Often, tense rivalries such as the Tyne-Wear Derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland can be decided in a split-second moment.
Unfortunately for the travelling Toon at the Stadium of Light, it would be a freak instance that would end in the Magpies coming away from the intense Premier League game empty-handed, as Nick Woltemade inexplicably headed past Aaron Ramsdale, mere minutes into the second half.
Labelled as a “nightmare” way to introduce yourself to the Tyne-Wear Derby by journalist Mark Douglas, Woltemade will be fearful that his centre-forward starting spot as Eddie Howe’s main striker is now no longer so secure, with the German off his clinical best for some time now in England.
Woltemade’s slump in form at Newcastle
Woltemade’s season hasn’t been full of costly errors, though, with the club-record £69m fee splashed out on the 6-foot-6 striker right at the end of the transfer window, looking like a worthwhile gamble at points this season.
Indeed, at the time of writing, the Bremen-born menace has a respectable seven goals plying his trade on Tyneside from 21 clashes, but it’s clear from his more recent form that he is a striker now low on confidence.
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Woltemade’s recent form |
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|---|---|
|
Stat |
Woltemade |
|
Games played in December |
4 |
|
Goals scored |
0 |
|
Games without a PL goal |
3 |
|
Games without UCL goal |
4 |
|
Sourced by Transfermarkt |
|
The table above makes for some worrying reading, with the attacker who put away four goals from his first five Premier League contests now nowhere to be found, with Woltemade yet to break his goalscoring duck across December.
He never looked like beating Robin Roefs on Sunday afternoon, either, with just one paltry effort registered at the Dutchman’s goal, from his unmemorable 12 touches of the ball. Woltemade would also only amass two accurate passes, as writer Thomas Hammond declared at the end that he had “absolutely nothing” go his way at the Stadium of Light.
A stint outside of Howe’s starting XI could well do the goal-shy number 27 the world of good, with Yoane Wissa surely wanting to stake a claim to be Newcastle’s main striker, instead, as he emerges from the shadows of his long-standing injury issue.
With January also on the horizon, the powers that be at Newcastle could now be tempted to part ways with one of the Toon’s other underperformers in the upcoming transfer window.
The Newcastle star who Howe could cash in on
It’s set to be a busy start to the year in the Premier League, as top-flight sides far and wide attempt to flex their muscles in the hectic window once more.
On Newcastle’s end, they will be preparing for bids to come their way for Valentino Livramento, if reports are to be believed, with Manchester City allegedly keen on the England international for a price around the £65m mark.
Other reports have also suggested that the EFL Cup-winning defender is delaying any new contract negotiations with the Toon, in the hope he can retreat to the Etihad in time.
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Livramento’s performance in numbers |
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|---|---|
|
Stat |
Livramento |
|
Minutes played |
90 |
|
Goals scored |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Touches |
62 |
|
Accurate passes |
42/47 (89%) |
|
Accurate crosses |
1/3 |
|
Successful dribbles |
0/1 |
|
Possession lost |
10x |
|
Tackles won |
0 |
|
Total duels won |
0/5 |
|
Stats by Sofascore |
|
Pep Guardiola might not be so sure on splashing the cash in such an extravagant manner, though, if he were to watch back the ex-Southampton man’s disastrous display on Wearside in great detail, with the table above pointing out many flaws in the right-back’s game at the Stadium of Light.
Much like Woltemade, the 23-year-old cut an unconvincing presence on the ball throughout, with possession given up a high ten times from his 62 touches of the ball.
On top of his haphazard approach with the ball at his feet, Livramento would consistently shy away from getting stuck in and showing off the gritty sides of his character, winning no tackles or duels across his weak 90-minute display.
He also displayed none of the cutting edge in attack he has shown in the past to be worthy of City’s shopping list, with zero successful dribbles pulled off, just adding to Newcastle’s “negative” approach – as it was branded by the Athletic’s Chris Waugh – which ultimately made them “toothless” and easy to overcome and outmuscle.
At the close of the 1-0 defeat, Howe would hone in on the bizarre nature of Woltemade’s own goal as the sucker punch moment that lost the Toon the contest.
But, it was a drab team effort, too, that resulted in the disappointing defeat, with the under-pressure Magpies boss surely tempted to cash in on Livramento sooner rather than later, especially if he serves up more unexciting displays.
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