Sandro Tonali decision made as Eddie Howe admits mistake in awful Newcastle United defeat
Kevin Keegan once famously said that to succeed at Newcastle United, you must give the fans “what they want.” That sentiment rings true as Eddie Howe faces a challenging run of fixtures, including matchups against Manchester City, Everton, Brighton, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Among the Newcastle faithful, there’s growing anticipation for Sandro Tonali to be given a consistent run in the starting XI.
Tonali’s name echoed through King’s Cross Station last Saturday as thousands of Newcastle fans made their way to London, eagerly hoping the Italian international would feature in the starting lineup at Craven Cottage. After a week of intense speculation and debate surrounding Howe’s midfield selections, many believed that Tonali deserved his first Premier League start.
In the end, however, Howe opted for Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, and Joe Willock in midfield—a decision that didn’t pay off. Willock, still working his way back to full match fitness, appeared rusty. Joelinton struggled to assert himself, and Bruno’s costly error—a misplaced pass across his own box—effectively sealed the game in Fulham’s favor. Meanwhile, Tonali had recently completed two full 90-minute appearances for Italy during the international break, impressing manager Luciano Spalletti, who hailed him as a “very strong” option for the national team.
Yet, Newcastle supporters are still waiting for Tonali to make his mark in the Premier League. His name was chanted throughout the day by the passionate traveling fans, both as they enjoyed boat trips along the Thames and during the buildup to the match. Inside Craven Cottage, Tonali was repeatedly serenaded while warming up on the sidelines. It wasn’t until the 73rd minute that Howe finally introduced the £55 million man, replacing the underperforming Joelinton.
When asked about the clamor for Tonali to start, Howe acknowledged the midfielder’s quality but emphasized the importance of managing his integration into the team carefully. “There is no doubting Sandro’s quality,” Howe told *Chronicle Live*. “But I have to introduce Sandro at the right time for everybody.”
Despite the mounting desire among supporters to see Tonali start, particularly after his strong showings for Italy, Howe stood firm in his belief that decisions must be made based on what he observes in training and matches. “I am Sandro’s biggest supporter as well,” Howe continued. “But I can only judge what I see. Sandro came on the pitch today, and I don’t think we were particularly good in that phase of the game. I wanted us to chase the game better towards the end. But every player has the chance to make the difference when they are on the pitch.”
Howe’s decision to start Willock, who had been one of the standout players in the previous match against Wolves, was intended as a reward for his efforts. However, in hindsight, the Newcastle boss admitted that the move may not have been the right one. “Joe did so well against Wolves, and I felt it was right to reward him with a start,” Howe explained. “But then you see the game, and I question whether that was the right decision from myself, so I’ll take responsibility for that.”
Willock, still recovering from an injury, has been a key player for Newcastle in recent seasons. Howe was eager to see him back on the pitch, but Saturday’s match proved to be a tough test for both the player and the team. “Joe is just back from injury and done very well to come back,” Howe noted. “He’s such a big player for us, and I was keen to see him play, but it was a tough one for him and the team.”
As Newcastle faces a demanding set of fixtures, Howe must balance the need to integrate new signings like Tonali with ensuring that established players, such as Willock, are given opportunities to regain form and fitness. With growing pressure from the stands and on the pitch, the decisions made in the coming weeks could have a significant impact on Newcastle’s ambitions for the season.