Oliver Skipp Confirmed

[JimJams]

WInks and JJ is getting ran over.

[dmayne7]

1 minute ago, funkyrobot said:

Winks rarely if ever has had the opportunity to play with JJ next to him. Earlier in the season JJ was used as a 10. Skipp’s had the opportunity to play James was deeper, Winks had been binned by Marti and James pretty much carried the whole team. Playing James alongside Winks as 6’s with Mukasa ahead has to be the best formula for winning games surely? 

 

 

 

 

JJ did play alongside him a few times and nothing to suggest it works. Somebody posted the stat of wins with and without Winks and if makes sobering reading if you're wanting Winks as the certain starter. JJ can grab a game by the scruff of the neck, Mukasa has the magic, so who's the best foil for that? Clearly Skipp. Not saying Winks shouldn't be utilised if he's got that fire back, but I think JJ and Skipp the certain starters. Maybe a case for Mukasa being a false 9, or given a license to roam from the wide areas, putting JJ, Winks and Skipp in a 3. 

[funkyrobot]

6 minutes ago, dmayne7 said:

JJ did play alongside him a few times and nothing to suggest it works. Somebody posted the stat of wins with and without Winks and if makes sobering reading if you're wanting Winks as the certain starter. JJ can grab a game by the scruff of the neck, Mukasa has the magic, so who's the best foil for that? Clearly Skipp. Not saying Winks shouldn't be utilised if he's got that fire back, but I think JJ and Skipp the certain starters. Maybe a case for Mukasa being a false 9, or given a license to roam from the wide areas, putting JJ, Winks and Skipp in a 3. 

What games did Skipp and James play alongside each other? When Cifuentes was playing Winks early in the season he was playing JJ as the 10. Rowett has already said that he has to have Winks in his team due to his ability to retain the ball, so the choice, assuming he retains the current formation, will be between Skipp and JJ and that’s a no brainer for me.
 

As you say though, a formation change that gets rid of a 10 and that puts Mukasa as the centre forward position could allow them all to play and I’m not against that tbh. 

[whoareyaaa]

1 minute ago, funkyrobot said:

What games did Skipp and James play alongside each other? When Cifuentes was playing Winks early in the season he was playing JJ as the 10. Rowett has already said that he has to have Winks in his team due to his ability to retain the ball, so the choice, assuming he retains the current formation, will be between Skipp and JJ and that’s a no brainer for me.
 

As you say though, a formation change that gets rid of a 10 and that puts Mukasa as the centre forward position could allow them all to play and I’m not against that tbh. 

I thought Skipp had featured in most of our wins this season ? 

[JimJams]

2 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

I thought Skipp had featured in most of our wins this season ? 

We've won one game without him.

Our first negative result with him playing was the Southampton 3-0.

Edited 25 February by JimJams

[funkyrobot]

1 hour ago, whoareyaaa said:

I thought Skipp had featured in most of our wins this season ? 

I haven’t said he hasn’t. I’ve suggested that he’s played more often with James playing in his natural 6 role where James can and has literally won games for us almost single-handedly. I’m suggesting if Winks was given the opportunity to play with James next to him rather than ahead of him as a less effective ten then we’d be even better in midfield. 

[Deeg67]

Skipp has consistently been better than Winks this season. Winks is the guy who goes to the reserves for JJ IMHO, not Skipp.

[Sly]

3 hours ago, Deeg67 said:

Skipp has consistently been better than Winks this season. Winks is the guy who goes to the reserves for JJ IMHO, not Skipp.

I think we need to try and accommodate them all. 
 

Rowett has used a version of a 3-4-1-2 / 3-4-2-1 formation when he was at previous clubs.

 

We need Winks as much for his ball retention ability as we need Skipp for his work rate.

 

I could see them all being shoe horned in something like this ….

 

 

[Deeg67]

How about Mukasa as a false 9?

Edited 26 February by Deeg67

[Aleksz]

Mukasa up top is the only way you get all 4 in the same team in a balanced way - but I don't see Rowett going for that. James for Winks imo. 

[Stadt]

Skipp is the most capable defensively so he has to play. James is better than Winks so 

 

                  Daka

 LW         Mukasa        Fatawu

       James         Skipp

 

Makes the most sense to me. Looks more balanced than putting Mukasa up top to accommodate Winks in midfield.

[baldeagle]

I think we’ll find Winks and Skipp start for a couple of games and JJ brought on  from the bench to replace either of those per game depending on who needs a rest more or who is having the poorest game . Also think once JJ is fully fit he’ll start some games an not others from what the manger has previously said about injuries and managing players minutes 

[VLC86]

On 26/02/2026 at 16:14, Stadt said:

Skipp is the most capable defensively so he has to play. James is better than Winks so 

 

                  Daka

 LW         Mukasa        Fatawu

       James         Skipp

 

Makes the most sense to me. Looks more balanced than putting Mukasa up top to accommodate Winks in midfield.

Playing with no defenders, I like your thinking.

[Filbert Fireworks]

Will be winks and skipp again then rowett will figure it doesn't work as did the manager before him. 

Needs to be JJ and skippy. 

Winks to Come on when JJ gets tired or we want to see the game out. 

[Filbert Fireworks]

1 hour ago, VLC86 said:

Playing with no defenders, I like your thinking.

Probably the only way we can strengthen this defence. 

[HarryDee8]

Too many misplaced passes and getting caught on the ball

[everton carr]

11 minutes ago, HarryDee8 said:

Too many misplaced passes and getting caught on the ball

Caught once can't think of too many misplaced passes

[funkyrobot]

2 hours ago, everton carr said:

Caught once can't think of too many misplaced passes

Anyone who watched that match and doesn’t think Skipp is a big issue in our team is watching a different game. He wall passes, misplaces passes, underhits passes behind players, gets caught on the ball, gets easily beaten by players running at him. I know people think I get at Skipp but that’s because of his position. It’s so important. You cannot afford to carry a central midfielder, it’s absolutely vital role, particularly in the formation that we keep sticking to and particularly when we need to create chances and actually win games. The substitution should’ve been James for Skipp, not James for Mukasa and it should’ve come at half time. 

[Chelmofox]

2 hours ago, everton carr said:

Caught once can't think of too many misplaced passes

Oh come on! I've been saying he's been better for a little while but today was very poor from him. Lots of misplaced passes.

[FoxesTez]

Dreadful today. 

[Filbert Fireworks]

Bad day

[Stuntman_Mike]

If I was in the trenches with this lad I'd be turning the rifle on myself within 3 minutes tops.

[UniFox21]

He just isn't that box to box player. 

[sm1]

He should come handy next season in league 1.

[Stuntman_Mike]

On 26/02/2026 at 00:58, Deeg67 said:

Skipp has consistently been better than Winks this season. Winks is the guy who goes to the reserves for JJ IMHO, not Skipp.

This is a terrible take imo. Winks has been poor, but Winks on a bad day still offers ten times more than Skipp. Such a nothing player. Trots around playing simple 3 yard back passes like he's 55, not 25.

 

 

 

Edited 28 February by Stuntman_Mike