Sandro Tonali

[Menace]

22 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

It’s odd unless you’ve seen us play with Tonali at RCM

 

If the lad is going to start we’d need to change the way we play.  Any signs of Howe doing that so far?

 

My suspicion at this point is either Howe or Tonali is not here next season. 

 

I suspect you are right. I'd be fuming to leave my boyhood club and get benched by Sean Longstaff.

 

For those saying that he needs time to settle in - he's had a year in and around the team, got to learn the language and play with these players every day in training drills - what more does he need?

[duo]

1 minute ago, Likelylad said:

Yet he’s playing well for Italy and had a cracking game in the middle against Chelsea in the cup. 
Howe needs to find a way to make it work tbh.

Sell Bruno 

[Alberto2005]

This is stupid, Hope reckons that Howe doesn't think they can start together.

 

Bruno is always going to start, so what Tonali is always just going to be a sub?

 

Howe needs to find a way to make this work, and he hasn't tried every avenue yet.

 

He needs to try Tonali at 6 and Bruno further forward.

[hakka]

1 minute ago, Alberto2005 said:

This is stupid, Hope reckons that Howe doesn't think they can start together.

 

Bruno is always going to start, so what Tonali is always just going to be a sub?

 

Howe needs to find a way to make this work, and he hasn't tried every avenue yet.

 

He needs to try Tonali at 6 and Bruno further forward.

 

Definitely this. Bruno isn't a DM, he's wasted there. Tonali seems more versatile and could do the 6 role to allow Bruno to be more attacking.

[Menace]

Not like Hope to stir up shite really

[TheBrownBottle]

44 minutes ago, Menace said:

 

I suspect you are right. I'd be fuming to leave my boyhood club and get benched by Sean Longstaff.

 

For those saying that he needs time to settle in - he's had a year in and around the team, got to learn the language and play with these players every day in training drills - what more does he need?

100%, sadly

[TheBrownBottle]

38 minutes ago, hakka said:

 

Definitely this. Bruno isn't a DM, he's wasted there. Tonali seems more versatile and could do the 6 role to allow Bruno to be more attacking.

Bruno has basically played his entire career there.  He played there for Lyon when we signed him.  

[AyeDubbleYoo]

He’s not really a year in though, he’s been banned for most of the time he’s been here. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

42 minutes ago, Alberto2005 said:

This is stupid, Hope reckons that Howe doesn't think they can start together.

 

Bruno is always going to start, so what Tonali is always just going to be a sub?

 

Howe needs to find a way to make this work, and he hasn't tried every avenue yet.

 

He needs to try Tonali at 6 and Bruno further forward.

Unless Hope can read minds I don’t see where he’s getting that information. 

[TheBrownBottle]

9 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

He’s not really a year in though, he’s been banned for most of the time he’s been here. 

Settling in periods are usually related to moving to a new country / area.  He’s been here long enough to settle.  

[Ikon]

He is settled. He just isn’t being played for some reason which I think is wrong. 

[hakka]

5 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Bruno has basically played his entire career there.  He played there for Lyon when we signed him.  

 

Playing playing DM in France is totally different kettle of fish to PL. He's too slow and not big enough. His tackles and interceptions isn't the the best for. DM either. 

 

He's excellent at nicking the ball and close control, our best attacking plays is him opposition half trying to pick a pass through a low block. He's only one that can do it at a different level.

 

Tonali feels quicker and stronger, and he has played that role before. I'd rather we tried Tonali as 6 and Bruno further forward than Longstaff on and Tonali bench.

 

 

[TheBrownBottle]

5 minutes ago, hakka said:

 

Playing playing DM in France is totally different kettle of fish to PL. He's too slow and not big enough. His tackles and interceptions isn't the the best for. DM either. 

 

He's excellent at nicking the ball and close control, our best attacking plays is him opposition half trying to pick a pass through a low block. He's only one that can do it at a different level.

 

Tonali feels quicker and stronger, and he has played that role before. I'd rather we tried Tonali as 6 and Bruno further forward than Longstaff on and Tonali bench.

 

 

I’d play him further forward, but that’s not the same as him not being a ‘6’.  Agree that the solution is to either play Bruno further forward or to try Bruno and Tonali together in what the kids call a ‘double pivot’.  The problem with the ‘double pivot’ is that we don’t have a ‘10’, so a 4-2-3-1 is out.  And I don’t think Bruno and Tonali can be the midfield in a 4-4-2

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by TheBrownBottle

[hakka]

4 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

I’d play him further forward, but that’s not the same as him not being a ‘6’.  Agree that the solution is to either play Bruno further forward or to try Bruno and Tonali together in what the kids call a ‘double pivot’.  The problem with the ‘double pivot’ is that we don’t have a ‘10’, so a 4-2-3-1 is out.  And I don’t think Bruno and Tonali can be the midfield in a 4-4-2

 

 

 

 

Yeah agree double pivot isn't suited to us. I'm open minded on where Bruno sits in midfield and helping, as long as it's with more attacking focus and further away than in front of our back 4.

[cubaricho]

10 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

The problem with the ‘double pivot’ is that we don’t have a ‘10’

We do, but he’s only played a few minutes this season and most on here are begging to sell him in January. 

[Lush Vlad]

2 minutes ago, cubaricho said:

We do, but he’s only played a few minutes this season and most on here are begging to sell him in January. 

Genuinely no idea who you’re referring to?!  

[cubaricho]

Just now, Lush Vlad said:

Genuinely no idea who you’re referring to?!  

Miggy’s preferred/main position before Rafa changed it was as a 10. He was really good there before he came to the PL. 

[vexred]

1 minute ago, cubaricho said:

Miggy’s preferred/main position before Rafa changed it was as a 10. He was really good there before he came to the PL. 

 

he isn’t good enough to play 10.

[Lush Vlad]

Just now, cubaricho said:

Miggy’s preferred/main position before Rafa changed it was as a 10. He was really good there before he came to the PL. 

The key is in your last paragraph. Like fuck could he do a job as a 10 in this league. Even if he did look lively playing behind Rondon with Perez. 
 

I might be wrong, but didn’t he play more as a second striker type for Atlanta? Can’t see him in a more technical role as a 10. His assist numbers are diabolical (12 in 216) playing in a front 3 where he can drift infield. His passing, vision, quickness of thought, touch. All massively lacking. 
 

Bit of a moot point. As it seems like

Howe no longer fancies him in the side and the club have been trying to peddle him for a while. 

[Erikse]

1 hour ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Bruno has basically played his entire career there.  He played there for Lyon when we signed him.  

 

Quote

“But if I have to choose I prefer to be a ‘segundo volonte’ (a box-to-box). It was the role I played at Athletico Paranaense and Lyon. But I can also play as the most defensive midfielder."

 

Quote

‘Last season I played many games at Newcastle as a defensive midfielder, some as a second and in the national team I play more as a second. It’s where I prefer to play.

 

Quote

"To be honest, If you ask me this question, I have to say I prefer to play at No 8, but I think my role here, at No 6, is exactly what the team needs," he says. "It is to take the ball out, to do some passes, to find the wingers and the strikers.

"I can play both positions, but Eddie has a choice to make and, for me, the most important thing is just to play and to help Newcastle get the three points. I think my best position is at No 8 but I can play at No 6. It's no problem for me."

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Erikse

[Rod]

29 minutes ago, vexred said:

 

he isn’t good enough to play 10.

He isn't good enough to play.

[ExiledGeordie]

1 hour ago, Alberto2005 said:

This is stupid, Hope reckons that Howe doesn't think they can start together.

 

Bruno is always going to start, so what Tonali is always just going to be a sub?

 

Howe needs to find a way to make this work, and he hasn't tried every avenue yet.

 

He needs to try Tonali at 6 and Bruno further forward.

Why sign a 55m Italian international midfielder if you’ve already got someone to do the same job? (If this is the case). Like the Barnes/Gordon situation repeating itself.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Is the group in this thread completely different to the ‘we win more with Longstaff and it’s Howe’s job to pick a winning team’ group? Somehow the manager gets hammered for both sides at the same time

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by AyeDubbleYoo

[vexred]

13 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Is the group in this thread completely different to the ‘we win more with Longstaff and it’s Howe’s job to pick a winning team’ group? Somehow the manager gets hammered for both sides at the same time

 

 

 

 

I think when we've spent all this money on Tonali, it is Howe's job to find a position for him. Tonali needs game time to improve. I'd love to see Tonali on the left, Bruno on the right, a DM behind them. Nearly every elite team has a DM, I think Howe's system is to blame for not getting the most out of Bruno and Tonali. I want us to get a DM in January or in the summer. 

[TheBrownBottle]

20 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Is the group in this thread completely different to the ‘we win more with Longstaff and it’s Howe’s job to pick a winning team’ group? Somehow the manager gets hammered for both sides at the same time

 

 

 

Both positions can be true tbf.  He can be right for selecting Longstaff because of the way we’ve set up and wrong for signing a player for a massive sum who doesn’t fit the way he’s setting us up.