“Special" Newcastle signing is now becoming the biggest disaster since Wood
da premier bet： Newcastle United have not been at the races this season. Wheeling off quickly at times – mostly at St. James’ Park – but suffering from dismal away form that is pulling Eddie Howe’s squad away from their potential.
da pixbet： We all know this, and Howe most of all. However, identifying solutions and then finding the right answers can be two wholly different things in football.
Newcastle’s Form in 2025/26 (all comps)
Home
Stat
Away
11
Games
8
8
Wins
1
0
Draws
3
3
Losses
4
16
Goals scored
8
8
Goals conceded
10
2.18
PPG
0.75
But the English tactician has done so countless times across his four years on Tyneside, adapting and overcoming obstacles that fall into his path.
Take, for example, the fumbled signing of Chris Wood from Burnley in 2022. One of the first to establish this new PIF era, the Kiwi striker flattered to deceive.
Remembering Chris Wood's time at Newcastle
Wood is one of the most consistent Premier League strikers of his time. Something of a journeyman, he has nonetheless enjoyed success throughout his career, truly coming into his own over the past several years with Nottingham Forest.
However, a brief stint at Newcastle stands as a blot on the copybook. Howe purchased the New Zealand star from Burnley for £25m in January 2022, right at the start of this new era.
Sometimes, it’s just not your day. And Wood simply didn’t click in black and white. The veteran goalscorer only scored five times across 39 appearances before leaving for Forest on loan and then making the move permanent.
Pundit Tam McManus said that he looked “a bit lost” at St. James’ Park, and the one bit of solace from the misfire of a signing was that Newcastle were otherwise going from strength to strength, and they signed Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad after realising Wood wasn’t going to make the grade.
Of course, no one would deny that Wood is a top-class Premier League striker. He was one of the most prolific in the division last season, after all.
Premier League 24/25 – Top Scorers
Player
Apps
Goals
Mohamed Salah
38
29
Alexander Isak
34
23
Erling Haaland
31
22
Bryan Mbeumo
38
20
Chris Wood
36
20
Stats via BBC Sport
But this only emphasises the blunder on Newcastle’s part, one they would not wish to repeat.
For the most part, they haven’t. Newcastle’s success under Howe’s wing has been a product of care and accuracy in the market. But they don’t always get it right, having signed the new Wood this summer.
Newcastle's biggest disaster since Chris Wood
Maybe there’s just something that isn’t working for ex-Forest stars moving to Newcastle.
Anthony Elanga has not been a success since joining the club from the City Ground for £55m this summer, yet to score or assist across 16 appearances.
Renowned for his “special ability” on the ball, as said by Nuno Espirito Santo, the Swedish winger simply hasn’t succeeded in translating his physical strengths over to St. James’ Park.
It’s not just his output causing concern. As per Sofascore, Elanga has succeeded with only 17% of his attempted dribbles in the Premier League this season. For a player whose standout skill is his fleet-footedness on the ball, this isn’t good enough.
Elanga, 23, must be afforded more time, but given the desperate need for an efficient right winger in recent years at the club, his woes have been a concern, salvaged only by the ever-industrious Jacob Murphy’s consistency.
He’s still relatively young, and he has proven himself capable in the Premier League across the past two terms with the Tricky Trees.
But the early readings are not all that promising, with analyst Raj Chohan picking up on the winger’s poor form and claiming that the deal was a “massive overpay” on PIF’s part.
While he is young and with much potential still untapped – unlike Wood – Newcastle expected bang for their buck when filling a hole on the right wing.
If Elanga doesn’t improve quickly, the Toon are going to need to dig back into their pockets.
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