STM

I echo the above thoughts... Tidy first half. Seems to have quite a bit of footballing intelligence. Good feet, smart with what he does with it, without being anything like a flair player. He certainly doesn't look right fitness wise, which is odd because he's lightning rapid when it comes to a short sprint. Is it fitness or is it a bit of confidence showing in his play? It's that hands on hips, not really making little movements sort of thing. Of course he's playing in a bit of an alien position tonight. Every now and then he sparks into life and looks a player. If he can just get involved more and show a little more aggression towards demanding the ball.

It was nickson who went and got Bruno.

Nobody is choosing Lavia over Tonali by the way. The whole notion is laughable, you can shove ya graphs and ya data up ya arse.

Some people are naturally negative, so even when we sign a top class player, who's own fans are furious about losing, they will still find something, just anything, to put a negative spin on it. Tonali is a great signing.

If I'm not mistaken, 18 and 20 are both available. Perfectly acceptable numbers for a class midfielder.

Thats just not how squad numbers generally work. Richie might want to actually keep 11. It's massively disrespectful to just take a number off someone, after you just said you want to keep them and hand it to some young player. Tonali can always do a year with a different number. Its not like it REALLY matters.

(Could be wrong)

Given that he has a game in Romania tonight, I'd be surprised.

It's the "leadership, warrior" comments that excite me (provided he can play a bit also, of course). It's high time we had an absolute Roy Keane type dominating the middle of the park. Another potential captain also. I'm going to be so intrigued to hear how we convinced him, what we have said to him and who he has asked about us.

If we finish top 4, we've had a cracking season.

It's nice that we help out the little fish.

Rory the Tory was quite complimentary actually. Not bad for a club who he claims Sunderland are bigger than. Jumped up little floppy haired shitehawk.

Using Maddison as an example Option 1: Bruno Tonali Miggy Maddison Joelinton Isak Option 2: Tonali Bruno Joelinton Maddison ASM Isak Option 3: Bruno Tonali Willock Maddison Joelinton Isak Options, options, options.

To me, this screams double pivot with Bruno.

Oh it made entire sense for them to leave for something better. The reality is that Newcastle is something better than Milan and I know that's arrogant considering the size of Milan as an institution but football changes and we are a club on the charge. He will get to play in the best league in the world, earning treble his wages and opportunities are only going to get better for him.

I remember when we pretended that Carroll wasn't at all responsible for his move to Liverpool, claiming that the entire thing was down to MA being a greedy cunt (although that was true), absolving Carroll of any blame/responsibility for abandoning his boyhood club.... Something similar is happening here with the Italian media. "Tonali wanted to stay", is something you will hear alot. All I will say is this.... he can't of wanted to stay THAT much.

Here lads, had this mental dream last night that we were going around Europe signing all of the best young players, like Italys U21 captain from AC Milan and that. Was mad. It was dead funny coz the Milan fans were rioting in the streets ?

Shame someone couldn't find that clip.

I do think that whatever we are doing with Tonali is very much related to what we are doing with Maddison/Slob. I just wonder whether our move for either of them two, was dependent on securing our other midfielder for a sensible fee. Basically, does signing Tonali clear the path with regards to other areas?

How do you know?

Wonder if we can ship out a medical team to Romania/Georgia to get this wrapped up. Nickson went to Brazil to get Bruno right?

When Ashworth is in Milan... its done.

55m

It's Italy U21s, so maybe. Besides, I'm sure we can fly a Newcastle shirt out to him.