I don't think any of them were needed yesterday. I thought Poch was stupid leaving Eriksen on the bench. Tanguy and Sissoko in the middle with the Dane in front is how I think we should've started the game. Starting how we did yesterday had very little creativity and gave Villa more hope of getting forward as they had to worry less about what we brought from an attacking outlet. The moment Eriksen was on, they struggled to contain us and it felt like Tanguy had more freedom too, whilst Sissoko was so much better at CM than he was in the RW/ RM/ RCM position. I'd really like to see Tanguy and Eriksen link up more, it could be a very potent link up similar to the days of Modric and van der Vaart, just pray Eriksen is here beyond the Europe deadline.
I saw a headline reading Jamie Redknapp gives honest assessment of Tanguy Ndombele's Spurs debut against Aston Villa Let me guess, his opinion of his goal is along the lines of "He shinned it and he was offside anyway"?
Leaving Eriksen out while Lo Celso's still unavailable is just bizarre. Having Dier, Wanyama, Skipp and Aurier on the bench and leaving Vertonghen out of the squad is equally strange.
Really happy for him. Typically unselfish of him to direct more praise to Tanguy too instead of taking the credit for the winning goal and then nail in the coffin. His second goal actually gets better the more I watch it too. It looks simple from first look but when you realise he had pretty much a snap second to pick his spot and then more or less pass it into the net, it just highlights why - in my opinion - he's the best striker on the planet (unless we include Ronaldo now as a number 9, but he's not human so it don't count), very few players could've done that in my opinion, he really does make scoring goals look too easy at times.
You're trolling us now. This is the same level as the "Tottenham are better without Kane" line from last season, or those that reckoned Gazza was better than Hugo. When Winks was on the pitch, Moura should have scored, Kane should have scored and should have had one ruled out for offside but he missed it. If Winks had fluffed the opportunities Sissoko had, you'd be shredding him. We weren't at our best and crap decision making in the final third, as well as some dodgy defending were the centre of it. Ever since Pochettino's arrived we've tired teams out and scored late goals. The reason we improved is that we ditched the diamond in the second half and got Eriksen in the 10 role, rather than Lamela who was largely rubbish there. Moura being anonymous didn't help much either. Of course we should have started Eriksen but who knows where his mind is at, at the moment? Probably Pochettino knows and he left him on the bench. Winks invites pressure? What pressure? Villa had about 2 attacks all game! Why would Winks dominate in attack when he played the deepest out of our midfielders? Bizarre.
So you'd bring Winks on as a defensive player but in another post you're blaming him for not carrying the attacking intensity? Tying yourself in knots on this one
And they scored with one of those two attacks . When he went off, they didn't have a sniff. They were camped in their own half.
You've literally said my point... There's no knot tying here. He's not offensive enough which is exactly why I wouldn't start him. I'd bring him on once we've got a nice lead as he can help see out a game when opposition are desperate. When he's starting the opposition will probably want to attack us more as they won't be as worried about our attacking intent. At 0-0 against a side like Villa, Winks is one of the last players you need in your XI.
What have I started It’s not my intention to make anyone die on a Winks-shaped hill here and I completely agree you don’t need him and Sissoko, who effectively both fulfil the same function in the team in different ways (when Sissoko plays CM anyway), starting against Villa. I think one of them, and two of Alli, Eriksen, NDombele and GLC is probably the best combination most of the time. Now don’t make me get the GIF of a sheep brutally murdering someone out again...
It's good to debate, brother! Be boring if we all agreed. Winks should just be playing for Sheffield Utd though, not Tottenham
That’s not quite the insult you think it is bro they’re a quite a decent footballing side! Now if you’d said Burnley then I’d have had to have gone back to the farm to shock the board into submission once again...
I think that Sissoko and Winks play different roles. Ndombele and Sissoko are a closer match, in my opinion, though they play it slightly differently. I can't see how they all fit into a starting XI and I think that yesterday's performance pretty much confirms that.
Now that you mention Burnley... I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I can definitely see the benefits of Winks in the squad, I just don't see the benefits of him in the XI. My gripe lies more with Poch than the player though, he can't help how he plays and his style definitely has its uses, I just don't think his uses are for when Spurs are on the front foot trying to win/ chase a game, he's ideal for closing one out once we've gotten the lead.
So according to you, it's a good idea to see out a game by bringing on a player who you've already said invites pressure? More knots, mate.
At 0-0 of course he does. Opposition are more confident to come forward to try and snatch a goal. Villa literally done that yesterday. Once we've got a win sewn up, opposition become more erratic and thoughtless about their attack (and defence), Winks can come on, slow it down, keep possession and either help us simply see out the game or even lay off a pass for a counter if the opposition are sending too many forward. Not sure what's confusing you about it all to be honest.
I think Sissoko has a bit more to his game in some ways because of his physicality, Winks is a slightly better footballer and technician but isn’t ambitious enough. Neither should spend much time in the final 3rd as they’re not good enough at that end of the pitch by and large. Both basically shield the back 4 a bit and try and progress the ball - Winks by passing, Sissoko by physically running over people and laying it off. I think you only pick one of them most of the time which is why I say they’re similar in terms of function, not in form. Neither have the on-the-ball ability of Ndombele who has physicality and technical ability in abundance and also looks like he can pick a pass in a way that Dembele couldn’t, as well as beat his man. DH’s gripe with Poch certainly stands for yesterday's first half though, because by the Gaffer’s own admission, he got the setup wrong. That was more to do with the formation and tactics than Winks + Sissoko alongside Tanguy IMO, but no doubt both played a part in a frustrating first 45.
If you could mould Winks' technique into Sissoko's body, you'd probably have a near perfect central midfielder, funnily enough that's more or less what Tanguy looks like, along with Dembele's dribbling ability! Bloke really looks the real deal and he's nowhere near the finished article.
