Sandro Tonali

[The College Dropout]

2 minutes ago, STM said:

Im really worried that people look at the Woltemade signing and think "yeah let's not do that again", when im not sure that's the lesson to be learned.

 

At least with Woltemade we went after a highly rated young European striker and put our balls on the table. It might not work, granted, but at least we showed some metal in the transfer market. We shouldn't stop going after these players, we just need to make sure they are the right fit.

 

Im really worried that we are going to sideline ambition. Tonali leaving might be indicative of that.

 

Woltemade was poor profiling and poor scouting. Woltemade was largely a nobody in 2024. He had a great 2025 - we bought the vaporware at peak value. Bad business.

 

 

Targeting young players with big fees can work but it has to be a proper player

[christ]

I think people need to reckon with the fact we’re entering a very different phase of the PIF project, one in which pragmatism reigns.

 

We’ve spent the last few years clinging grimly onto our blue chip players, and found it meant we couldn’t move in the transfer market. Did it pay off? Probably. Lost some good young players but got CL football and won a trophy. However, it’s not sustainable. We found last summer when the roof fell in, and the following season when we looked tired and stale.
 

Ashworth used to talk about us becoming good sellers to circumnavigate PSR. But to be good sellers you have to sell in the first place. And the players others will want to buy are going to be good ones. Sad but true. No one is dropping £40m on Jacob Murphy.

 

I think this summer is going to be a shock to the system. A reset of sorts. Some unpopular gambles that might look like backward steps but if they pay off will drag us forward and have us on a much sounder footing going forward.

[The College Dropout]

Just now, r0cafella said:

Who's underpaid? Only the cartel clubs pay higher than us

That's where they are going though

 

Tonali is underpaid - seems like even Spurs will give him a good payrise - believe he's on the same money as when he joined 3 years ago. Tino is underpaid - on his original contract. Hall is underpaid - on his original contract. Isak was underpaid. Bruno might be underpaid too.

[Bunk Moreland]

 

[nufc123]

Bailey () says we will be tough sellers and only welcome bid 100m or more.

[andycap]

6 minutes ago, nufc123 said:

Bailey () says we will be tough sellers and only welcome bid 100m or more.

So we should too, be honest if he's happy here get the most you can. 

His agent needs a good pasting. 

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by andycap

[KennyUtd]

If Tonali goes to Spurs I'll genuinely be more gutted than when we lost the rat. I can't get my head around it. A proper kick in the nuts.

[GeordieDazzler]

22 minutes ago, STM said:

 

Thats fine but surely there are sides out there that are vulnerable to us? Domestically?

 

We got bent over a barrel for Elanga and Wissa, couldnt do deals for a Wolves striker or Guehi from Palace the year before.

 

When Staveley was here we showed muscle and ambition, going after players like Gordon etc.

 

My real worry is we go down the route of signing cheap foreign players and shopping in the same market as Palace, Bournemouth and Brentford.

 

We should be in the same market as Villa and Spurs.

Well with SCR it should make it difficult for teams to close the gap on us a Villa. In theory Brighton etc may need to buy or sell quicker as they can’t spread a big sale the same way they could under PSR.

[r0cafella]

4 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

That's where they are going though

 

Tonali is underpaid - seems like even Spurs will give him a good payrise - believe he's on the same money as when he joined 3 years ago. Tino is underpaid - on his original contract. Hall is underpaid - on his original contract. Isak was underpaid. Bruno might be underpaid too.

Tonali willingly signed a new contract and has played shit for 12 months. Tino refuses to discuss a new deal so of course he's on his original deal. 

 

Isak rejected our contract offers 

Bruno renewed. 

 

Who's underpaid?

[KaKa]

3 minutes ago, Bunk Moreland said:

 

 

"But Newcastle want £100 million" 

 

Oh, they've only just realised have they. I mean it's only been out there for forever 

[Mattoon]

8 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Villa seem averse to signing and playing younger players with high potential bar the obvious guy. Succesfully doing that will level them up. But whenever they get the opportunity they prefer more established players on massive wages.

 

We are saying the same thing really. Salary is a huge element of a "project".

 

Arsenal have kept their best players as they've gone from 8th to Champions over like 5 seasons.

 

The point where I differ is I think if a player believes in a project he might take 5-15% less at the club than he might get elsewhere. But that also requires fairly early renewals. Isak 2024 contract wouldn't have been crazy but that would've given faith in the project.

 

Also no new training ground, stadium, revolving door of execs and leadership it all undermines the project. Arsenl have the Kroenke son close to the action. It was Edu for a number of years now Berta. Their actions have aligned with their statements.

 

Yeah I agree, Mitchell really screwed the pooch with Isak and maybe that was the catalyst for other players to realise they were never going to get what they think they're worth here.

 

PIF also have a lot to answer for here, making slow decisions and getting the recruitment at the top so wrong, they have a much bigger scope to move us forward than they are currently exploring and the lack of a day to day representative with any kind of autonomy is an anchor around the club also. We're so busy learning from mistakes we've lost sight of trying to avoid them.

 

If by project you're talking about how much money we can conceivably make to build the club then I agree with that, we aren't doing enough.

[The College Dropout]

1 minute ago, r0cafella said:

Tonali willingly signed a new contract and has played shit for 12 months. Tino refuses to discuss a new deal so of course he's on his original deal. 

 

Isak rejected our contract offers 

Bruno renewed. 

 

Who's underpaid?

If Tonali was on £250k would he be leaving to join Spurs?

 

Tonali is worth whatever the market is willing to pay him. It looks like at least 1 club is willing to pay him a lot more than he is on now.

 

Tino is refusing offers... because he thinks he can attract better offers... so he's ok with being underpaid for now because he thnks he can do better.

 

Isak left to treble his wage.

 

Let's stop talking, this is a nonsense.

[STM]

Spurs aren't under Levis clutches anymore, its not out of the realms that they pay 90m+ for Tonali, if they see him as their blue chip signing. 

 

Again, we can want 100m but if he wants to leave, we showed last summer a willingness to let the player get their way.

 

Just once, we need to put our foot down.

[Dokko]

For £100m he can go to Sunderland. 

[KaKa]

2 minutes ago, Dokko said:

For £100m he can go to Sunderland. 

 

[r0cafella]

2 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

If Tonali was on £250k would he be leaving to join Spurs?

 

Tonali is worth whatever the market is willing to pay him. It looks like at least 1 club is willing to pay him a lot more than he is on now.

 

Tino is refusing offers... because he thinks he can attract better offers... so he's ok with being underpaid for now because he thnks he can do better.

 

Isak left to treble his wage.

 

Let's stop talking, this is a nonsense.

Aye we can leave it here, but given our stature and the output of these players I don't think any of them are underpaid honestly. 

 

Them being able to earn more elsewhere doesn't make them underpaid, the market is distorted unfortunately. 

[The College Dropout]

Just now, Mattoon said:

 

Yeah I agree, Mitchell really screwed the pooch with Isak and maybe that was the catalyst for other players to realise they were never going to get what they think they're worth here.

 

PIF also have a lot to answer for here, making slow decisions and getting the recruitment at the top so wrong, they have a much bigger scope to move us forward than they are currently exploring and the lack of a day to day representative with any kind of autonomy is an anchor around the club also. We're so busy learning from mistakes we've lost sight of trying to avoid them.

 

If by project you're talking about how much money we can conceivably make to build the club then I agree with that, we aren't doing enough.

I've been on the PIF actions don't match their words train for over awhile now.

 

I'm tapped out of the project and have been. I'm just watching and supporting - I don't believe we are on a path to becoming a top player. I've enjoyed having a competitive team, it's been a golden era.

 

I'm less than convinced PIF have the desire or aptitude to get close to their stated ambition. I just hope we get a new training ground and stadium out of them and can win some more trophies.

 

I also don't think it's just Mitchell btw. The players and their camps would've noticed we haven't progressed with the infrastructure stuff as fast as they were initially probably sold.  They would've noticed we haven't exhausted our commercial avenues with PIF power. They would've noticed PIF giving our rivals hundreds of millions in fees. They would've noticed the constant changes in leadership. This isn't the club to maximise their short careers.

[The College Dropout]

A midfielf of Gallagher and Tonali would be hilarious mind.

[The College Dropout]

3 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Aye we can leave it here, but given our stature and the output of these players I don't think any of them are underpaid honestly. 

 

Them being able to earn more elsewhere doesn't make them underpaid, the market is distorted unfortunately. 

You have to understand, that's literally not how it works.

 

If I can earn 50% more P/A for the same output i'm doing now..... i'm underpaid. And i'm leaving my company.

[Mahoneys Tache]

13 minutes ago, KennyUtd said:

If Tonali goes to Spurs I'll genuinely be more gutted than when we lost the rat. I can't get my head around it. A proper kick in the nuts.

I’m still radge about Waddle in 1985

[KaKa]

Spurs paid Gallagher £200,000 a week. This is the kind of decision making going on at that club.

 

If they want to put a bunch of money down for Tonali that no one else is willing to. Let them do so. Take it and run.

 

The fact that Spurs have come steaming in for him is probably a red flag in of itself. Who is the last decent midfielder they even signed?! Modric? 

 

Seem they sold their soul to get De Zerbi to sign on, and are now over indulging him, because he wants to sign a fellow Italian from Brescia. Have at it.

[TRC]

Pay rise, London, better chance of playing CL long term, Italian manager. Also seeing the clubs best players leave, and last year terribly replaced.

 

 

[duo]

20 minutes ago, Bunk Moreland said:

 

Good - stick to £100. 

[BergenMagpie]

If spurs are ready to pay 55m for Van Hecke who has 1 year left on his contract they'll surely expect to have to pay 100m for Tonali

[Menace]

I'm really not that arsed about him leaving like, especially if we end up getting a hefty amount for him.

 

There's plenty that can replace him. If the players don't believe in the vision of the club why even try to convince them, let them move on.