Eddie Howe

[The College Dropout]

It’s not a criticism of Tonali. When it was first discussed about moving Tonali to 6 - that was one of the main reasons people thought it had not been tried. I do think Howe has those reservations too. If he didn’t have those reservations, I struggle to think why it took him so long to play Tonali there.  Bruno has played with us as a 8 already so i don’t think that is the reason.  And Bruno was struggling badly to cover the ground in the middle.  
 

Im giving Howe - in the Howe thread - credit for moving Tonali to 6 and changing our build up play patterns so it’s less dependent on the primary 6 for ball progression.  Because the new primary 6 is much more likely to lose the ball in dangerous positions than the old one.  That’s great coaching. 
 

People get so sensitive about their favourite players. Tonali’s passing can be loose.  It’s not a criticism - it’s a fact. We knew this when we signed him and we’ve seen it for us. The sending off stems from a poor Tonali pass straight to Villa in an attacking RCM position under no real pressure, he could’ve taken a touch. He’ll do that a few times a game and you want it further away from goal.  
 

it’s a valid reason not to thrust him in at 6 without some tactical changes.  Credit to Howe and Tonali, they’ve made it work.  Tonali is a monster.   
 

4 hours ago, KaKa said:

 

Tonali came through at Brescia playing at the base of midfield as the lone 6.

 

https://breakingthelines.com/scouting-report/scouting-report-sandro-tonali/

Ok so he played as a lone 6 in Serie B, I dread to think how slow that league is. No surprise Tonali looked like Pirlo and Steven Gerrard in that league. 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by The College Dropout

[KaKa]

12 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Ok so he played as a lone 6 in Serie B, I dread to think how slow that league is. No surprise Tonali looked like Pirlo and Steven Gerrard in that league. 

 

 

 

 

No, the 2019-20 season at Brescia was in Serie A.

 

After he had got them promoted starting as an 18 year old in Series B the previous year.

[The College Dropout]

Ok fairs. I still think there was good reason not to rush him in at 6. His lack of ball security needed to be mitigated in build-up on the training ground and Howe did that.  
 

[Kanj]

Right. I know you’re a supporter now. But the idea that you need to randomly post some % pass differential table is the point I’m trying to make. What exactly does that prove outside of he, like every other footballer loses the ball or doesn’t have a 10/10 performance every match. Hes hardly perfect as much as our elite striker who somehow can’t score a 1 v 1. It’s football it’s sport. The best make mistakes too. I’m not even sure I’ve seen us have a footballer who plays as good first time balls in build up since 95/96. 
 

this ain’t me trying to call you out, I love your posts these days and think they are great analysis. Just think this Tonali thing is done and dusted. Boy is on the rise! 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by Kanj

[The College Dropout]

22 minutes ago, Kanj said:

Right. I know you’re a supporter now. But the idea that you need to randomly post some % pass differential table is the point I’m trying to make. What exactly does that prove outside of he, like every other footballer loses the ball or doesn’t have a 10/10 performance every match. Hes hardly perfect as much as our elite striker who somehow can’t score a 1 v 1. It’s football it’s sport. The best make mistakes too. I’m not even sure I’ve seen us have a footballer who plays as good first time balls in build up since 95/96. 
 

this ain’t me trying to call you out, I love your posts these days and think they are great analysis. Just think this Tonali thing is done and dusted. Boy is on the rise! 

 

 

 

Why are you so offended?

 

it’s a football forum. I’m talking about football. 
 

I’ve stated the point several times.  People discussed moving Tonali to 6 - months ago. I thought and I think Howe thought he was too loose with the ball to play there to the level required the way we were setup. Everything came through Bruno.  Even with being man marked Bruno could dribble himself out of trouble or win a foul.  Tonali doesn’t have that press resistance and is looser with his passing - a danger in deep areas. 
 

Howe has changed the setup to accommodate Tonali at 6.  I think that delay was making sure the setup worked and players knew what to do.  
 

I’ve said this a bunch of times. You seem hung up that I’m raising a weakness of your favourite player. It’s not even a criticism.  It’s like pointing out Schar and Burn are super slow so we’ve played a little deeper and less aggressive this year. And being upset that I’ve called the boys slow. They are. It’s not a criticism.  

 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by The College Dropout

[Kanj]

4 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

Why are you so offended?

 

it’s a football forum. I’m talking about football. 
 

I’ve stated the point several times.  People discussed moving Tonali to 6 - months ago. I thought and I think Howe thought he was too loose with the ball to play there to the level required the way we were setup. Everything came through Bruno.  Even with being man marked Bruno could dribble himself out of trouble or win a foul.  Tonali doesn’t have that press resistance and is looser with his passing - a danger in deep areas. 
 

Howe has changed the setup to accommodate Tonali at 6.  I think that delay was making sure the setup worked and players knew what to do.  
 

I’ve said this a bunch of times. You seem hung up that I’m raising a weakness of your favourite player. It’s not even a criticism.  It’s like pointing out Schar and Burn are super slow so we’ve played a little deeper and less aggressive this year. And being upset that I’ve called the boys slow. They are. It’s not a criticism.  

 

 

 

I’m not offended at all.

[Ikon]

I’m out   

[Kanj]

Would love to know more about the WHY Howe did it at some point, but i assume we will never get the very technical answer. I believe trust was certainly a factor. The 6 role in any team is massively difficult to get right and rushing it could have had adverse impact to the team. But in any case, my points stand - players make mistakes, he has all the tools to be a great interchanging 6 with Bruno but I am happy he looks very settled and comfortable in the role and long may it continue. 

[80]

Not done this for a while, but to keep track, we're currently -1 point based on like for like fixtures played last season.

 

Big opportunity to change that in the next two games - we got nothing from Man U and Tottenham last season.

 

Then an important fortnight for us in the second half of January:

 

Wolves H

Bournemouth H

Southampton A (in place of Sheff Utd)

Fulham H

 

We got 10 points out of 12 from those fixtures last season, but it feels like it will be an achievement to repeat that this year.

[Heron]

You'd want wins from all 4 of those fixtures but aye, I agree, seems a bit .much to ask with how Fulham and Bournemouth are playing and Wolves have taken an upturn. Bizarrely, ManUre and Spuds are more like those sides based on the current table.

[TRon]

22 hours ago, Kanj said:

Would love to know more about the WHY Howe did it at some point, but i assume we will never get the very technical answer. I believe trust was certainly a factor. The 6 role in any team is massively difficult to get right and rushing it could have had adverse impact to the team. But in any case, my points stand - players make mistakes, he has all the tools to be a great interchanging 6 with Bruno but I am happy he looks very settled and comfortable in the role and long may it continue. 

 

I think it might have been due to the type of player Tonali is. He loves to give and go, release the ball early into unseen spaces. That's perfect when you are trying to break teams down, maybe Howe was a bit nervous that could lead to losing possession in dangerous areas. It has happened a couple of times tbf, but Tonali is so fast over the ground, he usually limits the damage himself.

 

Plus Bruno is a perfect quarter back type of midfielder. He is very calm at bringing the ball out and resisting the press, so if he's playing deeper, he sees more options. But I think with Tonali his recovery pace is so exceptional, it has overriden everything else. Plus Bruno gets into the penalty area more now as a by product of being further forward.

[The College Dropout]

1 hour ago, TRon said:

 

I think it might have been due to the type of player Tonali is. He loves to give and go, release the ball early into unseen spaces. That's perfect when you are trying to break teams down, maybe Howe was a bit nervous that could lead to losing possession in dangerous areas. It has happened a couple of times tbf, but Tonali is so fast over the ground, he usually limits the damage himself.

 

Plus Bruno is a perfect quarter back type of midfielder. He is very calm at bringing the ball out and resisting the press, so if he's playing deeper, he sees more options. But I think with Tonali his recovery pace is so exceptional, it has overriden everything else. Plus Bruno gets into the penalty area more now as a by product of being further forward.

This is exactly what I’ve been saying.  
 

Bruno’s weakness as a 6 is he struggles to cover ground Quickly in transition. Tonali excels at this. 
 

@Kanj Tonali losing the ball as often as he does is not a mistake. It’s just a part of his game - quick one touch passing which sometimes goes astray. That may change over time but it’s been consistent in his career. 

[Yorkie]

Just another brilliant day following this guy's NUFC. 

[wormy]

Thank God for that lucky first half hour. Happy for Eddie and his loveable, if mediocre, self. 

[cubaricho]

13-0 in our last four. Not too bad. 

[TBG]

Spurs is the real test.

[LiquidAK]

Never leave us Edward 

[cubaricho]

Just now, TBG said:

Spurs is the real test.

All joking aside you’re not wrong though with Schar out. 

[Theregulars]

He learns in real time and gets better. He is a great manager. Proven my doubts wrong so many times now.

[Disco]

King Edvard

[Colos Short and Curlies]

16 hours ago, 80 said:

Not done this for a while, but to keep track, we're currently -1 point based on like for like fixtures played last season.

 

Big opportunity to change that in the next two games - we got nothing from Man U and Tottenham last season.

 

Then an important fortnight for us in the second half of January:

 

Wolves H

Bournemouth H

Southampton A (in place of Sheff Utd)

Fulham H

 

We got 10 points out of 12 from those fixtures last season, but it feels like it will be an achievement to repeat that this year.

 

+2 

[nufc123]

Fourth clean sheet in a row. Impressive 

 

[HaydnNUFC]

On 07/12/2024 at 16:53, HaydnNUFC said:

Don't think he's the man anymore. Devastated about it.

Think he’s the man again. Buzzing about it.

 

You stupid fucking cunt.

[wormy]

4 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

He learns in real time and gets better. He is a great manager. Proven my doubts wrong so many times now.

 

No I don't belive this. I've been told he doesn't learn or evolve at all. Why would they lie? 

[TRon]

One of a rare breed of Newcastle bosses to go to Old Trafford and win.