‘We’re Going To Be A Different Team’

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 21: Nick Woltemade of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Newcastle United at Vitality Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Offside via Getty Images

During Eddie Howe’s reign as head coach, Newcastle United has gone from being one of the Premier League’s most defensively resolute teams to one of its most free-scoring and back again.

Sunday’s goalless draw at Bournemouth was the third away from home in a row for Newcastle, and the latest example of the issue which has undercut the entire season so far. The fact Howe’s team has looked so ineffectual in attack after a summer of unhelpful speculation and the eventual departure of his star striker is cruel poetic justice.

Although club-record signing Nick Woltemade made an impressive start to his career at St James’ Park with a debut goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers last week, teething issues after losing Alexander Isak were natural, especially with the untimely injury to the other summer signing, Yoane Wissa. Two shots on target in the entire game at the Vitality Stadium told the story; Newcastle looks unsure of itself in attack without the man it relied so heavily upon for three years.

Many of the calculations done with regards replacing Isak simply involved his goals; while an important factor, his dribbling, movement and combination with team-mates were just as important in allowing the entire team to express itself high up the pitch.

Woltemade will fill the void up to a point, and Wissa’s impact – he was expected to be the more immediate goal threat having already acclimatized to the Premier League – is the big unknown. But Howe spoke after the match about Newcastle’s lack of goals this season and admitted the transition from Isak is proving difficult.

“It’s three 0-0s away from home for us, which is really uncommon with our attacking style,” Howe said.

“I think just naturally we’re going to be a different team attacking-wise this year without Alex.”

Howe credited Woltemade for his display but says the team needs to adapt to the new striker and quickly.

“I thought Nick played really well today,” Howe said. “I thought he was very effective with his footwork and his link play.

“But we just need to know and get used to him and his style more and get more runners off him because he’s very good in that respect.

“I’m hopeful we’re evolving to a different team, hopefully a better team, but it may take a bit of time.”

Evolution has been the way Howe has approached his entire reign at Newcastle. His first full season on Tyneside – 2022-23 – had a very similar start to this one, with not many defeats and plenty of draws. Goals were lacking and both Callum Wilson and Isak, who signed that summer, struggled with injuries.

But defensively, the team was incredibly solid; with just 33 goals conceded, the joint best in the league, and five defeats, Newcastle’s ability to be resolute at the back and intense in pressing high up laid the foundations for its first Champions League qualification in 20 years.

Although the next season became known more for Newcastle’s inability to qualify for European competitions and a generational injury crisis, performances on the pitch almost flipped. Howe’s team conceded 30 more goals in the league, but were the fourth highest scorers with 85, an impressive feat considering it finished seventh. Injuries aside, the team’s loss of its intense, pressing identity – the sheer number of games, impacted training schedule and number of key players missing made it untenable – was a huge factor.

Why are Newcastle United struggling in attack?

Last season, an impressive run of form between December and March, during which Isak failed to score in just three games, provided the bedrock for Champions League qualification again and the first domestic trophy win for 70 years. But Howe had successfully balanced his team’s ability to press teams and a desire to dominate possession; the team was a hybrid, adaptable to the job in hand, and Isak was the complete forward who helped it work.

So, without him, it will take time to recover. Woltemade is a striker that has a specific skillset, not the full array that Isak possesses; instead of leading the press and playing on the shoulder, he will drop deep and become part of the build up. Newcastle will be slower in attack as a result, often more methodical. As Howe himself said, different.

It is not the first time Newcastle United have been forced into a tactical rebrand and it will not be the last. All three Premier League away day draws have left a bitter taste of frustration because the team is consistently playing well; but at its best with Isak it was fluid and natural in attack. That cannot simply be replaced overnight; Newcastle is hard to beat again, but at the moment, it is also hard to win.