Harry Winks - Leicester City

[JKendall13]

He’s such a high effort player that it often comes at the detriment of being positionally sound. Today was so much more mature. I think the combination of him getting a bit older and having Mourinho coaching him, that he can develop much more defensively.

 

[allpaths]

we need to manage him carefully, we'd be screwed if he picks up a major injury.

 

[hughy]

Unreal today! Best I’ve seen him play for us. Where has this pace come from as well!

I think he's been scared to push himself in the past because of injuries. Now that he's had a knock and come back straight away he probably feels he can push himself a bit more without fear of a long term absense.

An in form Winks certainly gives us a number of options. I hate to say it, but I think it will be Dele making way for Ndombele as the season progresses.

 

[sidford]

Assume young windy has had to change his underwear after watching that performance from winks? Although he has been less glowing about winks in the past 6 /9 months he has always backed him. Maybe, just maybe, José is a bit more of a coach than a lot give him credit for.

 

[weststandyid]

Was it just me that was very surprised by his burst of pace at the corner that led to the second yellow? Didn't know he had that type of burst / strength in his locker

always had it. one of his major attributes is that he's always on his toes and very mobile. not necessarily rapid.

 

[Hakkz]

berry important player winks been one of the best under Jose.

Played his way into his plans and cemented his place.

Top player

Funny enough he was the one that was going to suffer most under Jose, according to the experts.

 

[Haddock]

Yeah ever since Pochettino talked about Winks being "...the English Iniesta" or whatever it was, there's been this misconception about him as a player. I myself am guilty or ironizing over those comments. He has the ability to turn away and hit a good pass but his main attribute, when he utilizes it, is that he's really tenacious and he can cover large areas of the pitch like he did last night.

When you actually think about it Winks best performances have always been against teams that are brilliant with the ball and have the majority of the possession: City, Real Madrid etc. At the same we've seen quite underwhelming performances when he's supposed to be the this metronome / requista player everyone wants him to be. Maybe we should just accept, and maybe Winks should as well, and Mourinho probably already has, that he's at his best as a work horse kind of player.

 

[sage]

Winksy bleeds Tottenham through and through. He was immense last night.

 

[Primativ]

Not for me he's completely deserved his criticism. Just like today he deserves an awful lot of praise. The one comes with the other imo.

Exactly. If he plays like yesterday more often then he really is like having a good Scott Parker in the side. That said, I don't see him as a part of our strongest 11.

 

[spursfan77]

Loved his celebration when Zinchenko got his second booking. He was so happy.

 

[Mornstar]

berry important player winks been one of the best under Jose.

Played his way into his plans and cemented his place.

Top player

Thanks Poch

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Don’t know what he’s been doing lately, but Winks seems to gained a yard or two of pace. His recent performances have been characterised by zip and energy

 

[carpediem991]

I think Winks will always be a solid squad player, that can put in a shift and useful in some matches. He can not carry a match on his own, he gets better when he has someone like Lo Celso, technical good with vision, next to him.
Happy for him, would be nice if he can be more consistent. I'd always choose him before Dier.

 

[leray]

I've enjoyed his performance yesterday. Very energetic, plenty of recoveries, good pace.

One caveat though: I hate it when the opponent counters and Winks' instinct tells him to press the man with the ball regardless of his position, speed of attack and position of the opponent.

Many times, he was too late to tackle and the opponent had enough time to make himself space with just a simple drop of the shoulder and this, for his team.

Winks needs to think about passing lanes, not the opponent with the ball.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Don’t know what he’s been doing lately, but Winks seems to gained a yard or two of pace. His recent performances have been characterised by zip and energy

He's always had great acceleration. Although fans were too blind to notice it while they were busy making a him a scapegoat for all our problems this season.

 

[Spurrific]

I don't understand how people didn't realise he was fast.

 

[Japhet]

I think Winks will always be a solid squad player, that can put in a shift and useful in some matches. He can not carry a match on his own, he gets better when he has someone like Lo Celso, technical good with vision, next to him.
Happy for him, would be nice if he can be more consistent. I'd always choose him before Dier.

It's not just that Lo Celso is good technically but also that he is constantly moving and trying to make himself available for passes. Too many of our players are happy to amble about or even hide and it's a major reason why our passing has so often been anything but progressive.

 

[bomberH]

Love Winks. Love his effort, determination and pride at playing for us. His joy at the second yellow and his hug for Lloris when the fracas finished was great to watch. He may look like a shy prepubescent but he can give it out when he needs to.

Always thought he’d be a great player for us and England as soon as he broke through. Those comparing him to players like Mason and Carroll (as much as I liked Mason) are way off.

A midfield consisting of Winks, Ndombele and Lo Celso is the way forward for me.

 

[yido_number1]

It's not just that Lo Celso is good technically but also that he is constantly moving and trying to make himself available for passes. Too many of our players are happy to amble about or even hide and it's a major reason why our passing has so often been anything but progressive.

That's the difference between having a Sissoko or Lo Celso in there with Winks. Two quality MF's passing and moving together and being trusted on the ball is so under rated. Sissoko does a valuable job for us and this disguises his limitations. We'll need everyone fit over the course of the season but to me it's so obvious Sissoko will be the odd one out when everyone is fit. Best case for him he will become Mourinho's Fellaini coming on to see games out.

I predict a 4-3-3 with Ndombele Winks and Lo Celso making up the mainstay. Fernandes will rotate with Winks and who ever else needs a rest.

 

[Cavehillspur]

Thought he was outstanding yesterday.