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Player Watch: Victor Wanyama

DCSPUR

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2005
3,918
5,415
is there any itk on this? seems like this is a bs daily mail story....doesn't make a lot of sense to be honest.
Believe that @Hercules may have referenced a new contract for big vic but can't find the post/ or am misremembering
 

THFC_SWE

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
1,233
3,914
This can't be true. He was injured for a long time, but he's one of the best defensive midfielders out there.
 

am_yisrael_chai

Well-Known Member
Feb 18, 2006
6,409
10,931
...Diawara is already at Napoli. He'll step into the first XI in place of Jorginho next season. I'd be shocked if they sold both in the same window.
I know Diawara is at Napoli my point is that they are buying a replacement for Jorginho so his sale has no bearing on whether they keep Diawara or not and it would appear that Sarri doesn’t fancy him given his team selections this season.
 

willcpt17

Active Member
Apr 7, 2018
88
127
The injury early in the season really affected Wanyama, I think it has taken him a long time to return to full fitness and would definitely hate to see him sold in the summer no matter who we bring in. However, Diawara would be a fantastic signing for us as we need to bolster the midfield depth. If we have Dembele, Diawara, Dier, Wanyama, and a fully fit Winks then Poch will have quite an array of options (though I realize we could potentially sell some of those players before next season).
 

Kiedis

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2013
2,926
8,490
This hasn't just been about Wanyama's early season injury, it's been about Poch's stupid decision to continually preference Dier to partner Dembele.

Can't say Wanyama has offered anything in his games that would suggest that he should be preferred to Dier, whereas Dier has been very good this season. I get that it's been difficult for Wanyama to build any sort of "groove", but injuries can be a bitch when it comes to derailing a season.
 

cider spurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 5, 2016
9,399
23,731
It's all good wanting a less defensive Midfield at times. Agreed, we could do with a quicker transition from defence to attack sometimes.

But what about when we want to close a game out, shut out the opposition. 16/17 Vic is 'the man'

If injuries are the issue, fair enough, if not, I'd be inclined to think his role is as important as a more attack minded CM.

Horses for course as the game plays out.
 

The Scarecrow

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2013
5,597
12,201
This hasn't just been about Wanyama's early season injury, it's been about Poch's stupid decision to continually preference Dier to partner Dembele.
Wanyama-Dembele is a horrible pairing with a back four. Dier plays because he can slot into the back line. Wanyama can't. If we were to play three at the back, Wanyama would be my choice, but we don't.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
Wanyama-Dembele is a horrible pairing with a back four. Dier plays because he can slot into the back line. Wanyama can't. If we were to play three at the back, Wanyama would be my choice, but we don't.

This has been the thing.

We put Wanyama in against Bournemouth and he was pretty poor.

I do still personally prefer Wanyama in there though, we’d just need to tweak things a bit or go back to back three.
 

Syn_13

Fly On, Little Wing
Jul 17, 2008
14,851
20,659
Wanyama-Dembele is a horrible pairing with a back four. Dier plays because he can slot into the back line. Wanyama can't. If we were to play three at the back, Wanyama would be my choice, but we don't.

Not a huge fan of either Wanyama/Dembele or Dier/Dembele. Ultimate no-no would be Dier/Wanyama.

I like having both Wanyama and Dier in the squad, they fulfill sImilar roles but have complimentary strengths to cover each others' weaknesses. It's all about what game you play them in, what you task them to do, and who they're partnered with.

Dembele is the odd fit for me. He can be so imperious and physicially dominating at times but his tendency to slow the play down really can stifle our attack. Combined with other slower, defensive players like Dier and Vic I just find it too static. For me Dembele and the other of those two work best with a 3 man defence where the wing backs are playing as attackers. Vic/Dier covers as a more dedicated DM and Dembele plays a more traditional CM role. Put Eriksen in as the 3rd, more advanced and creative CM amd you've got a nice blend.

However, any combination of Dier, Vic and Dembele in a CM pair with a back 4 feels stodgy to me. Little dynamism and nobody to string those quick passes along that players like Xavi, Pirlo, Scholes, Fabregas, Modric, Pjanic etc. have been famous for. For me, a player of that mould is key to us developing our style next season.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,385
Vic would be the last CM I'd sell from our current crop. He's been a bit off form since his injury but when he's good to go he's an absolute monster. Would love to see him beside Modric (dream on).
 

TropicalYid

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2014
1,500
2,200
But where would he go? Doubt any of man u, man c, chelsea will be into him. Liverpool maybe.
 

Kiedis

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2013
2,926
8,490
Quite curious as to why he's one of the players that's constantly mentioned as being available this summer. The others (Rose, Dembele, Sissoko,Llorente, Alderweireld) are pretty easy to understand. He didn't have a good season, but I felt his injury disrupted everything.
 
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