Sandro Tonali

[sanyi75]

The most important thing is who we will replace the departing players with, because we haven't even found a replacement for Isak.

[Kanj]

5 hours ago, Dubrovnik Dubravka said:

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

I am generally an eternal optimist, so deep down I eventually think we will get to back to where we want to be, and it could be really soon if our rebuild hits… However, deep down, I am of the mindset that we are in for a slower rebuild than we will want to have. The momentum is lost. Amanda and the takeover swell of emotions, Bruno, Tonali and Isak. The cup final. 

[Fenham Mag]

5 minutes ago, sanyi75 said:

The most important thing is who we will replace the departing players with, because we haven't even found a replacement for Isak.

Is Osula chopped liver? 

[sanyi75]

6 minutes ago, Fenham Mag said:

Is Osula chopped liver? 

It depends on what our goals are, if we want to get into the top 6, no matter how much I like Osula, he won't be enough for this task.

[Theregulars]

1 hour ago, The College Dropout said:

I will never forget that Tonali quit in Camp Nou. 

To be honest I have never been able to completely shake the feeling that he doesn't really want to be here. Personally (while I concede it is stupid of me) I dislike that he agrees to do these fluff pieces talking about how much he loves life here and then appears to instruct agent to find a way out the moment it's not as good as it can possibly be; there has never been a stronger case of "you owe us" than this guy.

[LionOfGosforth]

12 minutes ago, Kanj said:

I am generally an eternal optimist, so deep down I eventually think we will get to back to where we want to be, and it could be really soon if our rebuild hits… However, deep down, I am of the mindset that we are in for a slower rebuild than we will want to have. The momentum is lost. Amanda and the takeover swell of emotions, Bruno, Tonali and Isak. The cup final. 

 

100% agree. We had momentum like a train and now it's slowed, getting back to where we were may take longer than some are prepared to give. It will affect recruitment as well. Our progress was never likely to remain linear, it's much more challenging to run that final couple of miles in a marathon. Bad analogy but you get the point.

[Weezertron]

We’re going from a transitional season into an another seemingly larger transitional season. Personally, I think top 6 is a lofty goal. 
 

however, I’ll more than enjoy a season watching a young exciting team develop.

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Weezertron

[Vaj]

12 minutes ago, sanyi75 said:

It depends on what our goals are, if we want to get into the top 6, no matter how much I like Osula, he won't be enough for this task.

Why not? It is a huge risk yes but he scored the second most goals per minute for any player scoring 5 or more goals in the premier league last season and there was also quite a wide range of different types of goal he scored and during this time we were playing pretty poorly as a team. 

 

The rate he was scoring at last season would have equalled 30 goals over a whole campaign. Obviously he won't hit these figures but I see no reason why he can't get close to 20 which is pretty good these days.  

[Ben]

4 minutes ago, Weezertron said:

We’re going from a transitional season into an another seemingly larger transitional season. Personally, I think top 6 is a lofty goal. 

 

Hopefully with no major travelling pre season, if we can get most our transfers in by the time pre season starts, no Europe to plan for and a potential 40 game season we should start the season like a freight train 

[The College Dropout]

11 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

To be honest I have never been able to completely shake the feeling that he doesn't really want to be here. Personally (while I concede it is stupid of me) I dislike that he agrees to do these fluff pieces talking about how much he loves life here and then appears to instruct agent to find a way out the moment it's not as good as it can possibly be; there has never been a stronger case of "you owe us" than this guy.

Same but I also don't care that much. Usually on the pitch he's fully committed. Runs all day. Sounds like he prepares for matches and trains really well. And rarely misses a game or a kick which is important because a large part of that is mental.

 

I personally think he's been more professional than say Gordon - who was lazy at times and sat out numerous games dubiously. Tonali is a fully committed all action type of player but he doesn't do the bad tackle to show passion gimmick many do.

 

I don't mind the agent stuff too much in the summer window but the malarkey during the season was poor. 

 

I do agree he does owe us a bit mind.

 

Bruno is a different breed. He's not a fair measuring stick.

[LionOfGosforth]

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

Same but I also don't care that much. Usually on the pitch he's fully committed. Runs all day. Sounds like he prepares for matches and trains really well. And rarely misses a game or a kick which is important because a large part of that is mental.

 

I personally think he's been more professional than say Gordon - who was lazy at times and sat out numerous games dubiously. Tonali is a fully committed all action type of player but he doesn't do the bad tackle to show passion gimmick many do.

 

I don't mind the agent stuff too much in the summer window but the malarkey during the season was poor. 

 

I do agree he does owe us a bit mind.

 

Bruno is a different breed. He's not a fair measuring stick.

 

Largely agree but if Tonali really has been agitating for a move behind the scenes after "granting" us a whole 2 seasons, following on from being banned for a year where we stood by him, it's a pretty poor show and return for our faith in him. You're right about Bruno, he's not replaceable for everything he brings on and off the field.

[The College Dropout]

8 minutes ago, Weezertron said:

We’re going from a transitional season into an another seemingly larger transitional season. Personally, I think top 6 is a lofty goal. 
 

however, I’ll more than enjoy a season watching a young exciting team develop.

 

 

 

Slight dissapointment is that we are selling players aged 25/26. We still have the problem of selling and replacing ageing players but we are also selling players at prime ages too.

 

Munoz is only 2 years younger than Gordon. Wissa older than Isak, Woltemade 2.5 years younger.

 

It's a team picked apart in its prime.

[The College Dropout]

Just now, LionOfGosforth said:

 

Largely agree but if Tonali really has been agitating for a move behind the scenes after "granting" us a whole 2 seasons, following on from being banned for a year where we stood by him, it's a pretty poor show and return for our faith in him. You're right about Bruno, he's not replaceable for everything he brings on and off the field.

Agreed fully. Considering the ban, the agitation for a move is sheisty for sure.

 

Wilson is getting credit for moving lads on quickly and I guess the horse has already bolted on these lads futures. But I feel like we are missing some wraparound care of the squad. I guess a big part of it is lack of belief in the project. I look at say Forest or Brighton and when they sell, I feel like they sell more on their own terms. MacAllister opted for a contract extension with a release clause rather than just rundown. Van Hecke is leaving for £55m with 1 year left on his contract. Forest flat-out refused to honour the release clause for MGW, got him to sign a new contract and he had his best season yet for them I think a lot of that is down to strong leadership at the club - the very top of the club at that. I'm a broken record but I reckon heart rates increase when Bloon or Marinakis come around. And they must do for the biggest players and agents. I don't think our suits have the same impact.

 

Saying that I assume our suits are level-headed and competent unlike Marinakis at times.

 

You familiar with the phrase duppy know who fi frighten? I think it applies to us.

[Weezertron]

7 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Slight dissapointment is that we are selling players aged 25/26. We still have the problem of selling and replacing ageing players but we are also selling players at prime ages too.

 

Munoz is only 2 years younger than Gordon. Wissa older than Isak, Woltemade 2.5 years younger.

 

It's a team picked apart in its prime.

Yeah true. Fuck lol. 

 

[Weezertron]

16 minutes ago, Ben said:

 

Hopefully with no major travelling pre season, if we can get most our transfers in by the time pre season starts, no Europe to plan for and a potential 40 game season we should start the season like a freight train 

I hope so. We need to land on an identity and a system that works too. Think that’s probably the key to a good start. 

[The College Dropout]

I guess I also have PTSD. I've never really seen a good Newcastle United team successfully rebuilt. We had the Bellamy/Robert era and it ended when they left. We had something with Cabaye, Ba, HBA - once it went it was gone.

 

I think we have more competent people leading this time. But not that same momentum and fervor as the Staveley era. Essentially, I don't expect us to be 4th/5th anytime soon. More like the 6th-10th.

[Geordie Ahmed]

I said if he wants away I would be okay with £75m+ but £100m would be class

 

He was brilliant season before last but last season he was very inconsistent and that version of Tonali is easily replaceable 

 

Not sure Howe will go for it but I'd love us to sign a proper specialist DM

[The College Dropout]

Having a proper academy will be a gamechanger. Should start seeing the benefits in 2-3 years I reckon.

[Turnbull2000]

8 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

I guess I also have PTSD. I've never really seen a good Newcastle United team successfully rebuilt. We had the Bellamy/Robert era and it ended when they left. We had something with Cabaye, Ba, HBA - once it went it was gone.

 

I think we have more competent people leading this time. But not that same momentum and fervor as the Staveley era. Essentially, I don't expect us to be 4th/5th anytime soon. More like the 6th-10th.

 

Remember, that's pretty much around our budget level anyway. We've kinda been spoiled by over-performing in a couple of seasons. Need to add another £100m to commercial revenue before we start expecting 4-5th. Until then, Europa League qualification is a success. Assuming Spurs are back in the mix, 7th next season would actually be very good.

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Turnbull2000

[LionOfGosforth]

A full-on rebuild is no joke. We tried to replace (an admittedly elite) number 9 last summer and suffered mightily for it. Now we're in a spot with FB issues, ageing CBs, an unbalanced midfield that is poised to be shorn of one of it's major pieces and a set of strikers we really don't know what to expect from. Younger players coming through are at a premium as well. This summer is no joke and i've pretty much decided that what will be, will be. Expectations trimmed an all that, would just be nice to see an evolution in style and some decent young players with a bit of sparkle.

[Jordan]

I can’t shake the feeling we’re in for another poor season. There was no green shoots from last season to build on, we’ve lost one of our big players already despite the fact I don’t think he’s any loss and I’m preparing for us to also lose Tonali and one of Hall/Tino. We only seem to be interested in young players who are unproven but seem to have a high ceiling and a manager who takes an age to bed that type of player into the team. So we’re going into the season with the same shit that finished last season but three players lighter that had no style of play, no fight on the pitch and seemingly none of them can string 2 passes together with a coach that appears to have been tactically found out with no signs that he’s willing to change. 

[KaKa]

1 hour ago, Doctor Zaius said:

I think some are underrating him here in a competent tactical setup. He was very good 24/25.

 

If he goes elsewhere and performs as this player I keep hearing he is then I will hold my hands up, and have to question what the hell the coaches at Newcastle are doing.

 

Until then I'm quite tired of hearing about that part of the 24/25 season with this guy. We're a full season past that now and it's just not acceptable. Not to mention the tactics and system have essentially been the same, and so there is no reason for him to have completely fallen off a cliff. If anything that spurt is looking more like a purple patch, and he's been found out by the opposition.

 

The only slight bit of hope last season was when Howe finally switched to a double pivot at the end of the season for a couple of games, where I thought he looked a lot more comfortable, as the build up responsibilities were no longer completely left to him, and we had two sitting defensively, so there were less gaps. Unfortunately, it was just two games and so who knows if that was sustainable or not. I'd not be passing up £100 million or anything close to it to find out, especially with his insufferable reps hawking him about everywhere.

 

Time to go Sandro.

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by KaKa

[llcoolc157]

£50m plus Maddison and Gallagher… 

Ok Im not expecting everyone to agree with me here like… 

[The College Dropout]

17 minutes ago, Turnbull2000 said:

 

Remember, that's pretty much around our budget level anyway. We've kinda been spoiled by over-performing in a couple of seasons. Need to add another £100m to commercial revenue before we start expecting 4-5th. Until then, Europa League qualification is a success. Assuming Spurs are back in the mix, 7th next season would actually be very good.

 

 

 

Agreed

[macphisto]

54 minutes ago, LionOfGosforth said:

 

100% agree. We had momentum like a train and now it's slowed, getting back to where we were may take longer than some are prepared to give. It will affect recruitment as well. Our progress was never likely to remain linear, it's much more challenging to run that final couple of miles in a marathon. Bad analogy but you get the point.

It's only through Howe performing miracles when we won the cup and gained Champions League that so many focus on momentum now slowing. 

 

In truth momentum slowed a good few seasons ago, indeed after the window where we signed Tonali in 23/24. Since then we've either had windows where we sign no one or have to sell our best players to get fresh faces in.