Sandro Tonali

[Tsunami]

He’s not in great form, his care of the ball hasn’t been the best lately and he was very poor for the 1st goal last night. I feel a tuned in Tonali would have done better for the 2nd as well; mind you, as a team, we look like we’re expecting to concede a late goal.

[Mikky]

56 minutes ago, Tsunami said:

He’s not in great form, his care of the ball hasn’t been the best lately and he was very poor for the 1st goal last night. I feel a tuned in Tonali would have done better for the 2nd as well; mind you, as a team, we look like we’re expecting to concede a late goal.

I know I sound like the biggest broken record ever, but I feel that the entire team in under stress because our midfield is totally set up the wrong way - it doesn’t connect to the defence, doesn’t connect to the 2 wide forwards and it doesn’t connect to the #9 - it’s why we look like we do 

 

It’s also putting strain on the midfielders too  - neither Tonali - Bruno - Big Joe have had good seasons - all been a level below

 

Until the shape of that midfield is tweaked, we will continue to look and play like a mid table team 

[TRon]

1 hour ago, Tsunami said:

He’s not in great form, his care of the ball hasn’t been the best lately and he was very poor for the 1st goal last night. I feel a tuned in Tonali would have done better for the 2nd as well; mind you, as a team, we look like we’re expecting to concede a late goal.

 

 

He got done by the dummy for the second goal, but there was still plenty of defenders between Grimaldi and the goal. The blame needs to be shared on that one. 

[AJ9]

4 minutes ago, Mikky said:

I know I sound like the biggest broken record ever, but I feel that the entire team in under stress because our midfield is totally set up the wrong way - it doesn’t connect to the defence, doesn’t connect to the 2 wide forwards and it doesn’t connect to the #9 - it’s why we look like we do 

 

It’s also putting strain on the midfielders too  - neither Tonali - Bruno - Big Joe have had good seasons - all been a level below

 

Until the shape of that midfield is tweaked, we will continue to look and play like a mid table team 

The lack of a striker who can be a threat behind the back four means we can get pressed more easily when on the ball, but that we stretch our midfield to link up with Wolt. We don’t have the personnel to play with Woltemade at present and I think this is the key issue.

[Mikky]

1 minute ago, AJ9 said:

The lack of a striker who can be a threat behind the back four means we can get pressed more easily when on the ball, but that we stretch our midfield to link up with Wolt. We don’t have the personnel to play with Woltemade at present and I think this is the key issue.

2 flaws - an attacking 8/10 and a left footed technical winger on the right - the 8/10 you have in Bruno - I also think Miley has in his game - the RW we don’t and the fact that he chose to play Barnes there yesterday should set the alarm bells ringing 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

2 minutes ago, Mikky said:

2 flaws - an attacking 8/10 and a left footed technical winger on the right - the 8/10 you have in Bruno - I also think Miley has in his game - the RW we don’t and the fact that he chose to play Barnes there yesterday should set the alarm bells ringing 

Wasn’t it just because Barnes and Gordon are our most threatening wingers at the moment? 

[Lush Vlad]

1 hour ago, Coffee_Johnny said:

Hang on it is early, let me just get this straight, you have just stated Sandro Tonali looked absolutely tragic? This was the match last night? I mean it would trigger a similar response if it was about him on a football pitch anytime ever.  But this was the game where he covered every blade of fucking grass. Multiple recovery runs and interceptions in our own box. Where he slipped outside their box but was still the first man back in ours? That Sandro Tonali? 

Picking one moment in a game to characterise his entire performance is like saying did you see him fall over, waste of space,  can’t even stay on his feet. Do you actually rate any of our midfield? 

Murphy and Pope haven’t been playing. Burn’s not at left back. Gordon is back to form. The boo boys need a new target  

[Mikky]

4 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Wasn’t it just because Barnes and Gordon are our most threatening wingers at the moment? 

Barnes as LW should never have been changed imo - if Gordon wants a game then he should be shifted to the right 

 

I’ll go back to Elanga - Isak or no Isak there was no need to buy him specifically - it’s killing us 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Just now, Mikky said:

Barnes as LW should never have been changed imo - if Gordon wants a game then he should be shifted to the right 

 

I’ll go back to Elanga - Isak or no Isak there was no need to buy him specifically - it’s killing us 

I see that argument but Gordon was looking very sharp and arguably our best attacking player. 
 

I think we’re just a bit stuck that our best 2 wingers play LW and the options on the other side are looking not great. 

[Mikky]

9 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I see that argument but Gordon was looking very sharp and arguably our best attacking player. 
 

I think we’re just a bit stuck that our best 2 wingers play LW and the options on the other side are looking not great. 

And that’s the whole issue - it’s so unbalanced - it’s the old square pegs in round holes scenario - X million spent in the summer and we still have the same issues hurting us in the team - with Ramsey and Elanga I am getting really worried that we are in Dec and still waiting for them to perform or do something semi meaningful 

[Billy Warthog]

And now he's doing Jean-Paul Gaultier ads as well? 

 

[vexred]

I don't remember the last great game he had.

[duo]

Head gone? Somethings not right 

[Keggy_Keagal]

Since that contract extension story came out he's not looked the player he was last season.

[aussiemag]

Hes gone from being one of the top 3 midfielders in the league to one of the worst in the last 4 weeks or so. 
Did that illness really fuck him up? 

[TBG]

Hendrick was hounded out for less.

[London Mag]

4 minutes ago, aussiemag said:

Hes gone from being one of the top 3 midfielders in the league to one of the worst in the last 4 weeks or so. 
Did that illness really fuck him up? 

No it's Howe changing his position

[Fak]

5 minutes ago, TBG said:

Hendrick was hounded out for less.

 

[Menace]

He's just had a kid lads, take it easy 

[nemtizz]

Most overrated player at the club. Needs to bring more than stamina and recovery pace.

[pubteam]

3 minutes ago, nemtizz said:

Most overrated player at the club. Needs to bring more than stamina and recovery pace.

I’m sure he used to drive forward with the ball, either that or I’ve just completely made that up in my own head.

[Myleftboot]

A few weeks ago he was the best midfielder in the prem was he not?

[Alberto2005]

1 hour ago, Menace said:

He's just had a kid lads, take it easy 

He hasn't yet.

[TRon]

1 minute ago, Myleftboot said:

A few weeks ago he was the best midfielder in the prem was he not?

 

 

A few weeks ago he was. 

[Gallowgate Toon]

Hard to believe that was the same bloke as the lion from the cup final. Something seems very off. Not seeing much of anything that made him so good, outside of some recovery running.