‘The gaffer is such a good gaffer’ – Nick Woltemade

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·06 de outubro de 2025

‘The gaffer is such a good gaffer’ – Nick Woltemade

Eddie Howe signed Nick Woltemade for £65m (plus potentially another £4.3m in future add-ons) just over five weeks ago.

The signing was widely ridiculed over in Germany by their media (then lazily regurgitated by the UK media) due to that transfer fee, much of that driven by key Bayern Munich figures upset that Newcastle United had paid Stuttgart’s asking price, after Bayern had made three lowball offers and tried to bully Stuttgart to get him on the cheap.

Vídeos OneFootball

Things have got even more bizarre, as that negative Nick Woltemade coverage has continued to an extent even though with each passing game (and goal!), the striker is looking a better and better signing.

With five starts so far and four Newcastle United goals, then added to his overall performances, no wonder Bayern Munich are crying on because they missed out on their transfer target who they wanted to be the long-term successor to Harry Kane.

After Nick Woltemade signed for NUFC, there was then immediately a two week international break, which delayed his for appearance in a black and white shirt.

Difficult to believe that this was only three weeks ago…

Nick Woltemade talking about the input from Eddie Howe, after scoring on his debut in the 1-0 win over Wolves – 15 September 2025:

“He (Eddie Howe) makes me feel good

“I have one-on-one conversations with him every day.

“They are mostly about topics that have nothing to do with football.

“Like my move, or how my family is doing.

“It is a great working culture here.”

Three weekends later and Nick Woltemade has scored yet again at St James’ Park, this time against Nottingham Forest, once again he is keen to reference the brilliant Eddie Howe – 5 October 2025:

“A big win.

“A second win a row [after the Champions League victory in midweek].

“A really important and tough game to come in.

“Good energy…that was the key point for today.

“Now we go into the international break with two wins, that was really important.

“We have good energy from the bench and we have done really well.

“When you score as a striker on the pitch the feeling is really good.

“The gaffer is such a good gaffer.”

I still find it strange after almost four years at the club and his brilliance repeatedly proved, that some Newcastle United fans were questioning Eddie Howe’s handling of Nick Woltemade, especially when the Germany international didn’t start against Barcelona, as well as when he has been subbed off in other games.

Time and time again, Eddie Howe has shown that he will do whatever he thinks is for the best, despite outside noises from the ‘experts’, especially when it comes to new signings coming in.

Even though Newcastle United were in a desperate relegation fight at the time, it was over six weeks that Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes had to wait before making his first start for NUFC, scoring the winner at Southampton (10 March 2022). Then it was actually ten weeks after signing that Bruno made his first start at St James’ Park in a 1-0 win over Wolves on 8 April 2022.

It is just one of the countless reasons why Eddie Howe is so good, how he looks after his players on and off the pitch.

With the NUFC Head Coach’s careful handling, Nick Woltemade looks to have a stunning black and white future ahead of him. Great to see as well that the Germany international recognises just what a star his new boss is.

Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Sunday 5 October 2025 2pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Bruno 58 Woltemade 84 pen

Forest:

Possession was Newcastle 52% Forest 48%

Total shots were Newcastle 18 Forest 5

Shots on target were Newcastle 9 Forest 4

Corners were Newcastle 8 Forest 1

Touches in the box Newcastle 33 Forest 16

Newcastle team v Forest:

Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno, Joelinton (Miley 92), Tonali, Gordon (Barnes 70), Woltemade (Osula 92), Elanga (Murphy 70)