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Alexander Isak to Newcastle: What makes him so good?



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Newcastle United have broken their transfer record by bringing in 22-year Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad. A young player with a hefty price tag, but what makes him so good? Who does he compare to? What can Newcastle expect?

Jon Mackenzie explains.

Image credit: Quality Sport Images – Contributor – Getty Images Sport via Getty Images Europe

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Additional footage sourced from freestockfootagearchive.com

#NUFC #Isak

35 Comments

  1. Have seen quite alot of Isak. Between Willem 2, Sweden and Sociedad. Always impressed up until he is in front of goal. I don't think he has a great goal scoring instinct. His speed, dribbling and runs were always great. Even playing with his back to goal isn't that bad. Have seen him mis so much of the classic striker chances and also not make the striker run into the box, when other players have the ball. Good player but not expecting alot of goals.

  2. £60m for someone who scored 6 goals in 32 league games and has had 1 good season in his career 🤣🤣🤣🤣

  3. I can imagine lots of fun time with Bruno, maximin and trippier feeding him balls into the box. 🔥

  4. I find the point about Callum Wilson being "better" at hold-up play questionable. If he's that good at it, why are his link-up play and ball retention scores so low? Isn't taking long balls on his chest and passing it to oncoming teammates an act of ball retention and link-up play too? I don't doubt Callum Wilson is a decent CF, but the pizza chart seems to indicate that he's a very limited player whether the ball comes to his chest or over his head. Or am I hearing English/PL analysis bias again, where there's still a 1990s, Souness-esque emphasis on size and long balls?

    Another questionable part of the pizza chart is the shot volume – doesn't seem to indicate quality of shots. Both players can simply take shots from anywhere outside the box every time they have the ball to have such volume.

  5. When he played for Willem II, you could clearly see he was on another level then the rest of the team.

  6. Brightest talent we had in Sweden since Zlatan. As a 16 year old he slaughterd Allsvenskan and was outstanding, also during his spell on loan at Eredivisie he was sublime. In spain he also been great, scoring against Real and Barca several times. Even if he aint got the numbers of goals we all expected from him he always plays well. Rotation system at sociedad made it difficult, usually only played 60-70 mins a game for the last 2 years. Witch is outrageous off course. This lad will succed in the Prem im positive.

  7. @Tifo irl. Anybody who has mentioned Alexander Isak in the same breath as Haaland or Mbappe needs firing. Lewa, Haaland and Mbappe are in a league of their own. He scored 6 goals in 26 starts and 6 sub appearances last season. As for goal-creating chances in the top tier and not the dutch second league, his best season for assists was 2 assists in 2020/21and 2021/22. Isak is good at dribbling, but poor at being a consistent goalscorer, poor at heading, and poor at providing assists. Also players developing beyond 20 into something more than they've already shown is a bit of a footballing myth. Most examples given are talented players who were misused by their managers.

    He's going to be a bust at Newcastle.

  8. great positive video on Isak. He'll definitely up his game at Newcastle, other top EPL will wonder how & why they skipped getting him. Better pay $60M now than $100M in 2 years.

  9. I wanted Arsenal to sign him, huge fan of Isak. Will be keeping a close eye on him. Very good signing for Newcastle.

  10. Stats do not give the whole story and very difficult to judge a player based on stats alone. One thing one needs to rememeber is that this is a team sport and chemistry carries a lot of weight. The other thing is the importance of the team behind the players. Some are better than others and a few are pure excellence. In these two areas Newcastle has a. real oppurtunity to outdo Real Sociedad. If that happens few will have regrets when it comes to Isak.

  11. Spanish league viewer here. He's not worth more than 30. Thank you premier league for redistributing the wealth.

  12. He's just scored exactly the kind of goal you've described for us tonight & should've had another!

  13. lmao he is so good guys he pretty much scored twice vs liverpool and made it look easy i think he will be on the score sheet every time he is on the pitch.

  14. Think this might be a good match tbh, A.Isak will get alot of playtime, in a league that will suit him alot better then La Liga. Newcastle gain a player that works hard, never complain. I hope he blossoms and become a 15-25 goals/season for Newcastle. And i also hope he stays there for the rest of his career. //Random Swedish guy.

  15. i think they have to protect isak he seems very fragile as a chelsea fan i wish we got isak over auba if they protect isak he will be amazing he has the potential of being the next aguero equillivent for newcastle

  16. Toon fan here just checking back in 7 months on since 1st watching this and can confirm he is different gravy and very excited to see him reach his potential in black & white 🖤🤍

  17. That's why the eye test is also so important. People who only focus on stats will not always be able to evaluate a player correctly.

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