{"id":97646,"date":"2025-10-01T20:26:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T20:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/97646\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T20:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T20:26:10","slug":"union-saint-gilloise-0-4-newcastle-verdict-nick-woltemade-is-making-bayern-munich-critics-look-like-plonkers-writes-craig-hope-the-big-german-responded-with-his-best-toon-performance-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/97646\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Saint-Gilloise 0-4 Newcastle VERDICT: Nick Woltemade is making Bayern Munich critics look like PLONKERS, writes CRAIG HOPE – the big German responded with his best Toon performance yet"},"content":{"rendered":"

By CRAIG HOPE, CHIEF FOOTBALL REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 15:16 EDT, 1 October 2025 | Updated: 15:54 EDT, 1 October 2025 <\/p>\n

Bayern Munich<\/a> say Newcastle are \u2018fools\u2019 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another strike here – even if it was the faintest of touches – makes it three from four starts since his \u00a369million arrival from Stuttgart.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Keep up that return and the joke will be on Bayern, who refused to go much beyond \u00a350m for the 23-year-old this summer.<\/p>\n

Woltemade might have had a hat-trick on his full Champions League<\/a> debut had team-mate Anthony Gordon<\/a> not insisted on taking both of the penalties the striker clearly wanted.\u00a0That was Gordon\u2019s right as the designated taker, of course, and he buried both.<\/p>\n

It all added up to a significant and needed victory for Eddie Howe<\/a> who, in naming his strongest XI, made a statement of intent before kick-off.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His players followed up with a statement performance in what was the club\u2019s first Champions League away win in 22 years, as well as the biggest in their history.<\/p>\n

\"Nick <\/p>\n

Nick Woltemade is making his Bayern Munich critics look more and more foolish\u00a0<\/p>\n

JUST THE TRICK FOR NICK<\/p>\n

It does not matter that it needed the Snickometer to determine if Woltemade had got a touch on Sandro Tonali\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

This was Woltemade\u2019s 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\u2019s first converted penalty after Anthony Elanga was fouled.<\/p>\n

Asked about Woltemade wanting both penalties, Howe said: \u2018I love it! The best strikers I\u2019ve worked with want to score. Even if there is a directive, they don\u2019t care! They want to score. They want that responsibility. I\u2019ve got no issue with that at all.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Woltemade <\/p>\n

Woltemade scored again to keep up his brilliant start for the Magpies since signing<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The forward’s faint flick helped divert the ball into the net and he’s playing with swagger<\/p>\n

PLAYER RATINGS:\u00a0 <\/p>\n

USG (3-4-1-2): Scherpen 5; Mac Allister 5 (Sykes 67), Burgess 6, Leysen 5; Khalaili 5.5, Zorgane 6, Van de Perre 5.5 (Rasmussen 67), Niang 6; El Hadj 6; Rodriguez 6, David 5 (Giger 46, 5)<\/p>\n

NUFC (4-3-3): Pope 7.5; Trippier 6.5 (Schar 83), Thiaw 7, Botman 7.5, Burn 6.5; Guimaraes 6.5 (Hall 73, 6), Tonali 7.5, Joelinton 6.5 (Miley 59, 6); Elanga 7 (Barnes 73, 7), Woltemade 8 (Osula 73, 6.5), Gordon 7.5<\/p>\n

SPOT LUCK FOR GORDON<\/p>\n

It is easy to understand why Gordon showed no generosity in giving up the spot-kicks – he has his own confidence to look after.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Coupled with that was a far more dynamic display from him and Anthony Elanga.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

In terms of a response from Newcastle\u2019s widemen, this could not have been any better.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Howe said before the game that, when they don\u2019t perform, it \u2018hurts\u2019 the team. This, then, would have been a soothing sight.<\/p>\n

\"Anthony <\/p>\n

Anthony Gordon scored twice from the spot to boost his goals tally with a brace<\/p>\n

SVEN ROCK-MAN!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u2018The caps will come if Sven continues to play in the manner he has the last few weeks, and I\u2019m sure that is something he is thinking about,\u2019 said Howe. \u2018His passing was a big part of how we controlled the game.\u2019<\/p>\n

Controlled and clinical, this was a big night for Howe and his team. They who dare, win.<\/p>\n

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