He fits our one and only category for transfer targets haha
Harry Winks
- Thread starter Paxi
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Longstaff, Rice, Winks, the two Villa MFs, Maddison, the Leeds MF. Madness.
Yh but if you compare Winks to Busquets it's a bit lopsided. That shouldn't be the yardstick otherwise every player we're linked with won't be good enough.
I'd agree we need another 10 but we do also need general cover in the midfield. Personally, I think we're focusing on the wrong type of player if we are really chasing Winks because either you sign a Maddison (never going to happen), Grealish type (not sure he's good enough tbh) or you get in a genuine DM 'destroyer' in the Kante, Fabinho, Fernandinho, Ndidi mould - we've been crying out for one for years. Issue isn't finding a top creative midfielder in my eyes, it's finding a top DM that allows us to move away from this double pivot and allows the two CMs to play their football further up the pitch, get into the box (the amount we cross the ball, you'd think McT as a runner would be a great option but it's a rare sight) and also allows them press from a more advanced position. It would also allow us to take a bit more risk with our full backs. If our CBs had proper screening, we'd look a different team defensively.
Just as you can't expect level headed thoughts from anyone that clearly persists with supporting this mediocrity
Well, Ornstein is one of the most reliable journalists in the country, please link me to reliable journalists that are linking us to any players that aren't British, how about Ruben Neves and Jimenez? Which has to be the biggest load of bull ever, and if it's not, is just another example of how dumb we are as a club to ask Wolves if we can buy 2 of their best players. We spunked 80m on Maguire when everybody knew he wasn't worth that much, and is so far proving so, with options just as good and cheaper on the continent, there's an obvious reason why we bought him. Linked to Longstaff, Winks, Cantwell, Grealish, Maddison, why? The first three players are just not that good, the latter 2 are good but they'd cost a lot, Maddison especially, and on the continent there are far better options that would be far cheaper than the first 3. So genuinely, what else would you call it, why are we continuously being reported chasing these uninspiring players? The only thing that links them all is that they are British and you know this, you also know damn well there are far far better options from Europe and beyond but we are either just letting other teams snap them up before we enquire about them 3 seasons later after they've made a great impact, or, the team has fallen so far they just aren't interested in joining us, which i'll cop to, is highly likely as well.
Everyone wants to keep burying their heads in the sand for some reason, I just don't get it, nobody wants to see the reality at all. It just stinks of wanting to create that old myth of United being this team full of young British players that will rule the roost again, well guess what, it was a one off, it won't be happening again, just like Brexit, longing for the glory days of a time long past that won't ever be again no matter how much people want it.
This is another problem with the Solksjaer era, it's just another link to Sir Alex, talking about bringing back the culture and the roots of United etc, football has moved on, people need to as well. With the attitudes, players, and staff we currently have we'll be nowhere near the top for a long long time, and it isn't helped by fans on here, or in the stadium, who want to accept such crap off the basis that to go against it is unbefitting of us as a club, or as fans, because we are somehow special and have that superior moral standing to other clubs, because we like to support our manager and players even if they are absolute garbage and should be nowhere near the club if we want to be at the top once again.
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Well I completely disagree.
We won't be signing anybody of Busquets quality. But we have to be aiming for excellence. You can't give up on excellence becuase a once in 10 years player isn't available. And I do strongly believe we need more class and creativity from midfield. This notion that this one ball winner will set the midfield free is misplaced IMO. Just like the idea that ball playing CBs was going to reinvent our wheel, was wrong. We need playmakers. It's about time we look for players in the mould of Modric, Silva 1, KDB, Silva 2, Scholes etc to run our midfield. We've lacked true brains and technique in our CM area for ages. Pogba has been the exception but he's hardly a proper CM for me. Adding someone like Ndidi would give solid protection but it will not fix the quality of our buildup. That'll happened once we add quality playmakers and obviously improve on our manager.
You mean like the manager talking personally about signing a Norwegian? And I suppose the bullshitter Di Marzio made up the shit about Dybala? Most of the links to our club are horseshit. You just choose to accept the ones that fit in with your imagined strategy.
So you talk about 'reliability' of transfer sources, call the Neves talk bull, and then proceed to offer up the likes of Longstaff and Cantwell? You really just see what you want to see, don't you?
There's this fad at the moment that unless you accept everything bad said about the club or anything associated with it, then you're kidding yourselves. You aren't allowed to have a nuanced, considered opinion any more, you've got to hold bipolar thoughts or you're doing it wrong. That's perfectly exemplified by your willingness to differentiate the validity of transfer rumours based purely on the nationality of the player. It's confirmation bias. Feel free to offer up these rock solid sources for those other names you've mentioned.
So, 'genuinely,' it's something inbetween. You've got to be truly balls deep in your conspiracy theory if you can't accept that players who have played or spent considerable time in this country have a huge advantage. Namely: we've seen them complete and perform in the PL, a largely unique league. They will have an understanding of the culture and there will be a smaller settling in period. There will be no problems with communication. They will likely have a better understanding of the club and it's demands. They will likely already know players at the club.
You pay for a premium for these qualities, but they are known qualities. It's not 'Brexit FC' or whatever shitty, witless tag you want to give it, it's a considered approach. We will have a preference for British talent, but that isn't the end of it, nor is it wrong. So no, the only thing that links them isn't 'British Talent,' if you took a moment to consider it, you'll discover there's another link slapping you in the face.
I’m not keen on buying moderately good British players for obscene amounts but I really like Winks, he’s a quality player.
I think he’s quite great actually. Has got a good technique and control of the ball, seems to not be afraid of playing the risky pass instead of opting for the safe option.
I’d say let’s do it if the fee is sensible.
I’d say let’s do it if the fee is sensible.
For those of the toilet humour, a passing passage materialises, Fred passes to winks who passes to James who lays it off, commentator "Fred Winks off James"
Never been impressed with him. Don't think I've ever seen him play a ball to break lines. Everything seems sideways with him. However, he does look comfortable on the ball and is not a terrible midfielder for depth.
Obviously haven't watched him much then.
I've watched plenty of Spurs. Just don't remember any times I've been overly impressed with his passing. Not saying he hasn't done it or isn't capable.
Your actually both right. He can play defence splitting passes and has shown it, but he still has a tendency to keep it safe. It's frustrating as he has the ability to be much more progressive. He's still quite young and it's definitely an area he needs to improve on, because as I say the ability is there.
I think you might have misunderstood. I'm not saying we should not try and find the best players but Busquets was the best in his position in the world, at the best team in the world. It'd be like us saying I don't fancy Winks because I'd rather Veratti or KDB...look at De Ligt last summer, the top players have minimal interest in us right now and we would rarely sign anyone if the bar was permanently set at world class players or nothing.
Agree on the manager part but I think switching to a single DM over the double pivot would change more than you think. Fred & McT are good if not amazing at carrying the ball forward, linking play and generally being B2B's in my opinion - neither is a proper DM and neither is an AM. Even if Pogba is out of the equation and we had those two as CMs, simply by having someone like Ndidi behind them, would allow us to play in a way that I think actually suits Ole's style better than the double pivot. Outside of the pure counter attack which we're good at when you have Rashford, Martial, James as a front three, our issue as you say is in breaking down teams when they are set up defensively but when building the play in a double pivot our CMs receive the ball so deep it's almost pointless. A CB cannot pass through the lines if 2 of the 3 CMs are in front of the defensive line and sat deep. If prime Modric joined us, he'd be a massive upgrade but I think that type of player is made to look good/allowed to shine with a Casemiro type behind him - think of Casemiro, Kroos, Modric / Fernandinho, KDB, Silva / Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi...successful teams tend to always have at least one true DM for that stability to build from. Look at Liverpool - the season they win something was the season they bought Fabinho & he plays every minute (I think, maybe he came off against Bayern late on) of their CL knock out games and they go and win it.
In my mind we have a decent enough defensive unit but the midfield has no base to build from. In an ideal world we could also pick up someone like a Silva for that more advanced CM/AM as well but the issue there is going to be quality control, we will end up paying £80m for someone like Maddison who is a bit of a Maguire type signing (good and better than what we have but is he going to transform us?) For me DM priority, RW and CAM to then take us to the next level.
To be fair Maddison and Grealish are actually decent. The others can feck off though haha.
I wouldn't even say I've watched Spurs play a huge amount, but I've seen Winks play plenty of decent forward passes. Usually he just plays a different role for Tottenham.
Compare his performances for England and he's much brighter in a more attacking formation.
If Jose is desperate to offload him, then that almost guarantees he will be world class within 18 months.
I don't think he s tall enough for Jose
Seriously he reminds a bit of Ruben Neves. Their styles are quite similar
What's the likelihood both Spurs and Jose would agree to sell one of their brightest prospects to United?
When I’ve seen him play I’ve been utterly underwhelmed! Seems like any English player that’s able to play some neat and tidy passes in central midfield gets hyped well beyond their ability!
I think Angel Gomes is way better technically than this guy and he can’t get a sniff in our first team this season
I think Angel Gomes is way better technically than this guy and he can’t get a sniff in our first team this season
Gomes is a totally different player to Winks? Don't even play in the same part of the pitch. Strange comparison. Although its ridiculous he hasn't got more chances for us this season, but thats another conversation.
Actually if you watched Gomes in the football league trophy and in the U19’s last season he very much played in the Winks role and did very well! It’s actually the position I’d like to see him play in (but as you say that’s for another conversation)
How much do we think he would cost in January out of interest?
Can't say I have seen enough of Winks myself to give an opinion on him, but I am (unfortunately) friends with many Spurs fans who all seem to rate him highly.
Can't say I have seen enough of Winks myself to give an opinion on him, but I am (unfortunately) friends with many Spurs fans who all seem to rate him highly.
Decent squad player but nothing more.
His all around game is fine but he doesn't do anything particularly well and that makes it hard to put him into a side. He's not good enough defensively to be paired with an attack minded CM and cover for that player but he's also not a good enough passer/string puller to carry that burden on his shoulders.
His all around game is fine but he doesn't do anything particularly well and that makes it hard to put him into a side. He's not good enough defensively to be paired with an attack minded CM and cover for that player but he's also not a good enough passer/string puller to carry that burden on his shoulders.
Probably not much. Hes as average as they come, doesn't excel at anything, doesn't progress the ball well with his passing, isnt going to be a starter for Spurs or any big team.
The ones who rate him highly would only be the blinkered supporters who think everything their club does is gold (or like those United fans who thought cleverley was amazing for years).
Pochettino request, you’d imagine.
At best a very good Premier League midfielder, at worst a solid squad player who’ll keep play ticking over and a good option while Garner and Levitt mature. For the prices being suggested (circa £20m) he’d be a very good addition, and one which you can’t turn your noses up at given the current state of the squad.
At best a very good Premier League midfielder, at worst a solid squad player who’ll keep play ticking over and a good option while Garner and Levitt mature. For the prices being suggested (circa £20m) he’d be a very good addition, and one which you can’t turn your noses up at given the current state of the squad.
Gash, do not want.
Would not bang.
Would not bang.
Good little player, for the right money would be a good signing
He has looked good for England in last 3 games albeit against terrible opposition, 4 nil win, 7 nil win and 6 nil wins. He has to nail down a spot though, he's not a definite starter on that team. He's done all he can but those games were effectively meaningless as England has already guaranteed qualification.He didn't play much in the games that counted, not sure if injured or just not selected,
Matic and 10M or a swap for Rojo or Jones (if Vertonghen leaves they probably need a CB) or something like that would be nice for us. Paying 40M for him I would think isn't worth it. That kind of money could get a foreign version of him like Fabian Ruiz or 2/3rds of Thomas Partey maybe.
Winks is up and down but deep midfielders more about linking play than physicality seem to peak as late as anyone but keepers, slower CBs and big target men 9s, so at 23 he's more like a 21 year old winger or fullback.
A friend went to Spurs twice last year and said he was comfortably the best player on the pitch in game 1 then poor in game 2. Seems like he could either be Cleverley or be a nice Benat or Veloso type top 10 midfielder in the Europa league type, and while that's not Roy Keane or anything, it would help us.
Poch's first signing.
Not sure about this one, can’t say I’ve seen much of him but when I have watched him he’s not really done much, keeps it tidy and passes it about without really contributing anything offensively or defensively. We need to sign a midfielder that can come in and make an instant impact right away.
An average player.
Thankfully Spurs are too stupid to sell him.
Also where is Glastonspur to tell us all how this will never happen?
Thankfully Spurs are too stupid to sell him.
Also where is Glastonspur to tell us all how this will never happen?
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His contract isn't up till 2024.
Levy wont sell unless we offered really silly money. Probably around 70mil.
I'm a fan. The fact that Mourinho doesn't rate him makes it even better.
I don’t see Michael Carrick in him. Damn I miss Carrick.
Surprised so many rate him. I see him at Everton for some reason
Don't rate him at all. A Jack Wilshere/ Ross Barkley level talent hyped to the high heavens by the British media but ends up underwhelming and wasting his career away flattering to deceive. Also way too injury prone.
Wouldn't go near him with a barge pole.
Wouldn't go near him with a barge pole.
I think he's very comfortable in possession, very good on the half turn, keeps things ticking along nicely. If he's out of favour at Spurs, I'd be delighted to pick him up for not an outrageous amount.
I'd take him all day long.
He's better than anything bar Fred that we could possible play as a deep midfielder.
While McTom has been good, he's not amazing and i think Winks uses the ball much better. We need quality in midfield and we certainly need better squad competition.
He'd be a very good signing
He's better than anything bar Fred that we could possible play as a deep midfielder.
While McTom has been good, he's not amazing and i think Winks uses the ball much better. We need quality in midfield and we certainly need better squad competition.
He'd be a very good signing