Harry Winks

[smudgerfox]

His goal and assist record for a central midfielder is pathetic. Same for Skipp, Soumare, Ndidi and Hamza. 

[jv1]

On 13/05/2025 at 22:45, inckley fox said:

 

Really? I thought he was one of our less impressive performers post-New Year. Add to that how poor and at times outright unprofessional he's been this season, and I tend to take the view that if you don't want to see the back of him then why would you want to see the back of any of them?

 

We can't simplify all that's happened to being the fault of two substandard bosses. I don't rate Ruud and I don't think Cooper was right for the job either, but their opinions have got to carry some weight - especially when criticism of Winks can be observed in acts of unprofessionalism which we've seen with our own eyes, and in plenty of journalism which seems to back it up. I might not like Ruud, but I've not seen any version of events which makes his request to Winks seem unreasonable.

 

Ultimately, unless we try to rebuild comprehensively next year, and structure our side around personnel and a style which can realistically - to a point at least - be maintained upon promotion, then we'd be signing up for instant relegation again. When I see people saying they'd welcome Enzo back (for all of the many positive things I could say about him), or someone vaguely similar to him, and that our recruitment was great last year, it seems like some of us are basically asking for more of the same. I'd argue that if we want to build something which is made to last then there are lessons to be learned not only from what we did after promotion, but also what we did before it. If things were so rosy back then, frankly I don't understand why you'd be so angry about the board. Surely you'd be in agreement with a lot more of what they've done over these past couple of years than I would.

 

Again, a class act for half a season in the FLC. Let's not rewrite history. And surely the main lesson from last season was that if the backbone of the team, and the established line-up, contains too many players who are going to need replacing in the EPL (e.g. Justin, Faes, Vestergard, Winks, Mavididi, as well as - arguably - Ndidi, Ricardo, Vardy and, in the event, even KDH) then you'll come straight back down. We can't build around people that we know not to be good enough at this level: Bit-part players and a bit of know-how here and there - maybe - but you need to go up with a core of players that can step up. Unlike, say, Harry Winks.

 

And, while I'm at it, we've found a great many better midfielders than Winks for less than 15m, even allowing generously for the inflation of fees. The last side we got promoted with before 2023 contained one, arguably two of them (Drinkwater, James). The one before that (Izzet), and that the one before that (Izzet, Lennon, Taylor, Parker) both contained budget buys who did a whole lot better than Winks when we went up. And I'm fairly positive that the most recent sides to go up and stay up could say the same too.

Nope not having that one bit - was every bit one of our most important players last year - you are re writing history because of this year - oh and you can quote players from 10 years ago being worth less than 15m - winks is a very decent footballer and in that league top 5% easy - Jesus he falls out with the worst manager ever and people chucking him under the bus - embarrassing 

[jv1]

5 hours ago, whoareyaaa said:

Winks has threw his toys out the pram, plus he's not really that good is he, he can pass the ball about 10 yards that all he has to his game, get rid.

Awful effort at reality- who says he has done anything apart from our amazing manager - bloody hell - 10 yard passes - horrible statement- lovely footballer - took the pressure off us so many times by being available and on the ball - mad 

[jv1]

Could go through some of these replies all day - get a grip and stop embarrassing yourself- he isn’t the problem - he hasn’t played because the moron of a manger dropped him - absolutely nothing he can do about that - I don’t think he is good enough for this level either but I’m not having him being our biggest problem either- say it again - class act in the league below - nothing but positive feedback about his attitude everywhere he has every been - ruud is a disgrace- I’m not taking his word over anyone’s - ever - I hope Harry plays every game next year - damn site more chance of being promoted if he does 

[jv1]

12 minutes ago, smudgerfox said:

His goal and assist record for a central midfielder is pathetic. Same for Skipp, Soumare, Ndidi and Hamza. 

Absolute bin of a statement- if you think playing holding centre mid is about goals and assists then I trust you as much as ruud - what on earth is going on with our fan base - same knowledge about football clapping these clowns off every week and considering keeping ruud - ffs 

[STUHILL]

Some people trying to rewrite history suggesting he wasn't that good for us in the Championship. He had a wobble towards the end, but was generally fantastic for us and often our best player. If RVN does go, which is likely, then I don't know if we would find a better CM at that level going into next season. However, I don't really know the full story of this falling out, and he may have not only fallen out with the Manager, but also the club, so it might be best to get what we can for him if he wants out. A new manager may give everyone a clean slate though, and personally, I'd prefer we kept him if he is as motivated as he was in his first season for us. 

[jv1]

And no I’m not Harry’s mum or dad 😂- just can’t bare crap football opinions 

[honeybradger]

On 13/05/2025 at 21:44, jv1 said:

Class act in the championship and we have no idea if how the fall out happened-  I’m certainly not backing a gaffer I massively dislike and who is our worst manager in history over a guy that was superb last year and would be again next year - I’m not having him being a bad egg either - not a jot of that in his history - I’d rather have him around than ruud next season 100%

 

we wouldn’t find a better championship midfielder for 15 million - which we don’t have by the way - be criminal to get rid of him 

 

and yes I know he isn’t good enough for the prem - but if that’s the standard we are applying for next year then we literally have zero players good enough - none 

Saying you cant get better than Winks for £15mil is insane. 

 

Following his fallout with the manager the club will be trying to sell him in the summer, I guarantee no one buys him for even £8mil, let alone £15mil.

 

It's very telling that him getting frozen out hasn't garnered much of a reaction from the fans when Soumare, Skipp and an Ndidi on his last legs are playing in his place.

[kingfox]

23 minutes ago, STUHILL said:

If RVN does go, which is likely, then I don't know if we would find a better CM at that level going into next season. A new manager may give everyone a clean slate though, and personally, I'd prefer we kept him if he is as motivated as he was in his first season for us. 

If RVN goes, then Winks would be the perfect option for some managers, not so for others. 
 

As depressing as it sounds, if it is Russell Martin who comes in, then you’d most definitely want Harry Winks sticking around, like under Enzo, he could be absolutely pivotal in a Martin type setup. 
 

If we get in a manager who sets up his midfield to be intense and press aggressively, then it would probably be best if Winks went to pastures new, he’s been one of the worst midfielders in the Premier League for defensive duels and possessions won. 

[LCFCJohn]

6 hours ago, kingfox said:

At the time, I’d say he was actually the perfect signing from Maresca. Winks is a perfect player to have as the controller in midfield when dominating possession, which we of course did in the Championship. Signing a midfielder like Winks in a possession dominating Championship team made perfect sense. 
 

In the Premier League though, when you’re surrendering possession and having to defend more, that’s where Winks’ flaws come to fruition. He will get bypassed far too easily, because he hasn’t got the legs and the defensive nous. 
 

If he does stay, he’ll probably be alright in the Championship again, but if we go back up again, I’d be getting rid. 

It was the financial side I was focusing on. As I say, for £10mill and 90k p/w wages I’d expect more. We have established now that he has failed to hold his own in the PL and there are questions over his character and attitude.

 

You’re one of the scouting gurus on here! If the question is framed as, could we have got someone for that transfer fee or less, on half the wages, who could have stepped up and has no question marks over their attitude, I’m sure the answer would be yes. Point being the players are out their in other markets, whether the EFL, Europe or even further afield. 
 

That’s why it was a terrible transfer imo. Not that he wasn’t good enough last season.

[smudgerfox]

8 hours ago, jv1 said:

Absolute bin of a statement- if you think playing holding centre mid is about goals and assists then I trust you as much as ruud - what on earth is going on with our fan base - same knowledge about football clapping these clowns off every week and considering keeping ruud - ffs 

Im so sorry - I apologise for being so thick and of course bow to your superior knowledge. How stupid of me to think that a “holding” midfielder might score a goal or two every now and again. That the ball might occasionally find its way to his feet 20-30 yards out and he might stick it in the top corner. Or take a free kick or corner that leads directly to a goal. No, he’s a holding midfielder and that’s all we expect of him, to “hold” - hold what and to what purpose exactly? Presumably to operate in a 20 yard strip, 40 yards from goal, taking simple passes off the likes of  Vestergaard and passing back to him, while occasionally turning the team round so it’s actually progressing through the thirds. What a skill set! And just in case he’s injured or loses form, we have plenty of other central midfielders who have a goal involvement, on average, about twice a season. A recipe for certain success I’m sure. Thanks for putting me right.

 

PS we just got relegated 

[Nods]

26 minutes ago, smudgerfox said:

Im so sorry - I apologise for being so thick and of course bow to your superior knowledge. How stupid of me to think that a “holding” midfielder might score a goal or two every now and again. That the ball might occasionally find its way to his feet 20-30 yards out and he might stick it in the top corner. Or take a free kick or corner that leads directly to a goal. No, he’s a holding midfielder and that’s all we expect of him, to “hold” - hold what and to what purpose exactly? Presumably to operate in a 20 yard strip, 40 yards from goal, taking simple passes off the likes of  Vestergaard and passing back to him, while occasionally turning the team round so it’s actually progressing through the thirds. What a skill set! And just in case he’s injured or loses form, we have plenty of other central midfielders who have a goal involvement, on average, about twice a season. A recipe for certain success I’m sure. Thanks for putting me right.

 

PS we just got relegated 

You're embarrassing yourself. 

 

Gravenberch has had 5 goal involvements (only 1 of which a goal), in 61 PL appearances for Liverpool. 

 

PS, they just won the league.

[smudgerfox]

12 minutes ago, Nods said:

You're embarrassing yourself. 

 

Gravenberch has had 5 goal involvements (only 1 of which a goal), in 61 PL appearances for Liverpool. 

 

PS, they just won the league.

You fail to mention Mac Aliister 5 goals 5 assists and Szoboszlai 5 goals and 7 assists so obviously they don’t have a rule of central midfielders not getting involved in goals

[Nods]

39 minutes ago, smudgerfox said:

You fail to mention Mac Aliister 5 goals 5 assists and Szoboszlai 5 goals and 7 assists so obviously they don’t have a rule of central midfielders not getting involved in goals

Famously not holding midfielders. In our team, that's Bilal's job. We don't have a strong enough defence to play with two attacking central players.

 

Were you disappointed with Kanté's goalscoring record when we won the league?

Edited 17 May 2025 by Nods

[whoareyaaa]

9 hours ago, jv1 said:

Awful effort at reality- who says he has done anything apart from our amazing manager - bloody hell - 10 yard passes - horrible statement- lovely footballer - took the pressure off us so many times by being available and on the ball - mad 

He is shit, finds space and plays a neat pass, hardly anything to shout about. he is weak.

 

9 hours ago, jv1 said:

And no I’m not Harry’s mum or dad 😂- just can’t bare crap football opinions 

You're opinions are just as crap

Edited 17 May 2025 by whoareyaaa

[Kinowe Soorie]

Winks needs to go for all parties concerned.

[Claudio Fannieri]

Winks is a very neat and tidy player, a deep lying playmaker who knits the play together and makes the team tick in a possession and controlling possession based style of play, he was excellent under Enzo, however he is limited, he isn’t particularly physical or athletic so in a differing style of play, he is nowhere near as effective. Personally unless we bring in Russell Martin, I would look to move him on as I don’t believe he offers enough to justify his hefty wages, the challenge will be offloading him to a club happy to match his contract. 

[LCFCCKEANO]

1 hour ago, Nods said:

You're embarrassing yourself. 

 

Gravenberch has had 5 goal involvements (only 1 of which a goal), in 61 PL appearances for Liverpool. 

 

PS, they just won the league.

Think you aren’t necessarily wrong with this, my issue is as a holding midfielder if you can’t contribute defensively really, which Winks does really struggle with, you have to be able to contribute with more than just playing neat football in the prem, Have to either be just unbelievable with the ball or be a good defensive player and Winks is neither. It is rewriting history to say he wasn’t good for us in the Championship but think I’d rather we go up with midfielders who can at least hold their own defensively in the Prem. Think for all their flaws Skipp/Ndidi aren’t awfully bad defensively, think it’s why since they’ve been starting we have looked more secure at the back

[st albans fox]

5 minutes ago, LCFCCKEANO said:

Think you aren’t necessarily wrong with this, my issue is as a holding midfielder if you can’t contribute defensively really, which Winks does really struggle with, you have to be able to contribute with more than just playing neat football in the prem, Have to either be just unbelievable with the ball or be a good defensive player and Winks is neither. It is rewriting history to say he wasn’t good for us in the Championship but think I’d rather we go up with midfielders who can at least hold their own defensively in the Prem. Think for all their flaws Skipp/Ndidi aren’t awfully bad defensively, think it’s why since they’ve been starting we have looked more secure at the back

Can’t compare the champ and prem.  in a team that dominates possession, you need your cdm to be a tempo player who effectively dictates the game.  In the prem with a lot less possession, that player has to be defensively solid and also physically v strong.  Both of which are not wink’s strengths. Hence we’ve ended up with bouba and wilf as a double pivot holding mechanism with licence to break forwards on the ball.  
 

skipp similar to winks but a little more strength in contact.  Either will be fine next season if we retain the technical levels across the squad to boss possession. 

[Richard]

Players like Winks are 2 are a penny in Spain or Germany 

[Nods]

30 minutes ago, LCFCCKEANO said:

Think you aren’t necessarily wrong with this, my issue is as a holding midfielder if you can’t contribute defensively really, which Winks does really struggle with, you have to be able to contribute with more than just playing neat football in the prem, Have to either be just unbelievable with the ball or be a good defensive player and Winks is neither. It is rewriting history to say he wasn’t good for us in the Championship but think I’d rather we go up with midfielders who can at least hold their own defensively in the Prem. Think for all their flaws Skipp/Ndidi aren’t awfully bad defensively, think it’s why since they’ve been starting we have looked more secure at the back

Oh, I agree entirely. Was only arguing with the other guy as he seemed to think goalscoring was the only yardstick by which to measure midfielders .

[Tuna]

Wonder if he will be in the stadium for Vardy's farewell?

[kingfox]

5 hours ago, LCFCJohn said:

It was the financial side I was focusing on. As I say, for £10mill and 90k p/w wages I’d expect more. We have established now that he has failed to hold his own in the PL and there are questions over his character and attitude.

 

You’re one of the scouting gurus on here! If the question is framed as, could we have got someone for that transfer fee or less, on half the wages, who could have stepped up and has no question marks over their attitude, I’m sure the answer would be yes. Point being the players are out their in other markets, whether the EFL, Europe or even further afield. 
 

That’s why it was a terrible transfer imo. Not that he wasn’t good enough last season.

No worries mate, I understand your point 🙂

 

At the time we signed Winks, I think quite a few looked at the fee and thought it was a bit steep, numerous fans also looked at the transfer and in general thought he was a meh signing. As last season went on though, he was pivotal to a Maresca system and I think many fans forgot about the fee. 
 

I agree with the second paragraph though, value for money signings have been a big problem at Leicester City since things turned in Rodgers’ era. Who could have done Winks’s job in the Championship to a good standard and cost less money? Focusing on England, Ao Tanaka instantly springs to mind, Ric mentioned him numerous times, Leeds ended up picking him up for about £3 million, was arguably the best midfielder in the Championship this season, plus he has better defensive nous than Winks. Matt Grimes at Swansea has been a very solid Championship midfielder for a while now, a perfect player to have to control your midfield, Coventry picked him up in January for around £3.5 million. 
 

I just hope we’ve learnt our lesson moving forward when it comes to value for money, the Skipp transfer surely was the final straw. 
 

Will that come to fruition though with our board, sadly unlikely. 

[Buzzell]

12 hours ago, smudgerfox said:

His goal and assist record for a central midfielder is pathetic. Same for Skipp, Soumare, Ndidi and Hamza. 

They are all literally defensive minded midfielders  

[Foxin_Mad]

Just now, Buzzell said:

They are all literally defensive minded midfielders  

None of them have particularly impressive defensive stats either. Prime Ndidi aside.