Harry Winks (gone to Cagliari, official)

[MPH]

7 minutes ago, ithuriel said:

If no one comes in for him he will probably have a right sulk on instead of thinking why has no one come in for him.

 

it’s possible he would say that the club is to blame for “pricing him out of a move”..

[honeybradger]

1 hour ago, st albans fox said:

You are Steve cooper and I claim my prize ! 

What an offensive thing to call someone! Im not BCDR's dad and cant stand Skipp and Ayew but I do think midfielders should help to protect the backline.

Edited 21 August 2025 by honeybradger

[Grebfromgrebland]

It feels like his time is up plus he's in the final year of his contract so must be sold.

 

That makes Soumare and Skipp first choice midfielders.

 

I reckon Marti knew the others would be sold and that's why he started them 

[st albans fox]

51 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

What an offensive thing to call someone! Im not BCDR's dad and cant stand Skipp and Ayew but I do think having midfielders should help protect the backline.

It’s a relevant point re holding midfielders.

winks is not your average cdm because he’s not good enough at defence.  But in a team that should have v high possession stats and requires someone to take the ball from defenders/keeper and set the tempo, he should be perfect. (As per enzo’s team) 

 

atm we are asking bouba to do the defensive work and he’s really not switched on enough to be reliable.  it’s a conundrum that marti has to solve. Skipp is a little more mobile and certainly quicker than winks but he’s definitely lost his mojo. 
 

 

[st albans fox]

49 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

It feels like his time is up plus he's in the final year of his contract so must be sold.

 

That makes Soumare and Skipp first choice midfielders.

 

I reckon Marti knew the others would be sold and that's why he started them 

Probably what he was told by rudders but he’ll soon find out that they won’t be going anywhere ! 

[honeybradger]

Just now, st albans fox said:

It’s a relevant point re holding midfielders.

winks is not your average cdm because he’s not good enough at defence.  But in a team that should have v high possession stats and requires someone to take the ball from defenders/keeper and set the tempo, he should be perfect. (As per enzo’s team) 

 

atm we are asking bouba to do the defensive work and he’s really not switched on enough to be reliable.  it’s a conundrum that marti has to solve. Skipp is a little more mobile and certainly quicker than winks but he’s definitely lost his mojo. 
 

 

There are midfielders available for reasonable fees who can pass and protect the backline at the same time.

 

It's not like these two traits are exclusive. 

[STUHILL]

55 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

It feels like his time is up plus he's in the final year of his contract so must be sold.

 

That makes Soumare and Skipp first choice midfielders.

 

I reckon Marti knew the others would be sold and that's why he started them 

Depressingly accurate. 

[st albans fox]

16 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

There are midfielders available for reasonable fees who can pass and protect the backline at the same time.

 

It's not like these two traits are exclusive. 

There are but I’d say that winks is probably  the best at the tempo and passing side of it. If we were going to have 65%+ possession then we’d do well to keep him.  If we are going to be more aggressive with our forward play and therefore have less control than enzo’s team then we’d be better having someone more defensively capable. 

[DezFox]

1 hour ago, honeybradger said:

He doesn't tackle, he doesnt win the ball back, he doesnt run, doesnt carry the ball well, isnt a goal threat, isnt good in the air. 

 

All he is good at is passing and he's not exceptional at it either. He also has a tendency to give the ball to the opposition in dangerous positions.

 

He's very limited im sorry to say, he was good for a period under Maresca but we need better rounded midfielders than him going forwards. Bad attitude or not his ability simply does not justify his wages.

I completely get what you mean, but you need to compare with our other midfielders. All of our midfielders are all of the above but they can’t pass either. 

[honeybradger]

17 minutes ago, DezFox said:

I completely get what you mean, but you need to compare with our other midfielders. All of our midfielders are all of the above but they can’t pass either. 

Yes Winks looks good in comparison to Skipp and Soumare but if you compare him to what's available on the market for what we would sell him for (£5mil) he's not up to par. 

[Greg2607]

1 hour ago, honeybradger said:

Yes Winks looks good in comparison to Skipp and Soumare but if you compare him to what's available on the market for what we would sell him for (£5mil) he's not up to par. 

Hang on..... You think we can find better replacements for £5m?!?!

 

GRANTED we might find someone with a better attitude..... But not with the same skills to retain possession, recycle and set the tempo. 

[LeePhilpottsBaldSpot]

6 minutes ago, Greg2607 said:

Hang on..... You think we can find better replacements for £5m?!?!

 

GRANTED we might find someone with a better attitude..... But not with the same skills to retain possession, recycle and set the tempo. 

Yeah, our fans are getting a bit like emotional teenage girls angry at rumours Zayn wants to leave One Direction.

 

You can dislike Winks but he is clearly a good footballer, especially at this level.

[john ridley]

7 minutes ago, Greg2607 said:

Hang on..... You think we can find better replacements for £5m?!?!

 

GRANTED we might find someone with a better attitude..... But not with the same skills to retain possession, recycle and set the tempo. 

Skill count for nothing if the attitudes  wrong ,get rid.

[Greg2607]

5 minutes ago, john ridley said:

Skill count for nothing if the attitudes  wrong ,get rid.

Sure and I accept that in an ideal world you'd want both.... But if Lionel Messi was an absolute tool and akinbiyi was the hardest working player in the world..... I'd still want Messi in my team. 

[Claudio Fannieri]

6 minutes ago, john ridley said:

Skill count for nothing if the attitudes  wrong ,get rid.

Nail on head 👍🏼

[Gevans_97]

6 minutes ago, john ridley said:

Skill count for nothing if the attitudes  wrong ,get rid.

Except his attitude has been off, but he’s still comfortably been our best performing midfielder so far this year. 

[Molson Canadian]

Ex-England and Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy said in September 2018 that the England team should be built around Winks, citing his performance for Tottenham against Real Madrid in the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League group stage as evidence: "The one who I think has got the capability, more than anyone else I have seen, is [Harry] Winks. What he showed in that game in Madrid, in both games when he was fit and at it, was a confidence and an ability to play. To see the passes, to get his foot in and be disciplined and mix that mix of midfield talent that you need [...] for me, Winks is one of the best I've seen when he's at it – in terms of his all-round ability."^[56] ESPN FC's Ben Pearce opined in 2018: "England are still missing a deep-lying playmaker [...] Those wondering who could possibly fill the void have obviously forgotten Winks, who excels at keeping possession with quick, short passes". 

 

Really?

[honeybradger]

26 minutes ago, Greg2607 said:

Hang on..... You think we can find better replacements for £5m?!?!

 

GRANTED we might find someone with a better attitude..... But not with the same skills to retain possession, recycle and set the tempo. 

There are loads of midfielders who are just as good on the ball as Winks (or even better honestly) that are also solid defensively that are also available for £5mil or less. He is seriously not special in any way, there is a reason clubs aren't rushing to sign him despite clearly wanting out.

 

Pelle Mattson

 

 

Otto rosingren

 

 

Yacine Titraoui

 

 

Winks is seriously mediocre in comparison to the best on the market across the European leagues and is incredibly overrated by our fanbase. Attitude problems or not we should get him out and bring someone better in.

 

The question is not whether we can replace Winks with better, the question is whether we will be able to find a buyer for Winks because no one actually wants him. (Also whether Rudkin would be able to identify a better replacement).

Edited 21 August 2025 by honeybradger

[Bluearmyfox28]

5 hours ago, Greg2607 said:

Hang on..... You think we can find better replacements for £5m?!?!

 

GRANTED we might find someone with a better attitude..... But not with the same skills to retain possession, recycle and set the tempo. 

I’ll continue to say his name In the hope it comes true. 
 

Pelle Mattsson available for £3m. 5 years younger than Winks, just as good on the ball, physical presence, loves a challenge, probably will want a 3rd of Winks’ wages and leaves you £2m in spare change. 
 

Europe and South America is littered with players just like Winks. It’s the players that can do what Winks does and offer strong defensive attributes that are hard to find in defensive midfielders.

[Vindaloo FOX]

7 hours ago, Greg2607 said:

Hang on..... You think we can find better replacements for £5m?!?!

 

GRANTED we might find someone with a better attitude..... But not with the same skills to retain possession, recycle and set the tempo. 

 

Probably more than 5 million but this guy please 

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Get rid of him

 

toxic player with a shitty attitude

[Spanner73]

2 minutes ago, Bob Weasel Fox said:

Get rid of him

 

toxic player with a shitty attitude

Definitely 

 

Talent doesn’t come into it if he’s going to act like a spoilt brat and thinks he can do what he likes. 

 

Get rid of him ! 
 

 

[ClaphamFox]

7 minutes ago, Bob Weasel Fox said:

Get rid of him

 

toxic player with a shitty attitude

When he's on the pitch he's working hard and is comfortably our best player in that position. Obviously it would be better if he celebrated our goals and acknowledged the fans etc, but on balance I think I'd rather have a petulant player who actually contributes than endure an entire season of Skipp and Soumare...

[ithuriel]

All very quiet on the  Winks front.

[Jazzy_Jeff]

4 minutes ago, ithuriel said:

All very quiet on the  Winks front.

Hoping that either Brentford or Fulham panic and make a late offer for him. Considering he wouldn’t stay one night a week at Seagrave I can’t see him relocating