Tis’ the season for Newcastle United, who’re flying excessive by way of the festive interval and continued their sizzling streak of kind with a commanding victory over Aston Villa within the Premier League.
It has been an imperfect season, however Eddie Howe‘s facet have proven character and high quality in equal measure throughout these essential current weeks, reorienting themselves at some extent that might have sparked calamity, had fortunes not been turned.
Brentford have been dispatched within the Carabao Cup, whereas Ipswich City and Leicester Metropolis have been put to the sword within the prime flight earlier than Unai Emery‘s facet made the journey to Tyneside.
Newcastle’s finest gamers vs Villa
Ever since PIF arrived, Newcastle have sought to boost their station within the footballing world. They have been nice and have loved some highs, however PSR has stifled progress in 2024.
Nonetheless, deft decision-making noticed the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak stored at St. James’ Park on the expense of prospects Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh.
With emphatic performances similar to this one towards Villa, it appears to be a superb transfer. Isak and Gordon obtained themselves on the scoresheet whereas Guimaraes’s loopy purpose was chalked off after a VAR intervention.
It was complete and cultured. The Magpies have been aided by Jhon Duran’s crimson card after the half-hour mark, however then they have been additionally one purpose to the great at that time.
The fluency and slickness on present come from one centrepiece specifically. Certainly, Sandro Tonali is flourishing within the deep-placed midfield spot and was Howe’s unsung hero this afternoon.
Sandro Tonali’s resurgence continues
Tonali has made regular steps towards the very best rung of the Newcastle ladder this season, having spent many of the previous yr suspended because of betting breaches.
The £55m acquisition from AC Milan has now completed 19 appearances this time period, scoring two targets and serving two extra, and although his effort towards the Villans wasn’t the flashiest, he proved that he’s a elementary a part of this new-look Newcastle system.
The Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder thought so, remarking that the Italian ‘sparkled like a festive wine.’ Tonali was praised for his ball-playing and command within the engine room, supercharging Howe’s workforce and permitting these such because the rampant Joelinton to search out house and safety to wreak chaos.
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Sandro Tonali – Stats vs Aston Villa (26/12/24) |
|
|---|---|
|
Match Stats |
# |
|
Minutes performed |
90′ |
|
Targets |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Touches |
89 |
|
Go accuracy |
64/74 (86%) |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Dribbles (accomplished) |
0 (0) |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
3 |
|
Complete duels (received) |
9 (6) |
|
Stats through Sofascore |
|
Statistical knowledge as a person entity may be deceptive. It might appear that Tonali’s match metrics current a median and uninspiring image, however the eye take a look at reveals loads. He was the glue within the center who made all of it tick.
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie even hailed the Italian’s impression within the deeper, extra controlling position, saying: “Tonali within the quantity six has (sic) modified the entire dynamic of the workforce.”
Lengthy could it proceed. Tonali’s magnificence is fused with a combative and tenacious facet that denotes his long-term success within the Premier League.
Curiosity within the 25-year-old is ramping up; Newcastle have reluctantly considered Tonali’s not-too-distant sale to placate the newest PSR plague.
Whether or not it’s going to occur is one other matter completely. But when Tonali continues to supply such impactful outcomes, the Newcastle switch workforce’s shrewdness and wherewithal could also be known as into play.
As a result of, come on now, he absolutely cannot be allowed to play elsewhere.
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