Sandro Tonali and sublime art of improvisation | OneFootball

Make no doubt about it, that Sandro Tonali wonder strike against Brentford at St James’ Park, will go down as one of the greatest goals seen in the modern era at Gallowgate.

Sandro himself has said that it was “30% a shot, 70% a cross” and I completely get and understand what he means.

A few of us will still remember a similarly outrageous effort by Paul Cannell at Elland Road in the 1970s.

Paul had seemingly ran out of space and inches when pelting down the right wing, but with nobody to cross to, he totally bamboozled Leeds keeper David Harvey with an absolute howitzer.

Paul has steadfastly told me down the years that he definitely meant it but it was going to take a massive slice of luck for it to go in.

Peter Beardsley scored a similarly fantastic goal at Hillsborough near the beginning of the 1995/96 season.

Owls boss Trevor Francis said that Peter could’nt have meant it, but Peter countered that argument by saying that throughout his career he had always attempted the unusual, and that he had indeed went for goal.

The greatest goal I have ever seen is the unforgettable Papiss Cisse blast with the outside of his right foot, against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Papiss just put his foot through the ball, without even looking at the positioning of the utterly surprised and stranded Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.

Sandro Tonali has recently been playing like a man possessed for Newcastle United and Italy.

His confidence has grown throughout this campaign and it really should come as no surprise to me, or anybody else, that he took that pot shot against Brentford.

Maybe 90% (or more!) of the time he would have missed, but he smashed it perfectly, and so I salute this brilliant ‘Moretti and Spaghetti Man’ for his wonderful improvisation.

Newcastle 2 Brentford 1 – Wednesday 2 April 7.45pm

Newcastle United:

Isak 45+2, Tonali 74

Brentford:

Mbeuno 66 pen

Possession was Newcastle 48% Brentford 52%

Total shots were Newcastle 21 Brentford 12

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Brentford 3

Corners were Newcastle 4 Brentford 5

Touches in the box Newcastle 35 Brentford 37

Newcastle team v Brentford:

Pope, Trippier (Krafth 89), Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton, Tonali, Bruno, Barnes (Miley 98), Isak (Wilson 66), Murphy (Willock 66)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Shahar, Longstaff, Osula, Neave

(Newcastle 2 Brentford 1 – Match ratings and comments on all the Newcastle United players – Read HERE)