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.
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.
Your right I have had time to breath and edited it. Better?
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.
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.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.
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..
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.
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.
£20mThink he was a lot more.
I dunno where anyone's getting that idea from? Doucoure has never been a true DM. Not for Watford anyhow.How much did Doucoure went to Everton for? Would have thought as a true DM, he would have been a better fit than PEH..
I dunno where anyone's getting that idea from? Doucoure has never been a true DM. Not for Watford anyhow.
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?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