Will Newcastle United finally break their striker curse with Alexander Isak?
Posted on August 30th, 2022 | One Comment |
Of course, Joelinton has since proved himself to be a tidy box to box midfielder and even won ‘Player of the Season’ this year, but when he first arrived, the club paid a then record £40 million for someone who allegedly had the potential to be a “beast” of a Number Nine, and was imediately given that number on arrival. Bearing this record in mind, it was, perhaps, a very brave move to spend £60 million, more than proven Premier League forwards Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison, Sadio Mané and even Erling Haaland on Alexander Isak, another player who may have considerable potential, but is by no means a proven striker yet and has never played in the Premier League. Admittedly, it is also true that Haaland is playing in the Premier League for the first time, but he scored three times as many goals as Isak last season in fewer games.
Whilst Isak had a very good 2020-21 season, scoring 17 goals in 44 appearences for Real Sociedad with 2 assists and a scoring rate of a goal every 175 minutes according to Transfermarkt, last season wasn’t so great for the Eritrean Swede. In 2021-22 he only scored 10 goals in 41 appearences, with a further two assists and a scoring rate of a goal every 276 minutes.
Despite all the great progress in other areas with signings such as Trippier, Botman, Guimarães and the rest, Newcastle United’s striker problem persists, hence it might have been safer to bring in a more proven player, but here’s hoping that the instincts of Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe are correct, and Isak fulfils his potential on Tyneside and scores many, many goals!
NUFCBlog Author: workyticket
workyticket has written 1093 articles on this blog.
Are you out there Chuck?