Sandro Tonali

[Displayname]

Also doesnt help his compusure that we look a little lost as a team aswell atm.

We have seen glimpses of his quality, sure they will come more often going forward 

[ryanegg]

For a very brief period last night, it seemed to me him and Gordon were playing the roles on the left similar to the two Joe’s last year. He really seemed up for it in the first few mins then faded out slowly.

[The College Dropout]

8 hours ago, ponsaelius said:

He attempted 10 passes tonight, completing 7 of them.

 

Bruno had 36/39. Longstaff 38/45.

 

Now obviously he only played 72 minutes, but I think those stats fairly reflects my viewing of the game that he was basically completely uninvolved beyond defensive covering.

 

There's obviously going to be language issues, adaption to the team and his teammates, and accepting we've had a tough start in terms of settling in. But I'm worried that we've bought him with no idea how to use him in this system that Howe will not change from. 

 

It's like the 2023 version of buying Hugo Viana to play in a 4-4-2. 

 

 

 

Aye. Just so ineffective on the ball. Barely gets on it. 

[joeyt]

 

 

 

[Shearergol]

As long as they pay £150m for him at some point, that's fine.

[jigen]

Howe must swap Tonali and Bruno positions. Tonali in the center ahead of the defense and Buno on the right (or left). 

Tonali isn't a top and you have overpaid, but he is a good player, but you must use him in the correct position. 

 

 

[The Prophet]

Last night was a poor performance. The mitigating factor being he's a young lad returning home to his boyhood club after leaving a couple of months ago.

 

He's already shown there's a good player there, it's about gelling him into the team. It seems a bit early to be worrying.

[McCormick]

Can’t wait to see him, Willock and Bruno in the same team (with Joelinton playing at left-wing and Gordon on the right). Think that’s our most balanced midfield on paper.

 

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by McCormick

[Smal]

Completed 7 passes in his 72 minutes on the pitch . That’s definitely a bit of a structural issue.

[prefabtoon]

Tonali was never going to hit the ground running. due to language problems.coming in to a new country etc,

we need to give the lad time to settle in. I dont think we will see the best of him until maybe the back end of this season.

Or even next season. we need to be patient with the lad. He is clearly a class act, but needs time and patience.

 

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by prefabtoon

[The College Dropout]

8 minutes ago, Smal said:

Completed 7 passes in his 72 minutes on the pitch . That’s definitely a bit of a structural issue.

He pushes high up and is just never on the ball.

Off the ball he lacks intensity too.

[The Prophet]

 

[bobbydazzla]

23 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

Last night was a poor performance. The mitigating factor being he's a young lad returning home to his boyhood club after leaving a couple of months ago.

 

He's already shown there's a good player there, it's about gelling him into the team. It seems a bit early to be worrying.

 

On this here forum it's never to early to be worrying. People worry about being worried.

 

It's worrying.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by bobbydazzla

[PauloGeordio]

2 minutes ago, bobbydazzla said:

 

On this here forum it's never to early to be worrying. People worry about being worried.

 

It's worrying.

 

 

 

 

 

Worrying! 

[Guest]

Anyone think it could be down to communication problems, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Almiron, I don’t think any of them can speak much English at the moment and they’re not mind readers. It’s got to have some affect on the games surely?

 

It’ll be reet once they find his best position. 

[Ikon]

An attacking LB like Hall would get our CM’s closer together. As of now him and Longstaff almost play as non central midfielders too far away and wide from Bruno who then gets too isolated easily. There’s too much space in the central area of the pitch for the opposition to exploit and personally I think it’s too flat too. We need someone taking some more depth in there, as well as someone providing more depth forward centrally too. I reckon Hall coming in would make our CM a bit tighter and being able to look more flexible and “3D” in the middle, especially in possession. We are not making the most of Bruno’s progressive passing as he has next to no one close to the side or in front of him to play to. 

[Lush Vlad]

I do wonder with all the games coming up and the injuries to Big Joe and Little Joe.  If he could ever be used in a 2 next to Bruno or Longstaff?

 

Howe seemed to move to this at times last season, usually more in game and not necessarily starting with it.  I can't think off the top of my head, but I have Southampton away in the cup and Brentford away on my mind.  There were definitely other instances and I feel like it helped us gain some control back in those games.  But I may just be remembering it like this to suit my point here.

 

We are going to see some rotation and we look light at centre mid currently.  We have a few options for a 10 or a more advanced midfielder in Gordon, Isak and Anderson.  Even Almiron, at a push.  As he played there before joining us by all accounts. 

 

Perhaps there was more fluidity and flexibility with positions last season with Joelinton and Willock in the side.  As they can play a couple of different positions and Joelinton plays three positions at once  so it was easier to do mid game.  But we do seem to be a bit too wide and far apart with our midfield 3 currently.  

 

I'm sure we will work the balance out one way or the other.  As another poster rightly mentioned in another thread.  If fans are noticing some of the imbalances, lack of quality going forward, gaps between the lines and midfield too wide etc etc.  Then I'm sure the meticulous Howe and his staff will have noticed all of this long before us and the Twitter tactic nerds did.  

[Joelinton7]

Underwhelmed by this guy

[Ikon]

4 minutes ago, Joelinton7 said:

Underwhelmed by this guy

I’m not. Not until I see him settled and in a functional setup. Not sure what we are trying tactically. 

[Shearergol]

12 minutes ago, Joelinton7 said:

Underwhelmed by this guy

 

It's Hall I'm underwhelmed with. Seen nothing of him so far for us to convince me he's gonna be any good. Livramento doesn't look much better either. Hound them all out, the wankers.

[Dr Jinx]

i noticed a few times where he was open for a pass and it was the pass to make, only for Bruno to sort of do that slow down stand on the ball thing and decide to go down the right side. The team are not involving him enough.. it's obvious he's got passing range and is creative.

[KDT]

29 minutes ago, Joelinton7 said:

Underwhelmed by this guy

 

He's played 5 games man and had a blinder in 1 of them.

[Chapo]

Hope Ritchie gets him in secret Santa this year and we see a return of the sheep’s heart. 

[Cronky]

For a player of his experience, he looks quite nervous. Yes I know, he's new to the team and the country etc, but he needs to relax and get stuck in more. He's admitted that he's found the transition tough, of course.

 

He sometimes shows a heavier first touch than I would expect. Hopefully that's just nerves.

 

 

 

 

[TRon]

55 minutes ago, Dr Jinx said:

i noticed a few times where he was open for a pass and it was the pass to make, only for Bruno to sort of do that slow down stand on the ball thing and decide to go down the right side. The team are not involving him enough.. it's obvious he's got passing range and is creative.

 

Honestly think it's just a case of these guys learning each other's game, and it will improve. I also think getting a left back who can progress the ball will help the overall football in general, it's a team game and we still look like we play with three different sections. Defence, then midfield, then strikers. There's not that much fluidity between those areas at the moment.