Harry Winks - Leicester City

[Japhet]

I am sure it’s a confidence issue. He has lost his calmness on the ball and now seems the total opposite. He takes one too many touches and seems rushed and panicked in possession.

I will support him all the way. He has loads of talent, and I think he has the determination needed to reach his potential.

The Cup matches he's played in against lower League opposition are always frantic affairs. For Newport and Rochdale it was all about getting stuck in for them. Only a matter of time before Winksy gets back up to speed IMO.

 

[danielneeds]

He's 22.

Doesn't mean anything. In terms of experience, he's still a baby. He's clearly playing with some negative stuff in his head at the moment, as opposed to the lack of fear he showed earlier in the season, and last year.

 

[Shadydan]

He's 22.

He's made a total of 37 appearances since he became a full time professional.

By contrast Dele Alli who is 21 has made 171 so in terms of his playing experience he's still young despite his age.

 

[The General]

He has looked very poor recently and last night he was dreadful. I never quite saw what everyone else did anyway, but then again I said Harry Kane and Danny Rose would never make it, so clearly i’m not the best judge of young talent. Seems like a good lad and excellent professional so hopefully he will make it but I think he may be another Carrol or Pritchard. Clearly an excellent footballer that will have a career at premier league level, but not quite good enough for the level Spurs now want to play at. Hope he proves me wrong.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

He's a tidy and competent footballer, who probably will develop into a effective and safe premiership footballer, whether that is here or he plays elsewhere.

 

[danielneeds]

He's a tidy and competent footballer, who probably will develop into a effective and safe premiership footballer, whether that is here or he plays elsewhere.

I think he can be better than that. He can play on the half turn as well as anyone. He just needs to work out what he can and can't do better, and be more clear on what passing options to take.

 

[WiganSpur]

Think the next pre-season should do him good. Hopefully no more injuries and a fresh start next season. Might be a blessing in disguise if he didn't make the WC squad.

Way too early to lose faith in him just yet.

 

[kmk]

He's a tidy and competent footballer, who probably will develop into a effective and safe premiership footballer, whether that is here or he plays elsewhere.

You just described Jordan Henderson. I am hopeful that Winks has a much higher ceiling.

 

[brendanb50]

Doesn't mean anything. In terms of experience, he's still a baby. He's clearly playing with some negative stuff in his head at the moment, as opposed to the lack of fear he showed earlier in the season, and last year.

This is it - he's still learning the game at this level and through injury, he's lost a bit of sharpness and momentum. Nothing a bit of playing time won't fix - just needs to get his edge back.

 

[thebenjamin]

Obviously a fitness / body issue. Needs time and protection.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

So according to some on social media and SC, he’s gone from the new Modric to the new Tom Carroll.

lol

 

[Lemon]

So according to some on social media and SC, he’s gone from the new Modric to the new Tom Carroll.

lol

Think that's fair, he was playing like a young Modric, now he's playing like a young Carroll.

 

[JimmyG2]

Class which he has shown (Real Madrid) is.....
Form which he has shown recently post injury is.....

 

[zoneD]

"...but he was so good against Real..."

COYS

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Not sure why people would compare him to Tom Carroll and mean it insultingly. Since leaving us and playing regularly, Carroll has proven himself a capable premier league playmaker and has improved immensely from the player who left. Frankly, the player he has become would provide a capable option in our squad.

The worry with Winks is that if he is to achieve this level, he needs to get football consistently. For him to get this anytime soon, Dembele needs to either be injured, or suffer a huge loss of form Those are the circumstances which saw Winks play as first choice earlier this season. However, because of the quality Dembele gives our side when he plays, and the drop in quality to where Winks is currently, both of these things are unimaginable.

I actually think we need to loan Winks to a Premier League side next season, one who play good football and who will trust him because he's better than what they have (so Fulham or Derby if they get promoted, because Cardiff, Villa and Sheffield are awful and he's not good enough for the Wolves first team). Problem is, that then leaves us without any specialist competition for Dembele for a year.

 

[SpursSince1980]

Not sure why people would compare him to Tom Carroll and mean it insultingly. Since leaving us and playing regularly, Carroll has proven himself a capable premier league playmaker and has improved immensely from the player who left. Frankly, the player he has become would provide a capable option in our squad.

The worry with Winks is that if he is to achieve this level, he needs to get football consistently. For him to get this anytime soon, Dembele needs to either be injured, or suffer a huge loss of form Those are the circumstances which saw Winks play as first choice earlier this season. However, because of the quality Dembele gives our side when he plays, and the drop in quality to where Winks is currently, both of these things are unimaginable.

I actually think we need to loan Winks to a Premier League side next season, one who play good football and who will trust him because he's better than what they have (so Fulham or Derby if they get promoted, because Cardiff, Villa and Sheffield are awful and he's not good enough for the Wolves first team). Problem is, that then leaves us without any specialist competition for Dembele for a year.

Agree with what you're saying. But would only lend him out, if we bring in a number 8, style of midfielder. As at that point, we would have enough depth in the middle, that Winks would barely get a look-in. So, the best bet for him would be a year-long-loan to a PL team to improve his confidence and all-around understanding of the game. I can see Fulham (if promoted) as a good shout, as would Bournemouth (if they stay up).

 

[Bus-Conductor]

He’s clearly suffering from a lack of confidence. This is what happens with younsters though, and why managers tend to be very careful with them.

Like taking them off when you are 4-1 up and he's just starting to relax a bit and get into the game a bit more. That kind of careful ? He did the same in the away game, just as Winks was starting to get into the game and play his game more, he yanked him off.

And imagine what it must do to any player's confidence to be made to feel you're trusted less than Sissoko as a CM.

It's amazing how "careful" Poch can be with the kids, like yanking KWP off at half time, and yet how he's rarely ever done it to the senior players when they've been having stinkers. And tolerated Alli phoning it in for the first 3 months of the season.

I've always had some reservations about Winks, I think what he does when the opposition have the ball needs work, and I while he's always been a busy little fucker with the ball, I don't think he's ever quite influenced or dictated a game the way Onomah has done at youth level at times, but the way Poch treats some of these kids is disproportionately risk averse compared to what he'll tolerate of senior players.

Winks has never really been given a run of games, he's generally been chucked into ad hoc games, often cup games, with make shift teams, when the side is unfamiliar with each other and nobody is performing brilliantly. He's rarely just been given a little run of games with a Wanyama/Dembele net to him, an Eriksen and Kane ahead of him, and our best CB/Back line behind him, all functioning as a well honed unit.

And he's still had some really good games, in the league last year, in the CL this year and last (I think).

 

[mpickard2087]

Like taking them off when you are 4-1 up and he's just starting to relax a bit and get into the game a bit more. That kind of careful ? He did the same in the away game, just as Winks was starting to get into the game and play his game more, he yanked him off.

And imagine what it must do to any player's confidence to be made to feel you're trusted less than Sissoko as a CM.

It's amazing how "careful" Poch can be with the kids, like yanking KWP off at half time, and yet how he's rarely ever done it to the senior players when they've been having stinkers. And tolerated Alli phoning it in for the first 3 months of the season.

I've always had some reservations about Winks, I think what he does when the opposition have the ball needs work, and I while he's always been a busy little fucker with the ball, I don't think he's ever quite influenced or dictated a game the way Onomah has done at youth level at times, but the way Poch treats some of these kids is disproportionately risk averse compared to what he'll tolerate of senior players.

Winks has never really been given a run of games, he's generally been chucked into ad hoc games, often cup games, with make shift teams, when the side is unfamiliar with each other and nobody is performing brilliantly. He's rarely just been given a little run of games with a Wanyama/Dembele net to him, an Eriksen and Kane ahead of him, and our best CB/Back line behind him, all functioning as a well honed unit.

And he's still had some really good games, in the league last year, in the CL this year and last (I think).

I suspect Winks' fitness is still an issue. To my eyes all doesn't look right, and I think that's why he keeps getting subbed around the hour mark.

 

[theShiznit]

"...but he was so good against Real..."

COYS

You revel in the lack of confidence of a homegrown player that during his run of good games had huge praise from world class legends of the game, got England recognition, and was pretty much seen as a shoe in for the England World cup squad (some said even the team)

Now all that appears to be fading and all you can do is laugh at his demise and yet you staunchly defend Sissocko and slag off anyone that says he is a bad player (hell even stating he had a bad game is enough for a famous ZoneD neg)

With fans like you...

 

[The General]

My comparison to Tom Carroll (and Pritchard) was very much intended as a compliment rather than an insult. Carrol starts regularly for Swansea having not been quite good enough, despite showing early promise, to make it at Spurs. I agree Winks needs games and probably won’t get enough at Spurs and frankly after his recent performances doesn’t deserve a spot on the bench let alone a start.

Can’t understand how anyone can be critical of Pochetino for taking him off yesterday. Could have been fitness related or could have been that he shirked several tackles, was dwelling on the ball and struggling to make a simple 10 yard pass. He’s obviously very talented but in a bad moment for whatever reason. If his temperament is as good as we are all led to believe he will regain his form, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he needs a loan next year to do that.