Sandro Tonali’s drop in form has mirrored Newcastle’s but he has a big role to play now
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
One down and one to go. Finally out of the Carabao Cup after a long run winning it then reaching the semi-final, Newcastle must now confront their mountain to climb in the FA Cup.
Aston Villa away with no safety net of a SJP replay. Extra time and penalties if required but settled on the night. All or nowt.
Tough? What isn’t these days? Villa have hit the buffers to a certain degree in terms of performance, burdened by a midfield crisis and the heavy weight of expectancy in the Premier League but not to the same extent as us before our salvation at Spurs.
They have won only two of their last six league games – guess where the first one was? – but then Newcastle have lost five of their last nine over all competitions.
While Geordie talk of late – at least on the terraces – has been dominated by the great debate over Eddie Howe there is an underlying factor which brings with it genuine concern.
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The future of several blue chip players highlighted by Sandro Tonali will come into persistent debate this summer when the fact that United are in Europe or not will play a major role.
There seems a very good chance that Tonali will return to starting duty at Villa Park especially as captain Bruno is currently being checked for a hamstring problem.
That being so we need to see the old Sandro that everyone of a black-and-white bias adored a little while back when his athleticism, desire, and relentless ability produced a wow factor. He was the best by a country mile . . . then his world became fogged and confused and a spark went out.
In many ways Tonali has epitomised what has happened to Newcastle, why they have lost their way just as he has. What is the answer?
Howe left him out when United redressed the balance at Tottenham but team success doesn’t mean the problem has gone away for player or club. Villa is the next test, either a stepping stone or a stumbling block. We look to Sandro. Give yourself a shake my man!
There are vultures already circling not only for him, which is generally accepted, but Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon as well.
Having seen Liverpool be successful with Alexander Isak, admittedly a tawdry long drawn out affair that greatly affected both clubs, there is a belief abroad that however much United squeal the bottom line is that business can be forced.
Already the stirrers who unsettle players through third parties approaching agents have muddied the waters. United know it but it is the way of the world – remember we got Yoane Wissa after he had gone to strike to force through the transfer.
Meanwhile amid claims and counter claims players’ heads get turned temporarily or permanently and they become nothing like the vibrant performer they once were.
Gordon has admitted he became unsettled by the open courtship of Liverpool before the Isak farce and for some time now I have felt that Tonali has been far from a happy bunny. He has played as though carrying a sack of coals on his back.
I’m not saying he wants away but I am saying that for whatever reason the joyful young man who performed with the assurance of one of the world’s best midfielders after coming back from his lengthy ban no longer gallops around like a foal full of the joys of living. Instead he makes mistakes and can look lethargic. That is why I worry.
If the FA Cup is the Wor Jackie Trophy to us – three Wembley wins, three goals – then United’s legendary No.9s have always gone deep into this competition. SuperMac made the final in 74, Alan Shearer in 98 and 99. Trouble is we haven’t got a superstar striker any more.
Can either of the W force – Wissa or Woltemade – come out of his shell and impose himself as he has regularly failed to do of late?
Or will it be one of Villa’s two England international centre-forwards, Ollie Watkins and new signing Tammy Abraham, who make an impact.
At the moment the biggest condemnation of our summer striker imports is that a winger who rarely scores in the PL has been preferred through the middle ahead of them by Eddie Howe. That is some condemnation.
We await the arrival of heroes and villains. Those who make the difference and those who do not. The FA Cup depends on it.
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