Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[TEESSIDE1]

Has he said he is worried about a new player? Or just papers guessing?

As per the post I was quoting it’s from an ITK

 

[ardiles&villa]

I’ll probably get killed for this but I think Sissoko brings more on the pitch than Winks does.

But I totally understand the logic behind wanting to sell Sissoko over Winks.

No chance mate imo

 

[Danny1]

Personally I would very disappointed if Winks were to leave. In both Winks and the Club. I’d be disappointed that Winks wouldn’t want to fight for his place and I’d be disappointed in the club not being able to convince him that this is a squad game and one player coming in doesn’t mean he won’t play at all.

 

[carpediem991]

Waiting for the itk that says us "it is not as close actually. We are far away from saints valuation".

This cant be that straight forward?

Btw would not like to see Winksy go. Would like him as a squad player who can even improve next to PEH or give him competition.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Nether will need to be added to this year's squad.
Also, are we really saying Winks isn't good enough, but with out seeing these 2 youngster play much top level football they will be better squad players?

I was saying people don’t want to lose Winks because he’s HG and we’re short of HG numbers but with the two kids being promoted we would actually be better off from a HG numbers perspective.

Not all HG players are going to make it and those that do, not all of them are going to have an X factor about them.

Based on our current squad - Tanganga has a very bright future, Sessegnon also has loads of promise, Skipp looks mature beyond his years but could do with regular game (eg a loan), Kane is the best striker we’ve had for years. Winks like Mason, Carroll and Livermore play with passion but they’re all limited players. It doesn’t mean they can’t have a successful career but they’re not players to get excited about. Yes I know Mason suffered and horrific injury and had to retire.

 

[chrissivad]

As per the post I was quoting it’s from an ITK

I missed it at the bottom of the page
I hope he is worried about his position, just hope he can get his head down and work hard... Just not as a DM...

 

[chrissivad]

I was saying people don’t want to lose Winks because he’s HG and we’re short of HG numbers but with the two kids being promoted we would actually be better off from a HG numbers perspective.

Not all HG players are going to make it and those that do, not all of them are going to have an X factor about them.

Based on our current squad - Tanganga has a very bright future, Sessegnon also has loads of promise, Skipp looks mature beyond his years but could do with regular game (eg a loan), Kane is the best striker we’ve had for years. Winks like Mason, Carroll and Livermore play with passion but they’re all limited players. It doesn’t mean they can’t have a successful career but they’re not players to get excited about. Yes I know Mason suffered and horrific injury and had to retire.

Foyth (if he stays) will also be classed as home grown this season.

*As pointed out he won't. Misses out as he turned 21 during the season...

But the youngsters won't count as part of the home grown as they are young enough that they don't need to be part of the squad.
I just count them as extra players we can call on.
So for me, losing Winks (this season at least) would be a bad move.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

I missed it at the bottom of the page
I hope he is worried about his position, just hope he can get his head down and work hard... Just not as a DM...

Look at Bale, he used to be more concerned about his hair... fast forward a year and he went from a skinny, spotty mammy’s boy to a world class footballer. You can say the same about Kane (question marks over him early doors) but he pushed and pushed himself and became a quality player because of it. More recently we’ve seen the same with Lo Celso... to have a manager unconvinced by you to then raving about your performances and giving you a permanent deal in the space of a few months just shows how mentally strong and determined he is. Winks either knuckles down and earns his place in the squad or finds himself a new home which will most likely be at an average club.

 

[Push & Run]

I like that, but I am not too optimistic with Ndombele anymore TBH.

Probably not a very popular opinion here, but if going with 433, a midfield trio of GLC, PEH and Dele may be one of the most balanced midfield we could have in recent years... Skill, speed, tenacity, technical abilities and a certain eye for passes to Kane from the early-days Dele. Is really tantalising. And all 3 are so young who still have a ceiling yet to be reached but possible going new heights under Mourinho.

Good insight, Deli should go back to his roots and perform as the new lampard, using his nastyness to compete deeper, using his motor to come from deeper and raise the level of others by example AND score from deeper. GLC on left, Ndem on right with a nasty athletic gorilla behind.
Happy days stay safe bob

 

[joey55]

I like Winksy a lot, but despite the fact he's played for England, if you were a club at the bottom of the league, would you spend a good chunk of your transfer budget on him? Look at Leeds and Villa, the 2 lowest ranked teams we know will be in the Prem next season, would you spend money on Winks when you have the likes of Luiz and Philips? I'm not saying there aren't Prem clubs where he's be better than one of the CM's they currently have starting, but that is he sufficiently better than what they have to make it worth spending their precious transfer budget on? If he was available on a free or for a low transfer, I can see a lot of takers, but in the current financial climate and for the sort of money Levy would want, for a youngish, England International, with CL experience, I think it would be hard to find a buyer that doesn't think they could improve more by spending the money elsewhere.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

If Winks wants to leave because he’s worried about competition from a new player coming in from Southampton, I would be happy for him to go.

Get rid of the players who aren’t up for the fight.

 

[nedley]

His side-ways and backwards passing made United and City interested.

This sideways and backwards talk is absolute nonsense.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

This sideways and backwards talk is absolute nonsense.

Guess you didn’t watch our drab performances for the majority of the season when we had zero presence in central midfield. Winks and Sissoko as a duo are a complete train wreck.

 

[DiVaio]

Foyth (if he stays) will also be classed as home grown this season

He won't be HG. Only in season 19/20 he could be registered in List B for Champions League matches.

 

[JR1994]

People saying winks isn’t up for the fight haha he’s literally broke into a top 6 clubs first team and become a main stay having coming through the academy. Literally only happens tiny % of players. He’s Tottenham through and through and wants to play for us every week

 

[DiVaio]

Guess you didn’t watch our drab performances for the majority of the season when we had zero presence in central midfield. Winks and Sissoko as a duo are a complete train wreck.

And what his style of passing has to do with zero presence in central midfield and fact that Winks and Sissoko doesn't work as duo?

 

[Joely]

We need him for his HG status, I think. Not sure if Europa has different rules than CL for club trained players.

In terms of the league, I can see us bringing in maybe 2 or so players with HG status this summer, especially from the teams that have gone down (likes of Wilson, Ramsdale, Aarons, King, Deeney already linked) so can't imagine it would be a huge problem if Winks were to go if that were to happen.

 

[Vincent30]

I'd much rather sell Sissoko than Winks. Sissoko is older, not homegrown, and too technically limited for a role in CM in anything other than a counterattacking setup.

I guess the only counter to this is who you'd rather want coming on in the last 20 - 30 min of the game. As neither Sissoko or Winks should start for our aspirations, i'd probably be more swayed bringing on Sissoko because he is frustrating for anyone with his power and difficulty to get past especially when the opposition is a little leggy, he would at least add that real physical presence and discipline that Jose craves. Whereas Winks adds what? Some tidy 5 yard passes. Maybe he will be better next to a DM, i'm just not so sure.

As i've said before, i'd be rubbing my hands if i was a CM lining up against Winks, much more than Sissoko. If Winks played at West Ham, would any of us be speaking highly about him in any regard, unlikely.

But in essence, neither should be starters so it's not too big a debate.

 

[nedley]

Guess you didn’t watch our drab performances for the majority of the season when we had zero presence in central midfield. Winks and Sissoko as a duo are a complete train wreck.

Don't disagree with that. Its a horror double act.

But that doesn't mean as individuals they are poor footballers. They are playing CM in a team that had fallen off a cliff under our best manager in modern years. They used to have a prime Rose and Walker running passed them, a rock solid Toby and Verts behind.

Now you're expecting Winks to be spreading 'Pirlos' in a Maureen team?

He's not faultless by any means, but people need to give their heads a wobble if they think hes a bad player.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

People saying winks isn’t up for the fight haha he’s literally broke into a top 6 clubs first team and become a main stay having coming through the academy. Literally only happens tiny % of players. He’s Tottenham through and through and wants to play for us every week

2018/19 we only had 2 fit central midfielders for the majority of the season - Winks and Sissoko. Likewise in 2019/20 Lo Celso was unavailable for months and Ndombele has been doing a fast food crawl for the entire season. We’ve been reliant on Winks and Sissoko because we’ve had no alternatives. Don’t kid yourself by believing they’re playing on merit.