Player Watch: Victor Wanyama

[philip]

Watching this makes it abundantly clear to me why we have fallen apart, I've been fixated on the Dembele situation but the reality is we were on a decline before Dembele left maybe not results wise but definitely performance wise and seeing what Wanyama used to bring and used to allow the rest of the team to focus on really brings it home for me. Funnily enough I always felt the same thing happened with AVB, we were looking solid with Sandro and Dembele and then Sandro did his knee vs QPR and then we looked shit aside from Bale carrying us. We need a new DM more than anything.

Or just use the one we already have - Eric Dier!

 

[wrd]

Or just use the one we already have - Eric Dier!

I don't think he was ever the standard that Wanyama was although was still a good DM in his own right at his best but he's nowhere near that now. The question I'd love to know the answer to is can he be played back into that level or not.

 

[archiewasking]

Try Skipp. Why on earth not.

 

[TheRevolution]

Or just use the one we already have - Eric Dier!

Eric Dier always becomes alot better the longer he is out of the squad. Forget the Brighton game already? He's been awful for years.

 

[wrd]

Try Skipp. Why on earth not.

I'm amazed we haven't to be honest.

 

[ljinko888]

Watching this makes it abundantly clear to me why we have fallen apart, I've been fixated on the Dembele situation but the reality is we were on a decline before Dembele left maybe not results wise but definitely performance wise and seeing what Wanyama used to bring and used to allow the rest of the team to focus on really brings it home for me. Funnily enough I always felt the same thing happened with AVB, we were looking solid with Sandro and Dembele and then Sandro did his knee vs QPR and then we looked shit aside from Bale carrying us. We need a new DM more than anything.

Really miss having that midfielder who can reliably protect the defence and plug gaps but also carry the ball forward. Wanyama transitioned defence to attack. That was the understated component of all the attacking football in 2016/17. We scored eighty-six league goals! We were so powerful defensively that we could play 10 yards higher up, smother the opposition and bombard them with shots on goal.

 

[gavspur]

Makes you wonder why Poch hasn’t gone for this type of player again. Winks, as good as he is a a CM, is not a Wanyama type defensive midfielder, not by a long way.

 

[Legacy]

Man, having Wanyama and Dembele hunt down attacking players and then immediately putting us in a counter attack was such a joy to watch. It becomes glaringly obvious why we struggle to control games nowadays when we've come nowhere near close to replacing that partnership.

 

[Locotoro]

Eric Dier always becomes alot better the longer he is out of the squad. Forget the Brighton game already? He's been awful for years.

Let's be fair on this, Dier is not awful. He's just not a first-choice option.

I'd gladly keep Dier as a squad option if he could recover form and physicality

 

[razzmaster]

Let's be fair on this, Dier is not awful. He's just not a first-choice option.

I'd gladly keep Dier as a squad option if he could recover form and physicality

I would like to see how Dier does given a run at CB. I'm not sure that's where he sees himself playing but is his best chance of playing regularly for Spurs and England.

 

[WiganSpur]

I do think we lack a bit of physicality in midfield and Dier doesn't possess it because he has only strength and not the athleticism that is required too. Although Ndombele has many more things to his game than Wanyama and Dembele had, he really isn't physically that imposing. I think he'd work nicely with someone like Zakaria next to him.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Watching this makes it abundantly clear to me why we have fallen apart, I've been fixated on the Dembele situation but the reality is we were on a decline before Dembele left maybe not results wise but definitely performance wise and seeing what Wanyama used to bring and used to allow the rest of the team to focus on really brings it home for me. Funnily enough I always felt the same thing happened with AVB, we were looking solid with Sandro and Dembele and then Sandro did his knee vs QPR and then we looked shit aside from Bale carrying us. We need a new DM more than anything.

Which is why we need to give Poch time.

He needs to get a bit more ruthless in the transfer market though.

 

[EastLondonYid]

Reports today he was awesome against Egypt, I think Vic back to his best would be like a new signing,
Maybe he's spurs career is at an end, but would love it if it wasn't and he was back.
A Vic of a few seasons would go a long way to solving our defensive problems.

 

[dagraham]

Reports today he was awesome against Egypt, I think Vic back to his best would be like a new signing,
Maybe he's spurs career is at an end, but would love it if it wasn't and he was back.
A Vic of a few seasons would go a long way to solving our defensive problems.

It certainly would, but I just can’t see it.

 

[Locotoro]

Reports today he was awesome against Egypt, I think Vic back to his best would be like a new signing,
Maybe he's spurs career is at an end, but would love it if it wasn't and he was back.
A Vic of a few seasons would go a long way to solving our defensive problems.

Then he follows it up with an absolute atrocious performance against Togo.

Seen some comments saying "wish he wasn't Kenyan " after seeing such a lazy performance and should never play again

 

[ClintEastwould]

Then he follows it up with an absolute atrocious performance against Togo.

Seen some comments saying "wish he wasn't Kenyan " after seeing such a lazy performance and should never play again

That’s unfortunate. I had admittedly forgotten how good Wanyama was, my slight excuse being that he really only peaked for one season, but after watching that highlight video of 16/17 I had s glimmer of hope. If even Kenyan fans are critical these days not sure we should hold out much hope anymore.

 

[EastLondonYid]

Then he follows it up with an absolute atrocious performance against Togo.

Seen some comments saying "wish he wasn't Kenyan " after seeing such a lazy performance and should never play again

Two games in four days for a midfielder who has hardly played in two seasons....
Or maybe their fans are just as fickle as some on here.

 

[dudu]

Two games in four days for a midfielder who has hardly played in two seasons....
Or maybe their fans are just as fickle as some on here.

They are sports fans. Fickle by nature.

 

[Vincent30]

Oh how much i would love to have the old Wanyama back protecting the back four with Ndombele and Lo Celso in front of him. Would be an absolute dream scenario.

We can take a little credit he actually turned up against Egypt, maybe there is a player still in there.

 

[archiewasking]

If we could play Egypt every week that would be great. Sadly I think we'll never see that awesome incarnation of big Vic again...