FA Cup Over Champions League? Waddle Urges Newcastle and Spurs to Prioritize Silverware

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Newcastle footballer Chris Waddle has given his perspective on his former clubs start to the season, describing their recent defeat to Brighton as "sluggish" but had some strong praise for new signing Nick Woltemade describing him as an "unpredictable goal scorer" and assessed whether he can emulate the success of Alexander Isak.

Waddle has expressed he will be neutral when both his former clubs Marseille and Newcastle clash in the Champions League, but stressed the importance of Cup Competitions for his former clubs including Tottenham and suggests if that either club could turn their attentions to the FA Cup if they start poorly in Europe.

The former attacker has explained why Anthony Gordon has earned England's starting LW slot, but shuts down any rumours of a departure for Liverpool arguing "why would he want to leave!" before giving some interesting predictions for Newcastle's weekend fixture with Fulham.

Performance Review

Performance Review: Brighton vs Newcastle

Sluggish. Brighton are an unpredictable side, and on their day, they're as good as most teams, with a track record of getting top results against big teams.

It's tough for Newcastle, especially with Champions League commitments and international breaks. Having key players like Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, and Sandro Tonali travelling globally for international games, then returning to play away at Brighton on a Friday, it really takes its toll.

This is where squad depth becomes crucial. While talented young players like Lewis Miley they have bright futures in the Premier League, but you need your best players on the pitch. Your main players – Guimaraes, Joelinton, who has been vital since moving to midfield, and Tonali. That midfield needs to be spot on.

International breaks and the Champions League are currently hindering Newcastle. They have another Champions League fixture this week, making it very difficult to perform at the high level required in the Premier League.

Ultimately, it comes down to squad depth. While some might argue they have 20 players, in modern football, if you want to succeed in all competitions, including international duties, you need a squad of 25 to 30 top-tier players. This lack of depth is currently catching Newcastle out.

Nick Woltemade

Unpredictable Nick Woltemade

Nick Woltemade is a tall, unpredictable, and technically gifted player. He looks full of confidence and is clearly enjoying his time at Newcastle, taking most of the chances that come his way. He's settled in remarkably well, hitting the ground running, which doesn't happen for every player.

Some players adapt instantly to a new team and environment, and he's one of them. Since joining Newcastle, he can't seem to do anything wrong and will be a crucial player for them. He's difficult to play against due to his size, but also very good technically. If he stays fit, which is vital for Newcastle with their busy schedule, he's going to have a very successful season.

He needs service, specifically crosses. He's the type of player who will get a lot of goals from tapping in rebounds after the goalie drops the ball from shots. While he might score one or two from 25 yards, I don't think you'll see many of those. He's tall, a real handful in the box.

As I said, he's a goalhanger. If he gets service from players like Gordon on one wing and Anthony Elanga or Jacob Murphy on the other, he'll get plenty of chances. Tonali and others love to shoot, and if Nick Woltemade is consistently in that six-yard box, he'll get his goals. That's just the type of player he is.

Surpassing Isak?

Nick Woltemade and Alexander Isak are different players. I think Isak was very quick, very nimble, but again, had a lot of injuries. He's a different player. You could give Isak the ball 30 yards from goal, he could dribble past two guys and put it in the top corner. That's what he's about. He could just score his own goals. There's not many centre forwards like that.

Nick needs service crosses and balls in the box. I think technically he's alright, but I think he's more of a goal scorer than Isak. I know Isak probably said he scored goals, but a lot of his goals were really good goals, which he created himself and normally centre forwards rely on service.

So I think there's a difference between them, but I think because of the way Newcastle play, he will get his chances, and at the minute he's taken most of them. So if he keeps doing that, I can see him getting well into double figures. Even looking at the 20-goal mark, he should be looking at the way he gets the chances and the way he keeps taking them. So yeah, why not?

You can't really say he's similar to Isak. This lad Woltemade, for me, a goalscorer more than a player who's gonna pick the ball up and beat two guys from 30 yards out and put one in the top corner. I don't think he's that type of player. I think he's a box player. And if you keep putting the ball in there, he'll score goals.

Cup Competitions

Marseille vs Newcastle: I Have No Favourite!

I don't look at it like that anymore; those days have gone. I have a lot of affection for both clubs. I spent five years at Newcastle and three at Marseille. Newcastle, for many of those years, were struggling, trying to get out of the Championship.

But I got on well with the Newcastle fans, who were great to me, and I've always had a lot of respect for the Geordies.

Marseille was obviously a lot later in my career. To win the league three years running and win the fans over... when you go abroad, it's not easy to win the fans over and have a relationship. My relationship with Marseille, the club and fans is still there today. So I just hope it's a great game, and may the best team win.

Cup Priority For Newcastle And Spurs?

If you look at both teams, the best silverware to win is an FA Cup or a League Cup. I don't think they're going to win the Champions League or the Premier League. So, while a club might initially prioritise a Champions League quarter-final, the FA Cup offers a strong possibility for these two clubs to compete for.

By the time the FA Cup rolls around, they'll have a rough idea of their Champions League standing. If they're doing well, that's the priority, as that's where the money is. However, if they're not performing well in the Champions League or their chances of success are low, then the League Cup and FA Cup become very important.

Newcastle winning the League Cup last year was a great achievement, relieving the burden of not winning a trophy for many years. However, competing for the League Cup, Champions League, and Premier League simultaneously is very difficult.

At this moment, I don't think Tottenham and Newcastle really need or want this League Cup game. But by January, when the FA Cup comes around, I can see them thinking they might have to go for it.

Clubs are all chasing Champions League qualification because that's where the money is, unlike the FA Cup. While it's great for the fans – a day out at Wembley – it's difficult to explain that to club chairmen and owners when they're in the Champions League and stand to make a lot of money in the later stages.

Owners prioritise the financial side. As a manager, you want to improve the team and win everything, but owners often look at the money. Sometimes you're going against their wishes because they see the Champions League as so important. They might rest players for the League Cup, putting out a weakened team, even if the squad has depth. So, at this minute, it doesn't look like a classic game. I think these two clubs will be weighing their options and looking at the FA Cup if they're not doing well in the Champions League.

Anthony Gordon

Has Gordon Nailed England’s LW Spot?

He's got the shirt at the minute; he's done well and had a great start to the season. He's got to maintain it, which is difficult when you're a winger and you've scored a few goals. When your game is taking people on and creating chances, it's not easy. It's the hardest part of the game. People don't realise that. So if he has a bit of an off game, it's like, ‘Well, he wasn't very good today,’ because the hardest part is to create.

At the minute, he's got the shirt. I think it'll be between him and Marcus Rashford for that left spot unless somebody new comes along. Marcus Rashford is doing okay at Barcelona, but Anthony Gordon started really quickly at Newcastle this season. The silly sending off against Liverpool didn't help, but that probably gave him a bit of a breather, and he's come back again.

He didn't play great at the weekend because of the international break, travelling, playing, a different routine. Getting back to Newcastle, maybe Thursday night, Friday, then you're on a train or a plane or whatever to Brighton. It's not easy.

People think you should be at the top of your game every day, every week. As I say, it catches up with you. It's only going to get harder as the season goes on with more internationals, more Champions League, more games. These aren't easy games. You're not playing a fourth division or a lower league team where you can easily get through it. You're playing top teams - like tonight they play Benfica.

Benfica are a hard side to play against. We know how they set teams up; hard to play against. Their league isn't as demanding as the Premier League, I guarantee that. So Benfica will come there in good spirits, good fitness, good energy levels. Newcastle are going to have to work really, really hard to get a result. And then you go again at the weekend against Fulham. It's not easy because Fulham are a good side as well. It's like three games a week, and every game is a tough game.

That's what we were talking about before with the Tottenham game. Both clubs probably think, ‘We don't really need this game,’ but unfortunately, that's the way football runs. As the season goes on, it gets harder. Come the World Cup, it'll be interesting to see how many players are looking fit and sharp.

Gordon To Liverpool? “Why Would He Want To Leave”

I don't know how much money Liverpool have left; they've spent a lot. I think they were looking at Anthony Gordon because they were thinking about Luis Diaz moving to Bayern. Diaz is a really good player who played well for Liverpool, so they were probably lining up some money to replace him. They went for Florian Wirtz, and they have other players now. Gordon may still be on their radar, but maybe next season or the season after.

I think Anthony Gordon has a long-term deal at Newcastle, so if they do come for him, he won't be cheap. It will be a situation where a lot of money is involved. At the minute, Liverpool's problems are more than just a left-winger, so I can't see anything happening there. I think Anthony Gordon, one day – maybe two, three, or four years from now – will eventually want to move on and follow patterns set by other players.

Right now, he has the World Cup coming up, and he's not guaranteed to make it into the top teams, let's be honest. So he's at Newcastle at the moment, in the best position to think about going to the World Cup. He's enjoying his football at Newcastle, so why would he want to leave?

Prediction:  Newcastle vs Fulham

Prediction: Newcastle vs Fulham

Newcastle, fresh from playing Benfica, might be a bit leggy, but playing at home with the fans behind them could give them a lift. However, Fulham are a dangerous team. Although we expect Newcastle to win, it will be a close match. Fulham are a well-organised and strong side that consistently challenge teams. I think they will also likely be well clear of the relegation battle this season.

Fulham's players will have had a clear week to recover from international duty, unlike Newcastle, who have a Champions League match. Fulham will travel up on Friday, likely flying, and be ready for Saturday's game. If Newcastle is feeling the effects of their previous match, Fulham are the kind of team that can capitalise on that. While you would naturally pick Newcastle due to their home advantage, I believe it will be a very close contest. I'm predicting a 2-2 draw.

Scorer

I can see Nick Woltemade scoring twice. Fulham have a clear week to build up, days to travel up, get ready, and know what to expect. They'll have good energy levels, and that could count for a lot. A lot of people may think Fulham will win. I don't think Fulham will get beat, put it that way. I’ll go for 2-2.

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