Nick Woltemade looks like a teenager after an extreme growth spurt, with legs like stilts that need to be sorted out. But if Bundesliga defenders are still deceived by these appearances, this misjudgment will blow up in their faces faster than they can say “Joker goal”. Because with the Stuttgart striker, almost nothing is as it initially seems.
Even though Otto Rehhagel once said that a man “cannot learn” at 1.90 meters, Woltemade does not embody any of the attributes that a man associates with a man of his height. Despite being almost two meters long, ex-coach Ole Werner told the 'Deichstube' around two years ago: “The header game is certainly something that is not one of his strengths.”
The fact that he scored his second Bundesliga goal for Werder with his head may support Rehhagel's theory and might elicit a self-satisfied, knowing nod from the coaching legend, but Woltemade still have completely different skills today.
They were visible in all of his goals this season for VfB, to whom he moved on a free transfer from Werder Bremen last summer. And he has already scored quite a few goals, despite still having fewer playing times. A total of six in eleven competitive games, where he also managed an assist. He is involved in a goal every 71 minutes, the 'SWR' calculated.
In the 2-3 win against Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday 10, for example, he used his body well in a commotion in the penalty area, shielded the ball and then finished delicately from the turn. In the cup against Regensburg he was sent deep and didn't allow himself to be thrown off balance by a shove in the back as he curved around the keeper with a tight ball control.
It seems to be something of a “signature move” for the 22-year-old, as he also scored in a similar manner after coming on as a substitute for Union Berlin last weekend. On the edge of offside, he offered himself behind the central defender for a deep pass. After a pass from Ermedin Demirović, he ran freely towards Frederik Rönnow and, thanks to a short delay, simply went around the Köpenick goalkeeper and then shot into the free goal .
But that wasn't enough, Woltemade even put together a double pack. Again he was lurking, came the through ball again, showed again his incredible control of the ball and once again had a clear path towards Rönnow. This time he easily tipped the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net. There has to be a bit of variety sometimes.
Woltemade is becoming more and more impressive
“He showed us, especially today, that he can be very, very important for us,” praised assist provider and VfB captain Atakan Karazor after the game. Woltemade is on the way to becoming a shooting star for the Swabians, which they can really use because Deniz Undav and El-Bilal Touré are currently out of the attack.
What is striking about all of his goals is the incredible calm that his good ball handling gives him. Woltemade doesn't rush, but finishes carefully and with an overview, as he can always keep his eyes on top. His feet instinctively know how to caress the ball.
But once again you shouldn't be fooled, because although these descriptions make him sound like a pure finishing striker, Woltemade's style of play is completely different. He is much more of a hanging leader who repeatedly drops into the ten-man area in order to be competent in combination play. In Bremen he was often used in midfield.
📸 Sebastian Widmann – 2024 Getty Images
At the same time, there is no real false nine, as he can accept and secure passes with his back to the goal in order to then assert himself against the opponents and pass the ball on.
If he moves into the more withdrawn positions as a striker, he first gets rid of his guard from the opposing defense line, supports his midfield colleagues and then, at best, pushes forward at the right moment to get into shooting positions or, at best, into one-on-one situations to be sent with the goalkeeper.
He has been able to do this more and more recently and if he continues to improve his timing in these situations, he could become one of the most interesting young players in the Bundesliga. With his extraordinary profile, he embodies an almost unique type of player that the defenders have to get used to if they don't want to get used to further celebrations from the VfB attacker.
📸 Sebastian Widmann – 2024 Getty Images
