Harry Winks

[BrummieFOX]

2 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

I was actually thinking about this earlier. How do we fit James in now (which we have to) if we're playing 4231 with Skipp, Winks and Mukasa. 

 

Winks is fantastic at controlling a game, much better ball player than Skipp but Skipp is much better defensively. Winks does put his foot in, makes a few tackles and interception but I don't think our back four is good enough for him to be our only cover.

 

To get the best out of JJ we need to give him the freedom to get forward which means the other centre mid really needs to be holding back and Skipp (especially if he plays like last night) is probably your man for that. 

 

Maybe we play Mukasa up top and JJ as the attacking midfielder? That probably gets all of our best players on but then we're really lacking pace. 

 

Dunno. It's a tough one with no ideal solution. Ultimately all four of them probably can't play together and so we're probably going to have one of our better players (didn't think I'd be saying that about Skipp...) on the bench while some dross starts. 

 

I'd go Skipp, JJ and Mukasa personally. I think its the best balance of the 3. 

 

Winks as an option off the bench if we do want more control, keep a lead etc.

 

 

Edited 25 February by BrummieFOX

[Finnegan]

21 minutes ago, foxpleasure said:

Pep says, "Divine played unbelievable, he’s an incredibly top player in the pockets, in the striker [position], has a good sense."

So yes I'd play him as striker 

 

Yeah I don't doubt he can do it. 

 

What I mean is, the way we're playing, having pace to stretch the pitch vertically and having someone that can lead the press is important to us. We look a lot worse than Daka isn't playing even though Daka himself isn't much of a goal threat. 

 

If Rowett can get the rest of the team balanced and working properly so we're not necessarily reliant on that then I'm happy to try it. 

 

But I dunno. We'll see won't we. I'd be surprised if we start him there anyway tbh. 

 

[Tommy G]

15 minutes ago, BrummieFOX said:

I'd go Skipp, JJ and Mukasa personally. I think its the best balance of the 3. 

 

Winks as an option off the bench if we do want more control, keep a lead etc.

 

 

Shame Mukasa couldn't play out left and drift in and swap with whoever plays as an 8/10. It would put our full back at risk of overload and neother of ours are very good so it's probably not an option, would make us a bit narrow too.

[turtmcfly]

2 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

I was actually thinking about this earlier. How do we fit James in now (which we have to) if we're playing 4231 with Skipp, Winks and Mukasa. 

 

Winks is fantastic at controlling a game, much better ball player than Skipp but Skipp is much better defensively. Winks does put his foot in, makes a few tackles and interception but I don't think our back four is good enough for him to be our only cover.

 

To get the best out of JJ we need to give him the freedom to get forward which means the other centre mid really needs to be holding back and Skipp (especially if he plays like last night) is probably your man for that. 

 

Maybe we play Mukasa up top and JJ as the attacking midfielder? That probably gets all of our best players on but then we're really lacking pace. 

 

Dunno. It's a tough one with no ideal solution. Ultimately all four of them probably can't play together and so we're probably going to have one of our better players (didn't think I'd be saying that about Skipp...) on the bench while some dross starts. 

 

 

It is, but when was the last time we had this sort of tough one as opposed to the 'which flavour of turd do we play in that position'?

 

[The Doctor]

28 minutes ago, BrummieFOX said:

I'd go Skipp, JJ and Mukasa personally. I think its the best balance of the 3. 

 

Winks as an option off the bench if we do want more control, keep a lead etc.

 

 

I'd be more inclined to replace Mavididi with Mukasa and let him roam off the wing. Winks and Skipp are building a nice little pivot,  with JJ then free to box crash more.

[turtmcfly]

46 minutes ago, The Doctor said:

I'd be more inclined to replace Mavididi with Mukasa and let him roam off the wing. Winks and Skipp are building a nice little pivot,  with JJ then free to box crash more.

 

Doesn't strike me as someone who would be particularly adept at driving/ponytricking past a defender to get to the byline, and if he cuts back to shoot it would be with his weaker foot. 

 

I know you could argue that Mavididi is not currently doing the former either, and might as well be doing the latter, but losing Mukasa's influence round the D for a non-upgrade on the wing seems like a huge waste

 

 

[wardyfox86]

As was pointed out in the JJ thread, you play JJ as an 8 and nothing else.

 

You drop 1 of our better performing midfielders and persevere with our dog muck strikers that offer absolutely nothing. 

[Chrysalis]

On 25/02/2026 at 17:03, wardyfox86 said:

As was pointed out in the JJ thread, you play JJ as an 8 and nothing else.

 

You drop 1 of our better performing midfielders and persevere with our dog muck strikers that offer absolutely nothing. 

Drop Daka and just allow JJ to run in to that space if needed.

[STUHILL]

I have no idea what is going on with Winks, and I really don't care. I just want us to avoid relegation, and when he is on it, he stands out as the best passer and organiser on the pitch. 

If Rowett has somehow got him refocused until the Summer, then I'd try get him starting most games if possible. 

 

[Reg Vardy]

2 hours ago, STUHILL said:

I have no idea what is going on with Winks, and I really don't care. I just want us to avoid relegation, and when he is on it, he stands out as the best passer and organiser on the pitch. 

If Rowett has somehow got him refocused until the Summer, then I'd try get him starting most games if possible. 

 

Great post…..and I should point out, he played under Poch, Jose & Conte, before getting Coops Ruud & Marti…..I can see he might notice the difference….we left our best player out for half a  season, needs to play…..will be great to have a few options off the bench/play our best eleven….

[foxfanazer]

28 minutes ago, Reg Vardy said:

Great post…..and I should point out, he played under Poch, Jose & Conte, before getting Coops Ruud & Marti…..I can see he might notice the difference….we left our best player out for half a  season, needs to play…..will be great to have a few options off the bench/play our best eleven….

Well he wasn't good enough to play for them, clearly 

 

We're holding him to a high standard because he can actually play a 5 yard pass unlike most of our other donkeys. That's how low the bar is unfortunately 

Edited 27 February by foxfanazer

[Reg Vardy]

2 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

Well he wasn't good enough to play for them, clearly 

 

We're holding him to a high standard because he can actually play a 5 yard pass unlike most of our other donkeys. That's how low the bar is unfortunately 

More about working with managers who are touted top class…..then working with people who clearly aren’t….imagine going to work everyday and thinking “This can’t be right”  It clearly wasn’t in his opinion, an opinion that has value

[ClaphamFox]

44 minutes ago, Reg Vardy said:

More about working with managers who are touted top class…..then working with people who clearly aren’t….imagine going to work everyday and thinking “This can’t be right”  It clearly wasn’t in his opinion, an opinion that has value

Harry Winks had a major problem with the same managers that the fans had a problem with. He saw through them just like we did. He's basically one of us 

Edited 27 February by ClaphamFox

[wardyfox86]

7 hours ago, Chrysalis said:

Drop Daka and just allow JJ to run in to that space if needed.

I had said this too. With the midfield 3 looking settled and playing well, you bring JJ in for Daka and get your best players on the pitch, with 2 #10's probably. 

 

Yes, I know this doesn't work all the time, but there is such a quality drop off between our technically better players and the likes of Daka, Okoli etc. 

[Kierzz]

I know he Winks isn't liked much on here for understandable reasons. However, he is such a crucial player that we need to have playing at his best in order for us to stay up.

 

From Rowetts's previous comments, I would be shocked if he isn't starting (when fit) for the remainder of the season.

 

 

[HarryDee8]

Amazing how Rowett has managed to see the skills Winks and Skipp can bring and is playing them together.

 

Can you imagine that 2 months ago 😄😄

Edited 27 February by HarryDee8

[LCFCCKEANO]

16 minutes ago, wardyfox86 said:

I had said this too. With the midfield 3 looking settled and playing well, you bring JJ in for Daka and get your best players on the pitch, with 2 #10's probably. 

 

Yes, I know this doesn't work all the time, but there is such a quality drop off between our technically better players and the likes of Daka, Okoli etc. 

way we defend under Rowatt we would just end up trapped in- he is crap but Daka has been challenging for headers and running in behind in a way I don’t think anyone else in our squad can, and you have to play to the system even if it means leaving out talented starters. I could see Mukasa moving out to the left and drifting inside, against Boro at time we had a staggered 3-3 in attack, Mukasa and Mavididi up with Daka and slightly to the left as the 3, and then Reid kind of dropped in to rm to form the 3 in the middle. We could do that and have Mukasa/James drop off and have the other up with Fatawu and Daka, but you’d lose a winger

[honeybradger]

1 hour ago, ClaphamFox said:

Harry Winks had a major problem with the same managers that the fans had a problem with. He saw through them just like we did. He's basically one of us 

As mentioned above he has worked under some top class managers at Spurs before coming to us and fallen out with most of them (Mourinho, Nuno, Conte).

 

He's not some connoisseur of good managers, just a mardy arse who can't seem to get along with people and lacks fight and desire when the going gets tough.

 

If he keeps us up then that's a positive on his record here, but he has otherwise been disgraceful and unbothered. Considering he was brought in to bring us back to the Premier League and we are sat in the relegation zone having won 3 games in 17 when he starts he has been a complete failure here.

 

Irrespective of how he plays out the rest of the season get him gone in the summer. Otherwise we will certainly go down next season with him comfortable on a new overpaid contract.

[ClaphamFox]

53 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

As mentioned above he has worked under some top class managers at Spurs before coming to us and fallen out with most of them (Mourinho, Nuno, Conte).

 

He's not some connoisseur of good managers, just a mardy arse who can't seem to get along with people and lacks fight and desire when the going gets tough.

 

If he keeps us up then that's a positive on his record here, but he has otherwise been disgraceful and unbothered. Considering he was brought in to bring us back to the Premier League and we are sat in the relegation zone having won 3 games in 17 when he starts he has been a complete failure here.

 

Irrespective of how he plays out the rest of the season get him gone in the summer. Otherwise we will certainly go down next season with him comfortable on a new overpaid contract.

Well he did help us back to the PL under Enzo in 2023/24—he was brilliant that season. So I think 'complete failure' is overstating it. Yes, he looked weak and unmotivated under Cooper, RVN and Cifuentes, but so did the rest of the squad. There is clearly a massive cultural issue at Seagrave that has weighed heavily on squad morale and performances for several years now. You could certainly argue that as a senior pro Winks should have tried harder to set a good example, but he wasn't responsible for the problems we've faced—those were down to the shitshow at the top of the club.

 

He's clearly not going to be here next season, so you don't need to worry about that. But your suggestion that if he did stay we would 'certainly go down' is an emotional statement, not a rational one. I get that Winks has become the focal point for a lot of people's frustrations over the past two seasons, but I'm surprised by the extent to which some folk seem to completely lose their heads over him. Winks is a just symptom—he's not a cause.

Edited 27 February by ClaphamFox

[honeybradger]

19 hours ago, ClaphamFox said:

Well he did help us back to the PL under Enzo in 2023/24—he was brilliant that season. So I think 'complete failure' is overstating it. Yes, he looked weak and unmotivated under Cooper, RVN and Cifuentes, but so did the rest of the squad. There is clearly a massive cultural issue at Seagrave that has weighed heavily on squad morale and performances for several years now. You could certainly argue that as a senior pro Winks should have tried harder to set a good example, but he wasn't responsible for the problems we've faced—those were down to the shitshow at the top of the club.

 

He's clearly not going to be here next season, so you don't need to worry about that. But your suggestion that if he did stay we would 'certainly go down' is an emotional statement, not a rational one. I get that Winks has become the focal point for a lot of people's frustrations over the past two seasons, but I'm surprised by the extent to which some folk seem to completely lose their heads over him. Winks is a just symptom—he's not a cause.

Winks, out of everyone in our squad, is the epitome of overpaid and unbothered. We have been suffering as a club from players who have talent but do not apply themselves to use it. As the highest paid player at the club who has also put in such minimal effort on the pitch and in training sessions that he has been booted by two managers, Winks is essentially the figurehead for players who have let the club down. That's why he gets so much vitriol.

 

As a fan of Winks you would surely argue that he has the ability to be a low end Premier League/high end championship level player. Yet for the last 2 seasons he hasn't been tracking runners or committing to tackles and generally has been playing to a lower championship/league one standard That isn't on the managers that's on him choosing to not play to the best of his potential.

 

He's not like Wout Faes either who can't help that he can't concentrate for a full game, Winks has shown that he can perform to a high level over 90 minutes. He just actively chooses to not exert himself as he clocked out a while ago.

 

As I said before, hopefully we get to benefit from his newfound commitment and stay up but when it gets to the summer it should be "goodbye and good riddance". We cannot persist with players who pick and choose whether they want to show up or not.

[old koppite]

Looked classy and composed first half, but back to ineffective second half. 
(Skipp off all game).

Is it a stamina thing ? 

[em9999]

What does winks care about the club hes pulling in 80 grand a week and will be off at end of the season with a huge signing on bonus for his new club ..

 

[Dan]

He's a lot of bluster. Has one particular function in a team which Maresca's football perfectly suited. He's very one dimensional. I don't think our win record (5 wins in 36 starts) with him in the team is a coincidence.

 

The alternatives aren't much good either though.

[Raj]

People jiss off to him but give me the No.25 for Norwich every single day.

MOTM by a mile.

Couldn't believe they subbed him off

 

 

[Claridge]

Flatters to deceive, tidy with his short passing in our half, but doesn't seem to do much in the opposition half creating very little. Cant tackle either. Much rather see skipp and James together for the next game