Sandro Tonali wasn’t dropped – This is the Newcastle United reality to get your head around | OneFootball

I heard and saw a lot of comments about Sandro Tonali getting dropped on Saturday.

The Italy international named on the bench against Arsenal.

Many Newcastle United fans surprised that Sandro Tonali had been ‘dropped’ for this massive match.

I saw this also across a lot of the Newcastle United media, journalists making similar comments.

Sandro Tonali was NOT dropped.

Too many people, Newcastle United fans and and NUFC journalists, stuck in this mindset of 11 players.

I think a lot of this is due to United never really having a proper squad.

We have seen great teams at times, especially under Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson, but never really a great NUFC squad.

It has never been more important, having a squad.

With the richest and most powerful Premier League (and European) clubs pushing for nine subs and use any five of them, having the ability to change half your outfield players with fresh ones of close to a similar ability is huge. How often do we see these numerous subs end up making the difference in so many games.

People saying Sandro Tonali was dropped on Saturday, but he wasn’t, just as Bruno Guimaraes wasn’t dropped in midweek.

Eddie Howe used his squad and both of these players still played major part in the two wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, as subs!

Bruno Guimaraes was excellent in midweek when coming on to help see out the cup win against Chelsea.

Sandro Tonali the same on Saturday against Arsenal.

Eddie Howe had made clear that with three tough important matches over a six day stretch, it is very difficult for players to start all three. Especially in the positions where you put in the most running, such as central midfield.

Over the course of these last two matches and wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, Eddie Howe arguably got far more out of both Bruno and Tonali by NOT starting the pair in both games.

Having the likes of Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff successfully introduced back into the mix in recent days, has now given Eddie Howe far more strength in depth and flexibility, in the midfield areas.