Harry Winks - Leicester City

[yankspurs]

Agree but unfortunately the list of players worth decent money isn't quite as long.

I think Winks deserves another chance. Last season was a mess for all concerned but let's see if the additon of Hojbjerg makes a difference (like we hope it does).

Mourinho seems to trust winks which is important and he can at least find a pass.

There is a CM I would 100% be trying my damndest to sell. Winks is not it. He’s an important squad player and you cant replace his HG & club trained status. With Skipp likely to go out on loan, we’ll need backup for Hojbjeg at the 6. But he’s a #8 by trade so we should see if there is a point to him there before selling as we know he’s a bit useless as a 6.

We should be trying to sell Sissoko. He’s in his 30s and served his time here. Time to just get whatever cash we can for him. If only to just take away the option to revert back to the awful Winks/Sissoko double pivot.

 

[spids]

Selling winks is absolute madness, imo. When he came into the side our results got better.

Im not blaming Winks for our decline in the Poch era, there were many bigger factors (sale of Walker, Rose injury, loss of Dembele, injury to Wanyama, no player investment for two windows, Poch going a little mad etc.) but the decline coincided with Winks becoming a permanent fixture in the starting XI. So our results definitely did not get better and to say such is ridiculous!

The way I see it, Lo Celso and Højbjerg are nailed on starters (partnership like Alonso and Khedira did under JM at Madrid). I think Jose will want a 3rd player in ACM who can be his Lampard, Sneijder, Ozil, Oscar for this side. Dele, Ndombele, Lamela and Winks are the current runners in the race. I’d be surprised if Winks is the winner rather than a squad player / back up for Lo Celso and Højbjerg.

 

[Scouseyid]

Winks won't be sold. Jose trusts him & that's obvious after the restart with the role he gave him in the team, especially after Sheff Utd. Hojbjerg will likely take over the deep role Winks predominantly had which will free him up to play as an 8.

 

[LDNYid]

I’d be keeping Winks; he’s homegrown and passionate about Spurs, plus he’s a half decent footballer who shouldn’t be playing as a defensive midfielder. I happen to think he’ll have a better season playing fairly regularly next to someone who does a lot of the defensive work for him. He’s just not someone I’d be looking to move on from this squad; I’d much sooner see us part with Moussa.

 

[thecook]

Also find it funny that the people who don’t rate Winks don’t put 2 and 2 together to wonder why Pep Guardiola would want him and Man City would value him at 40 mil...

But that's just newspaper bollocks. Pep doesn't want him

 

[emiley heskey]

Im not blaming Winks for our decline in the Poch era, there were many bigger factors (sale of Walker, Rose injury, loss of Dembele, injury to Wanyama, no player investment for two windows, Poch going a little mad etc.) but the decline coincided with Winks becoming a permanent fixture in the starting XI. So our results definitely did not get better and to say such is ridiculous!

The way I see it, Lo Celso and Højbjerg are nailed on starters. I think Jose will want a 3rd player in ACM who can be his Lampard, Sneijder, Ozil, Oscar for this side. Dele, Ndombele, Lamela and Winks are the current runners in the race. I’d be surprised if Winks is the winner rather than a squad player / back up for Lo Celso and Højbjerg.

I think jose sees lo celso as an acm and ndombele as cm .... And after hojberg, winks will compete with ndombele mainly .... Number 10 spot will be between dele, lamela, lo celso and I think he wants to upgrade one of dele or lamela ...

 

[markt]

Winks is a great squad player. People seem to have forgotten his performances early on. What I do not want to see again is the Winks Sissoko midfield. That had no balance to it and made us look flat in attack.

Also, he is not the only player who had a bad season. I see no reason he can't pick back up again, especially with the team performing better.

 

[Hotspur33]

Totally disagree about this. I think his positioning has shot upwards ever since Jose took over and was very impressed with it during the last several games of the season.

I can understand frustrations with the safe passing though, I think those criticisms are totally warranted. That said we're not really playing a system that links the defense to the midfield to the forwards very well currently especially with Sissoko playing as his midfield partner who often hides from receiving the ball if he's not in space.

I would also say Winks has shown plenty of tenacity and willingness to work for the shirt, just like Lamela. He just doesn't do the dirty bastard stuff like walking on players' hands like Lamela does.

I've not been the biggest Winks supporter in the past, I recognize he is "tidy" but haven't seen a player that is significantly better than Mason, Carroll, Bentaleb and Livermore. However, I do think he is an intelligent lad and still young enough to develop into the role of CDM.
I certainly wouldn't give up on him yet. As you say, given a more competent partner in midfield he may blossom.
But I think he should continue to try and transition into a CDM rather than an 8

 

[DannyNZ]

I've not been the biggest Winks supporter in the past, I recognize he is "tidy" but haven't seen a player that is significantly better than Mason, Carroll, Bentaleb and Livermore. However, I do think he is an intelligent lad and still young enough to develop into the role of CDM.
I certainly wouldn't give up on him yet. As you say, given a more competent partner in midfield he may blossom.
But I think he should continue to try and transition into a CDM rather than an 8

Appreciate what you’re saying but I think you’re a bit hard on Winks, I think he is substantially better than Carroll, Livermore and co. Hope he will blossom in a more balanced midfield.

 

[HodisGawd]

I've not been the biggest Winks supporter in the past, I recognize he is "tidy" but haven't seen a player that is significantly better than Mason, Carroll, Bentaleb and Livermore. However, I do think he is an intelligent lad and still young enough to develop into the role of CDM.
I certainly wouldn't give up on him yet. As you say, given a more competent partner in midfield he may blossom.
But I think he should continue to try and transition into a CDM rather than an 8

Winks definitely should be an 8, not a 6.

 

[RichieS]

Haven't read the last 5 or so pages, so this post is based on what I read yesterday and I apologise in advance if this has already been cleared up...

Let me get this straight: Harry Winks is good enough to be a £40m+ squad player at Man City but not good enough to be a squad player at Spurs. Is that about right?

As with Ndombélé - if José wants him out then let him go. If not, don't. Very simple.

 

[thelak]

I think the pressing thing is just a function of playing alongside Sissoko who actively hides from the ball and just points to pass to the FB or CB.

With a CM partner that actually wants the ball and can make some interchanges I think you’d see Winks do much better.

I hope so! Still remember that performance against Madrid

do think the ankle injuries have had some impact although hard to know really

 

[JonnySpurs]

This tweet popped up on my timeline and made me feel quite strongly that we need to see Winks back in his proper CM role. He's been asked to do a job last season in CDM and being the model pro that he is, he's done his best whilst naturally struggling.



The games against Real Madrid were an example of Winks at his best and mention of him having 7 key passes in one game is something easily forgotten. Whilst the video is a bit hyperbolic talking about him "unlocking defences", he certainly has the potential to refine that side of his game if given the license to push forward more with Hojbjerg now behind him.

I love this kid. At the very worst he's an excellent rotation option or off the bench energy player to help see out games. At best he could be a quality number 8 that will contribute significantly to our progress moving forward.

 

[mr ashley]

The sounds coming out of the club about an appraisal of winks are really promising.
If he wants to play in a slightly more advanced role, he needs to be more creative. That’s fine. Playing alongside Hojbjerg should also be good, as should the increased challenge for places.

We’ve managed to win enough games this season with him on the pitch to prove he’s a valuable squad member.
There’s no way I’d get rid of him. He should be modelling his game on Gundogan (which might explain the city link)

 

[RichieS]

This tweet popped up on my timeline and made me feel quite strongly that we need to see Winks back in his proper CM role. He's been asked to do a job last season in CDM and being the model pro that he is, he's done his best whilst naturally struggling.



The games against Real Madrid were an example of Winks at his best and mention of him having 7 key passes in one game is something easily forgotten. Whilst the video is a bit hyperbolic talking about him "unlocking defences", he certainly has the potential to refine that side of his game if given the license to push forward more with Hojbjerg now behind him.

I love this kid. At the very worst he's an excellent rotation option or off the bench energy player to help see out games. At best he could be a quality number 8 that will contribute significantly to our progress moving forward.

The sounds coming out of the club about an appraisal of winks are really promising.
If he wants to play in a slightly more advanced role, he needs to be more creative. That’s fine. Playing alongside Hojbjerg should also be good, as should the increased challenge for places.

We’ve managed to win enough games this season with him on the pitch to prove he’s a valuable squad member.
There’s no way I’d get rid of him. He should be modelling his game on Gundogan (which might explain the city link)

One thing we all know about Winks is that he's a good passer (by which I mean precise/accurate). He's also constantly on the move looking for a return pass once he's released it (part of the issue with playing him at DM, as he has to curb his mobility to maintain position). Having someone who instinctively makes those triangles 20-35 yards from the opposition goal creates the gaps through which passes can be threaded, which brings us back to his core passing ability. He is a good player, important to both Spurs and England. I would only let him go if that is what José wants (and I don't see any evidence of that).

 

[jurgen]

Would like to keep him for this season and see what he can do if freed up in a 3 now we've signed PEH. I'd say we've got bigger midfield issues like having to play Sissoko in CM and our record signing seemingly unwilling to put the effort in to succeed with us.

I know some people will never rate him but he's played a good amount of games for a top 4-6 team, and had some very good performances in the CL, £40m is too low for a home grown player at 24 with that CV nowadays imo.

 

[ErikSON]

I really like Winks and I hope he stays but we also have to be realistic. The only way he leaves is if he has requested to leave (for guaranteed first team football). If that's the case then surely we can't begrudge him or the club if an *acceptable* offer comes in (at least 50million imo).

In terms of Winks' case for being in the first 11, I think we all agree he isn't good enough defensively to play CDM. But also, he is not creative or a goal threat. Surely I'm not the only one wincing when he's winding up a long shot? He is a good player without being particularly great at anything. His strength is his passing, but this Tottenham team is the worst of the last 5 years in terms of keeping the ball. I struggle to see a future with him in the first 11.

And to keep bringing up that one game in the Bernabeu really makes things worse. Weren't we the ones laughing at Arsenal fans for raving about that one great game he had against Barcelona?

As a club I think we have really regretted not cashing in for certain players over the years. Just think about Danny Rose to Chelsea for 50million, and Eric Dier to Man Utd for 50million. 2 players who haven't been first team for a while, that's 100million we could've spent on replacements. Hindsight is a wonderful thing of course, but you have to learn from past mistakes right? If Winks isn't going to be a first 11 player, then that's a good opportunity for us to make some money.

Obviously everyone has their opinions, but I would be disappointed to see Winks in the first 11 next year, especially if we're relying on him being in a more advanced role. Time will tell.. ?‍

 

[wrd]

I think Winks obviously needs to add more to his game to really justify a sport in the starting 11. However I think it's important to remember that in terms of being a permanent fixture in our league team. He has never had a proper DM next to him. His entire go of being our resident midfielder has been next to Sissoko and with all due to respect to Sissoko, he's not a Wanyama or even a Dier. I think Winks has done a job for us. I'd like to see what Winks can do and the spot is open for either Him, Ndombele or Dele to stamp their claim as the 3rd man in a midfield despite the fact they all offer varying skill sets.

If Winks can let go off the core defensive responsibilities thrust on him out of necessity and add some incisiveness to his game then he can be a real asset.

 

[double0]

People should remove the idea in there mind of selling Winks. With the quota of English players being more relivent it doesn't seem like a sensible thing to do, at worst he is a squad player. I think with a more appropriate DM Winks could be released and really shine more. He actually is a superb athlete has a good burst of pace and is good on the ball.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

People should remove the idea in there mind of selling Winks. With the quota of English players being more relivent it doesn't seem like a sensible thing to do, at worst he is a squad player. I think with a more appropriate DM Winks could be released and really shine more. He actually is a superb athlete has a good burst of pace and is good on the ball.

Spot on. Absolutely no chance we sell him. The guy has proven himself as a first team player under two managers now, is homegrown, and a die hard spurs fan. He's going no where.