Player Watch: Victor Wanyama

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Are you saying our Dembers is fat! How dare you, he's just well built.

I'll tell you what mate, his transformation is simply outstanding. If you take a read of this article/interview with Led Ferdinand, I think he describes the Dembele from before this season absolutely perfectly. He's a totally different beast now.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/dembele-wasting-his-potential-says-ferdinand

 

[bryanabutler]

We should be after two players in M/F, one to cover Dier, ie Leander Dondoncker/ Amadou Diawara, Dembele ie Mahmoud Dahoud

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

We should be after two players in M/F, one to cover Dier, ie Leander Dondoncker/ Amadou Diawara, Dembele ie Mahmoud Dahoud

It would definitely be interesting to bring in two new CMs, but also a risk. Squad balance? Bedding in time? Squad continuity?
At least one of Bentaleb, Mason, and Carroll will remain for next season, + Winks may be given a shot at breaking through.
Reluctantly, I believe we *can* only get 1 CM, in which case I'd choose the Dier kind of player.

 

[Japhet]

I'll tell you what mate, his transformation is simply outstanding. If you take a read of this article/interview with Led Ferdinand, I think he describes the Dembele from before this season absolutely perfectly. He's a totally different beast now.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/dembele-wasting-his-potential-says-ferdinand

This season was the first time he's been properly fit. He carried a well publicised hip injury right through last season which must have hindered him. I think that has been the big difference.

 

[Annekcma]

Wanyama is a good strong holding midfielder who will push Dier all the way for his spot.
He has premiership experience.
He has champions league experience.
He has experience of playing for Pochettino.
He's only 24.
He's in the last year of his contract so we can get him for a reasonable price.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, he'll have that all important Belgian connection from playing for the mighty Beerschot AC for several years

 

[Kevous]

We should be after two players in M/F, one to cover Dier, ie Leander Dondoncker/ Amadou Diawara, Dembele ie Mahmoud Dahoud

I don't get why everyone wants to buy cover for other players eg Dier or Dembele.....why are we not looking to sign player(s) who are capable of putting Dier or Dembele on the bench for example? surly this is the only way our strongest team improves?

 

[SpartanSpur]

I don't get why everyone wants to buy cover for other players eg Dier or Dembele.....why are we not looking to sign player(s) who are capable of putting Dier or Dembele on the bench for example? surly this is the only way our strongest team improves?

Wanyama would be competition, someone like Lassana Diarra would be backup. I think most of us just hope Dier can continue his development to become one of the best DMs in Europe.

As for Dembele he was statisically one of the best all round midfielders in all of Europe last season...

 

[Riandor]

I could also just as easily see Dier dropping back into CB at some point.
At the very least a signing like Wanyama gives Poch the flexibility to do that even if just to cover for injuries.

 

[longtimespur]

Wanyama would be competition, someone like Lassana Diarra would be backup. I think most of us just hope Dier can continue his development to become one of the best DMs in Europe.

As for Dembele he was statisically one of the best all round midfielders in all of Europe last season...

I don't think we (THFC) actually buy "back-ups" now.
Us fans see them as back-ups because some of us don't regard them as good as whom we already have.
I think Poch is trying to build a squad that can interchange without losing ability or style of play. Whether that be with new signings or youngsters coming through.
With our high pressure intensity we need players capable of fitting into the squad without demeaning it and that doesn't always mean top drawer players.
Square pegs in square holes and fitness to complete matches at high intensity combining with the other players as a team.

 

[SpartanSpur]

I could also just as easily see Dier dropping back into CB at some point.
At the very least a signing like Wanyama gives Poch the flexibility to do that even if just to cover for injuries.

Agreed, I'd genuinely rather sign Wanyama than another CB. We have LCB locked down with Jan and Wimmer, then you have Dier and possibly even CCV as options to cover Toby at RCB if needed.

In fact with the right outgoings in CM (2/3 of Carroll, Mason and Bentaleb) we could even add Wanyama and a more progressive player such as Witsel to compete with Dembele.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

If we are going to buy a CM, I sincerely hope we will buy one with a wider skill set than Wanyama.

 

[Riandor]

If we are going to buy a CM, I sincerely hope we will buy one with a wider skill set than Wanyama.

Yeah I know what you are saying...
But with only 1 year left on his contract and his previous with Poch, I can see this as perhaps an easier target to aim for. THere's nothing that says we won't sign more than 1 CM player if we are also selling 2 or 3.

But I do kinda agree with you if it were just getting in one.

 

[Berbatonghen]

I personally think Wanyama would be a very good signing for us.

I watched him play a few times this season and he has great tenacity and work rate. Don't really get why people are completely shutting him down.

I watched him against Arsenal and he was unreal. Completely bullied their whole midfield and snuffed out every single play in front of him. And for those questioning his all round play he actually possesses a good range of passing and has a bit more urgency to his game then Dier (who would definitely benefit having Wanyama as his sidekick or back up). Fair enough he doesn't possess that quality of making a difference in the final third but he is still young and can certainly get better under Poch.

Looking at it as a squad perspective I believe adding Wanyama would be a shrewd signing because I feel with him in midfield it will only make us stronger (certainly in depth). Of course going for someone like Witsel or Dendoncker would be appealing (I do feel we will be signing two central midfielders with two of bentaleb,carroll or mason leaving) the pluses with Wanyama is that he has Premier League experience, Worked with poch and also used to the system that poch plays so he can instantly make an impact.

 

[danielneeds]

If we are going to buy a CM, I sincerely hope we will buy one with a wider skill set than Wanyama.

I know you want two double pivot players at the base of the midfield, but I really think we're going to struggle to find a player that can do they defensive work we need to play our high fullback game, and has the passing skillset you'd want.

 

[peteblue]

I for one won't be in favour of signing Wanyama, I don't believe he is actually all that good. Theres been lot of hype has been said about him but watching him a few times last season I am not taken in by it. Besides that Dier is our holding midfield player who has been outstanding this season and Wanyama is no upgrade on him. We should concentrate on buying a back up striker for Harry, I would have thought that would be our main transfer priority this summer.

 

[danielneeds]

I for one won't be in favour of signing Wanyama, I don't believe he is actually all that good. Theres been lot of hype has been said about him but watching him a few times last season I am not taken in by it. Besides that Dier is our holding midfield player who has been outstanding this season and Wanyama is no upgrade on him. We should concentrate on buying a back up striker for Harry, I would have thought that would be our main transfer priority this summer.

Do you believe that Dier can play all our league games as well as all our CL and cup games next season? If not, who fills in for him?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I know you want two double pivot players at the base of the midfield, but I really think we're going to struggle to find a player that can do they defensive work we need to play our high fullback game, and has the passing skillset you'd want.

Surely we can get closer to it than Wanyama ?

 

[Riandor]

I for one won't be in favour of signing Wanyama, I don't believe he is actually all that good. Theres been lot of hype has been said about him but watching him a few times last season I am not taken in by it. Besides that Dier is our holding midfield player who has been outstanding this season and Wanyama is no upgrade on him. We should concentrate on buying a back up striker for Harry, I would have thought that would be our main transfer priority this summer.

Do you believe that Dier can play all our league games as well as all our CL and cup games next season? If not, who fills in for him?

Actually the question I would ask is why do people still believe that we can only manage one transfer at a time? Its like people worry that if 100% all people at the club are not biting their finger nails waiting for a player's clubs to get back to them that we can't do anything else.

Or that we can obviously only have money for one target...

It's absurd.

 

[talkshowhost86]

If we are going to buy a CM, I sincerely hope we will buy one with a wider skill set than Wanyama.

We need more than one midfielder.

And as we don't currently have one with Wanyama's skill set, he'd be a useful addition to the squad at the right price.

We do also need a player who can get the ball forwards more effectively though.

 

[danielneeds]

Surely we can get closer to it than Wanyama ?

Looking at Southampton's defensive record the last couple of years, he's got to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the PL though?