Sandro Tonali Is Being Underrated at Newcastle and It Here's why

Chris "The American Mag"
Jan 29
3 min read

Lately, it feels like Sandro Tonali has quietly become one of Newcastle United’s most underrated players. When results go bad, his name gets thrown into the blame pile far too easily. You hear the same lines repeated: he’s not hitting last season’s heights, he’s gone off the boil, he’s not impacting games the way people expected.

But the reality is much simpler. Tonali is still absolutely central to how this Newcastle team functions. In fact, he might be more important now than ever.

The Balance Newcastle Can’t Afford to Lose

Tonali is the balance in Newcastle’s midfield. Not the flashy kind. Not the highlight-reel stuff. The kind that stops the whole system from collapsing.

We saw it again against PSV. When Tonali drops deeper, sometimes almost sitting between the centre-backs, the entire shape of the team improves. Suddenly there’s structure. Control. Calm.

That deeper positioning allows Bruno Guimarães to push higher up the pitch, where he’s most dangerous. It gives Joelinton the freedom to surge forward and be aggressive. Without Tonali holding that space, those two simply can’t play their natural game.

The same pattern showed up against PSG.

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The PSG Game Told the Whole Story

Let’s be honest, the first half against PSG was rough for everyone. No one covered themselves in glory. But in the second half, Tonali’s influence was obvious if you were watching properly.

He was everywhere. Breaking up play. Covering ground. Filling gaps. Doing the dirty work that doesn’t get clipped and shared online.

That stability is what allowed Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock to push forward and focus on attacking. Both of them did solid jobs overall, and Willock scoring was no accident. He gets into those positions because that’s his role as a midfielder arriving late into the box.

None of that happens if Tonali isn’t holding things together behind them.

Why His Work Goes Unnoticed

Dan Burn deserved and recieved the Man of the Match against PSG for how he defended, and even attacked (Which I've criticized this season) but he earned it vs PSG. But Tonali’s job rarely grabs attention.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not flashy. It’s running, mopping up, positioning, making sure the team doesn’t lose its shape. It’s the kind of role you only notice when it’s missing.

Without Tonali doing that work, the rest of the midfield and the attackers don’t function properly. The whole thing unravels.

Eddie Howe Knows Exactly What He’s Doing

Eddie Howe understands Tonali’s value. That’s why his role has changed compared to last season.

Last year, Tonali had more freedom to get forward. He could take risks, arrive in the box, even look for goals. We all remember that moment against Aston Villa where he nearly changed the game. If that chance goes in, the conversation around him might look very different today.

Could he shoot more? Yes. Could he take more chances when opportunities fall his way? Definitely. Making the keeper work should be part of his game.

But context matters.

Tonali is a midfielder, not a forward. And in this deeper role, he’s doing exactly what the team needs to keep progressing.

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A “Steal” That Still Defines Newcastle’s Midfield

Newcastle signed Tonali from AC Milan for around £55 million, which already feels like a bargain for a player of his quality. In my view, he’s one of the best in the world in his position.

If this club wants to keep pushing forward, keep competing for Europe, and build consistency, Tonali has to stay in this role. He provides the platform. He gives others the freedom to shine.

It’s not easy. It’s not pretty. But it’s vital.