Harry Winks - Leicester City

[Frozen_Waffles]

Ok which player do you sell?

A young homegrown settled spurs fan who can pass the ball. Who is rated by two of the best managers in the game.

Or the non home grown 30+ guy playing out of position who can't pass to save his life.

40m is fuck all in the world of modern football, remember the sale of Walker or Carrick, or bale. Were the replacements better?

If our record signing can't get in the team ahead of him what makes you think some plodder from the championship will or another french guy?

 

[McFlash]

This is just stupid, I'm sorry.

Well, you haven't exactly made any salient, eloquent statements to back up your case against Winks.

 

[hellava_tough]

I'd sell Winks IF this was the scenario...

City's opening bid was 40m; demand 55m

Add 25m to the 55m and bring in the lad from Lazio for 80m

55m down payment and 12.5m for the next 2 seasons

Start the season with...

PEH, SMS, GLC

That's a quality midfield to be fair

 

[JCRD]

Ridiculous. Wouldnt sell him. He may not be perfect but always good to have two or three who have been with us since their youth. Some Tottenham lads so to speak

I dont believe the story anyways - although he would fit in well with Man City, he is always busy and quite quick and nippy

 

[emiley heskey]

If we can buy quality midfielders like sabitzer/zaniolo/SMS, I would sell winks ... That means we need minimum 60m from winks sell and use the money to get his replacement ... If nobody offers 60m, keep winks and let him develop at number 8 role ..

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

Well, you haven't exactly made any salient, eloquent statements to back up your case against Winks.

I don't need to, because I'm not saying he's useless. I think he's decent, but not much more than that. I don't for a second believe Man City are interested in him, when he's not really in the same class as what they already have. £40m would be a lot for them to spend on an inferior player when they tend not to spend north of £60m on anyone. But if it were true, I also think it would be madness to turn down £40m for him, especially in a summer where money is supposed to be tighter than usual.

But that's not good enough for some of you that think otherwise, apparently. Because unless we accept your authoritative analysis that we're actually watching the next Xavi emerging right before our very eyes, then we don't know anything about football.

 

[Japhet]

Not many players can play balls like Eriksen but its about how he operates within the team. He's not an Eriksen type of player. I've already said enough in this thread what I think his qualities are.
With Højbjerg and Gio, as a 3, I think they have a little bit of everything between them.
An ideal world would be Højbjerg, Gio and Tanguy but until Ndombele decides to pull his finger out, we could do a lot worse than Winks imo.

There's also the scenario where we play 2 defensively minded players in CM in order to play a 10 behind the front 3. Hojbjerg and Winks would be pretty good in that scenario.

 

[McFlash]

I don't need to, because I'm not saying he's useless. I think he's decent, but not much more than that. I don't for a second believe Man City are interested in him, when he's not really in the same class as what they already have. £40m would be a lot for them to spend on an inferior player when they tend not to spend north of £60m on anyone. But if it were true, I also think it would be madness to turn down £40m for him, especially in a summer where money is supposed to be tighter than usual.

But that's not good enough for some of you that think otherwise, apparently. Because unless we accept your authoritative analysis that we're actually watching the next Xavi emerging right before our very eyes, then we don't know anything about football.

As I said earlier, it's a game of opinions and you're entitled to yours.
I don't think anyone's claimed he's world class, just that he's a decent little player that we wouldn't be able to properly replace for £40m and if we sell him, it'll leave a gaping hole in our squad for CM.
He's spent the last 18 months, to 2 years playing in a position that doesn't suit his game and at the age of just 24, I think he deserves a chance in his proper position.
He's shown previously that he can be effective there and he may have actually grown and improved while playing out of position.
I want to give him the chance to be our little metronome again.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

If we’re going with a middle 3 of Winks, Højbjerg and Lo Celso, one of Harry or Gio needs to get a decent goal return. It can’t all be left to the front 3. Probably around 10. Either that, or they need to get a a bit better than that, say 15ish, between them.

If they can’t do that, we’re back to AVB ball.

This is all based on the assumption that the forwards (whichever combinations we use) are capable of 50 between them and that through set pieces and the odd rare foray into the box the defence can contribute another 5-10.

 

[razzmaster]

I'd sell Winks IF this was the scenario...

City's opening bid was 40m; demand 55m

Add 25m to the 55m and bring in the lad from Lazio for 80m

55m down payment and 12.5m for the next 2 seasons

Start the season with...

PEH, SMS, GLC

That's a quality midfield to be fair

That would be the best midfield made up of players with 3 letter acronyms in the world.

 

[wrd]

If we’re going with a middle 3 of Winks, Højbjerg and Lo Celso, one of Harry or Gio needs to get a decent goal return. It can’t all be left to the front 3. Probably around 10. Either that, or they need to get a a bit better than that, say 15ish, between them.

If they can’t do that, we’re back to AVB ball.

This is all based on the assumption that the forwards (whichever combinations we use) are capable of 50 between them and that through set pieces and the odd rare foray into the box the defence can contribute another 5-10.

Lo Celso has shown he's capable of scoring goals, I think he suffered because we lacked what we have recently signed and his ability to play across the midfield was utilised. I could see Winks playing in the 8 role but he'll need to add exactly what the info said Jose told him. However my hope still is for either Ndombele coming good and taking that role or failing that Dele being up to play closer to Kane again.

We do have multiple competitions though and Winks has shown he is adept at the European football.

 

[Japhet]

If we’re going with a middle 3 of Winks, Højbjerg and Lo Celso, one of Harry or Gio needs to get a decent goal return. It can’t all be left to the front 3. Probably around 10. Either that, or they need to get a a bit better than that, say 15ish, between them.

If they can’t do that, we’re back to AVB ball.

This is all based on the assumption that the forwards (whichever combinations we use) are capable of 50 between them and that through set pieces and the odd rare foray into the box the defence can contribute another 5-10.

Apart from the last handful of games I think we've played mainly with 2 in CM. A lot of the time, one of those (Sissoko) has been tasked with covering Aurier, and under those circumstances I think it's very hard to criticise Winks for lack of goals or assists since he's been overloaded with other priorities. Put him in a 3 with less defensive responsibilty and I think we'll see a different player, more akin to what he was doing at youth level. I think his shooting has suffered as a result of the job he's been doing and the very limited opportunities to have a go.

 

[Chirpystheman]

Based on what?
Is that why both the current and previous managers have had him as a nailed on starter basically every week?

Is that why Jose has just bought a CM to bench him. He started because we were woefully short in that area. Dembele sold wanyama knackered. Dier plagued by injuries left us with 2 midfielders. Funny how since Jose has been here he has brought in 2 CM. But yeah maybe his long term thinking is for them to be backup to winks and lo celso

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Lo Celso has shown he's capable of scoring goals, I think he suffered because we lacked what we have recently signed and his ability to play across the midfield was utilised. I could see Winks playing in the 8 role but he'll need to add exactly what the info said Jose told him. However my hope still is for either Ndombele coming good and taking that role or failing that Dele being up to play closer to Kane again.

We do have multiple competitions though and Winks has shown he is adept at the European football.

I agree with everything you say pretty much, but Lo Celso has always been more a middle third than final third player, and while I think he has a bit more flair and unpredictability than Winks I think they perform quite similar roles. I think that one of them needs to really add something to his game for it to work in an attacking sense, though defensively speaking it should be effective. As you say, either (or both) Dele or Ndombele playing to their potential would be a happy solution.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Apart from the last handful of games I think we've played mainly with 2 in CM. A lot of the time, one of those (Sissoko) has been tasked with covering Aurier, and under those circumstances I think it's very hard to criticise Winks for lack of goals or assists since he's been overloaded with other priorities. Put him in a 3 with less defensive responsibilty and I think we'll see a different player, more akin to what he was doing at youth level. I think his shooting has suffered as a result of the job he's been doing and the very limited opportunities to have a go.

This is fair and if Winks can start making effective late runs in the box or develop a good long shot that’ll make a huge difference to his game.

 

[glacierSpurs]

Great opening bid for Winks if true. If we can manage to get 50mil for him, just say yes! OMG, English players are so inflated now we have the chance to earn some investment back why shouldn't we?

Please, Winks wouldn't win us any trophies or titles. A squad player at best. For over 40 million we can possibly get from him as a squad player is a tremendous windfall now in this covid19 climate. We can easily get better midfielders than him bvy reinvesting and refreshing.

And yet some are still ok with selling Lamela for 30mil or less I reckoned.. Good grief.

 

[WiganSpur]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Jose’s first choice midfield at the start of the season is

Winks - Hojbjerg - Lo Celso

It's not optimal. I'd rather have Ndombele in there, but that does at least mean no more Sissoko which will be a major improvement. Although it wouldn't surprise me to see him shoehorned in elsewhere on the pitch mind. Sissoko as a 10 anyone?

 

[glacierSpurs]

Winks is a fabulous player and I’m shocked at how few don’t rate him.

he’s been asked to do a job but he’s not a dm and needs better players around him.

He is a metronome, our own little xavi and needs to have his shackles taken off of him.

he’s spurs through and through and it’s pretty abhorrent how nasty some supporters are towards one of our own.

I like him when he first burst into our starting XI. Love him. But he became so conservative and reserve as time goes, playing the safe game over and over again with very poor positional sense. Playing beside Sissoko really didn't help.

I am more than willing to give him another season to prove his worth if Mourinho has plans for him, but 40m onwards is really too great an amount to pass up.

And really, what is the stand-out trait of Winks TBH? Dele has abilities to ghost past defenders to score goals (had scored important goals for us) and has dribbling capabilities. Lamela has tenacity, drive and passion who rubs people off the positive way. Even Sissoko has directness, strength and pace. I really have no idea what Winks has.

 

[wrd]

I agree with everything you say pretty much, but Lo Celso has always been more a middle third than final third player, and while I think he has a bit more flair and unpredictability than Winks I think they perform quite similar roles. I think that one of them needs to really add something to his game for it to work in an attacking sense, though defensively speaking it should be effective. As you say, either (or both) Dele or Ndombele playing to their potential would be a happy solution.

He has been for us but for Betis he was playing in the false 9 role. I hope it's not another case of Lamela where the big scoring stats disappear once they come to the prem but I'm hoping it was more do to our needs rather than ability to consistently produce those goals.

 

[Cochraam]

I guess I don't understand this rumor from City's perspective. If they're willing to spend £40 million on Winks, but Ndomble is apparently available for £42 million, why not spend just a little more for Ndombele? I know Ndomble had a pretty rough season, but surely his ceiling is way higher. Maybe Ndombele will go on to disappoint everywhere he plays in his career, but if someone is able to get a tune out of him, he'll be amazing. I would picture City and Pep backing themselves as the people to turn Ndombele into a world-class CM.