Sandro Tonali

[The Prophet]

Fab's Tweet seems to suggest the fee is agreed, but they're sorting out the structure.

 

£60 million is bit steep. It feels like Isak though, if he gets anywhere near his potential it'll be worth it.

 

[STM]

I remember when we pretended that Carroll wasn't at all responsible for his move to Liverpool, claiming that the entire thing was down to MA being a greedy cunt (although that was true), absolving Carroll of any blame/responsibility for abandoning his boyhood club....

 

Something similar is happening here with the Italian media. "Tonali wanted to stay", is something you will hear alot.

 

All I will say is this.... he can't of wanted to stay THAT much. 

[TonaliFan]

9 minutes ago, Nattfare said:

Great post, Tonalifan. If he signs, stick around and change your username to Toonalifan.

Haha. I might have to. 

 

Honestly, I watch a lot of prem so I have nothing but respect for Newcastle and the way you guys have operated recently.

 

If he does make the move, I will certainly be cheering him and the collective on 

[High Five o]

[The College Dropout]

5 minutes ago, James said:

Sounds like Bruno to me

Nah Bruno progresses the ball with passing and dribbling much better. Silkier. 
 

The Tonali comps are full of hard running, interceptions and tackles, good feet and decent passing. 
 

A Bruno comp will have more skilful runs and less obvious passes. 

[Kid Icarus]

1 minute ago, STM said:

I remember when we pretended that Carroll wasn't at all responsible for his move to Liverpool, claiming that the entire thing was down to MA being a greedy cunt (although that was true), absolving Carroll of any blame/responsibility for abandoning his boyhood club....

 

Something similar is happening here with the Italian media. "Tonali wanted to stay", is something you will hear alot.

 

All I will say is this.... he can't of wanted to stay THAT much. 

 

I think I'm the other way. I blamed Given, Carroll, Enrique etc at the time but with time understood what Ashley's like. 

[Nine]

Our midfield options are disgusting with Tonali in, proper CL ready stuff. Add in a Nmecha and we’re sorted for depth in the middle.

[Coffee_Johnny]

58 minutes ago, Decky said:

Reckon this gets done before the weekend. What a brilliant start to the window. 

I reckon we might have to wait until after the u21 match tonight to speak to him. So could be a Saturday announcement or maybe Monday—if he gets bladdered on the Quayside over the weekend ?

[Slim]

Can get a return from Ncl -Milan for 40 quid via Ryanair.

 

Would expect that to be a factor.

[STM]

Just now, Kid Icarus said:

 

I think I'm the other way. I blamed Given, Carroll, Enrique etc at the time but with time understood what Ashley's like. 

 

Oh it made entire sense for them to leave for something better.

 

The reality is that Newcastle is something better than Milan and I know that's arrogant considering the size of Milan as an institution but football changes and we are a club on the charge. He will get to play in the best league in the world, earning treble his wages and opportunities are only going to get better for him.

[MrRaspberryJam]

1 minute ago, Slim said:

Can get a return from Ncl -Milan for 40 quid via Ryanair.

 

Would expect that to be a factor.

 

Class mate.

[The College Dropout]

2 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Nah Bruno progresses the ball with passing and dribbling much better. Silkier. 
 

The Tonali comps are full of hard running, interceptions and tackles, good feet and decent passing. 
 

A Bruno comp will have more skilful runs and less obvious passes. 

My only ‘concern’ was that he didn’t look like he would solve the problems we have when Bruno doesn’t play. That lack of ball progression or guile in midfield to create a bit of space. 
 

But I think the JM / Szo signing solves that.  

 

[STM]

To me, this screams double pivot with Bruno.

[Coffee_Johnny]

32 minutes ago, TonaliFan said:

Hi all,

 

Another Milan supporter here. Thought I'd have a gander at what's being said over this side and offer my 2 cents.

 

On the likelihood of signing Tonali

Unlike my compatriot Milanista, I am not so adamant that "you're not getting Tonali". As much as I would like to be so sure, the reports are saying that under current ownership, no player is off limits (if the right price comes along). Sadly, the region of 80m is good business, and that's how we operate now. Maldini... a legend and club icon, the man that completely represents what Milan is, got recently sacked as technical director in as little as a few words with no warning and no proper testimonial. That is an indication if ever I've seen one that the management is purely business. The 'moneyball' approach is the new wave, but it lacks heart, and a true ambition to reach the highest levels of football. 

 

It is true that he is a boyhood fan of the club. He embodies this team and what it represents in every possible way, through his football and his character. That's why a lot of us are quite upset over this news. In 2021, Tonali agreed to take a pay cut so he could stay at Milan, basically saying he could achieve everything here, didn't care about the money, and wanted to become a club icon. This is what i'm holding onto, but if the club agrees a deal and says to him we no longer need you, then you leave. 

 

On Tonali as a player

For those interested in what he's like as a footballer. He's young (yet established)... and soon to enter his prime.

 

Position: He can play as a 6 or an 8. In my opinion he's most effective as a box-to-box player. He has the speed, the intelligence, the passing to get forward, and the defensive skills to be a presence anywhere on the pitch. The only thing I would say is he does probably need to add more goals to his game, but he is improving in that regard. 

 

Physicality: Got an incredible engine - he will hustle, harry and never slack off. He works his arse off all game long. Excellent at breaking up play and filling in gaps. Having watched Newcastle play quite a bit last season, I think this suits your philosophy perfectly. 

 

Mentality: A+++++ A warrior, someone who fights for everything. Respects his club, teammates, coach and everyone involved. Will always give 100% and is the best team player you could ask for.

 

 

 

Side note: I found it interesting how Milanista mentioned how a lot of Milan fans say he's a "Jack of all trades, but master of none". There is some truth to this, IMO. Tonali, at this stage, in my opinion doesn't possess elite level qualities of other players in his position. He doesn't have the tackling of a Kante, or the passing of a Kroos. But he is the type of player that you notice when he's not there. He does the simple things consistently well, rarely puts a foot wrong and doesn't have any obvious weakness. In a word, he's 'effective'. 

 

 

You an English Milan fan? Very ‘naturalised’ use of language. Thanks for the info ?

[Andy84]

Squad shaping up nicely, as CD says though we need that final piece of creativity then we’re good to go.  A bit more depth at CB would be nice as well 

[TonaliFan]

1 minute ago, Coffee_Johnny said:

You an English Milan fan? Very ‘naturalised’ use of language. Thanks for the info ?

Australian with an Italian background

[STM]

Using Maddison as an example

 

Option 1:

 

            Bruno       Tonali

 

Miggy        Maddison       Joelinton 

 

                      Isak

 

Option 2:

 

                      Tonali

          Bruno               Joelinton 

Maddison                              ASM

                        Isak

 

Option 3:

 

                      Bruno

         Tonali                 Willock

Maddison                           Joelinton 

                        Isak

 

Options, options, options.

[Mahoneys Tache]

8 minutes ago, reefatoon said:

Maybe they weren’t allowed to use the oven either.

Probably a good thing given Di Canio’s  political proclivities 

[AJ9]

35 minutes ago, TonaliFan said:

Hi all,

 

Another Milan supporter here. Thought I'd have a gander at what's being said over this side and offer my 2 cents.

 

On the likelihood of signing Tonali

Unlike my compatriot Milanista, I am not so adamant that "you're not getting Tonali". As much as I would like to be so sure, the reports are saying that under current ownership, no player is off limits (if the right price comes along). Sadly, the region of 80m is good business, and that's how we operate now. Maldini... a legend and club icon, the man that completely represents what Milan is, got recently sacked as technical director in as little as a few words with no warning and no proper testimonial. That is an indication if ever I've seen one that the management is purely business. The 'moneyball' approach is the new wave, but it lacks heart, and a true ambition to reach the highest levels of football. 

 

It is true that he is a boyhood fan of the club. He embodies this team and what it represents in every possible way, through his football and his character. That's why a lot of us are quite upset over this news. In 2021, Tonali agreed to take a pay cut so he could stay at Milan, basically saying he could achieve everything here, didn't care about the money, and wanted to become a club icon. This is what i'm holding onto, but if the club agrees a deal and says to him we no longer need you, then you leave. 

 

On Tonali as a player

For those interested in what he's like as a footballer. He's young (yet established)... and soon to enter his prime.

 

Position: He can play as a 6 or an 8. In my opinion he's most effective as a box-to-box player. He has the speed, the intelligence, the passing to get forward, and the defensive skills to be a presence anywhere on the pitch. The only thing I would say is he does probably need to add more goals to his game, but he is improving in that regard. 

 

Physicality: Got an incredible engine - he will hustle, harry and never slack off. He works his arse off all game long. Excellent at breaking up play and filling in gaps. Having watched Newcastle play quite a bit last season, I think this suits your philosophy perfectly. 

 

Mentality: A+++++ A warrior, someone who fights for everything. Respects his club, teammates, coach and everyone involved. Will always give 100% and is the best team player you could ask for.

 

 

 

Side note: I found it interesting how Milanista mentioned how a lot of Milan fans say he's a "Jack of all trades, but master of none". There is some truth to this, IMO. Tonali, at this stage, in my opinion doesn't possess elite level qualities of other players in his position. He doesn't have the tackling of a Kante, or the passing of a Kroos. But he is the type of player that you notice when he's not there. He does the simple things consistently well, rarely puts a foot wrong and doesn't have any obvious weakness. In a word, he's 'effective'. 

 

 

Welcome to the forum! Milan fans on our forum giving us a run down of one of their players…who the fuck would have thought it a couple years ago?

[Danh1]

Hope this is all done for the weekend. Feels mental that we are taking one of Milan’s to players. Mental. 
 

Szob/Maddison, a left back and some younger players to beef the squad up and I’ll be delighted. 

[SteV]

7 minutes ago, Slim said:

Can get a return from Ncl -Milan for 40 quid via Ryanair.

*Makes note for CL draw

[Danh1]

https://twitter.com/t00nstats/status/1671762960098656256?s=46&t=CXHUhNBA05pDutrtsP_F_A

 

Another positive with Tonali is his injury record.He missed 8 matches in his first season at AC Milan due to injury. 
Since then he’s only missed 2 games through injury across the 21/22 and 22/23 seasons

 

 

Edited June 22, 2023 by Danh1

[TheBrownBottle]

8 minutes ago, STM said:

 

Oh it made entire sense for them to leave for something better.

 

The reality is that Newcastle is something better than Milan and I know that's arrogant considering the size of Milan as an institution but football changes and we are a club on the charge. He will get to play in the best league in the world, earning treble his wages and opportunities are only going to get better for him.

I’m too much a child of the ‘80s and ‘90s.  There is a part of my brain that can’t quite shake off thinking of AC Milan as the world’s grandest football club. 

 

 

Edited June 22, 2023 by TheBrownBottle

[Zagreo]

Hello everyone, I am a fan of AC Milan and also a casual fan for Newcastle. I obviously know Tonali well. In Italy the fans are very unhappy with the deal but the player is objectively worth much less than the rumored fee. I think Newcastle are betting on his potential. In the Premier League the player he's going to play well and in the Champions League too. You will fall in love for work ethic and commitment on the field. He can play in any role in the midfield: Milan has often played in a 2 men formation in front of the defense, but sporadically he was also put in a more advanced position making important goals. I think it’s a player that you can work on a lot. Enjoy it because the player is strong. 

 

 

Edited June 22, 2023 by Zagreo

[BoSelecta]

He looks like a significant Longstaff upgrade and potential Bruno cover/rotation option to me based on some Youtube scouting. We definitely still need goals in our midfield, excited to see who we go for to provide them (looks like Maddison or Szob).