Walking in a Wolte Wonderland: Why Newcastle May Have Won the Isak Gamble

Walking in a Wolte Wonderland: Why Newcastle May Have Won the Isak Gamble

Oh look, here I am once again talking about Alexander Isak... this time it's a little different though.

Yes, yes I'm aware it is still early doors, but if you thought I was gonna miss the chance to write an article like this just because it's early in the season, you couldn't be more wrong.

It was the biggest story of the summer, Alexander Isak held hostage by Newcastle until he was finally allowed to pursue his dreams of being a Liverpool player where he would thrive, score goals and win trophies at a guarantee...

And Newcastle? Well, they were left with the 5th choice striker, right? A panic buy of a player for above their market value, a deal which deserved to be laughed at and ridiculed for how bad it was, cementing their status as a small feeder club.

Fast forward a couple of months and, well, I don't know if anybody thought the switch of narrative would come so soon, or at all for that matter, but even at this early stage - opinions may have begun to change about the outcome of the Isak saga.

Big Nick Energy

Is this purely an excuse to talk fondly of big Nick, whilst also lightly slandering Alexander Isak... no comment.

But no, seriously (as Frank Lampard would say), Nick Woltemade has been excellent for Newcastle United so far.

Not only is it the impressive nature of coming to an entirely new league, with a completely different playstyle, and banging in goals from the word go - but it is the fact he is doing it in a Newcastle side which hasn't found its attacking potency yet this season.

Now I'll give Isak a bit of praise because there's no doubt adapting to life without him is taking Newcastle time, and playing with Woltemade up front is a massively different prospect.

Isak is more dynamic; he runs in behind. Woltemade looks like my 1.0-litre Vauxhall Corsa trying to make it up a hill when he puts a burst on.

But the ability to play into the big German's feet and know it will stick – in fact, not only will it stick, but an attack will likely be created because of it – is a new dimension Eddie Howe's men didn't have last year.

Hey, I'd even go as far as to say he's the most technically sharp 6 ft 6 in man I have ever seen play football; it is quite a sight watching him weave and manipulate the ball, like a diminutive number 10 on stilts.

If you want a snapshot of what Newcastle will look like when fully immersed in the Nick Woltemade way of life, just watch the goal against Barcelona.

A first Champions League goal for @anthonygordon 💫 pic.twitter.com/4fLDG0fMMy

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) September 19, 2025

As a man who was in the stadium for it, the one-touch football, the movement, the precision of pattern which Newcastle showed – it brought a tear to the eye... okay, not literally, I'm not that sad.

And yes, you could look at the results in the Premier League and come to the conclusion that anything I say about my club coming out as winners of the saga is farcical, and I wouldn't hold that against you if you did.

But look under the very surface level, and once Newcastle United get everything figured out, they could be soaring high - almost like the magpies which inform their nickname... I'm sorry.

Aaaaand, before I move onto the part I'm looking forward to about Isak, there's another man we haven't yet talked about.

It is, and you should agree, impossible to directly compare Nick Woltemade and Alex Isak. They are very different in profile; anyone with even partially working eyes can see that.

But what is possible is comparing both Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa to Isak and Callum Wilson.

There is an argument to say, and it's not the easiest one to make right now considering Wissa hasn't yet made it out of the treatment room, that Newcastle's current two strikers offer more dimensions than they had with Isak and Wilson.

Wissa offers a lot of the Isak qualities. Running in behind, drifting wide, dropping into pockets, are all staples of his game.

Good old Peter Crouch next to Jermaine Defoe great partnership pic.twitter.com/ZEZeNxtIvm

— David winter (@David_Winter123) August 23, 2025

So add that to the towering, technical, goal-scoring beauty of a man that is Nick Woltemade, and Newcastle United could be cooking with a Crouch and Defoe-style strike duo.

Next up is the fun bit... not that talking about Woltemade wasn't fun, but you'll see what I mean.

£125m?! How Do You Like Them Apples?

Is it only a matter of time before he starts banging in goals? Very possibly, yes.

Is that going to stop me from making the most of the current situation and getting my digs in now? Absolutely not.

Now look, he clearly isn't fully fit after sitting at home all summer on paid AWOL (yes, I have just invented that term), and that match sharpness and goal-scoring prowess that allowed him to be such a threat for Newcastle has clearly faded over the summer.

But could the issue be more deeply rooted than that? Could Isak actually just not be a good fit for Liverpool?

Well, if that is the case, it would be a sentiment I have been vocal about since his move, and I'll tell you why.

At Newcastle, the Swede was the main man. Every chance Newcastle factored was geared around leaving a big juicy IKEA meatball on his plate for him to finish off, and it must be said he did an exceptional job of doing just that.

This Woltermade is already making Newcastle fans forget about Isak😭

pic.twitter.com/CMQEck7IpT

— Nuri(fan) (@NuriUtd2) October 2, 2025

At Liverpool that likely won't be the case.

Firstly there is much more competition for places than when pitted against Callum Wilson, who's hamstrings were non-existent last season.

Hugo Ekitike, ironically one of Newcastle's other targets, has been top drawer so far with five goals and an assist in his nine games this season.

This has, and will, give Slot a decision to make, and if Isak is not performing to the levels needed to match Ekitike's output, there is a high chance he ends up with limited minutes.

Ekitike’s goal on his Merseyside derby debut. pic.twitter.com/2VVURpKjDF

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 22, 2025

Secondly, no offence to my beloved Newcastle United, but there are more very high-quality attacking options for the chances to be shared around.

Do you think Mo Salah or Florian Wirtz will be happy playing as a comprehensive servant to Isak and not getting any share of the goals themselves? I don't think so.

This will likely have to see Isak adapt and shift the focus of his game to a more all-encompassing, less selfish version of his previous self if he is to succeed.

So far, Isak has struggled - big time. He scored against Southampton in the cup granted, but that was essentially a pity goal given by McCarthy if we are honest...

But the other games he has played, including the recent 1-0 defeat away at Galatasaray in the Champions League, haven't looked particularly promising.

Again, I'm not going to sit here and pretend that he is never going to come good, despite what my fingers may be crossed for, but it is undeniably going to take more work for him to fit into the puzzle than many first thought.

Jacob Murphy

To finish, thought I'd add in a very short subheading about Jacob Murphy.

Woltemade has him, Isak doesn't... not sure much more needs to be said really.

Liverpool spent £125m on a new iphone, but left the charger in the box. Murphy assisted just under double figures of Isak's 23 Premier League goals last season... I'd like to see Mo Salah do that.

EXCLUSIVE🚨: Understand Liverpool striker Alexander Isak has questioned why Mohammed Salah can’t be more like Jacob Murphy.

Without Jacob Murphy the £150m striker has failed to score a Premier League or Champions League goal in the opening 2 months of the season. pic.twitter.com/T3OtaGD2kA

— Francis (@FrancisChipp) October 1, 2025

And Murphy clearly didn't dwell on the loss of his footballing partner for too long, as he has already moved onto his new love, assisting Woltemade with a delicious cross in the 1-0 win over Wolves.

Maybe Liverpool should have invested in Jacob Murphy to replace Mo Salah as well... who knows.