Premier League news: Five takeaways from Newcastle Utd’s win over relegation-bound West Ham
William Osula scored twice as Newcastle United beat West Ham 3-1 at St James’ Park to leave the Hammers on the brink of relegation from the Premier League.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu discusses five key takeaways from the Magpies’ final home game of the season.
Osula makes case for starting spot
Osula has had a positive end to the season, and he continued to show it against West Ham.
He grabbed Newcastle’s second after cutting in off a one-two with Joe Willock and getting into a position to extend his side’s lead.
The forward continued to burst forward and take on anything that came his way, with Willock eventually providing a through ball for the 22-year-old to seal the victory.
During a season in which Eddie Howe has needed someone to step up and fill the role that Alexander Isak left empty back in the summer, Osula has taken his opportunities and made the most of them.
With five goals in eight league games, after two in his first 51, he’s a player that offers pace, unpredictability, and chaos whenever he’s on the pitch.
When the club hierarchy evaluate their options in the summer and decide who leaves, I’m not sure Osula appears on that list – instead, he’s a must-keep.
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Woltemade has potential but needs time
Nick Woltemade scored his first goal since December in the 3-1 victory over the Hammers.
Now, there is no denying that this has been a difficult first season for the German despite the positive spell he had when he first came in and scored five goals in six games.
What Woltemade needs is time, because if you can get the ball to him inside the box, he will deliver just like he did against West Ham from Harvey Barnes’ cross, which put Newcastle in front.
He was never going to be able to fill the role Isak left, and that isn’t on him – it’s more on this Newcastle side not figuring out how to play to his strengths.
The number 10 role he has been playing recently, pinging off Osula, was key to Newcastle’s victory on Sunday, and he has certainly managed to provide more impact in such a role.
With a good pre-season, maybe we can finally see Woltemade’s full potential next term.
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Newcastle’s best performance of the season
The Magpies saved their best attacking performance for their final home game of the season.
They were clinical, energetic, incisive, dominant, and direct.
Now, Newcastle did benefit from some West Ham errors, but still, there was joy in watching them move the ball swiftly and getting chances at Mads Hermansen – it looked like the 2022/23 version of the Mags.
Even if it was simply because they had nothing to play for, it was refreshing to see Newcastle pressing forward and putting pressure on their opposition, things they’ve been known for in the Howe era.
Relentless throughout, with Osula an obvious standout, the attackers were clinical: they took their chances when they came, built a 2-0 lead by half-time, and killed the game off with a third.
A final farewell to multiple players
Kieran Trippier played his final home game for the club on Sunday and Emil Krafth bid farewell at half-time, with both players’ contracts expiring at the end of this season.
They might not be the only departures for the Mags, though, as the likes of Willock, Dan Burn, Sandro Tonali, Jacob Murphy, Tino Livramento, and Anthony Gordon could follow them out the door.
That is a long list of players, but it could well be the case, with Newcastle rebuilding their squad this summer.
Plus, without European football to come next season, the club will have to prepare for some big departures.
Gordon, in particular, already seems to have one foot out the door given his increasing links to Bayern Munich.
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West Ham’s survival chances are slim
It was a must-win game for West Ham, and now they have to rely on Chelsea beating Tottenham Hotspur if they want it to go to the final day.
But the Hammers could be relegated if Roberto De Zerbi’s side manages a victory or a draw against the Blues on Tuesday.
After all, there was simply not enough fight shown by the London club at St James’ Park.
Self-inflicted mistakes hurt them the most, a Hammers goal kick leading to Barnes’ assist on Woltemade’s opening goal.
With their fate now lying in the hands of others, Nuno Espirito Santos’ side should start preparing for life in the Championship next season.
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