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Player Watch: Victor Wanyama

Sanj

Well-Known Member
Jun 22, 2003
1,680
1,130
Firstly - i have been very impressed by Wanyama this season.
This is not a dig at him - i was pleased with his signing.
However, yesterday i though he was a major issue in us being completely overrun. His passing and ball retention was extremely poor (compared to the collective poor level of the team) and on top of this Wanyama was rushing all over the pitch, being passed around and leaving huge holes in the midfield - which Leverkusen exploited in the 2nd half.
i don't know if his poor discipline was trying to make up for his poor passing, or whether he felt he was covering his colleagues - but we don't need him charging around right or left midfield and abandoning his central positions.
Maybe i'm still upset by the 2nd half performance and being a bit harsh - but someone needed to tell Wanyama to protect the back 4 and let the other midfielders cover the other area's.
 

c0d

Member
Dec 12, 2006
140
52
Firstly - i have been very impressed by Wanyama this season.
This is not a dig at him - i was pleased with his signing.
However, yesterday i though he was a major issue in us being completely overrun. His passing and ball retention was extremely poor (compared to the collective poor level of the team) and on top of this Wanyama was rushing all over the pitch, being passed around and leaving huge holes in the midfield - which Leverkusen exploited in the 2nd half.
i don't know if his poor discipline was trying to make up for his poor passing, or whether he felt he was covering his colleagues - but we don't need him charging around right or left midfield and abandoning his central positions.
Maybe i'm still upset by the 2nd half performance and being a bit harsh - but someone needed to tell Wanyama to protect the back 4 and let the other midfielders cover the other area's.
I think you are being a little harsh. He was the only one actively trying to shield and win back possession and he simply got overrun. I thought he was central to the possession we had in the first half, played some nice passes too.
 

Shea

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
7,711
10,930
I think you are being a little harsh. He was the only one actively trying to shield and win back possession and he simply got overrun. I thought he was central to the possession we had in the first half, played some nice passes too.
He was dragged out of position time and time again by the excellent pressing and dangerous movement of our opponents and this was leaving us exposed

But I don't think he was at fault - he could just see danger everywhere and was doing his best to do his job and put out the fire

He was made to look bad by Dier not being Toby and therefore the play directly behind Wanyama was not being so masterfully kept on lock, more signficiantly made to look bad by the other midfielders who didn't do their jobs defensively to take the pressure off him and either cover his position as he went to win the ball or control the space behind him so he wouldn't feel the need to move away from his zone

Poch also failed to support him with his subs although he attempted to with the introduction of Dembele so whether you blame Poch for failing to act correctly or Dembele for failing to do what he was sent in to do is questionable
 

mickdale

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2016
1,069
1,409
Poch also failed to support him with his subs although he attempted to with the introduction of Dembele so whether you blame Poch for failing to act correctly or Dembele for failing to do what he was sent in to do is questionable
I disagree, he brought on Dembele and Sissoko to try and steady the ship. I believe he did the right thing and it didn't work as the rest of the team were having a mare or spent. Just hope we improve and Poch makes a couple of changes against Bournemouth and plays Nkoudou
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,391
I disagree, he brought on Dembele and Sissoko to try and steady the ship. I believe he did the right thing and it didn't work as the rest of the team were having a mare or spent. Just hope we improve and Poch makes a couple of changes against Bournemouth and plays Nkoudou


Would have been much more effective in steadying the ship to bring on somebody who could actually pass.
 

thfc1973

Active Member
Apr 29, 2015
565
1,192
He is definitely going to keep Eric and Dembele out if he continues his good form. Hopefully Poch will sensibly rotate and allow Dembele and Dier to play enough games to not unsettle them.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
Would really love to see what a midfield pairing of him and a fit Dembele could do.

Shutdown I reckon.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
7,984
11,110
I remembers reading Saints fans saying he is a great player, when the big clubs/televised games come up.

Well, it seems he has brought his 'big game Southampton performances' to every game he plays for Tottenham! Maybe it's the competition for places that has spurred him on? Early days but he has been brilliant.
 

keithtighe93

Well-Known Member
Nov 1, 2011
684
2,603
Much like Toby last year, a high proportion of fans did not particularly want this guy, myself included, as we felt he was not good enough.

Much like Toby last year, he has instantly proved us wrong & is one of our most important players.

Fantastic recruitment. Will never be so skeptical about a Poch signing again.
 

Romulus

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2012
6,901
11,081
just an absolute beast in the middle. never thought he would replace Dier as no1 DM so soon if at all
 

mark87

Well-Known Member
Nov 29, 2004
36,031
114,064
Time to see what Dier is made of, needs to step up and try and win back his place, big vic has totally earned his spot.
 

agrdavidsfan

Ledley's Knee!
Aug 25, 2005
10,918
13,352
Impressed by just how strong he is and how quick he is!

Just a beast of a human being you can even see sometimes players are visibility scared of him !

He's like palacios but a classy version it's class
 
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