When a delegation from Newcastle United travelled to Milan to watch Sandro Tonali – nearing the end of a year-long pursuit of a midfielder who was, in the words of one insider, “always top of our lists, always No 1” – they were blown away.
The question posed in months of recruitment meetings was never should they sign Tonali. It was how they could possibly get a player who ticked every single box out of his boyhood club and into St James’ Park under the noses of some of the biggest clubs in the world.
And that afternoon at San Siro, there was some disbelief that the all-action rising star of Serie A would actually commit to Newcastle. Why, one of those present said, would they ever let him go?
During the darkest days of his 10-month ban from football for breaching gambling regulations, some on the outside of the club might have had their theories about AC Milan’s motivation (knowledge of Tonali’s issues have always been denied by his former club). But at Newcastle they chose to go another way.
The focus was never on recriminations or retribution – and now they are reaping the rewards for that approach.
“We always had faith in him,” one source told The i Paper. “It’s such a privilege to see how he’s developed.”
If you want to know how the Magpies have turbocharged their campaign and re-asserted themselves in the chase for a Champions League place the answer emphatically lies with Tonali – or more specifically his new role as the team’s No 6 and conductor-in-chief.
Eddie Howe’s side are a team of many talents, with rapier forward Alexander Isak on a eight-game scoring streak in the Premier League and chasing a record ninth if he passes a late fitness. But it is the manager’s decision to switch Tonali to number six and Bruno Guimaraes to No 8 at the start of December that has unlocked the potential of this team. With the team set up that way the results have been: played seven, won seven.
It was no “Hail Mary” call from Howe, who has bided his time with Tonali – making sure he was physically ready to fulfil the requirements of being a Premier League ‘six’. Newcastle have become big on performance data this season and it was only when Tonali was hitting the right numbers that Howe felt ready to make the change.
But this was a combination in Newcastle’s thinking way back when they first started getting serious about the Tonali pursuit.
“It’s always quite frightening adding someone new into the dynamic – especially for the price quoted – but we always thought he’d be great because he’s capable of doing so much,” one source said.
At the time, the philosophy driving Newcastle’s recruitment was “balance”.
While other clubs had spent big – and at £55m, Tonali was a huge investment – too often they neglected the big question: could they actually play together?
As the football brains in the room, Howe’s voice was the loudest in the room on the point.
Tonali’s ability to “watch” and read the game – as opposed to Guimaraes’ tendency to want to get involved and chase the ball, even as an accomplished “six” – was prominent in all of Newcastle’s scouting reports and there is quiet satisfaction at the way their on-field chemistry has developed.
One source points out the duo, who are also close off-the-field, deserve credit for “working at it”.
“They didn’t waste a moment of Sandro’s ban, which is why it’s working now,” they said.
So why does it work? Well partly because it addresses Newcastle’s weakness in defensive transitions.
Analyst Kevin Lawson points out that his speed and stamina helps the Magpies cover more ground during transitions, preventing the team from being hurt so easily on the counter.
Pushing Guimaraes further up the pitch also gives Newcastle more technical ability on the right hand side.
His assists and goal contributions have trended up since the switch and he is just generally more involved and engaged now.
“He’s a special character but he just looks happier when he’s playing now,” one source said.
“Sandro is bang on with the small details, bang on with helping the team defend and then of course his obvious technical qualities come out and the way the midfield has played – he’s had a huge role in that,” Howe says.
“I’m delighted with how he’s come into the team and how confident he looks right now.”
Tonali’s success has thrilled those at Newcastle who saw what he went through during his suspension.
He is a hugely popular character in the dressing room and around the club. A straw poll of a few who have worked with him identifies a familiar theme: “generous”, “kind”, “hard-working” and “mentally strong”.
“He’s very level, just a very good professional,” Howe says.
“I said last year you wouldn’t really know [the difficult situation he’s in]. He’s exactly the same character now he was in that difficult moment and that’s a big compliment to him.
“He’s very focused on the future, very focused on him being his best, delivering what the team needs.”
Those close to him speak of a burning desire to repay the faith of supporters and a club who immediately threw a protective arm around him when news initially broke about his gambling addiction.
Within hours of that Newcastle – jointly with Aston Villa, whose loan player Nicolo Zaniolo was initially caught up in the gambling case but ultimately cleared – had chartered a private jet to bring him back to the UK.
There were dark moments – those close to the situation remember Tonali was frightened and “heartbroken” when he first returned to the north-East – but Newcastle’s priority was to support and protect him.
Former co-owner Amanda Staveley told the player there were no recriminations and he owed them nothing but honesty.
He took a voluntary pay cut and did community work.
At one low moment he visited a local factory – with no publicity – to remind him of the privileged position he was in.
“It was a privilege to watch him grow. It could have broken him but it made him,” one source said.
It is why no-one at Newcastle was remotely worried when a story broke in Italy recently claiming Tonali was unhappy at his lack of minutes and contemplating a move back to Serie A.
His representatives were quick to deny it and the player’s deep gratitude at Newcastle’s approach during his ban endures.
He still remembers a Wor Flags display hailing him before he began his ban in October last year.
Recent performances feel like Tonali’s reply to that Gallowgate show of faith.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/g2YfSmx
Post a Comment
EmoticonClick to see the code!
To insert emoticon you must added at least one space before the code.