half where you're watching, and before we even lost that 50-50 duel, Vultemar has already made a movement to collect the ball where he thinks it's going to end up, and that's really impressive to me.
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not something you see a 6'6 player do really ever um so that was really impressive in my opinion uh from him across most of the game that sort slowed down a little bit in the second half but hopefully just you know we can keep that going into barcelona came off probably as a precaution just to keep him fit because he probably will have to play 90 minutes on thursday um but the first controversial moment of the game comes when the ball is played behind.
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do have to say it's an excellent run by Harvey Barnes to get him behind. And the Wolves defender Mosquera just gets the wrong side of Barnes and takes him out with a little bit of a combination of an elbow and an arm to the face.
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm not quite sure how VAR hasn't given a red card. um I don't know. i think the... The end decision, and I will probably read about this in 10 minutes time and ah understand, um but I think the end decision was that Barnes wasn't in a position that was a goal ah clear goal scoring opportunity, as in there were defenders that could get back.
00:05:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um or would get back in their opinion. Now, for me, ah think an arm and an elbow to the face when you're looking straight at the player and not at the ball is a red card anyways.
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we have seen too many red cards in our opening three gate three or four games so It was quite nice to not have one brandished ah today and have that impact the game. It was good just seeing 11 versus 11. How did Newcastle fare? But yeah, for me, that it should have been a red card, and I'm glad it didn't impact the result in the end.
00:06:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um the dead The deadlock is ah finally broken by Newcastle, and it's the only goal of the game. I did go on record a few pods ago and say with the service we were giving Azula, a sula ah player with proper striker's instincts will get goals.
00:06:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this one just proves my point. ah Jacob Murphy whips in a delightful cross, similar to one there that was put in for Joe Linton earlier in the game, but Sam Johnston did well there. And similar to what we've seen, ah believe it was pre-season against Atletico Madrid, where those crosses are coming in and it was Joe Linton on the end of four of them, and he could have had three goals, um but every single one of them went either off target or straight at the goalkeeper.
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
This doesn't look like it's going to happen with the new German striker, Volta Mar, who this time... The ball comes in over Johnson's head. He's coming to the back post ah to try and make himself big, like he did for Murphy earlier in the game, um where there's a great save to deny him.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But Valtima just rises. He's leaning back, but somehow manages to get the power to smash it beyond Johnson at the back post. It's an absolutely fantastic header.
00:07:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Newcastle led the game then, thanks to the BFG. f gee And no, I ain't talking about the kids' book. But from then on, Newcastle had the better of the first half. A number of chances to double the lead.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Long-range efforts from Jacob Murphy, which went narrowly wide, and Sandro Tonali. The former was because of great defensive work from Nick Vultemar, and the latter hitting the post after dummying um the Wolves defender.
00:07:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's a great strike from both of them. and you ah Well, I think with the Jacob Murphy one, if that... um if that does hit the back of the net, they're going to have to replace the net afterwards because it it was an absolute corker of a strike.
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then... just before the end of the ball, in between those two incidents, actually, um we nearly made it 2-0. Was offside. Jacob Murphy's the one that puts the ball in the back of the net. Great composure when he gets the ball to just stop, analyse what's in front of him, and just put it into the roof of the net.
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Maybe something similar to what Asula should have done against Leeds, but again, can't keep criticising that one moment from Asula. It's not really that fair um on the young lad. But...
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Volta Mard I feel like I've mentioned him in every sentence I've said so far 100 times in 8 minutes something like that ah but he chips the ball over the defender finds Harvey Barnes gets the byline pulls it back to ah Jacob Murphy and again puts in the back of the net now it is offside from Harvey Barnes whether you think it's Barnes that mistimes the run or Volta Mard just he's a bit slow with the pass either way I just slightly mistimed and that will come while the two play with each other more often.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is going to be Anthony Gordon there probably on Thursday and probably more often in the future. But as they start to get a better understanding, you might just dis see moves like that that's a lot more.
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, that's pretty much it from the first half. um A great end to the first half from Newcastle. Started very slowly, grew into it, but we were so much the better team in that first half.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And would that continue in the second? Well, we'll get to that, but not before. Bye, Onyek.
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So in the second half, Newcastle start again on the front foot, but they don't really force Sam Johnson into a save at all. um There was one thing I immediately noticed from us, um and not a lot happens in the second half, so I am just going to go into more things I noticed from the overall game.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Newcastle on set pieces. If we don't take it short, even if the opposition tend to put three players on Dan Byrne, we will still try and loft it to Dan Byrne.
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, I feel like we brought in a set piece coach to avoid doing that, um but it kind of felt like it was our only approach every single time Wolves blocked the...
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
the short corner. um So that was something that was a little disappointing. It will take longer to see the benefits from the set piece coach, etc. But was hoping to sort of see a couple of things here and there.
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then literally nothing happens until about the 60th minute. And even though Wolves had done nothing in the first half, you are starting to think, we're going to have to be inch perfect at the back because we need that second goal.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And all it takes is one mistake to lose the three points here. um You're thinking maybe get a Langer on, maybe Lewis Hall. And then some ah huge five changes came in the game.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two of them from Newcastle. William Asula came on for Volta Mar and Joe Willock came on for Joel Inton. But it wasn't really the changes people wanted in the end. They were probably smart changes because Joe Linton's going to need to be fit. He's um just coming back from an injury.
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need him to be fit against Barcelona. And Nick Valtamati, who's our only striker, we're a lead in the game. Let's sort of keep him fit for Barcelona as well. Wolves also made three changes.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
John Arias and Munetzi came on alongside, I believe it was Bellegarde. Munetzi and Arias were two players we expected to to start the game from our research on Wolves before the match, ah but they made five changes from the loss against Efferton.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Clearly, they wanted to change something. They started brightly, but ultimately, it kind of felt like Wolves just fell back into their own ways. Yeah. And then Wolves pick up another two yellow cards after the changes in about 30 seconds.
00:12:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I will say they're a lot dirtier of a team than I remember um the last time we played them, but credit to them for showing a little bit of bite because I'll be honest, bottom of the table, it's easy for teams to feel sorry for themselves.
00:12:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
They were fighting for the badge. They did what they could. um Even though second half, they were a little toothless. It seems like they're reading directly from the the Jose Mourinho book of, I don't want to say trickery, um but it is it is that way. Every time there was a slight knock, particularly to the head, it's straight to the floor, play gets broken up.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm sure on occasion there was issues. You know, ball hits you in the face. I think we all know how that feels if we've ever played football. um But it kind of just felt like every single opportunity they got, they were slowing the game down.
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then it took about 75 minutes before the second half actually, well, 35 minutes, and well, 30 minutes into the the second half, but 75 minutes into the game before Wolves really started to attack again.
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We never really looked shaky. but we lacked any threat at all after Volta Mata came off. And that's really concerning.
00:14:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to emphasize how counter-attacking we were looking to go, we then brought on Alanga, who I thought should have come on 15 minutes earlier. um But we just looked to simply utilize his pace where we could.
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we dropped not 10 men behind the ball, but it was pretty close at times. Yeah. And when you play like that, a bit more defensive, your players start to take longer to release the ball.
00:14:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's it's ultimately quite disappointing if you're playing bottom of the league. ah But we did hold on. It was a decent performance. And in the end, we've got three clean sheets in four games, which is extremely positive.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, it does have to be said, where if we see too many of those kinds of games this season, we're going to drop points in games where we shouldn't. And we weren't lucky not to today because Wolves were...
00:14:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
ultimately poor an attack. We nullified them very, very well. um It seems to be defensively where they have issues rather than up top. They were missing Strand-Larsen though.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, it's it's one of those where where there will be games like that. I can imagine Everton being the the team off the top of my head who would punish you like that.
00:15:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And particularly when we give away silly fouls on the edge of the box that we did towards the end today, there will be a team that punishes you. But it wasn't today. We got the three points we needed at home after a poor start of the campaign against Wolves.
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ultimately, that kind of sounds a little familiar because if you remember, it was exactly the same last season. um We had a little bit of a difficult start to the campaign.
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
We played Wolves and then we had two absolutely fantastic strikes, one from Harvey Barnes, one from Fabian Shaw, and we came the winners. And although it didn't it wasn't the result that changed our season, it was what we needed to kickstart it and get things going. So hopefully...
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the same today. In part three, I'm going to go into my individual player ratings. But for now, I'm going to read out the advert from Zencaster. So here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we have spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:16:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:16:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:16:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good stuff. So we go into our player ratings. um It is very weird doing an advert and then going straight back into talking. um Those are the times where we probably do need the recorded ones if we don't use them in the future. 100%. Note to end it to anyone on the pod who is listening.
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yes, that probably should have been a side note. But player ratings, I'm going to do them live off the top my head. um As I say, the match finished literally five minutes before I've gone up and done this. haven't had time to write much, haven't had time to do anything.
00:17:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But over the over the course of the game, I've obviously known I was going to do this, so I've made a few mental notes. um But start with Nick Pope, and it's probably going to be the highest rating I've gave Nick Pope since, let's think, the AC Milan game, maybe, um where we got absolutely battered at the San Siro, but kept a 0-0. There probably is higher one since, but I've gave him an 8.5 for once.
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
for once Probably a bit harsh saying for once, but his passing was decent today. um He made one absolutely incredible save and a couple of very, very good saves.
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
For me, it was one of his better games in recent memory. And if anyone was thinking Aaron Ramsdale might start against Barcelona and that'll be the game we get we have a bit of rotation, I don't think there's any chance of that after this performance from Nick Pope.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fantastic. And there's a reason he's in the middle of our goal. Kieran Trippier... I'm going to give a 7. um Probably a bit harsh enough to give him a 7.5. He was at the centre of a lot of things we did today. Every attack seemed to go through Trippier at one point.
00:18:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I thought he was caught lacking... at some crucial moments defensively, particularly in the first half. um He's a calm and composed player on the ball, but looked a bit shaky defensively. He did improve a lot in the second half. um I thought he was solid.
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably could have pushed him up to a 7.5, but I'll keep him at a 7 just because first half, there was two moments where he was beaten comfortably and we could have ended up behind because of that.
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then Fabian Scher and Dan Byrne um'm going from right and left i'll start with fabi and cher ah pbi and che i'm gonna give and eight um he battled mostly against what i would say is unknown opposition ah in, I believe it's Aroka Day, the new signing for Wolves.
00:19:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's one of those, I knew nothing about him going into the game. It's why we didn't speak about him yesterday, and I didn't think he'd be thrown in straight away. um But he looked dangerous, the big centre forward, um but Fabian Scher matched him physically.
00:19:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
His passing was fantastic. He was brilliant at the back, and there was a number of times where when Wolves were looking to get through, Fabian Scher just got his foot on the ball, won it back, and played it out for Newcastle. So very good.
00:19:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Distribution great. Defending even better. Age seems to have made Fabian Chatt a much better defender because I remember not that long ago, well, I say not that long ago, a while back we were saying, oh, can't defend at all, but he can pass a ball and he can strike a ball.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Defending's actually but become one of his best elements, which is a big surprise. And then Dan Byrne.
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm probably harsh here, but I'm going to give Dan Byrne a 7. It was somewhat similar to Fabian Scher. didn't put He didn't do anything wrong, as per se, from the opening minute to the last.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But the reason I'm going to say that is because Newcastle's set-piece threat, if we're going to have any at all, means Dan Byrne has to do better from corners.
00:20:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Every set piece seems to go to him, and every defence puts two, three players on him. It's one of those where he's always going to struggle. um And for me, when he did win the initial ball, almost every knockdown went to a Wolves player.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, whether that's our attack as not being... alert enough to get to the ball. In some cases it probably was, but it felt like a lot of the knockdowns went straight to Wolves players' feet.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and Being harsh, because that's attacking for a defender, he probably could have got a 7.5 as well. um But for me, it's it's a 7. And then Tino Livramento, I'm going to give a 6.5.
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
He has been our best player so far this season. but he wasn't at that level today. He hasn't managed to do much on the ball at all. I think he struggled against Hugo Bueno.
00:21:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um in the Yeah, it was Hugo Bueno. Yeah. in one-on-one duels. think Bueno beat him a number of times. um And I just, I didn't see the Tino Liveramento that really affects the game and and gets himself forward like I normally do.
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But if that's one of his worst games for us across the season, He's going to be one of the best in the world because it wasn't a bad performance at all. It was a fairly standard performance, but it was the worst we've seen of him so far. And that includes in in an England colours.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So fantastic fantastic, really, when you look at it from the outside. But just wasn't great today. And then speaking of wasn't great today, Bruno Gamares...
00:22:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I could probably give a 6.5 if I wanted to be generous, but I am going to give him a 6. For a player that has so much passion, he couldn't really stamp any sort of authority on the ball and off the ball, really.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um... All the joy Wolves were having in the first half seemed to come from his side. And it just felt like it was really easy for Wolves to bundle him off the ball. um I don't know if it's because of him coming back from Brazil duty late.
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, I mentioned yesterday Chelsea were saying they might not start João Pedro because of the same reason. Yeah. And, you know, it's one of those where if you're in attacking duels or defensive duels in midfield throughout the entire game, that kind of stuff does have in it a huge impact on you.
00:23:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I didn't hate what I saw today. So six is probably a bit harsh. um Whether Stats back that up, Stats will probably end up saying he had a great game, and but my eyes sort of said otherwise.
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So that's why I've given that. um Probably wasn't at 100%. And I'm confident because he has been good so far this season. We'll probably see him back to his best against Barcelona.
00:23:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And to be honest, I've got no doubts we'll see him back to his best against Barcelona. Sandro Tonali will be next. Sandro Tonali, I'm going to give a
00:24:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
going 7.5. It was quite similar to Bruno in the first half. He didn't get himself into the game too much, but the set the difference between the two was that with Tonali you saw individual moments of brilliance at times. um He wasn't as authoritative as self off the ball in that first half, um but did give us a bit of quality when we needed it ah second half we controlled the game without really doing too much ah we controlled the tempo Tonali was a huge part of that um and then when we needed to defend in the last 15 minutes Tonali was at the heart of um pretty much everything defensively so yeah it was not a fantastic first half grew into the game and by the end was very decent
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joel Linton is then the the third central midfielder. Um... To be honest, Joe Linton didn't really have his usual game today, actually.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't remember him doing all that much. I think he was on the ball probably more than usual. um So I'm going to give him 6.5. I feel like when he was on the ball, he was quite loose.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
um was he He got amongst the game. There was few tackles that went in. um Sometimes a bit clumsy. Won the ball. um From, again, similar to I mentioned Nick Valtemar earlier in the game, ah those 50-50s, he's very good at just picking up the loose balls in those moments.
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did win a number of defensive battles, and I think he was probably one of the catalysts in us gaining control of the game. Just every time Wolves seemed to get on the ball, he was there or thereabouts. I'm going to give him a 6.5. I was stalling a bit for time there because I didn't really know how it was going to go.
00:26:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do think 6.5 is probably... Closest. It wasn't a bad game. wasn't a good game. It's just what we've come to expect from Joe Linton. Very solid, um but you know nothing to write home about.
00:26:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then things to write home about. Probably the best performance from a winger this season. um so far, which to be fair, there's not much competition.
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Worth saying for Newcastle. um Definitely not best in the league. um But Jacob Murphy, I'm going to give him 7.5.
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um which just tells you how bad some of the other winger appearances have been this year. i got the assist for the goal, had a couple of good chances to score. um If Barnes or Volta Mar were a little bit quicker to react, um he probably would have had a set a goal himself.
00:26:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Didn't do anything really wrong at all today. Crossan was good, very solid, helped out defensively. um Again, not something you're going to write home about.
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
uh but a very good performance and probably means jacob murphy's guaranteed to start against barcelona for me um on the other wing harvey barnes i think the only player today who pro who potentially could have played himself out of appearing against Barcelona was Harvey Barnes.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really want him to do well in a Newcastle shirt, but I just don't think it's going happen. um He just doesn't seem to click with players the same way that Murphy and Gordon do.
00:27:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He wasn't terrible today by any stretch of the imagination. Just when he was attempting things, they just weren't coming off. Um... And I'm not the first to say this.
00:27:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
When Barnes doesn't get a goal or assist, there's very little he does end up doing in the game. There was a great cross in the first half, which just goes over Volta Marder's head.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there should have been someone coming in at the back post. I say it was a great cross. It was a good cross. It probably should have been... a bit further out, f so the wing I could have got on the end of it a bit easier. But yeah, Croson was okay. It was decent.
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Shooting was very poor. um And again, if Barnes doesn't score or assist, he tends to be pretty poor. So he is going to get the probably the worst of the two players that started, um which will be a six-fielder.
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just wasn't impressed by Barnes today, unfortunately. But there is time for him to get that form that he had last season when Gordon was suspended and then couldn't get back in the team.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So hopefully we see that side of Harvey Barnes again because I really do want him to do well in a Newcastle shirt. And then the final player who started, well, the BFG himself, Nick Vultemard. I give him 8.
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um it point five Yeah, I'm going to give him an 8.5. And this isn't a dig. It's strikers of Newcastle's past.
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't recall any Newcastle strikers working as hard off the ball as Nick Vultima does. And there is a chance that that was just debut adrenaline.
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's not how he does every game. I'll be honest. I wasn't exactly a ah frequent viewer of Stuttgart last season. um So I can't say for certain, but if he were, if that's how hard he works every single game and he still gets goals, sure.
00:29:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He'll be adored at St. James' Park because that was an absolutely fantastic performance. um it Did a lot to help the team out, and I think he would be absolutely excellent in a good old-fashioned 4-4-2 because he brings players into the game so much.
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
First half, um first touch passing. You think for his debut appearance at St. James' Park, he's going to be a bit nervous. Almost every pass, just first touch, straight out.
00:30:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fantastic. um Brilliant debut from the big man. And he probably would have been man of the match if it wasn't for Nick Pope's heroics in the first half. um Another player who I think Pope, because he's had been scrutinised a lot, I think when he does put in those fantastic games, it does have to be recognised.
00:30:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But Volta Mard as well. The two Knicks, both fantastic for me today. And then for the substitutes, I'm not sure hu ah think it was just Osula and Willick who were on for longer than 15 minutes.
00:30:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not going to rate players on less than 15 minutes. And Osula and Willick for me were both 5.5s. I don't think either had any real impact on the game and are attacking threat...
00:31:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
To say it died when they they came off is probably a poor term of phrase, but it there was really nothing there when those two came on. and If Wolves just went, let's say, six or seven players in attack and left the four back, I'd be somewhat confident that they we wouldn't score.
00:31:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, it is a worry. Hopefully, Johan Wissler's injury isn't too bad. um ah would have liked to have seen Osula go out on loan so he can sort of improve that area of his game.
00:31:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because i do I've mentioned before, there is a player in there. It's just he needs to learn when to be that enthusiastic striker and when to just calm things down a bit. And Willick,
00:31:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was Willock's first appearance. I think he was coming back from an injury or a knock that he'd picked up. It wasn't great, and but we haven't seen the best of Joe Willock for a little while now.
00:32:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It's just good to get minutes in the legs for him, I guess. And hopefully we get enough minutes in the legs where we start to see that great player again. Because, it it again, there is one in there.
00:32:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're just not seeing it often enough. um But there you've had it. It's a much needed three points for Newcastle United. The game was extremely tight, ah just as I said it would be yesterday.
00:32:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and didn't quite believe the 3-0 and 4-0 that Ian and Kev were going for. I couldn't believe my ears when I was hearing it, um as you could probably tell by my reactions. But...
00:32:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly as I thought it would be. um i did think Wolves would have a bit more oomph in attack. I didn't think we'd be as solid as we were defensively. And I think more than anything else, I was just surprised, very surprised, we managed to keep three clean sheets in four games, which...
00:33:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
is a very positive thing. And when you look at the game, we conceded three. The XG for Liverpool was only like 0.65 or something like that. So very solid defensively. If we're going to do anything this season, we'll probably need to be.
00:33:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But the result is all that matters. We're out of the relegation. Well, we were 17th. We're out of the relegation picture, should we say. And as it stands, I believe we're in ninth. Yes, we're in ninth.
00:33:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Four games played, one win, two draws, one loss. ah Ultimately, you would have liked to have had so at least seven points from the opening and four games.
00:33:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we take it, we move on, and hopefully we do just as well at the weekend and on Thursday. Bring on Barcelona.