Sandro Tonali

[TRon]

17 minutes ago, Myleftboot said:

I think he prefers to play in the middle of the pitch but he’s pushed over onto the right and Bruno’s the main man in the middle.

 

Don't think I've actually seen him play in the middle for us, he always seems to be drifting out wide more. I assumed that was just his natural game.

[Myleftboot]

4 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

Don't think I've actually seen him play in the middle for us, he always seems to be drifting out wide more. I assumed that was just his natural game.

 

[kenlau88210]

2 hours ago, Ronson333 said:

That man could be miggy, he plays quite a few through balls and I think that was his role at Atlanta.

Great shout. I love to see it but doubt Eddie will ever try that.

[Shearergol]

4 hours ago, Ikon said:

I think the best for both him and Bruno would be to have an option in front of them. An attacking midfielder that isn’t too far away ahead of them. A player they can play one two’s with at times. This would also not force Isak coming way too deep as he often does. We need more playing depth in the centre. 

Bingo.

 

A creative midfielder in front.

 

or a defensive midfielder behind. 

[kingxlnc]

Would love to see us do the 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-3-2 at some point

 

Bruno / Tonali as the double pivot

Gordon, Willock, Barnes (or could be Almiron, Gordon, Joelinton in those positions)

Isak

 

A 4-1-3-2

 

Bruno

Tonali Willock Joelinton

Gordon

Isak

[kingxlnc]

We don't have that many great options to be honest, we have a lopsided squad, genuine world class or top class talent in Bruno, Isak, Tonali, Botman, Trippier, Gordon, then a decent smattering of PL talent, Joelinton, Willock, WIlson, Schar, Barnes, Pope. 

Everyone beyond that are either a dependable veteran (e.g. Burn), promising youngster (Hall, Tino) or absolutely bang average (Longstaff, Kelly, Targett, Murphy)

Looking at a Chelsea or a Villa, our main rivals - their squads seem more spread out for talent. Villa don't have anyone at Isak or Bruno level, but its more spread out across the squad. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Not surprising when we're still recovering from 15 years of neglect though, is it? 

[Heron]

2 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Not surprising when we're still recovering from 15 years of neglect though, is it? 

[hakka]

14 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Not surprising when we're still recovering from 15 years of neglect though, is it? 

 

And we've made incredible strides very quickly. If we spend well next summer and give reasons for existing top players to stay, then we easily will keep improving.

[Dr.Spaceman]

It's nearly 3 years since PIF took over and I can't believe we don't have swathes of class academy grads just ready to replace our injured first teamers.

[Kanji]

Going to sound mad but I wonder how he'd look with as the LCM and Longstaff as the RCM with Bruno central (see Paris at home). 

[JEToon]

20 hours ago, Myleftboot said:

Do Italians make it in the premier league compared to other nationalities.

 

 

 

 

Zola, Di Canio, Di Matteo, Vialli, Jorginho? They were OK? 

 

I would expect the likes of Pirlo, Buffon and Cannavaro would have managed it as well. 

 

Any kind of issue with Tonali, which is minor, isn't because of his Nationality. 

[Lazarus]

Didnt Tonali always say he thought of himself as more of a Gattuso than a Pirlo?

 

Thats not to say that parts of his game arnt very Pirlo like

[Sean]

28 minutes ago, Lazarus said:

Didnt Tonali always say he thought of himself as more of a Gattuso than a Pirlo?

 

Thats not to say that parts of his game arnt very Pirlo like

Seems he did. He's clearly more of a Gattuso than a Pirlo, there's nothing at all controversial there, except for people who want him to be a Pirlo clone.

 

 

Edited October 7 by Sean

[BoSelecta]

But he’s got lovely hair….

[Andy]

20 hours ago, Myleftboot said:

Do Italians make it in the premier league compared to other nationalities.

 

 

 

 

Their best players have tended not to come over here, historically, so it's a hard comparison to make. I can't think of many Italians who have been great in Italy then flopped here, though. 

 

Only one that springs to mind is Dino Baggio, but he was at the back end of his career and already on the decline at that point. 

[Vaj]

9 minutes ago, Andy said:

 

Their best players have tended not to come over here, historically, so it's a hard comparison to make. I can't think of many Italians who have been great in Italy then flopped here, though. 

 

Only one that springs to mind is Dino Baggio, but he was at the back end of his career and already on the decline at that point. 

Aquilani was useless

[Andy]

8 minutes ago, Vaj said:

Aquilani was useless

 

Wouldn't say he was one of their league's best players though? Remember him being distinctly decent at Roma at best, he was hardly Totti

[Lush Vlad]

17 hours ago, Shearergol said:

Bingo.

 

A creative midfielder in front.

 

or a defensive midfielder behind. 

 

I agree with this and who's to say Howe won't change things over time as the team hopefully starts to evolve.  I still think 4-2-3-1 was what he played a lot of the time at Bournemouth, for example.  

 

But I just don't think in the whole time he has been here.  He has ever looked to play a DM or a number 10 and the fairly flat midfield 3 has been a mainstay. 

 

The closest we got to the 10 was a few times when Isak played deeper behind Wilson.  It actually looked promising.  But a very small sample size from memory.  Fulham at home for a bit, second half at Brentford.  Can't think of many more times where they were both on the pitch in that kind of set up. 

[Shearergol]

Just now, Lush Vlad said:

 

I agree with this and who's to say Howe won't change things over time as the team hopefully starts to evolve.  I still think 4-2-3-1 was what he played a lot of the time at Bournemouth, for example.  

 

But I just don't think in the whole time he has been here.  He has ever looked to play a DM or a number 10 and the fairly flat midfield 3 has been a mainstay. 

 

The closest we got to the 10 was a few times when Isak played deeper behind Wilson.  It actually looked promising.  But a very small sample size from memory.  Fulham at home for a bit, second half at Brentford.  Can't think of many more times where they were both on the pitch in that kind of set up. 

 

I know, and it's my only frustration with Howe. But it's a very personal thing, other people seem to love the fluid three number 8's idea.

[Lush Vlad]

Just now, Shearergol said:

 

I know, and it's my only frustration with Howe. But it's a very personal thing, other people seem to love the fluid three number 8's idea.

 

Not really for or against it.  Just wouldn't mind a bit less rigidity, at times.  

 

That said, the top managers do seem to have their system and whilst they will tinker.  The way the 11 lineup is often the same.  I would rather have that and a coach that believes in their philosophy and that it will work.  Than some of the chancers we've had over the years.  Who would change formation and tactics week to week based on one bad result.  Or stick to a certain tactic that is clearly ill-suited most the while.  Like Bruce and that bloody 4-4-2 v Brighton when it could have been about 0-10  

[HaydnNUFC]

22 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

 

I agree with this and who's to say Howe won't change things over time as the team hopefully starts to evolve.  I still think 4-2-3-1 was what he played a lot of the time at Bournemouth, for example.  

 

But I just don't think in the whole time he has been here.  He has ever looked to play a DM or a number 10 and the fairly flat midfield 3 has been a mainstay. 

 

The closest we got to the 10 was a few times when Isak played deeper behind Wilson.  It actually looked promising.  But a very small sample size from memory.  Fulham at home for a bit, second half at Brentford.  Can't think of many more times where they were both on the pitch in that kind of set up. 

 

I don't think he will; we had the chances to sign players to allow us to evolve how we play but didn't, this summer or last. Hope I'm wrong on that, like.

 

And nah. He doesn't play with one. Never has done AFAIK.

 

And was Isak not on the left in those games? He absolutely should not be in an auxiliary role like that from the start as he's far too good for that. In behind the striker may be a shout but that'll hardly happen as Wilson is barely available anymore.

 

 

Edited October 7 by HaydnNUFC

[Kanji]

                 Isak

Barnes   Gordon   NEW RW

         Tonali   Bruno 

[Lush Vlad]

2 hours ago, HaydnNUFC said:

 

I don't think he will; we had the chances to sign players to allow us to evolve how we play but didn't, this summer or last. Hope I'm wrong on that, like.

 

And nah. He doesn't play with one. Never has done AFAIK.

 

And was Isak not on the left in those games? He absolutely should not be in an auxiliary role like that from the start as he's far too good for that. In behind the striker may be a shout but that'll hardly happen as Wilson is barely available anymore.

 

 

 

Nah. I really remember Brentford away when we came back to win and Fulham home, which was an awful late 1-0 win. He was behind Wilson. 

[Mole]

21 hours ago, Andy said:

 

Wouldn't say he was one of their league's best players though? Remember him being distinctly decent at Roma at best, he was hardly Totti

I seem to remember at the time people saying the pace of the league wouldn't suit him at all as well.

 

It wasn't just a question of quality, like he was decent to good as you say but the style of play wasn't all that conducive to him playing his best football.