Player Watch: Victor Wanyama

[Deleted member 27695]

Wonder if this is a mentality thing? After the end of season collapse and in particular the Newcastle game could it be that Poch wants players he knows are mentally tough enough?

Not a bad shout. It wouldn't surprise me if one or two sold themselves too that afternoon!

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Wonder if this is a mentality thing? After the end of season collapse and in particular the Newcastle game could it be that Poch wants players he knows are mentally tough enough?

I reckon you could be about right mate. Add your opinion to that of Lloris, who stated this squad "needs to add experience if it is to be successful" , and it makes lots of sense, no?

There's nothing that suggests Lloris meant we need an experienced older player, but there's lots to suggest, as does your post, that this young squad is somewhat green when it comes to CL football & challenging for honours. Yes it was only at Celtic, but Wanyama got great experience of what it takes to actually win things, as well as experience in the CL, where he didn't look out of place against the likes of Barcelona, who really aren't too shabby, you know!

I've been vocal about Wanyama not being my ideal choice, but Poch has watched this lad himself on a daily basis for 2 years, and continually monitored him since he became our coach/manager. The lad adds something we lack, as well as being very much trusted by our manager.

Whether any of us personally want him or not, really shouldn't matter here. Poch clearly does, and how many different transfer windows have people said on here, "I just hope Levy backs the manager for once & buys the players he actually wants"? Well is that not precisely what is happening right now? Yet some are still complaining about it.

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

Wonder if this is a mentality thing? After the end of season collapse and in particular the Newcastle game could it be that Poch wants players he knows are mentally tough enough?

Absolutely it is a mentality thing.

Pochettino said of Alli and presumably thinks the same way about Wanyama, who of course he knows well:

"He’s a little bit naughty. But it’s good - I like it. I was like that. I was naughty like him. I was sent off a lot in my career. In 10 years at Espanyol I had 13 or 14 red cards. It was a record."

I'd be very happy to have Wanyama in a squad managed by Pochettino.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I am all for giving youth a chance but Lesniak doesn't look anywhere near good enough to play first team football IMO.

If anything Dom Ball would be a better option to promote as cover but would be a gamble.

I am not Wanyamas biggest fan but I can see the logic in buying him and he is a fairly safe option, in the same way that Toby was.

No, Toby was a clear improvement on the likes of Fazio, Chiriches and even Dier (though I do think if Dier had been given a whole season as a CB he'd be pretty close by now imo)

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I'd be very happy to have Wanyama in a squad managed by Pochettino.

Absolutely.

But its SC's reaction to the three or four red cards he'll probably get that i'm looking forward to.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

I'll raise you an Alli, Prtichard, Chadli and Onomah, with the first two threaders and last two dribblers.

So that's eight for three positions, with Dembele, Mason and Carroll also capable of stepping further forward.

I'm with you in that I think we can upgrade, but I'm also pragmatic. I want the dm and cf positions covered properly with whatever budget we have first, then if there's money and time left and Poch doesn't fancy one or two of his am s then there might be a deal to be done. Remember, we've got,a,good spirit across the squad and too much coming and going might affect that negatively.

You're probably right; my two year old thinks it's party central after midnight so I'll listlessly agree. After two hours sleep a night for the last couple of weeks I'd gladly buy a pound of shit if it was lightly dusted in glitter; hence my need for something new and shiny to keep me going in my darker hours.

 

[tommyt]

Absolutely.

But its SC's reaction to the three or four red cards he'll probably get that i'm looking forward to.

Results depending mind. If any player gets sent off for something stupid...

 

[thinktank]

We still need cover for Dembele.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

We still need cover for Dembele.

Absofuckinglutely. Yeah Dier needed cover/an alternative, but we do have options that 'could' step in his place if it came to it. Vertonghen & Alderweireld spring to mind. But when it comes to Dembele, we literally have nobody to deputise for him.

 

[double0]

No, Toby was a clear improvement on the likes of Fazio, Chiriches and even Dier (though I do think if Dier had been given a whole season as a CB he'd be pretty close by now imo)

And most importantly the much overrated Vertonghen... Who I still believe is a liability and should be replaced by Wimmer.

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

We still need cover for Dembele.

We still need cover for Defoe.

 

[Jamturk]

We still need cover for Dembele.

Bentaleb, Mason, Carroll and Winks say hi.

Or do you want to cast all of them to the scrap heap?

Alli can drop back as well

Dembele is fit, he starts.

 

[Jamturk]

And most importantly the much overrated Vertonghen... Who I still believe is a liability and should be replaced by Wimmer.

Was I the only 1 shocked that Wimmer doesn't start for Austria?

 

[THFCSPURS19]

We still need cover for Dembele.

Bentaleb.


Come at me fam.

 

[millsey]

Wonder if this is a mentality thing? After the end of season collapse and in particular the Newcastle game could it be that Poch wants players he knows are mentally tough enough?

100%. Did anyone notice England v Russia, alli was having an argument with a player, and Rooney came over and had a word, calmed him down. That is exactly what our team needs. There's no real leader or experienced head in the midfield or attack. Not that I think Wanyama is that, but we can't just buy 23 year olds. We need a wise ahead this summer to I think

 

[THFCSPURS19]

100%. Did anyone notice England v Russia, alli was having an argument with a player, and Rooney came over and had a word, calmed him down. That is exactly what our team needs. There's no real leader or experienced head in the midfield or attack. Not that I think Wanyama is that, but we can't just buy 23 year olds. We need a wise ahead this summer to I think

Wanyama is the captain of Kenya.

 

[Hazelton]

Let's imagine we're playing at the Bernabeu or the Camp Nou or the Allianz Arena and we're on our way to getting a good result, be it a win or a draw. It'd be nice to have a Wanyama to bring off the bench and shore things up. His job won't be to break down the likes of Hull, it'll be to help us defend against the strongest teams in the league and in Europe when and if he's needed. We'll still be bringing in attacking players and we won't be spending that much on him, so I really don't see the problem.

 

[thinktank]

Bentaleb, Mason, Carroll and Winks say hi.

Or do you want to cast all of them to the scrap heap?

Dembele is fit, he starts.

If you think they are cover or competition for Dembele, next season, especially, you're not taking the situation seriously and you don't appreciate just how important Dembele is to us.

 

[Shadydan]

We still need cover for Dembele.

Which is near enough impossible, he's a unique player. It's either we scourer around looking for a Dembele light and get nowhere or we utilise the tools we already have i..e Bentaleb.

 

[Chris12]

Wanyama is the captain of Kenya.

Hazard captained Belgium and hes hardly a leader.