Opta supercomputer ranks Newcastle's Champions League chancespublished at 16:01 BST 15 September
16:01 BST 15 September
Image source, Getty Images
Opta's supercomputer has ranked Newcastle as the 10th-most likely team to win this season's Champions League.
The model estimates the probability of each match outcome (win, draw or loss) by using betting market odds and Opta power rankings. Both these areas are based on historical and recent team performances and the computer runs 10,000 simulations to create its predictions.
Image source, Opta
Eddie Howe's side win the trophy in 3% of simulations on their return to the competition.
Their chances are ranked the same as Inter Milan's who have reached the final in two of the past three seasons.
Opta give the Magpies a 32.7% chance of reaching the quarter-finals and 15.9% chance of making the semi-finals.
They reach the final in 6.8% of simulations.
Newcastle will aim to improve on their most recent showing in 2023-24 when they exited in the group stage.
Newcastle 1-0 Wolves - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:45 BST 15 September
08:45 BST 15 September
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Wolves.
Here are some of your comments:
Newcastle fans
George: After the first five minutes we dominated the game. Nick kept us in it and the midfield worked like Trojans. Tonali was relentless in his pursuit of the ball. Bring on Barca.
Cameron: Not much changed from our recent performances against Aston Villa and Liverpool - we just have a striker on the pitch who can finish instead of being sitting at home.
Andrew: Disjointed at times - Livramento superb and midfield team strong as ever. New striker looked lost despite scoring. Missed Gordon's pace.
Blue: A decent game made pretty tricky by Wolves. Tonali had yet another maestro performance and unlucky with his effort on goal. Woltemade impressed with his game and a debut goal to boot. Welcome to the Toon, Bonny Lad!
Wolves fans
Mike: Very poor performance. No cohesion between defence and attack. Too much defensive passing and, once again, sloppy passing. What would Wolves give for an attacking midfielder who is able to run at defences? The referee seemed to have a strange interpretation of tackling but some of the passes were asking for trouble. Unless things change, relegation is more probable than possible. Team weaker than last season.
Paul: A better performance, but the table doesn't lie. Selling your best players early and buying late in the window is a poor strategy. Vitor Pereira needs time to bed the new players up to speed.
Derk: Played well but, once again, can't score and can't defend. It's going to be a long season.
Tommy: Not sure how long VP can last. This is not totally on him but Jeff Shi has already hung him out to dry. Shi will sink us with his double talk. No decent players want to come to us - players have joined other clubs for less money. We are a mess top to bottom - no leaders, no British players and no clear gameplan.
'Not your typical target man'published at 15:41 BST 14 September
15:41 BST 14 September
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter at St James' Park
Media caption,
Is Woltemade the man to replace Isak at Newcastle?
Bullet headers were not necessarily how Nick Woltemade made his name.
He may be 6ft 6in tall, but the German is not your typical target man.
"He's an unusual player," Eddie Howe said. "He's very distinctive. I think the more you watch him, the more you realise how different he is to the stereotypical size that he brings.
"[He's] very creative. We saw flashes of that today, little touches and passes that can really make a difference and open up a stubborn defensive line."
Digging deeper, this was an afternoon when Woltemade completed 89% of his passes.
One clever dink sent Harvey Barnes in down the left but the forward was flagged offside before Murphy put the ball in the net.
Match of the Day pundit Shay Given, who made 462 appearances for the club, was among those watching on, saying he was "interested to see the positions he takes up".
"There was a lot of talk before the game that he's more a number 10 than a nine," he said. "But I'm sure Eddie Howe and his staff will be saying 'Yeah, he's a good link-up player but with his size, you have to get the ball to him in the box."
Interestingly, none of Newcastle's starters had fewer touches than Woltemade (20), but he made his presence count where it mattered most.
Woltemade had five touches inside Wolves' box. One of them ended up winning the game for Newcastle.
Analysis: Woltemade up and runningpublished at 18:16 BST 13 September
18:16 BST 13 September
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
A goalscorer. That's what Newcastle had sorely lacked.
With Alexander Isak on strike, and no senior recognised forward available, Eddie Howe's side failed to score in two of their opening three games of the campaign, picking up just a couple of points in the process.
Enter Woltemade.
Newcastle would have ideally liked to ease Woltemade in, as the German had never played outside of his homeland before.
The club even brought in a proven Premier League forward in Yoane Wissa on deadline day to help share the burden following Isak's British record move to Liverpool.
But Wissa suffered a knee injury on international duty with DR Congo, so head coach Howe had little option but to throw Woltemade in from the off against Wolves – just a few days after he trained with his new team-mates for the first time.
He quickly made an impact.
Woltemade is not a traditional target man – the 6ft 6in is a technician capable of wriggling out of tight spaces and linking play – but the debutant opened his account with a classic number nine's goal.
Jacob Murphy, who laid on so many goals for Isak last season, delivered a ball into the box, and the new arrival provided the scoring header.
It was the cue for the home support to break out into a chant of: "Woltemade, Woltemade, ole, ole, ole."
And they were later on their feet to give him a standing ovation after he was replaced by William Osula midway through the second half.
Forwards are revered in these parts and it looks as if Woltemade has already been embraced by Newcastle fans.
Newcastle 1-0 Wolves: What Howe saidpublished at 17:40 BST 13 September
17:40 BST 13 September
Media caption,
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe spoke to BBC Sport after their victory over Wolves: "I thought we played pretty well after the first five minutes. The fact we haven't won a game puts more pressure on you in the latter stages.
"The win was all that mattered but we'd love to win in a better style and score more goals. We're defending well as a team.
"It was great to see Nick [Woltemade] score on his debut. Very strong, I was very pleased with him. Tactically he understood what we wanted. It was a shift for him, he had cramp at the end. He took his goal brilliantly.
"I didn't see much wrong with the team performance at all. I was really pleased with the commitment of the players."
On whether Woltemade and Yoane Wissa can play together: "It's something we can do and we'll look at. I don't know if we want to change the tactical framework too much but I'll never rule anything out."
Did you know?
Since the start of the 2024-25 season, only Mohamed Salah (19) has more open play assists in the Premier League than Newcastle's Jacob Murphy (12).
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Wolves", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Newcastle v Wolvespublished at 11:03 BST 13 September
11:03 BST 13 September
Both of these teams are still without a win so far, although Wolves are the only Premier League club without a point on the board.
Newcastle have drawn twice and only lost very late on against Liverpool, so their form is hardly cause for concern.
They can move on now the Alexander Isak transfer saga is over, although this could be our first look at some of their new attack.
Yoane Wissa is unavailable so we will have to wait and see how fit and ready Nick Woltemade is, but I still think Newcastle will have too much for a Wolves team who are leaking too many goals.
At least Wolves do carry a threat going forward - though they will be missing Jorgen Strand Larsen, who Newcastle tried to sign last month.
Newcastle v Wolves: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:23 BST 12 September
19:23 BST 12 September
Tom McCoy BBC Sport journalist
Newcastle's club record signing Nick Woltemade is set to make his debut against a Wolves side still awaiting their first point. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes before Saturday's match.
Newcastle spent approximately £240m this summer, the fourth highest total in the top flight. Their net spend was a more modest £90m, thanks largely to the acrimonious departure of Alexander Isak for a British record £125m, but there are still plenty of reasons for optimism on Tyneside.
Club record signing Nick Woltemade could make his bow at the weekend, as might fellow new arrival Yoane Wissa, while Barcelona will visit St James' Park on Thursday in an eagerly anticipated Champions League game.
Woltemade has started four times already for club and country this season but Magpies boss Eddie Howe may be tempted to ease the 22-year-old into action as he adjusts to a new league and the pressure from his £65m price tag.
It is only 14 months since the striker joined Stuttgart from Werder Bremen on a free but he has enjoyed a rapid rise since, netting 17 league and cup goals during a breakout season, winning the German Cup and finishing as top scorer at this summer's European Under-21 Championship.
The 6ft 6in player is an aerial threat but by no means fits the profile of a classic target man. Instead he is a technically strong footballer who looks to link play and run with the ball, finishing sixth among Bundesliga strikers for dribbles attempted last season.
Last term, he also ranked fourth in the top European leagues for most touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes, and the company he keeps in that metric is telling. The other leading players are either wingers or attacking midfielders - like Jamal Musiala and Bukayo Saka - or forwards, such as Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe, who look to get on the ball and make things happen rather than simply lurking as penalty-box predators.
Why Newcastle wanted Strand Larsen
Wolves are the Premier League's only pointless side, and will also be without key centre-forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, who sat out their defeat by Everton with an Achilles issue amid interest from Newcastle.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira said on Friday that Strand Larsen's "[recent] injury was a bit more serious" and he is "not in a condition for the game".
The Molineux club rejected £50m and £55m bids from the Magpies and will now offer the Norwegian an improved contract to reflect his importance to the club, following 14 Premier League goals in his debut campaign.
His contribution was at times overshadowed by eye-catching displays from the now-departed Matheus Cunha, who netted 15 times, including five strikes from outside the penalty area. But when Cunha missed four games through suspension in March and April it was Strand Larsen who stepped up, scoring in crucial wins over Southampton,West Ham and Ipswich to effectively guarantee safety for Wolves.
Where Strand Larsen has excelled is by making the most of his chances. His shot conversion figure last term - the percentage of efforts resulting in a goal – was 25.9%, which was the second highest recorded by any player with at least 20 attempts. He also directed 69.4% of his shots on target, the leading percentage among forwards who start regularly, and overperformed his expected goals total by 3.74.
'Woltemade may have to be thrown straight in'published at 16:30 BST 12 September
16:30 BST 12 September
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It is not often a manager is asked a number of questions about another club's record signing.
But this was the first time Eddie Howe faced the press since Alexander Isak left Newcastle United and completed his £125m move to Liverpool.
Howe, like Isak, did not necessarily go into excessive detail about the manner of the centre-forward's departure.
But the Newcastle head coach tellingly used the word "strike" for the first time on Friday after Isak trained away from the rest of his former team-mates and did not feature in any of Newcastle's opening three games of the campaign.
And rather than referring to Liverpool by name, Howe called the champions "the other club".
You suspect Howe will just be glad to speak about players currently on Newcastle's books moving forward.
Although Isak is one of the best strikers in the world, it feels like Newcastle's season really starts now following a resolution to the saga.
Newcastle will at least have some firepower for the visit of Wolves to St James' Park on Saturday after the black-and-whites scored just two goals in games against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Leeds United.
New signing Yoane Wissa will miss the match with a knee injury, but record arrival Nick Woltemade looks primed to make his debut.
The German will clearly need time to adapt after never playing in the Premier League before.
But he may have to be thrown straight in - just as Isak was after joining Newcastle in 2022.
🎧 Listen to Newcastle United Dailypublished at 16:23 BST 12 September
16:23 BST 12 September
All today's news and views on the Toon in two minutes.
This update has been created and reviewed by our journalists, using AI to help summarise the most up-to-date Newcastle United news. It's read aloud by an AI voice.
Howe on Ramsey's injury, Wissa and Woltemadepublished at 10:33 BST 12 September
10:33 BST 12 September
Josh Lobley BBC Sport Journalist
Media caption,
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Wolves at St James' Park (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Howe confirmed summer signing Yoane Wissa will not be available for selection this weekend: "I saw him for the first time yesterday [Thursday] and he is feeling the effects of injuries sustained just before he came off. We will have to see how he is. I don't know [if it will be a long term injury]. "
Elsewhere in the squad, Jacob Ramsey is the only other injury concern for Howe: "Unfortunately I think he will be missing until the next international break."
It is the first time Howe has spoken to the media since the signing of Wissa and he offered: "He is an established Premier League goalscorer which is very difficult to recruit. He has very good qualities and has had an outstanding few years in the league. He has been a difficult player for us to handle when we have come against him and I really admire the journey he has been on here."
When asked if fellow summer signing Nick Woltemade will play on Saturday: "There isn't a set formula for bedding in new players, it all depends on their needs, fitness and form. I have no hesitation playing any of the new players currently."
On the prospect of Woltemade and Wissa playing together: "It depends on the team's needs and whether it is the right thing tactically. I would never rule out the possibility of playing two centre-forwards together and they have the qualities to play together - but we have a way of playing and I wouldn't want to deviate too far from that."
He spoke about the club's position with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) following the sale of Alexander Isak: "It has been well documented that we have sold players when we didn't want to. We hope to be in a position where we don't have to make those type of decisions again."
With some transfer windows still open, he was asked if there could be any more outgoings in the coming weeks: "I don't know what is going to happen, but I imagine time is running out with some transfer windows. I hope to keep the squad together now."
Newcastle's shift in transfer policypublished at 08:20 BST 12 September
08:20 BST 12 September
Ciaran Kelly Football reporter
Newcastle certainly did their homework on Yoane Wissa.
Head coach Eddie Howe targeted players who were "desperate" to join the club, particularly after strikers Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro opted to move elsewhere, and the DR Congo international fitted the bill.
Newcastle, tellingly, returned to the table with a third and final bid on deadline day rather than moving on to an alternative.
It signified a rare shift in transfer policy. In fact, Newcastle had not signed an outfield player over the age of 25 since Howe's first summer in charge in 2022.
Yet the 29-year-old appears to be a relative late bloomer rather than someone entering the twilight of his career.
Wissa's year-on-year development has been such he went on to score more non-penalty goals (19) than any other player in the Premier League last season.
His record in front of goal, his ability to plug in and his work off the ball made him an attractive proposition for Newcastle, who only had one player hit double figures last season.
That man was Alexander Isak.
It will now fall to Wissa, the club's number nine, and record signing Nick Woltemade to help fill the void left by the Swede.
French defender Julien Laporte suggested there is more to come from his former Lorient team-mate.
"I'm proud to have played with someone like Yoane because he's had a great career. In my opinion, it's not finished," he said.
NUST 'welcome' club's ticket actionpublished at 17:52 BST 11 September
17:52 BST 11 September
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The Newcastle United Supporters' Trust (NUST) have welcomed the club taking "visible action to deter and penalise those who may be profiteering from other fans".
It follows Newcastle cancelling tickets purchased by a school nearly 200 miles away for the Champions League home game against Barcelona.
Forty-five tickets for the match at St James' Park on 18 September were bought by the High School of Dundee - days after 110,000 fans had been in an online queue for the remaining seats.
A spokesman for the school confirmed that they were "informed by the approved provider that the tickets have been cancelled" after purchasing them in good faith.
But it is understood that the tickets came from unauthorised reselling by fans who have now had their season tickets cancelled.
Newcastle do not have an authorised reseller and the only way to sell season tickets is through the club's official platform at face value.
The NUST "welcomed" the club "taking visible action to deter and penalise those who may be profiteering from other fans or, in this baffling case, a number of school pupils from Dundee".
NUST added: "Along with the rise in ticket prices, according to our annual survey, one of the biggest concerns for Newcastle fans is reduced ticket availability due not only to high demand but the selling of tickets through third party sites or other unauthorised means.
"The situation this week has highlighted those frustrations once again. Ticketing can be a divisive subject but we feel united in the stance that tickets belong in the hands of genuine Newcastle United supporters and thank the club for their approach to those who misuse the system. We will continue to request transparency across all ticketing procedures."
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Opta
