Bayern Munich say Newcastle are ‘fools’ for blowing so much money for Nick Woltemade – yet with every goal, the big German and his Rodney Trotter limbs are making plonkers of his compatriots.
Another strike here – even if it was the faintest of touches – makes it three from four starts since his £69million arrival from Stuttgart.
Keep up that return and the joke will be on Bayern, who refused to go much beyond £50m for the 23-year-old this summer.
Woltemade might have had a hat-trick on his full Champions League debut had team-mate Anthony Gordon not insisted on taking both of the penalties the striker clearly wanted. That was Gordon’s right as the designated taker, of course, and he buried both.
It all added up to a significant and needed victory for Eddie Howe who, in naming his strongest XI, made a statement of intent before kick-off.
His players followed up with a statement performance in what was the club’s first Champions League away win in 22 years, as well as the biggest in their history.
Nick Woltemade is making his Bayern Munich critics look more and more foolish
JUST THE TRICK FOR NICK
It does not matter that it needed the Snickometer to determine if Woltemade had got a touch on Sandro Tonali’s 17th-minute shot. Another goal against his name after a week when it was sullied in Bavaria will do wonders for confidence, evidenced by him needing team-mates such as Tonali and Kieran Trippier to negotiate the release of the ball before the penalties.
He played with a swagger as the game went on and there was one pirouette on halfway that sent three Union defenders for the chocolates. Come the end, it was a strong beer their centre-backs needed.
This was Woltemade’s best yet in black and white and the instruction to find him quicker and more often was clear. It was his hold-up play at the onset of the move that led to Gordon’s first converted penalty after Anthony Elanga was fouled.
Asked about Woltemade wanting both penalties, Howe said: ‘I love it! The best strikers I’ve worked with want to score. Even if there is a directive, they don’t care! They want to score. They want that responsibility. I’ve got no issue with that at all.’
Woltemade scored again to keep up his brilliant start for the Magpies since signing
The forward’s faint flick helped divert the ball into the net and he’s playing with swagger
SPOT LUCK FOR GORDON
It is easy to understand why Gordon showed no generosity in giving up the spot-kicks – he has his own confidence to look after.
And, after the wingers were the focus of pre-match inspection for the paucity of their goals and assists contributions so far this season, Gordon was right to take that chance to boost his own tally to three goals for the campaign, all in the Champions League.
Coupled with that was a far more dynamic display from him and Anthony Elanga.
There was even a late goal for Harvey Barnes, finishing tidily after swapping passes with Will Osula during a whiplash break that looked far more like the team of last season.
In terms of a response from Newcastle’s widemen, this could not have been any better.
Howe said before the game that, when they don’t perform, it ‘hurts’ the team. This, then, would have been a soothing sight.
Anthony Gordon scored twice from the spot to boost his goals tally with a brace
SVEN ROCK-MAN!
There has been some debate as to who Howe will pick in the centre of his defence now all five options are fit. This selection – Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw for a fourth straight game – felt informative. Dan Burn could be a casualty of that, with the England centre-back moved to left-back for a second game.
But, in Botman, Howe knows he has a defender of supreme quality. He looks like a special forces commando and plays with strength and stealth. The Dutchman was impassable here and, over the border in the Netherlands, national-team boss Ronald Koeman is surely considering giving the 25-year-old a senior debut.
‘The caps will come if Sven continues to play in the manner he has the last few weeks, and I’m sure that is something he is thinking about,’ said Howe. ‘His passing was a big part of how we controlled the game.’
Controlled and clinical, this was a big night for Howe and his team. They who dare, win.
