Player Watch: Victor Wanyama

[Bus-Conductor]

What a load of shit.

Yeah, there's no way he's the best.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Ok, let's just say Dier gets an injury & is laid up for a while, are some of you seriously saying that you would prefer Bentaleb over Wanyama for the holding role?
It's a squad upgrade and I for one think it's a great signing (if signed)

Or we could just play Lesniak, a kid who's been doing the same job, with aplomb, for the u21's and we've been training to do the job for a few years now and save ourselves 11m that could go towards actually improving the first team instead of the bench.

 

[sloth]

Re people being underwhelmed by VW; get used to it!

We spent nigh on £100m on training facilities, a coach and his team, and a scouting team just so we could could make judicious, yet on the face of it underwhelming signings some of whom will turn out to be amazing, a few of whom will turn out to be shit.

In VW's favour is that Poch knows him, knows his qualities through and through, and VW has performed in a decent team in the PL. That means that if we rate Poch we should be pretty optimistic about this signing, and we should suspend our personal opinions on the player until we see what's what this time next year. In evidence for this advice I'll offer Dier, who had me tearing my hair out at Poch after four games last season, but now look. See also Walker, Rose, and possibly Alli (although he was never shit so we can't really say what Poch's influence was).

None of which, of course, is a guarantee VW will work out.

 

[Hazelton]

Our biggest mistake when we qualified for the CL last time was not strengthening our squad. We were disappointed and rightfully so. Now we're making solid signings to strengthen every area and people are still moaning.

 

[PMS]

Our biggest mistake when we qualified for the CL last time was not strengthening our squad. We were disappointed and rightfully so. Now we're making solid signings to strengthen every area and people are still moaning.

Hes big he's black and can play centre back.

What's not to like?

 

[tommyt]

Hes big he's black and can play centre back.

What's not to like?

@Spursking

 

[razzmaster]

Or we could just play Lesniak, a kid who's been doing the same job, with aplomb, for the u21's and we've been training to do the job for a few years now and save ourselves 11m that could go towards actually improving the first team instead of the bench.

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.

 

[Riandor]

Or we could just play Lesniak, a kid who's been doing the same job, with aplomb, for the u21's and we've been training to do the job for a few years now and save ourselves 11m that could go towards actually improving the first team instead of the bench.

Or we could loan Lesniak out to get some experience other than the totally non competitive u21 league and spend 11m (which is the sum of f all right now) on a quality and proven DM and be sure we are not left short at the start of next season when we have no dembele and probably a totally knackered Dier.

 

[Ledleys Knee]

Hes big he's black and can play centre back.

I think you've just repurposed the Nicky Barmby song (He's short, he's round, he's worth £5m pound, Nicky Barmby, Nicky Barmby) for him

 

[tiger666]

Wanyama or Lesniak for an upcoming Champions League campaign...

 

[robin09]

Good, sensible signing. Prem experience, will be great to have him in rotation with Dier and Dembele given how many matches we'll be playing again next season.

 

[dirtydave]

Wise signing. I'd have loved to see Danilo Pereira arrive but can't complain about grabbing prem experience in it's prime.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

god, I love reading you post BC, but to suggest playing Lesniak instead of Wanyama in our CL season is simply a joke

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Lesniak hasn't even played league football yet but apparently he's now good enough for the Champions League.

 

[y1dk1d]

Wanyama or Lesniak for an upcoming Champions League campaign...

Neither! Surely it's got to be Dominic Ball in holding midfield at the Bernebeu?

 

[worcestersauce]

Wanyama is not being bought for the bench he is being bought for the first team.
Surely we all understand that these days the first team consists of more than eleven players its just that only eleven of them can play at one time.

 

[cliff jones]

Four for three positions; still need another player with either quality who can at the very least be as effective as Lamela and Eriksen. I know this.

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.

 

[shelfboy68]

Good sensible signing might allow us to spend bigger in other areas well we can dream, but seriously what is there not to like.

 

[Higginz]

Pochettino isn't going to blood youth into the first team for the sake of it. He clearly thinks Lesniak isn't yet of the required level to be backing up the first string players.

Wanyama is a proven Premier League player with Champions League experience. He'll be a very useful hand to have moving forward. It's a sensible signing at a reasonable price in today's inflated market.

Also, our first choice starting XI wasn't the big problem last season, our weak bench was. Any side that aspires to be at the top of the table must have adequate, capable options to call upon. We saw through performances that those on the bench last year either weren't completely ready for the role or simply weren't of the required standard.

 

[muppetman]

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?