Preference on how this Newcastle United striker situation turns out by 7pm Monday… | OneFootball

Well, that was a bit of a damp squid for Newcastle United at Elland Road but hey, two clean sheets away from home and a dogged performance with 10 men to get back on level terms against the champions. Not bad really.

I’ve heard and read that Eddie Howe should not have gone into the game at Elland Road with such a negative approach, playing five at the back against a newly promoted side… he didn’t.

The Leeds match confirmed what we already know, Osula is not ready to be considered as a second striker who can play against competent opposition.

He might be ready for a home tie against Bradford City, but Eddie’s reluctance to play him before Gordon’s red card, was shown to be justified. Why that would be questioned is beyond me.

Osula has got a lot to learn and unfortunately, the ability to make those intelligent runs, to either get the defence on the back foot, or open up space for our midfield to exploit, just isn’t there with him. His effort can’t be questioned and as an impact sub where you are trying to break down a tired defence, he’s useful. As a starter and a striker who will hold the ball up and bring others into play, it just wasn’t there yesterday.

This, in turn, didn’t help the midfield who didn’t have much of an option available to them up top. Murphy, Bruno, Sandro ‘Ole Ole Ole’, were forced to look sideways and backwards. Calvert-Lewin showed his experience and ability to do this when he came on later in the game, apart from his 25 yard wayward effort still making it’s way down the country.

Elanga didn’t have much to go on when he did come on, where we usually see a passage of triangles opening space up and allowing for space in the 18 yard box. Lewis Hall fared better and I personally prefer him on the left, despite Tino’s superb form. Although, I do understand why Eddie Howe is starting Tripps, given his leadership and organisation on the field, along with the fact he has them on the training field day in and day out.

As for the five at the back, Tino and Tripps were playing high, supporting the midfield and tying to add more options in the final third when we were in possession, along with Schar pushing forward into a more of a sweeper role. Well, that’s the way I saw it on the pitch anyway. Arguably, this worked because we didn’t concede, we just never looked like scoring.

Gnonto was a nuisance for them (Dan James not so much), a constant pest when he was running at us and trying to get in behind, but we managed it well with the previously mentioned dropping back in to support when out of possession.

At the end of the day, a clean sheet and we can now go into the international break slightly disappointed but with our heads held high. We also go into this knowing that (international injuries permitting) we will head into the home game against Wolves with a new hungry striker, keen to make an impression. We will hopefully have a fully fit squad to choose from and a returning Anthony Gordon back in contention for the midweek game against Barcelona.

It’s a great reflection on the work that has been done at Newcastle United, that we now have so many jetting off for their international duties, but it would have been great to have Woltemade spending two weeks with the coaching team.

Other things to look forward to…

The closure of the bloody transfer window and an end to Alexander ‘the rat’ taking the pi.. out of us. If he stays though, I’d be very keen for him to be brought back into the fold because the quality cannot be questioned.

Imagine it, two fully fit and focused strikers in Isak and Woltemade heading into the challenges ahead.

On the other hand, and my Newcastle United striker preference, ‘the rat’ has brought us in around 140 million and we have Woltemade and Wissa or Strand Larsen to select from, maybe even all three.

Don’t be surprised if another striker completely leftfield appears at Newcastle Airport, which has been the case with almost all of our signings under Eddie Howe.

Either way, get these next two weeks of international football out of the way (what a joke only a few weeks into the season) and let’s get back to business.