samptime29 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Tremendous performance. Workrate was immense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danh1 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Remember when other fans were saying it’s weird how much we backed and supported Tonali after his ban? Reaping the benefits now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 3 minutes ago, Danh1 said: Remember when other fans were saying it’s weird how much we backed and supported Tonali after his ban? Reaping the benefits now. I think it bonded him with the club as well. He might not have felt the same affinity with the club without the ban. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Said it before, the management of the ban was impeccable and said so many good thanks about the club, the manager, the squad and the player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nufc123 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Tonali is the main reason for our upturn in form. Credit to him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emotic Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Love it that we were also patient and stood by him in the entire year he got banned (although we’d likely be in Europe this season had he played). A few of these players have greater affinity for the club, either through the club being there for them (Tonali); or transforming them (Joelinton, who made the Brazil squad under Howe); or giving them a better stage (Gordon, Isak, and Bruno); or developing them really patiently and well (Hall). I know it’s naive to assume that players “owe” their clubs any loyalty in this day and age, but it certainly helps that Newcastle United are actually well-run, excellently managed, and has quite quietly built a properly united team that seems to love playing for the club. I mean….just look at this… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 They showed that on Sky Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 4 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: Said it before, the management of the ban was impeccable and said so many good thanks about the club, the manager, the squad and the player. And the backing by the fans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 20 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: I'm not sure we've had an elite CM in living memory until Bruno arrived really. Although obviously I don't remember the details of the games of all the Keegan players. At least in recent years it's always been a really neglected and underrated area of the team. When they made Tonali a priority signing I knew the club was finally in good hands. Agreed. Bruno and Tonali are levels above anything I’ve seen. Of course we’ve had a world class striker but Isak is a different type of brilliant. Tripps and Hall at fullback. This team has been wonderful to watch and support. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Its amazing how much we struggled away from home in the early stages of the season. Genuinely didn't know where a win was coming from. Now we've beaten Man Utd, Spurs and Arsenal in our last 3 away games and comfortably too. The turn around with Sandro in the team has been crazy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I think we won the transfer, AC Milan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDog Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 @Milanista was gutted. I see why. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
midds Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Been trying to think of who he reminds me of - I think it's Essien. Dynamic, athletic, mint stamina, clever on the ball, intelligent, drives forward, carries it well into space and can pick a pass. He's got the lot tbh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emotic Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Milan cashed in because they obviously knew he was going to cop a lengthy ban. Worked out well for all parties ultimately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexf Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 He's playing even better than I ever thought he would. There were a few glimpses of his ability pre ban (villa debut obviously) and post ban, but since that Chelsea cup game where he started in place of Bruno, he's gone up levels. As much as I love Bruno he's quickly overtaken I think in terms of importance now and maybe only Isak I would put above him as irreplaceable. Not that I want to lose Bruno, but I think Sandro is the heartbeat of this team now and like Rodri for Man city, will prove as integral to our form. He was such a warrior out there tonight, in top of all that running he has done recently for the team, Willock I noticed wasnt quite sure of himself off the ball, but when I watched Sandro, he just knew exactly where to be at all times. Thought he was gonna smash that early chance into the net like the Brentford game but maybe rushed it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PauloGeordio Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 "First game we've EVER won without Bruno, and this warrior is one of the reasons why!! Cooked himself a lovely meal tonight of Odegaard and Rice" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nufcjb Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Shame about that shot he had in the 1st half but other than that, absolutely proud we have him at our club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumbheed Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 (edited) 5 hours ago, nufc123 said: Tonali is the main reason for our upturn in form. Credit to him. I'd had it in my mind that he wouldn't be as effective as Bruno in the 6 role because he was far easier to press and couldn't open up the game in the same way that Bruno could with his dribbling, but he's shown he can be just as affective with his quick thinking and first times passes. Ironically he's probably more effective, because he holds his deeper postion because of that fact he's not a dribbler which doesn't leave us exposed to the counter like Bruno did when he'd break the lines with his dribbling, plus his recovery pace is a gamechanger when we are countered. There's a number of times I've seen him recover enough just to hold up play a fraction more to give enough time for other to recover our shape and neutralise a counter that may have caught us out in the previous season. Fantastic player. Edited January 8 by Thumbheed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menace Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 (edited) I watched him and Rice carefully. We got twice the player for half the price. The way he orchestrates play, he bulldozes the team, runs like he's taken a bump at 80 mins played - he's absolutely scary man. Honestly to think he's nowhere near his peak as well which is terrifying. There is absolutely no guarantee he would've hit the ground running like he has if it wasn't for the ban IMO. Edited January 8 by Menace Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledGeordie Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 21 minutes ago, Menace said: I watched him and Rice carefully. We got twice the player for half the price. The way he orchestrates play, he bulldozes the team, runs like he's taken a bump at 80 mins played - he's absolutely scary man. Honestly to think he's nowhere near his peak as well which is terrifying. There is absolutely no guarantee he would've hit the ground running like he has if it wasn't for the ban IMO. Hes got the power of Ricd but I think he’s a more classy player overall. Hes a match for anyone in midfield right now. Proper, proper player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
et tu brute Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 (edited) His body language, the way he is straight in celebrating goals (he celebrated when Jorginho put his shot over the bar), there is no doubt in my mind he is loving it here. I honestly think the way he was treated by the club, his teammates and the fans during his ban, actually overwhelmed him. Top class this lad Edited January 8 by et tu brute Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelinton7 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 (edited) Makes me think of this Edited January 8 by Joelinton7 Added Tonali Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roha Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Honestly transformed us since he finally got to play in the DM role. His engine, intelligence and speed is some amazing tools. The guy that compared him to Essien is right on the money. Loving how great he is for us and so glad we stuck by him Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OoOGazOoO Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 This guy is just unreal! Absolutely ran his heart out last night. Even when Longstaff, Miggy, Barnes, etc... had come on, it was Sandro who was pressing with intent at 80 minutes despite having been a starter. Absolutely phenomenal player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I don’t think he makes Bruno replaceable, Bruno is more creative and cuter with the ball but Tonali is very complimentary to Bruno in midfield. Tonali is also good enough that we can look capable even without Bruno. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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