Sandro Tonali

[SUPERTOON]

I keep mentioning it after every game, I absolutely love his speed of play and his one touch passing.

[nufc4eva]

We just seem to have a lot more about us, not sure if just his impact or tactics as defence is squeezing up more. Maybe the cover he gives us plus where Bruno is playing etc is giving us more.

 

Also think having a keeper that can pass a ball has helped massively.

[Thumbheed]

I had it in my mind that he'd struggle in the 6 role based on the fact he's not really press proof and can't evade pressure in the same way that Bruno can, but his first touch passes and vision are exceptional enough for him to release pressure before he's even relieved. 

 

What an exceptional talent. 

[KaKa]

4 minutes ago, Thumbheed said:

I had it in my mind that he'd struggle in the 6 role based on the fact he's not really press proof and can't evade pressure in the same way that Bruno can, but his first touch passes and vision are exceptional enough for him to release pressure before he's even relieved. 

 

What an exceptional talent. 

 

He has exceptional awareness of who is around him. Both team mates and opposition.

 

It's actually very hard for the opposition to press him, because he moves the ball so quickly and then moves into space to receive it again.

 

Just so happy he's now in the team and showing what he can do.

 

I remember when he was getting thrown on when we were chasing games, when Longstaff was starting and we kept falling behind, and some were saying he wasn't doing or showing enough to usurp Longstaff! Was so frustrating man!

[Lush Vlad]

18 minutes ago, KaKa said:

Pretty outrageous the extent to which he has transformed the team.

 

The difference he has made defensively is a joke. That midfield gap is rarely present anymore.

 

Big reason why we have not conceded in the last 4 games.

 

Do we have the best midfield in the league?

Liverpool and Arsenal clearly have more depth and I think starting options, too. But the 3 that have been playing complement each other so well. 
 

Helped that Man U basically had a 2 that went MIA last night for half an hour. It won us the game. After Mainoo came on, we were nowhere near as dominant and barely created anything. Not that we particularly needed to, TBF. 
 

I don’t think I’ll anoint them as the best just yet. 

[KaKa]

Just now, Lush Vlad said:

Liverpool and Arsenal clearly have more depth and I think starting options, too. But the 3 that have been playing complement each other so well. 
 

Helped that Man U basically had a 2 that went MIA last night for half an hour. It won us the game. After Mainoo came on, we were nowhere near as dominant and barely created anything. Not that we particularly needed to, TBF. 
 

I don’t think I’ll anoint them as the best just yet. 

 

Starting 11 midfield. Not including subs and depth.

 

I'm really not certain I'm taking any over our current 3.

 

Mainoo started with Ugarte against both Wolves and Bournemouth and we saw the result. I almost wish those two had started yesterday again because that is the cope I keep hearing from Man Utd fans after the match.

 

Hopefully for the home game they both come ready to play, then we will see.

[Heron]

9 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

He has exceptional awareness of who is around him. Both team mates and opposition.

 

It's actually very hard for the opposition to press him, because he moves the ball so quickly and then moves into space to receive it again.

 

Just so happy he's now in the team and showing what he can do.

 

I remember when he was getting thrown on when we were chasing games, when Longstaff was starting and we kept falling behind, and some were saying he wasn't doing or showing enough to usurp Longstaff! Was so frustrating man!

He wasn't - that's not necessarily his fault. Howe has managed him perfectly and managed the midfield perfectly to mould it to its current form. That takes time and did take time.

 

It wouldn't have served Tonali's confidence or the confidence in Tonali well to simply continue without him performing to the levels he obviously can. So utilising Longstaff at times was the right thing to do. To take Tonali out of the light.

 

We're now seeing the benefits of how he has managed the individuals and the collective.

 

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by Heron

[Ronson333]

5 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

Starting 11 midfield. Not including subs and depth.

 

I'm really not certain I'm taking any over our current 3.

 

Mainoo started with Ugarte against both Wolves and Bournemouth and we saw the result. I almost wish those two had started yesterday again because that is the cope I keep hearing from Man Utd fans after the match.

 

Hopefully for the home game they both come ready to play, then we will see.

I don’t think Liverpool’s starting midfield three are stronger, only Chelsea and Arsenal are probably a match for our three imo.

[KaKa]

5 minutes ago, Heron said:

He wasn't - that's not necessarily his fault. Howe has managed him perfectly and managed the midfield perfectly to mould it to its current form. That takes time and did take time.

 

It wouldn't have served Tonali's confidence or the confidence in Tonali well to simply continue without him performing to the levels he obviously can. So utilising Longstaff at times was the right thing to do. To take Tonali out of the light.

 

We're now seeing the benefits of how he has managed the individuals and the collective.

 

 

 

 

I agree he wasn't, but it was under ridiculous circumstances, when the whole team was already floundering and a raft of changes had disrupted the shape.

 

It was really annoying seeing that used as a reason he wasn't doing enough to get in the team.

 

Thankfully that whole awful period is over.

[Lush Vlad]

22 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

Starting 11 midfield. Not including subs and depth.

 

I'm really not certain I'm taking any over our current 3.

 

Mainoo started with Ugarte against both Wolves and Bournemouth and we saw the result. I almost wish those two had started yesterday again because that is the cope I keep hearing from Man Utd fans after the match.

 

Hopefully for the home game they both come ready to play, then we will see.

I think fans are understandably biased and also back their own players. We don’t watch other teams every week and vice versa. 
 

Odegaard and Rice are both absolutely quality. They manage to rotate their midfield 3, too. Havertz, Jorginho, Merino and the alleged *redacted*  

 

Gravenberch (sp) has been a revelation this season and my Liverpool supporting mates suggest Mac Allister is their most important midfielder. Szob has a great engine, plays off both feet, hell of a strike on him. Perhaps a bit inconsistent and should contribute more. Jones is very good and another who is up and down all game. A real all rounder with great feet and has started weighing in with important goals. 
 

I’m not meaning to diminish the efforts of our 3 and the qualities they have. They are absolutely class. But I’d imagine fans on other forums have similar discussions all the time and are often biased in the favour of their players. 

 

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by Lush Vlad

[Heron]

2 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

I agree he wasn't, but it was under ridiculous circumstances, when the whole team was already floundering and a raft of changes had disrupted the shape.

 

It was really annoying seeing that used as a reason he wasn't doing enough to get in the team.

 

Thankfully that whole awful period is over.

Folk just want Newcastle to win games not to force the best individuals into the starting 11. I don't think that's unreasonable.

 

There was and is also undue criticism of Longstaff which folk naturally (and correctly) want to defend him (Longstaff) against.

 

Nonetheless, as you correctly say, we have now moved passed that period, thankfully.

[KaKa]

6 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

I think fans are understandably biased and also back their own players. We don’t watch other teams every week and vice versa. 
 

Odegaard and Rice are both absolutely quality. They manage to rotate their midfield 3, too. Havertz, Partey, Jorginho, Merino and the alleged *redacted*  

 

Gravenberch (sp) has been a revelation this season and my Liverpool supporting mates suggest Mac Allister is their most important midfielder. Szob has a great engine, plays off both feet, hell of a strike on him. Perhaps a bit inconsistent and should contribute more. Jones is very good and another who is up and down all game. A real all rounder with great feet and has started weighing in with important goals. 
 

I’m not meaning to diminish the efforts of our 3 and the qualities they have. They are absolutely class. But I’d imagine fans on other forums have similar discussions all the time and are often biased in the favour of their players. 

 

Yeah, I know. That's fair.

 

I just think it's great that it's a legitimate discussion we can have without being completely off the mark.

 

Our 3 have only just got going too, so watch this space!

[Paully]

100% agree about our midfield - they offer absolutely everything and I wouldn’t swap them for any midfield in the world and they’re only just starting to click!

[Andy]

Transformative player. Imagine how good he'd be if he wasn't Italian and was actually suited to the English game. 

[madras]

4 minutes ago, Andy said:

Transformative player. Imagine how good he'd be if he wasn't Italian and was actually suited to the English game. 

Looked well suited the last few games. 

[Roids]

2 hours ago, Heron said:

He wasn't - that's not necessarily his fault. Howe has managed him perfectly and managed the midfield perfectly to mould it to its current form. That takes time and did take time.

 

It wouldn't have served Tonali's confidence or the confidence in Tonali well to simply continue without him performing to the levels he obviously can. So utilising Longstaff at times was the right thing to do. To take Tonali out of the light.

 

We're now seeing the benefits of how he has managed the individuals and the collective.

 

 

 

this is rubbish, Howe was being over pragmatic getting him bedded in. I'm glad we're finally here though 

 

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by Roids

[Tiotes Witch Doctor]

So relieved he hasn't turned out to be a dud 

 

The difference with him at 6 is incredible, just bring a calmness to everything and his positioning is excellent and obviously Bruno flourishing further up the pitch.

 

One slight thing I think he needs tow work on and that will probably come in time is his composure when being pressed, but it's not a huge issue, but does get caught the odd time.

[Andy]

1 hour ago, madras said:

Looked well suited the last few games. 

 

Nah, he can't have, Italians can't adapt in this league. It's a well known fact. 

[andycap]

I recall when he weren't getting picked I said that city and Co would be looking at him. 

And a few on here where saying he wasn't good enough for them or words to that effect 😂. 

 

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by andycap

[GeordieDazzler]

 

[Andy]

One thing I noticed last night was that he seemed a lot more vocal than I've seen previously. He was dishing out a few words to Joelinton and Bruno for either not pressing in sync with him or not being where he wanted them to be. I think as he grows in the team he'll become a real leader for us in the middle. 

[wormy]

1 minute ago, Andy said:

One thing I noticed last night was that he seemed a lot more vocal than I've seen previously. He was dishing out a few words to Joelinton and Bruno for either not pressing in sync with him or not being where he wanted them to be. I think as he grows in the team he'll become a real leader for us in the middle. 

 

 Said after the Villa game, he'll be in that leadership group and the captain pecking order soon enough. Strikes me as the kind of player that feeds off of that responsibility.

 

It'll really help put him in the shop window for his come and get me plea to Milan, too. 

[duo]

6 hours ago, PauloGeordio said:

[duo]

3 hours ago, KaKa said:

Pretty outrageous the extent to which he has transformed the team.

 

The difference he has made defensively is a joke. That midfield gap is rarely present anymore.

 

Big reason why we have not conceded in the last 4 games.

 

Do we have the best midfield in the league?

Yes - not just as individuals but collectively. The interchanging / passing with each other destroyed Man U in the 1st half.

[Heron]

1 hour ago, Roids said:

this is rubbish, Howe was being over pragmatic getting him bedded in. I'm glad we're finally here though 

 

 

 

It's not rubbish though. Players take time to bed in and he has had to undertake that process to get us to where we are now at.