Harry Winks - Leicester City

[truebluespur]

I actually think the opposite... Think he looks fantastic! I love his combative work ethic and his simple uncomplicated play, where he looks to receive the ball then quickly move it on.

As wonderful and skillful as Dembele can be, think overall Winks offers more in the long run. He also has a similar midfield skillset to Dier, although in a much smaller frame but much more mobile with an infinitely better passing ability.

On top of that, he's been out injured for so long...

 

[rabbikeane]

Needs time, and preferably to play in a functional midfield.
Very unfortunate for him that it's our current midfield he is trying to get back to his best with.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

I actually think the opposite... Think he looks fantastic! I love his combative work ethic and his simple uncomplicated play, where he looks to receive the ball then quickly move it on.

As wonderful and skillful as Dembele can be, think overall Winks offers more in the long run. He also has a similar midfield skillset to Dier, although in a much smaller frame but much more mobile with an infinitely better passing ability.

On top of that, he's been out injured for so long...

Really do love the optimism mate, but personally I just don't see it.

To me he is just incredibly frustrating more than anything. He clearly has incredible talent and skillset, but always seems to take the easy route. You can't coach balls.

 

[DJS]

Was worried to see he may have been bottling some challenges as this is what Poch was saying - he needs to step up and not let the ankle bother him.

Personally I still have high hopes for him, but given Wanyama and Dembele are also struggling for fitness it was criminal we didn’t get another central midfielder in.

We were looking at Sari before so how the heck did Fulham get him over us?

He could have played defensive midfield or box to box and eased some pressure on this area.

Ultimately I think a fully fit a Wanyama and Winks should hopefully be getting more outings but that’s only if they can prove they can both get over their injuries (and Sari would have been ideal to take pressure off them).

Maybe we need to look at Skipp in there as well given we’ve got no-one else and Dier has been poor.

 

[thinktank]

Too soon to judge Winksy imo.

Will wait a good few game before judging him, since his injury.

 

[Typical Spurs]

I've seen enough of him to conclude that he's an average midfielder. I like his combative style and in many ways he reminds of Scott Parker. That said he has a long way to go to get to that level IMO

 

[ljinko888]

While I am a fan of his and think he will be a very good player for us, there is an overhyping of him that has been suggesting he is the obvious answer to ours and England's problem.

At the moment you can put him in the Bournemouth midfield and he'll be pretty identical to what they've got - for example Lewis Cook. A technically able and nimble player, keeps the ball moving, busy, tenacious. But he's not a creative player. He doesn't play eye of the needle passes and risky passes. He's a facilitator who can up the tempo of moves with neat and quick passes, 1-2s and that sort of thing. I think he will be a Gareth Barry type player and Gareth Barry was key in Man City winning the league in 2012 so that's not a bad thing. But the idea he's going to be a cream of the crop player is far-fetched for me.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

He’s only come back from long term injury ffs. Playing against one of the most difficult teams in the league. At least let him get back to fitness before writing the rest of his career off

 

[fortworthspur]

this thread gets a massive WTF. He improved tremendously in 2016/17 and last year was basically lost to injuries.

 

[Garbob]

Not too bothered with him in today’s game. First game back from injury and playing along side Dier and Dembele didn’t help. Just glad he is back!

 

[mpickard2087]

I'm not sure what was expected in that abortion of a set up tbh. All three of them would want to play at the base, and none of them are really side midfielders in a narrow midfield diamond.

 

[dtxspurs]

I'm not sure what was expected in that abortion of a set up tbh. All three of them would want to play at the base, and none of them are really side midfielders in a narrow midfield diamond.

Why should Winks and Dembele not be capable of that? If they can play CM they should be able to play that role as well.

 

[mpickard2087]

Why should Winks and Dembele not be capable of that? If they can play CM they should be able to play that role as well.

I see those roles as high energy that require non stop running up and back. Dembele is brittle enough as it is. To ask him to do loads of running both vertically up in support, and laterally out to cover the flanks, is he even capable of that anymore? (if he was in any case, he likes to stay goalside of the ball with the play in front of him). Winks I don't think is that sort of player, busy enough but more connects play from A to B and again likes to stay behind the ball.

I wasn't surprised we saw all three of them stood on each others toes and a massive disconnect between them and the front and little build up play or purposeful possession. They are all, with nuances, basically the same type of player and play the same role.

 

[Primativ]

this thread gets a massive WTF. He improved tremendously in 2016/17 and last year was basically lost to injuries.

It's not based off one game, do I need to remind you and everyone else how shambolic Winks was last season around September time when he was the worst player on the pitch against league one opposition?

He put in a decent performance away at Madrid which I dare say has been over hyped beyond belief since.

I am afraid Winks has done very very little in a first team Spurs shirt to make me think he is going to provide any type of solution for us in CM this season or going forwards. Yes he has had injury problems, bad ones. Yes he is young, but we are supposed to be a top 4 CL side and he isn't good enough to play CM in a top 4 side, it is clear as day. I am yet to see a genuine performance from him that makes me think this kid has got anything special. It would be seriously rewriting history or burying your head in the sand to say that he hasn't been pants in about 80% of the games he has started for us.

I think this Winks experiment has got to stop. As I say, if Poch keeps playing him, I expect us to keep dropping points and losing midfield battles. To top it all off we have Dier who has become useless in DM and Dembele can barely last 45 minutes, and I am really really worried about our CM as I have been since the summer.

We badly needed an injection of quality in the summer, one CM who could walk in our first 11, we failed to get him in and we will pay the price for it. Wink's isn't the answer.

 

[St José Dominguez]

He remains in the team for me. He needs game time and we need him fit. Dembele is declining and Dier isn't performing currently. For the greater good I'd start Wanyama and Winks in a two in the next few games. Even if they're rusty it's a risk we need to take, this diamond or trio needs abandoning with the personnel we have. Move back to the two CM formations that have served us well.

 

[SdB]

Not sure where he actually was playing today but he seem to be on the left a fair amount.
I prefer him central as he does carry the ball thought the middle and then play it out wide to the wings when he does.
Dier seemed to be the most central today and did absolutely sweet FA
Wanyama and Winks as a two next please.

 

[fortworthspur]

It's not based off one game, do I need to remind you and everyone else how shambolic Winks was last season around September time when he was the worst player on the pitch against league one opposition?

He put in a decent performance away at Madrid which I dare say has been over hyped beyond belief since.

I am afraid Winks has done very very little in a first team Spurs shirt to make me think he is going to provide any type of solution for us in CM this season or going forwards. Yes he has had injury problems, bad ones. Yes he is young, but we are supposed to be a top 4 CL side and he isn't good enough to play CM in a top 4 side, it is clear as day. I am yet to see a genuine performance from him that makes me think this kid has got anything special. It would be seriously rewriting history or burying your head in the sand to say that he hasn't been pants in about 80% of the games he has started for us.

I think this Winks experiment has got to stop. As I say, if Poch keeps playing him, I expect us to keep dropping points and losing midfield battles. To top it all off we have Dier who has become useless in DM and Dembele can barely last 45 minutes, and I am really really worried about our CM as I have been since the summer.

We badly needed an injection of quality in the summer, one CM who could walk in our first 11, we failed to get him in and we will pay the price for it. Wink's isn't the answer.

keeps playing him? it was his first start since last December. He's basically been fit for four months of the last 18. This is the Harry Winks I remember:

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...es-harry-kane-cristiano-ronaldo-a8005891.html

 

[bubble07]

There is definitely talent but not good enough to start for us currently

 

[Hans Gruber]

Every time Poch has tried a 3 man midfield consisting of Dembele, Winks, and either Dier or Wanyama it's ended in an absolute shitshow of a performance, notably away against Gent in the Europa League 2017. Why he tried it again today is beyond me and I think it says a lot that he ended up subbing off the lot of them.

My point here is you can't judge a player's performance when he's set up in an appalling system. For example Messi for Barca is the GOAT, for Argentina he's neutered. Winks I am convinced will be a truly excellent midfielder - assuming his injuries don't end up being problematic in the long term - but he needs to be playing in a half-decent set up to be able to show it. Today's bizarre Christmas tree of a formation was not it.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Every time Poch has tried a 3 man midfield consisting of Dembele, Winks, and either Dier or Wanyama it's ended in an absolute shitshow of a performance, notably away against Gent in the Europa League 2017. Why he tried it again today is beyond me and I think it says a lot that he ended up subbing off the lot of them.

My point here is you can't judge a player's performance when he's set up in an appalling system. For example Messi for Barca is the GOAT, for Argentina he's neutered. Winks I am convinced will be a truly excellent midfielder - assuming his injuries don't end up being problematic in the long term - but he needs to be playing in a half-decent set up to be able to show it. Today's bizarre Christmas tree of a formation was not it.

Poch is a genius.

The one thing they all tell us as kids, don't pick at your scabs you only inflame the problem ...