What's new

Harry Winks - Leicester City

Rosco1984

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
1,740
7,048
Winks has a problem on his hands when it comes to his place in the team if/when Ndombele gets to full fitness and can maintain it. Last season, Mourinho had to rely on him as for one reason or another he didn't really have any other option. I think he'll appreciate him as a squad player but recognise he isn't someone he can turn to week in week out if the team is going to succeed.

If Ndombele can reach peak fitness, maintain it and approach/attitude is on an upward trajectory, clear Winks is spending most of his time on the bench. There's a chasm of difference between the two in terms of on the ball ability.

I know Winks is currently important to the HG quota but I wouldn't be against moving him on for the right money and bringing in Brooks from Bournemouth. Although I suspect he'd be more of Dele replacement were we to lose him.

I don't think he has that big of a problem. The way I see it this is the set up we will ultimately agree is our best with who will be first understudy in each position.

Hojbjerg/Winks (holding)
Lo Celso/Winks (linking Up dictating play) Ndombele/Lo Celso (creating)

Basically I can see winks slotting in alongside either Ndombele or Lo Celso if one is rested or unavailable with the other taking the more creative responsibility. I can also unfortunately see him covering for Hojbjerg in the DM role as we don't have anyone else and this is the problem.

So winks should get plenty of playing time with the amount of fixtures we have.

Of course I am hoping Mourinho see's it this way long term but he's just as likely to play Winks holding and let Hojbjerg chase the ball like he did against Everton which just doesn't work.
 

Klinsmannic

Well-Known Member
Jun 22, 2011
784
2,420
This is absolute bollocks Winks started out under Poch when we pressed like crazy and he is good at it! he is being asked to sit in the hole in front of the defence and protect the ball and that's what he is doing. he is paying the price for being disciplined and playing how the manager asks him too. Effectively everyone slates him for being a team player and following instructions. I am sure he would rather be bombing round the midfield pressing and linking things up like he did against Madrid or when he was putting in lunging tackles against Barca when we needed the draw to get to the next round. Don't forget as well the role he plays for Southgate when England beat Spain and he got rave reviews. He is sacrificing his instincts and his game to do a job for the team. I agree its not the job he should be doing but that's not his choice.

Not necessary.
 

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
I like Winks so i wont criticise him although dont think he has played well. I do think though he isnt being played in his best position, could he do more? yes ofcourse but there are mitigating circumstances.

I think we all know he wont be first choice in a fit 11 but he is an absolutely useful player in our squad so to sell him would be silly.
 

stormfly

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
4,584
11,990
I haven’t played football at a high level and I get people have different strengths etc but isn’t lack of being able to play different types of roles on the pitch down to past coaching and not just ability? I only say this because as well as saying Winks can’t play 6 I’ve also heard stuff like Dele is a 10 and would struggle in Midfield etc. Is there a problem with coaching from a youth academy level or is it just a case that margins are so small at elite level that players just can’t be that adaptable?

I saw an interview with Jose saying he doesn’t coach a player he coaches a team. I just find it strange that the two players we have mainly said can’t adapt to other positions are both English. I’m wondering if it’s just a coincidence or something to do with coaching at an academy level? I would have thought a really well coached academy player would have all of the core skills to be able to adapt to playing most positions on the pitch expect maybe goal scorer?

I’m just interested if anyone with more knowledge than me has any insight?
 

Joely

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2011
1,724
4,648
Of course I am hoping Mourinho see's it this way long term but he's just as likely to play Winks holding and let Hojbjerg chase the ball like he did against Everton which just doesn't work.

Agree. Another problem is, I'm not convinced Hojbjerg is what I'd call a 'proper' DM'. There's plenty of willingness, endeavour and aggression in his play but in terms of positioning/reading of the game not quite sure he is a specialist DM from what I've seen so far. Maybe a little too early to make a judgement but just going on what I've seen.

Suppose another question is, does Lo Celso have the game to say possibly play deeper alongside Hojbjerg with Ndombele ahead of those two. Just thinking if we had a Fabinho/Kante/Ndidi/Zakaria type in there alongside Lo Celso (or even Winks for that matter), would that work better?

I look at LIverpool and they have Fabinho who is extremely good in the DM role, not only in terms of getting his foot in but also in his head when it comes to positioning, reading the game. Usually has Henderson next to him and I do wonder if Hojberg could be more of Henderson type player rather than a Fabinho.
 

JoaoPereira

Well-Known Member
Sep 5, 2020
584
857
Agree. Another problem is, I'm not convinced Hojbjerg is what I'd call a 'proper' DM'. There's plenty of willingness, endeavour and aggression in his play but in terms of positioning/reading of the game not quite sure he is a specialist DM from what I've seen so far. Maybe a little too early to make a judgement but just going on what I've seen.
totally agree. so far I'd describe him as a roaming defensive playmaker: very aggressive chasing the ball, making reads, playing the passing lanes but lacking that ability to drop, contain or position himself in order to create positional superiority with the back line. not sure he's the player to have in front of the defence. he seems to have good instincts, cleans up some messy situations but doesn't really strike me as that defensive pendulum a team can rely on.
 
Last edited:

The Long Suffering One

Well-Known Member
Mar 13, 2014
819
3,973
Can't say I understand why we didn't buy a pure DM with the players we have. Gio and Tanguy would be awesome either side of a Zakaria type player, but instead we have Hojbjerg chasing around higher up the pitch. Seems wierd when our need was so obvious. Maybe Hojbjerg will drop into the conventional DM role but I've never seen him as a specialist in that role. Winks would certainly fare better with less defensive responsibility.

How much did Doucoure went to Everton for? Would have thought as a true DM, he would have been a better fit than PEH..
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
He has been asked to play a deep lying playmaker role to accommodate PEH playing higher up to disrupt the opposition which I don't really understand but then again I have never managed anyone to a CL title. I think Harry is much better served starting higher up and playing more advanced attacking role. I think the single best performance I have seen from him is playing for England against Spain when I thought he conducted play superbly - he even had the Spanish footballing press lauding him.
He is clearly a very very good footballer that is not playing very well at the moment but there is no scenario where I think we are better off without him in the squad.

Very much this.

He has shown for England and his early performances for us he has the talent so I’m very loathed to write him off.

I do feel he’ll benefit from a change to 4-3-3 if that’s what we’re gonna do going forward, but i also did feel we should have a specialist defensive midfielder sitting with two of Winks / Lo Celso / Ndombele being given more freedom to attack.

Concerned PEH isn’t that specialist defensive midfielder we need, but time will tell.
 

Dzejkob

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2012
785
3,215
This is an absolute malicious attempt to push an agenda against a player who's 100% dedicated and Tottenham born and bred, Winks started out under Poch when we pressed like crazy and he is good at it! he is being asked to sit in the hole in front of the defence and protect the ball and that's what he is doing. he is paying the price for being disciplined and playing how the manager asks him too. Effectively everyone slates him for being a team player and following instructions. I am sure he would rather be bombing round the midfield pressing and linking things up like he did against Madrid or when he was putting in lunging tackles against Barca when we needed the draw to get to the next round. Don't forget as well the role he plays for Southgate when England beat Spain and he got rave reviews. He is sacrificing his instincts and his game to do a job for the team. I agree its not the job he should be doing but that's not his choice.

Hey come on, what malicious attempt? What agenda? I don't have an agenda against Winks. It's very popular word nowdays in SC, if you criticize a player it means you have an agenda against him. And in all the respect to you and Harry Winks, I don't think he is good enough to play in Tottenham. Maybe a squad player. I would be happy to have him as a squad player. Cause as you said he is dedicated and Tottenham born. But that is not enough to play at the level we as fans and club want to be. If he will have a good game in our shirt I would not have a problem to admit that. I remember his very good games: Madrid, City in CL, Spain. But those are just single games. And those 3 are from 2 years ago! I understand why people defend him. But he is nowhere near being top player. If we want to be top club we have to have top players. I often sees opinions that he plays in wrong position, he needs to have right players around him, he is just following instructions. Looks like we have to adjust whole team so Winks can show his best. When that should be the other way around? Kane can do something from nothing when the team plays wrong. So can Son. Lo Celso can shine with Sissoko next to him. Why can't I require the same from Winks?

Saying that my post is "absolute malicious attempt to push an agenda against a player" is very harsh and unfair opinion my friend. I'm happy to discuss about Winks. Believe me I have no agenda against any player in the club I supports cause I think it's stupid.
 

Ron Burgundy

SC Supporter
Jun 19, 2008
7,705
23,267
Winks' issue is that his passing isn't very incisive, and he's not impacting the game enough. He looks lacking confidence and doesn't have the physicality to make up for it
 

Vincent30

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
900
3,694
Winks' issue is that his passing isn't very incisive, and he's not impacting the game enough. He looks lacking confidence and doesn't have the physicality to make up for it
This is exactly it, if his passes were crisp, progressive and he could actually play a long pass. We wouldn't be questioning the point of him. But currently his passing is just meh and if he doesn't have that, what does he actually have?
 

Joely

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2011
1,724
4,648
What were peoples thoughts on him today? I'm definitely not his biggest fan but thought he had a decent first half along with the rest of the team when Newcastle were not really pressing so much. Second half thought Newcastle upped the pressure and that's when he kind of reverted back to his usual self.
 
Top