Analysis: How Tonali has unlocked Newcastle's midfield

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 24.

Player analysis: Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)

In recent months, Tonali has made himself an undroppable member of Newcastle United’s abrasive but supremely talented midfield unit.

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A genuine all-rounder, much like his team-mates Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, the Italian can take up any role that Eddie Howe demands of him. Since mid-December he has almost exclusively been used as the team’s principal defensive midfielder, releasing the other two to adopt box-to-box roles.

But the trio are free to interchange as they see fit, with Howe describing the configuration as "freedom within a structure".

It is a formula that usually works extremely well.

After helping Newcastle to win nine of his last 10 starts in all competitions, six with clean sheets, the 24-year-old is now a must-pick for the Magpies.

Incredible energy

No other central midfielder in the Premier League covers more ground per 90 minutes than Tonali.

He scurries around the pitch, seemingly without pausing for breath at times.

Not only does he protect central areas, but the Italy international also works hard on his lateral movement, breaking up play and recycling possession on the wings too.

His touch map from Newcastle's 3-1 win at Southampton last time out indicates how he is here, there, and everywhere in the Magpies' midfield.

Tonali's touch map v Southampton

Considering this, it is no surprise to learn that Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski is the only individual to cover more distance on average than the Newcastle star.

Running 12.2km per 90 minutes, Tonali’s appetite for hard work is a good example for others. Team-mate Guimaraes is not too far behind either, ranking 10th on 11.5km per match.

PL players who've covered the most distance per match 24/25

Interestingly, the same four players who lead the way for distance covered also boast the fastest average speed among Premier League players who have made at least 10 starts.

Rarely slowing down into a jog, Tonali runs around with great energy and purpose.

Tonali’s speciality: ball winning

This weekend’s opponents Fulham like to keep possession, averaging a higher share of the ball than Newcastle over the course of the season so far.

As they are not possession-heavy, and perhaps at their best from transitions, the Magpies require good physicality and combative players inside the midfield that will win the ball back for them.

Tonali certainly fits the bill in that department.

The former AC Milan midfielder is quick to pick up loose balls and terrific at forcing regains, ranking seventh in the division for the most times possession is won in the middle third per 90.

In Newcastle's victory over Southampton, Tonali made five ball recoveries, as well as winning four tackles and 10 duels. Three of his 22 pressures also resulted in a turnover.

Sander Berge and Emile Smith Rowe, two of Fulham’s most dangerous central midfielders, will certainly be put under duress when they have the ball at their feet at St James’ Park.

Up against a tenacious Wolverhampton Wanderers midfield unit earlier in January, Tonali was the dominant figure within that domain, winning possession back on 15 separate occasions.

Only AFC Bournemouth, Liverpool and Chelsea have had more shots from transitions this season than the Magpies (122), and Tonali and co in midfield are integral to that threat they carry from those breaks.

Tonali possession won v Wolves (H)

How does Tonali’s role impact Guimaraes?

The main tactical adjustment Howe has made of late is to release Guimaraes into more attacking positions.

The Brazilian has featured for him so many times as the deepest-lying midfielder, largely performing very well in that position, but it does feel like his quality is wasted a little in that role.

Tonali’s presence as the central member of their midfield three has liberated Guimaraes and given him more opportunities to break forward.

Guimaraes statistics before and after Tonali's presence

Producing nine direct goal involvements in his last 12 appearances, compared to one in his previous 16, Guimaraes has benefitted greatly from the change.

It has also helped the team, who have averaged 2.66 goals per game across that 12-match period.

Prior to that, Newcastle were finding the back of the net 1.125 times per fixture.

These heat maps for Guimaraes compare the positions he has taken up in his last eight top-flight starts (since 14 December) with those he adopted in his Premier League appearances before that.

Tonali’s comfort in the role of the defensive midfielder has released the Brazilian to go and hurt opponents from that right-of-centre position.

Guimaraes heat map before and after 14 December

When you consider how natural Joelinton is in the role that mirrors this to the left of Tonali, you can see why the balance of Newcastle’s midfield is regarded as fantastic.

Why restricting Tonali’s role would be detrimental

Many head coaches prefer their sitting midfielder to be cautious in their positioning, especially in light of how opponents can hurt them on the counter-attack.

Providing one of Joelinton or Guimaraes is willing to cover him, Tonali does not have those limitations put on him by Eddie Howe from a tactical perspective.

The best example of this came last weekend when his rampaging third-man run from deep broke through Southampton’s defence in spectacular fashion.

He won possession back in trademark fashion by surging forward to meet a bouncing ball, finding Alexander Isak with his header.

Showing fabulous awareness, Tonali saw a hole open up down the spine of the pitch, and once Isak had laid the ball off to Anthony Gordon, he sensed an opportunity to strike.

Sprinting down the middle of the pitch, Gordon picked his run out excellently, releasing Tonali to score from a 1v1.

Tonali's goal v Southampton

These kind of off-the-cuff patterns of play are what makes Newcastle's athletic midfield unit such a difficult trio to face.

They will rotate positions at will and cause problems for rival sides in a variety of ways.

To get the better of them this weekend, Marco Silva’s midfield will need to be at their best, both physically and mentally to gain the upper hand.

Tonali’s influence has been plain to see, and what he brings to this specific role is benefitting the side enormously.

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