kingfox

If we were doing Player of the Season awards today, he’d get my vote. When it comes to a possession based system, he is absolutely pivotal to our team. If we do get promoted though, will we get away with him as being our holding midfielder in the Premier League? In a possession based system he is perfect, in the Premier League however; they’ll be so many times where we won’t dominate possession like we do in the Championship. It’s very easy to compare us to Burnley of last season for example. They dominated the possession statistics last season with an average of 65%. This season we’re currently 2nd on that statistic at 62%. Come the Premier League that number will more than likely drop by a considerable margin. With Burnley last season, Josh Cullen was vital to the way they played. Being that controller in a possession based system, exactly like Winks is doing with us. Come the Premier League, Burnley have taken a few heavy beatings, while more recently Josh Cullen has been dropped numerous times from their starting 11. More than likely presuming we get promoted, Winks’ role will more than likely change, when more emphasis will be put on him when it comes to defensive work. We know full well he is more of a midfield controller rather than an enforcer. Fulham for instance when they got promoted two seasons ago, they identified the defensive midfield role as an area of improvement, they managed to sign Palhinha who has gone on to become one of their most vital players. Does Winks have enough mobility to play as a DM in the Premier League, especially when it’s highly likely we won’t dominate possession like we’re currently doing in the Championship. As good as he has been this season, it’s an area of the team where something different is needed imo.

Thought he sounded far too comfortable in his post match interview with Sky last night, came across as borderline arrogance with a “Everything will be fine” approach, something which we saw last season with certain players, that ended up biting us on the arse. What I did agree with though is him pinpointing the midfield out as being “tired”. He stated we needed something different in the midfield in the last 10-15 minutes, we needed to refresh it and find a solution. It was pretty evident in the latter part of the game that Winks & Ricardo were getting overrun. Even though Ipswich weren’t still creating a lot, the warning signs were there that an equaliser was potentially coming. Faes & Vestergaard were starting to get more exposed too, as Ipswich began to play through our midfield far too easily. I said on the post match thread last night, from 70 minutes onwards we well and truly saw our weak points. If we end up getting promoted, those weak points would become even more exposed in the Premier League. This is where the midfield comes into question and with what Enzo highlighted, finding a different solution. Is Sensi the simple answer to the problem or do we need more? As good as Winks has been, especially in possession, do we need an alternative to him? The more I watch him in the latter part of games, the more I think that we won’t get away with him as the DM should we get promoted.

With some of his performances this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re considering a new contract for him. If we do go up, then I certainly wouldn’t keep both Vestergaard & Coady, one of them will have to go. Glad you pointed out the weak midfield. Would we get away with playing Winks as a DM in the Premier League? I’m not so sure. He was another one that got more and more exposed in those last 20 mins. TBF to him, I thought he pressed superbly well at times tonight. But in those last 20 mins, his erratic approach that we have seen numerous times before reared it’s ugly head again. He really needs to cut that out from his game, it’s the only thing that’s stopping him from being a pretty good CB.

Those last 20 mins also showed why we won’t get away with playing Faes & Vestergaard if we get promoted. When put under increasing pressure, they shit themselves.

Can easily point the blame to Hermansen, but from 70 mins onwards our defence looked pathetic, you just knew that equaliser was coming.

That’s been coming tbf, haven’t looked convincing this half at all.

Happy with that half, we’ve pressed them pretty much perfectly resulting in a number of turnovers. Just need to be slightly better with our passing in the final third, KDH especially wasted a few good opportunities with poor passes earlier in the half.

Excellent pressing from Faes

Lovely build up work from Mavididi & Ricardo

FFS Don Goodman 🤢 Just give us 25 more mins of Wilf and his jumper.

I bowed down in front of my TV after he potted that pink. Those on this forum who had a ticket for tonight, you’ve just seen a genius deliver one of his best ever performances. That was unreal to watch.

Opens the door for Josh Brownhill on loan

Just when he’s going to get a decent run in the side, they bizarrely decide to recall him. Nevermind, Praet masterclass vs Ipswich incoming!

Selby actually started the season well, such a mixed bag though since the English Open where he lost in R64. His loss to Allen at the Masters looked concerning, so many uncharacteristic misses and poor positional play, same again tonight. Not the only top 16 player to be struggling recently though.

Yep, just because Williams slapped his leg. Pettiness of the highest level.

When on it Vafaei is great to watch, but hard to warm to him, his behaviour is so bizarre at times.

Best of 11 I believe 👍🏻

Three centuries and a contribution of 78 from Mark Allen, not a bad afternoon’s work.

I’m guessing you’ll be firmly seated for Trump vs Haotian instead of Selby vs Carter 🤔😂 Hopefully Williams vs Vafaei lives up to the billing, that could be a cracker.

@Ric Flair as we’ve both mentioned him in the past, looks like Moumbagna is off to France, at least I’ll be able to keep proper tabs on him.

If the format is the same as last year, then Friday night will be the Semi Final from the top half 👍🏻

The Black Panther of Aylestone Meadows.

Bit late but have just come across this, rivalry intensified...

Shame about a few typical idiots in the audience when it comes to Ronnie matches at The Masters. As for Ronnie himself though, his mentality this season has been next level, the ability to find another gear at the right times has been sensational to watch, just more proof as to why he’s the 🐐

A Ronnie vs Ali match 🍿