Sandro Tonali

[Dubrovnik Dubravka]

The feeling that we've already peaked hurts a lot. It wasn't meant to go like this.

[r0cafella]

Just now, Abacus said:

Yes, I know Gordon was a different situation. Liverpool were dithering about with a fee anyway.

 

I'm just not totally sure how passive we are with it when these links come up with players who allegedly want away.

 

Which is another reason actually Gordon was different, because up until that point it didn't seem like his head had been turned. 

What do you mean by passive? I think we've learnt our lesson and it doesn't benefit us to keep unhappy players around so are open to selling. 

 

Obviously we have a few in mind and hopefully we've done the right thing behind the scenes and told his agent in no uncertain terms this is how much we want. 

 

Personally, I always found the head turned stuff to be absolutely bollocks and just a hallmark of a player who isn't particularly professional, we were only a stepping stone on the Anthony Gordon journey and I think that's quite evident at this point. 

[Abacus]

10 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

What do you mean by passive? I think we've learnt our lesson and it doesn't benefit us to keep unhappy players around so are open to selling. 

 

Obviously we have a few in mind and hopefully we've done the right thing behind the scenes and told his agent in no uncertain terms this is how much we want. 

 

Personally, I always found the head turned stuff to be absolutely bollocks and just a hallmark of a player who isn't particularly professional, we were only a stepping stone on the Anthony Gordon journey and I think that's quite evident at this point. 

By passive, I suppose what I mean is, if Tonali has indicated he wants away, might we have decided on his price and told his agent, either now or when he renegotiated his contract, that at £xm he can go. And then just let his agent get on with that. 

 

Or to what extent might we actively encourage it ourselves. I suppose it amounts to the same thing really so doesn't really matter, just idle Wednesday morn speculation.

[The Prophet]

5 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

I do but it’s mostly on the ball. 
 

I never thought he was as good as some claimed. Never thought he was better than Bruno. He was always loose on the ball.  
 

He was noticeably worse on the ball last season but it wasn’t anything new - just worse. As a unit the midfield has looked disjointed. Tonali isn’t good enough on the ball to hold but also needs better players around him at 8.  I think he’s best playing behind a 10 he can keep passing too. 
 

 

I don’t think he’s easily replaced at all. cm in a Howe system is difficult.  

 

Fair, I thought be regressed off the ball too. He'd often find himself out of position or wrong side of his man.

 

That's ultimately the frustration with him. On his day he's excellent, but we've not seen anywhere enough of it.

 

Aye, let's see. All the noise seems to be we're looking for a genuine six this summer, which would be quite a change in approach.

[TBG]

Andy Howe at the end of another day doing absolutely nothing

 

 

N-O members clocking in "one" last time

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 hour ago, Dubrovnik Dubravka said:

The feeling that we've already peaked hurts a lot. It wasn't meant to go like this.

 

It's a long journey mon ami, keep the faith. 

[gdm]

2 hours ago, Dubrovnik Dubravka said:

The feeling that we've already peaked hurts a lot. It wasn't meant to go like this.

Should really have to say this We won a trophy that many never thought we’d see happen and got CL football twice its going fine 

[Wallsendmag]

What happened last season was always going to have consequences. The better players will be getting twitchy, maybe even losing faith in the "project" that they were sold. There'll be agents being instructed to test the water no doubt. We have a good few players who the top clubs would like to have. Gordon already gone, Tonali might well, and the vultures will be circling around Hall and possibly Livramento although his injury record might put suiters off him. Miley would be well sought after as well but wouldn't expect him to leave. Makes last season all the more frustrating as the talent is clearly there.

 

When PIF bought us in 2021 we all thought, or at least hoped for a completely upward trajectory but it was never going to happen like that as we were immediately stopped from doing a Man City. There'll be occasions where we'll have to go back over a bit before we go forward again. This is one of those times it looks like and puts us at a bit of a crossroads which makes this summer probably the most important transfer window we've ever had. If it goes right and we can push on again and get a top 6 finish then it would appear things are back on track. If we get it wrong again another bottom half finish doesn't really bear thinking about.