How Good Are Our Forwards?

After the romance and tragedy of Scott's piece on Hughie Gallacher this morning, Chris offers a more analytical take on our current forwards

Before we get to our forwards, below is an analysis of other Premier League centre forwards using typical roles you see in modern Premier League tactical systems. A number of players fit multiple buckets so I’m placing them where their primary value tends to show up.

1) Box-Dominator / Finisher - Primary value: converts at high rates; occupies both centre-backs; relentless box presence.

• Haaland – the reference point for this profile: ruthless box movement, first-time finishing, physical dominance, repeatable chance conversion.

• Thiago – “big 9” who thrives on central deliveries, second balls and penalty-box volume; a natural fit in direct-to-forward, cross-heavy patterns.

• Mateta – classic central striker: pins defenders, attacks crosses, and gives a focal point when the team needs territory and box occupation.

• Calvert-Lewin – similar “box and aerial” striker type, with emphasis on penalty-area presence and finishing off wide service.

What they need around them: consistent chance creation (cut-backs, crosses, half-space deliveries), runners to collect second balls, and midfielders willing to play early into the box.

2) All-Phase Forward - Primary value: scores, links, presses, runs channels; can be the “system striker” that makes the team function.

• Watkins – high work rate, repeated runs in behind, strong finishing, and useful combination play; a forward who can both threaten depth and contribute to build-up.

• Isak (Don't vomit!) – modern striker profile: athletic, technically clean, able to receive and combine as well as threaten space behind.

What they need around them: interchange around the box (10s/wingers arriving), support runners, and a structure that lets them alternate between “pinning” and “dropping” without leaving the team toothless.

3) Pressing Forward - Primary value: leads the press, attacks space aggressively, forces defensive errors, creates instability.

• Abraham – archetypal “vertical” striker: constant running, presses hard, stretches the back line, and benefits from fast support in the half-spaces.

• Ekitiké – fits the modern mobile-9 lane: able to threaten depth and combine, often used to keep defensive lines honest and create room for wide forwards.

What they need around them: a coordinated press (so they’re not isolated), quick ball progression behind the first line, and wide players who attack the box when the striker vacates it with runs.

4) Link-Forward - Primary value: facilitates attacks—drops between lines, combines, creates for wide runners—while still being a central scoring threat.

• João Pedro – profile suited to hybrid usage: link play, combining, and arriving to finish as a second-wave threat. (Some “complete 9s” above—particularly Isak—can also be deployed this way depending on the match plan.)

What they need around them: runners beyond them (inside forwards/8s), plus a midfield capable of finding feet between the lines (not just hitting crosses).

5) Target Man - Primary value: makes the team playable under pressure—wins first contact, holds up, brings others in, and contributes heavily on set pieces.

• Mateta and Thiago both strongly qualify here, in addition to their “box-dominator” value. Calvert-Lewin similarly aligns with this “outlet + aerial” framing.

What they need around them: structured support (second-ball hunting), fullbacks/wingers who deliver early, and midfielders positioned to collect lay-offs.

What this says about the EPL right now

The league still rewards the pure penalty-box monster (e.g. Haaland), but many clubs increasingly prefer strikers who can press and run channels or connect play because it stabilises performance across different game states such as low blocks and or transitions.

A growing number of centre forwards are hybrids (9/10 or 9/wing), because most top sides want fluid front threes rather than a fixed target.

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Now let’s look at what Newcastle have.

1) Nick Woltemade - Skill type: Target man (hold-up + box threat + connective play)

What he is:

• 6'6” forward who functions as a high outlet: you can play into him early, relieve pressure, and build from his set/lay-off game

• Best suited to teams that want a reference point to pin centre-backs while wingers/8s run beyond.

What he's good at

• Hold-up under contact: receiving with back to goal, securing first touch, laying off to runners.

• Box occupation: near-post/central presence on corners, attacking crosses and cut-backs.

• Aerial utility: both attacking and defensive set pieces (he should give us “free” value at dead balls).

Typical limitations / risks

• Can be less effective in a game model that demands constant high-speed channel running (lots of repeated 30–40m sprints).

• Requires coordinated support: if he’s isolated, he becomes a hit and hope outlet rather than an attack catalyst.

Best supporting cast

• Two aggressive wide runners (inside forwards) + an 8/10 who consistently plays into feet and attacks second balls.

2) Yoane Wissa — Pressing Forward / Transition Striker (pace + work rate + depth runs)

What he is (supposedly)

• A forward with pace, power and work rate, and for making teams dangerous in transition.

• Can play as a central 9 or drift wide, but his core value is verticality—stretching the line and exploiting space.

What he's good at

• Running in behind: punishes high lines; gives immediate depth.

• Press-leading: closes centre-backs, forces rushed passes, creates turnover chances.

• Chaos factor in the box: thrives on second phases and unstructured moments.

Typical limitations / risks

• Against deep blocks, needs a second creator nearby otherwise he can become run-dependent rather than chance-creator.

• If the team press is disjointed, his pressing becomes expensive running.

Best supporting cast

• A ball-playing 10/wingers who can slip passes early + a compact press structure to turn his running into turnovers.

3) Anthony Gordon — Wide Forward / Inside Runner/ False-ish / Transition 9 depending on specific match plans

What he is

• Primarily a winger, but can deploy him centrally to weaponise his pace, pressing and direct running—especially when the plan is to attack space rather than play through a set defence.

What he's good at (but not as often as he should be.........)

• Transition threat from wide or central: aggressive carries, quick attacks into the box.

• Pressing intensity: sets the tone and triggers team pressing actions.

• Third-man runs: when used as a pseudo-9, he can vacate the line, pull a centre-back out, and open lanes for inside forwards.

Why he’s different from a centre-forward

• He doesn’t naturally provide the same back-to-goal reference as Woltemade, nor the same “stay between the posts” box profile.

• If used as a 9, the team typically needs other goal threats arriving into the box (winger on the far side, advanced 8, etc.).

Best supporting cast

• A high-volume chance-creation winger/fullback on one side, plus a midfield runner who consistently attacks the box when Gordon vacates central areas.

4) Will Osula — Pressing Runner / Power 9 - with some target-9 traits (size/athleticism) rather than pure back-to-goal craft.

What he is

• A young, athletic centre-forward who fits best in a game model that values pressing, running channels, and attacking space.

• Physically he’s in the “modern 9” frame (tall/strong) and is often described as having mobility + power, which is why he’s frequently discussed as a developmental alternative/understudy rather than a finished product.

What he's good at

• Press and counterpress: he can close ground quickly and trigger pressure in defensive transition—useful for a side that wants to win it back high and go again.

• Running in behind / channels: he offers vertical threat and can stretch the line—especially valuable when the team wants to play earlier into space.

• Aerial/set-piece utility (potential): his frame makes him a plausible contributor attacking corners and defending set pieces, even if that’s not yet his calling card.

What he’s not (yet)

• Not currently a “hybrid 9/10” link-forward in the mould of a connector who drops, dictates, and plays disguised final passes. He can improve, but his obvious value is still energy + depth + pressure rather than orchestration.

Typical limitations / risks

• Low-block problem: when opponents sit deep and the box is crowded, pressing/running tools matter less; he then needs either (a) refined hold-up and combination play or (b) elite service volume. That’s a common development curve for young “vertical 9s”.

• Consistency of end product: his senior goal record has been patchy in parts of his early career, which is normal for a striker still transitioning to top-level minutes.

Best supporting cast (how to get the most out of him)

• Two direct wide runners + quick progression from midfield so his channel runs get found early.

• A press structure where the 10/wingers lock on behind him—otherwise he becomes “expensive running” rather than a turnover generator

Quick comparison

• Woltemade: “Target reference / connector” — the ball sticks, you play off him.

• Wissa: “Pressing runner / transition 9” — depth and chaos, vertical threat.

• Osula: Closest stylistic neighbour is Wissa, but at a less finished level and with a bit more “power 9” framing due to size.

• Gordon: Wide forward — can be used centrally for pressing/transitions, but not a natural back-to-goal 9.

When you look at this, you can see why Isak and Gordon worked well. You can see why Will Osula was bought with an eye on the future. You can see how crucial a number 10 is to creating and scoring goals, which helps explain why we don't win as often without Bruno. You can see why His Eddieness has deployed Woltemade deeper, and brought Gordon into the centre with Barnes, Murphy or Elanga to occupy the wide areas. And you can also see, that if we can (please!) get a Box-Dominator / Finisher, Gordon might just be the most replaceable player in the squad and a prime candidate to unlock funds for acquisitions.

Chris Waite