HawK

He's shorter than I imagined.

Nout wrong with being fairly critical, nor supporting players of our club. They're not mutually exclusive. I'm not blown away by him, but I look forward to seeing what Howe and the coaching team does with him and how he performs on the pitch for us. When Barnes is on the pitch he'll have my full support, I don't care what he's done elsewhere when he becomes a Newcastle United player. No-one can trade on past glories and he'll be assessed by everyone on what he does in black and white.

I didn't get to see the game, but in the highlights those first-time flicks and pinged passes reminded me very much of Merino by the time he was coming to the end of his time year. I knew Tonali was good on the ball, but not like this. What a coup.

Thank you Maxi, you got me through a dark season or two as the only bit of light in supporting this football club.

haha was meant to be MSP-Tsunami but I'll take whatever I can get

Tonali, Tonali he came from It-aly... Na na na nana nana na na Tonali, Tonali he came from It-aly... Na na na nana nana na na Cool as Ice, cost half of Rice and he's twice the man... Tonali

God only knows what the score would have been if it were the pretend Vicenza side

Saudi have to be seen to be buying players from everyone else before buying off us to set the precedent that the government isn't just bankrolling us by buying all our less desirables for millions. The level of investment is insane.

Without that back pat, there's nothing.

Very smokey. Welcome to SJP Musiala..

Winded

Stats read more like an inside forward than someone who gets involved in build up play, not seen much of him at all though so I'm aware stats don't tell the full story.

I didn't think we might sign Gvardiol, but he's in the same category of players as Tonali, Barnes isn't.

Will post my brief rationale for being underwhelmed. After getting Bruno, then Isak and now Tonali (who is arguably the biggest transfer this club has made since Owen from Madrid), I was expecting more than Harvey Barnes. I understand the transfer if the are wheels in motion on moving on ASM/Almiron, but not just to pad out the squad. As others have said I'd rather we splurge on a proper left back. Gvardiol might be a pipe dream, but he would have been perfect as he operates on the left or as a centre back and has the profile of the players we've been getting in recently..

Hope this is a smokescreen if it's any way 'legit'.

Tbh his smile reminds me a bit of another mercurial Italian midfielder, bit like Pirlo, no?

I think I was quite specific in only referencing the period he came in whilst Trippier was injured?

I dunno, just haven't seen a 'worrying' post for a few minutes so felt I should help fill the void

He was worth every single penny while Trippier was out injured, just got better with every game and looked a quality right-back by the end of the season.

3/4 of the time without the ball, worrying.

Cannot get Tsunami by MSP out of my head whenever I read this lad's name.

In the navy... He's Tonali He can pass it with his knees He's Tonali He goes past you like a breeze He's Tonali He's not like Pirlo did you say He's Tonali, Don't like Milan anyway

Aye, some interesting new info there... "It wasn't Pirlo whom Tonali sought to model his game after, but rather his team-mate, former Rangers midfielder Gattuso."