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Sandro Tonali


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39 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

Joelinton has never looked comfortable in a deep midfield position. If it's a double pivot then he can't be involved; I'd sooner see Miley there tbh. 

 

I know its an old forum joke with defenders playing in midfield but I wouldn't mind seeing Tonali and Hall as a double pivot.

 

We need one of Trippier or Targett back before trying it mind

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51 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

I might eat my words but I don't think it is. There's one really significant gap (backup CF, because Wilson doesn't count) and two areas where we've got quality issues (RW and CB). Those issues are enough to cause a domino effect of problems but I feel that even one decent signing would've settled things down a bit.

 

If it becomes clear that Schär is done, Bruno is burned out, Isak wants to leave, Pope's shoulder has buggered him and Tino and Hall aren't what we thought they were going to be - I'll change my view. :lol: But there's a lot of ifs there and maybe, we're just a bit out of form. Which happens.

 

We just seem to be too rigid in our tactics and personnel to make any changes to improve us. 

 

I think it's a worry how we've used the same formation for nearly 3 years and it doesn't look like we're learning that it isn't benefiting our better players

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1 hour ago, Yorkie said:

 

I might eat my words but I don't think it is. There's one really significant gap (backup CF, because Wilson doesn't count) and two areas where we've got quality issues (RW and CB). Those issues are enough to cause a domino effect of problems but I feel that even one decent signing would've settled things down a bit.

 

If it becomes clear that Schär is done, Bruno is burned out, Isak wants to leave, Pope's shoulder has buggered him and Tino and Hall aren't what we thought they were going to be - I'll change my view. :lol: But there's a lot of ifs there and maybe, we're just a bit out of form. Which happens.

We have zero 10s in the squad. No quality at RW. No depth at CB. Squad is wielded to 433 pretty much.  

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The whole Ashworth thing has really hurt us.  Locking in Joelinton and selling Minteh and Anderson has hampered our tactical flexibility. 
 

Even if we only got £30m for Joe and keep one of Anderson or Minteh. It forces the squad and tactics to evolve a bit more. 
 

We need to get better at moving on the 28+ players.  

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2 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

It’s not really working for NUFC and Tonali.  

 

Definitely worth a try.  I have concerns about his ball retention in that area. Passing can be loose. 
 

 


That’s a valid criticism but I’m hoping it’s because he’s trying the Hollywood pass.

If he had clear instructions to recycle the ball and just keep it moving we might see much better passing accuracy stats. 
I would also hope him having Bruno and either JL or JW showing for a pass as well as both FBs he would have plenty of options to move the ball quickly and then get himself into space to receive it back as an option. 
EH doesn’t seem to see this as a valid option (or not yet) so he must see reasons in training that it won’t work.

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3 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

The whole Ashworth thing has really hurt us.  Locking in Joelinton and selling Minteh and Anderson has hampered our tactical flexibility. 
 

Even if we only got £30m for Joe and keep one of Anderson or Minteh. It forces the squad and tactics to evolve a bit more. 
 

We need to get better at moving on the 28+ players.  


Soon as a I saw Morgan Rodgers for Villa I thought they’ve bought their own version of JL. Only he’s younger and (I’m sure) on a much lower wage. £8m ffs.

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9 minutes ago, Lotus said:


That’s a valid criticism but I’m hoping it’s because he’s trying the Hollywood pass.

If he had clear instructions to recycle the ball and just keep it moving we might see much better passing accuracy stats. 
I would also hope him having Bruno and either JL or JW showing for a pass as well as both FBs he would have plenty of options to move the ball quickly and then get himself into space to receive it back as an option. 
EH doesn’t seem to see this as a valid option (or not yet) so he must see reasons in training that it won’t work.

His data at Milan suggests going for the Hollywood pass is just his style of play.  Him and JL in a flat 3 is just too loose on the ball imo.  

 

8 minutes ago, Lotus said:


Soon as a I saw Morgan Rodgers for Villa I thought they’ve bought their own version of JL. Only he’s younger and (I’m sure) on a much lower wage. £8m ffs.

Aye. I wonder if Joelinton could play 10/supporting striker for us. Feel like Rogers has better feet in tight spaces. 
 

Rogers effectively replaced a £60m transfer. Smart recruitment. Villa used their summer transfers in and out to reduce the squad age dramatically.  
 

I was never a big fan of Anderson and selling Joe would at least help make us a better footballing side. 
 

 

Barkley would’ve been another great pickup.  Different dynamic to what we have. 

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3 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I’m not sure Barkley would get a game for us but for the squad he’d be decent. 

Would help our build-up tremendously.

 

Can do a job at 6 or either of the 8 positions. More ball secure and press resistant than Joelinton, Longstaff and Tonali.

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Just now, The College Dropout said:

Would help our build-up tremendously.

 

Can do a job at 6 or either of the 8 positions. More ball secure and press resistant than Joelinton, Longstaff and Tonali.


He wouldn’t play ahead of any of those except Longstaff. I think he’s a decent player though. 

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38 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

We have zero 10s in the squad. No quality at RW. No depth at CB. Squad is wielded to 433 pretty much.  

 

I don't agree that 4-3-3 is the only formation we can play and the fact we don't have a traditional number 10 isn't that big of deal. The other two points are what I said.

 

I don't think it's in a complete mess. It hasn't been for the last two seasons so I don't see how it suddenly is now (discounting the theory that suddenly loads of players have suddenly become much worse). 

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8 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Can you name another ‘top’ side that has zero players at 10?

 

Longstaff gets loads of minutes. In many games I would prefer Barkley to Joelinton.  A much cuter footballer. He’d be more effective than Tonali has been so far too. 

 

NUFC 2022-24.

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Teams have creative midfielders like Maddison and the false Bruno, they don't usually play in that central number 10 role as we might traditionally think of it.

 

 

Edited by AyeDubbleYoo

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11 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Teams have creative midfielders like Maddison and the false Bruno, they don't usually play in that central number 10 role as we might traditionally think of it.

 

 

 

And my point is we don’t have those players. 
 

City - Foden, Silva, KDB

Arsenal - Odegaard

Liverpool - Szob, Jones

Villa - Rogers, McGinn, supplemented by Tielemans and Barkley deeper

Chelsea - Palmer, dude from Atleti

Spurs - Kulu, Maddison

 

 

Edited by The College Dropout

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12 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

NUFC 2022-24.

 

We need to adapt though. Us outrunning or outpressing teams isn't working anymore, especially away from home. 

 

There's only so far you can go without playing to your better players strengths

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10 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

And my point is we don’t have those players. 
 

City - Foden, Silva, KDB

Arsenal - Odegaard

Liverpool - Szob, Jones

Villa - Rogers, McGinn, supplemented by Tielemans and Barkley deeper

Chelsea - Palmer, dude from Atleti

Spurs - Kulu, Maddison

 

Separately to the 'do we or don't we need a 10' debate, you're listing teams who have much less in the way of restrictions and a far greater margin for error when it comes to transfers. Comparisons to City, Arsenal and Liverpool is pointless at the best of times, they're so far ahead of everyone else in every metric. 

 

2 minutes ago, joeyt said:

 

We need to adapt though. Us outrunning or outpressing teams isn't working anymore, especially away from home. 

 

There's only so far you can go without playing to your better players strengths

 

I accept that but I believe that the squad has the ingredients to make changes. The squad isn't in amazing shape but I don't believe it's a mess. 

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